#akeru

Starting from right, Sumio, Ichiryuu, Yukiya, who’s all grown up, and his schoolmates Shigemaru, Akeru (Masuho no Susuki’s youngest brother) and Chihaya from the Keisoin Academy from The Empty Coffin, Book 4 of the series. Illustrated by Matsuzaki Natsumi. (From the fan book)

Now that I read book 4, The Empty Coffin (I skipped book 3 to better enjoy the anime), I have a better understanding of this picture.

(From left to right): Chihaya (a commoner), Akeru (Masuho no Susuki's younger brother), Shigemaru (a commoner), Yukiya, Ichiryuu, Sumio.

I don't know exactly when he appears in the story, but Matsuzaki-sensei really enjoys drawing him, so he must be a cool character.

Been on the lookout for everything “Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master” info ever since the last episode aired. And I keep finding new ones. Not recent but stuff from years ago when past book events from Chisato Abe were held. It is also nice that mangaka Natsumi Matsuzaki keeps on releasing old-new illustrations, especially the ones dealing with “The Empty Coffin,” she has done to celebrate the latest paperback release explaining that there’s no use keeping them for herself.

Anyway, this post caught my eye. The poster hasn’t watched the anime but only read the books and was there when Chisato and Natsumi held an event tagged as “spoilers.”

A reader sent in this question:

Are there any sexual minorities in Yamauchi?

It exists just like in the real world. It's just that it hasn't been highlighted yet, but it's there normally, and it might have already appeared in the story. It's just not written about because it's not the theme at the moment. When the time comes to write about it, it will be written normally.

When depicting that person, there's no need to say "This character is homosexual" (because that's not all there is to that person).

In Yamauchi, understanding of this is overwhelmingly less advanced (compared to the real world). Many people don't want to say it, they hide it, and revealing it would, in today's terms, infringe on human rights.

Since the second part, the focus has been on human rights and individual happiness. (The reversal of women’s [roles], who had a low status, has begun.) So if it's going to be written about, it will be from now on. The turning point in Yamauchi's values has finally come. I have worked hard to create a beautifully traditional and old-fashioned Yamauchi throughout the first part.

The current world does not completely link with it, and I do not intend to clearly link it. Yamauchi has its own values, and they live by them. As a result, I would be happy if you feel it as a current issue, but I have no intention of doing it in a showy way. I am just writing my own Yamauchi.

So, as an answer to the question, "They are just normally there."

—Chisato Abe

Source: 2021/11/03 17:00 - “Commemorating the Publication of The Crow of Remembrance—Chisato Abe × Natsumi Matsuzaki Spoiler OK! Online Talk Event" (From a Twitter post, 2021/11/03)

Akeru and Chihaya