yami's

Unfortunately, I am not able to offer international shipping, so the physical book is only available within Japan. However, for those who have been following this series on AO3, I wanted to share a translation of the book's afterword with you here.

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Author’s Note: Afterword for the Even Without Romance

I have been writing fanfiction in the M/M shipping space for over twenty years. It has also been nearly a decade since I realized I am AroAce. Partly because I used to identify as aegosexual, the media I consumed taught me how to depict fictional homosocial relationships and translate them into romance and sexual attraction, but they never taught me how to sublimate the AroAce orientation into creative writing.

Recently, the number of commercial works depicting the A-spectrum has increased, but to be honest, they haven't quite clicked with me. While I felt "empathy," I didn't feel that intense fan passion (moe), so the otaku side of me couldn't get fully absorbed in them.

I did headcanon Murderbot, the protagonist of Martha Wells’s sci-fi novel The Murderbot Diaries, as A-spec, nonbinary, and autistic, and I felt a deep attachment to it by projecting myself onto the character. However, I was satisfied just reading the original books and never developed the strong passion needed to write fanfiction for it (though perhaps my ability to interpret characters as AroAce was steadily building up during that time).

A major turning point came when I found my "oshi," Bartholomew Roberts, in FGO—a game I've played for a long time—and realized I could read him as AroAce based on his historical background and the game's scenarios. Around the same time, the first AroAce fanfiction web-only event, "Sonzai Shoumei" (Proof of Existence), was held, allowing me to share A-spec-focused works with fellow creators across different fandoms. This changed everything.

Of course, I have countless fond memories from my long life as a shipper. I still love the world of massive, intense emotions between same-sex characters, and there’s always a chance I might fall for a pairing and write M/M fics again.

However, when I finished writing the first story of this series, Even Without Romance, balancing the act of "writing as a proof of our existence" with "writing my oshi looking cool" (something I’ve always strived for as a shipper), I felt a profound sense of fulfillment. I realized, this is what empowerment feels like to me.

When I was younger, I struggled with my sexuality, hit the walls of an amatonormative society, and went through a lot of pain. But now, freed from all of that, and from a place where I feel absolutely no issue with my life as an AroAce, I was able to write an "anthem" for the life of my oshi, interpreted as AroAce. Nothing makes me happier.

Bartholomew in this series does not struggle with his sexuality. There are even stories with (almost) no mention of his sexuality at all. This is because we don't exist simply "to reject romance and sex"; we are individuals with our own unique personalities, lives, and joys.

Naturally, the world needs works that empathize with the struggles surrounding sexuality, but I'll leave that to others. For my part, I plan to keep enjoying writing "swoon-worthy AroAce characters."

Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to: the organizers of Sonzai Shoumei; the person who reached out when I tweeted that I had missed the event registration deadline; everyone who read and commented on my work during the web-only event; my social media mutuals who researched Bartholomew and read my stories despite not knowing the fandom; the overseas readers who left passionate comments on the English versions on AO3; my real-life friends who listened to me geek out about AroAce headcanons over a cup of tea; and finally, to everyone who has picked up this book. Thank you so much.

Tonight, the streets of Tokyo ignited. 24,000 people gathered in front of the National Diet to protest against war and the dangerous proposed amendments to Japan’s Peace Constitution.

But it wasn't just Tokyo. Solidarity protests broke out in cities all across the country. The marches were filled with handmade placards and the glow of "Oshi" penlights—a vibrant protest culture inspired by the candlelight vigils in neighboring South Korea. On YouTube, the movement reached even further, with over 60,000 people tuning in to the livestream.

What is happening?

The current Takaichi administration is pushing to amend Article 9 of the Constitution. Their goal is to align with U.S. military interventions and allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to be deployed in aggressive wars.

The LDP’s (Liberal Democratic Party) draft for the new constitution is even more chilling: it includes the removal of the prohibition of torture and a denial of basic human rights.

The "Shock Doctrine" Strategy

Many believe that Takaichi is weaponizing a "Shock Doctrine" strategy—exploiting national or global crises to force through these radical, unpopular changes while the public is distracted or in a state of shock. It is a calculated attempt to dismantle our democracy under the guise of "national security."

The "Silent Majority" is Speaking Up

While the LDP won the recent election and Takaichi’s approval ratings are high, her administration’s agenda is not the consensus of the Japanese citizen. Anti-government protests are now happening almost every week. We are making it clear: our will is to oppose aggressive war and defend the Peace Constitution that has kept us safe for decades.

80 years ago, we made a mistake that cost millions of lives. We will never commit that mistake again.

See the Protest for Yourself

If you want to see the scale of the movement, please search for the Japanese hashtag #平和憲法を守る0325 on X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

Me plotting: 🧠✨ "Holy sh*t, this is a literal masterpiece.

In Japan, over 70% of the public supports same-sex marriage. Despite this, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) remains restricted. The reason given? "If children start 'believing' they are LGBTQ+, it will cause mass confusion."

Let’s look at my own experience—someone who grew up "believing I was heterosexual" because of the overwhelming lack of representation in education and mainstream society.

The Myth of "Waiting for the Right Time"

As an elementary student, I felt a deep sense of apathy toward my classmates' "crushes." Still, I told myself: "Even if I’m not interested now, I’ll eventually fall for a man, get married, and have kids when I reach the 'right age'."

Once I hit puberty, I started dating people who confessed their feelings to me—mostly men, but sometimes women (since I read BL and Yuri light novels, I knew that was at least a fantasy option).

But as partners became more intimate, my disgust only grew. I spiraled into self-loathing, convinced I was a "cold-hearted person incapable of love" or that I simply "hadn't met The One yet."

The Cost of Ignorance

Driven by panic, I hopped from one relationship to another. I gave up my body easily and even faced risks like cervical cancer—my generation missed out on the HPV vaccine because of the widespread misinformation regarding its side effects at the time.

This chaotic cycle lasted from my teens until my 30s.

What Comprehensive Sex Ed Could Have Saved

If I’d had access to CSE—if I’d seen diverse representations of sexual minorities that weren't just "forbidden love" tropes in BL—I wouldn't have wasted so much time. I wouldn't have treated myself so poorly, and my self-esteem wouldn't have been shredded.

If the Aromantic/Asexual (A-spec) had been in my textbooks, my parents wouldn't have had to "give up" on me getting married; they could have truly understood me.

Moving Forward

Today, representation in Japanese subcultures is expanding, and there are several NPOs supporting LGBTQ+ youth. However, I believe that unless education and mainstream culture change, these resources won't provide substantial relief.

A rainy night in London, a high-stakes courtroom, and a void of three days that no one can account for. Bartholomew Roberts is back in the spotlight, but this time, he’s facing the gavel at the Old Bailey.

While Ritsuka braves a dangerous sting operation at the wharf, Moriarty and Dante turn the courtroom into a stage of logic and poetry to dismantle a web of lies. As the "Untouchable" CEO navigates the fog of deception, a single truth—aided by a rather peculiar "undercover gadget"—is about to be brought to light.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

https://archiveofourown.org/works/81072341

（I know I said I was taking a break from writing the other day, but I just had to come back to share this particular story! lol）

It’s funny because Murderbot is one of those characters I definitely read as AroAce. They love binge-watching human dramas but skip all the sex scenes, and while they’re observant of the relationships around them, they don’t seem to "get" romance at all.

Beneath the crystal-clear sky of the Antarctic simulator, Voyager looks to the heavens and asks a question born from the fragments of a lonely journey: Does "taming" someone make them special? Does the time waste in the dark truly give value to a single rose?

Bartholomew Roberts, the pirate who knows the weight of the sea and the freedom of the stars, offers a different answer.

A quiet conversation between two navigators about the beauty of untamed bonds and the passionate "love letter" written by a ship crossing the stars.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/80645876

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

It's only been three months since I started writing the Japanese versions in December, which is a pretty crazy pace for me!

I'm already working on the 11th one, but after that... we'll see. I'm completely out of ideas at the moment (lol), so I'll probably go on a little hiatus once the next fic is up.

Just to be clear though, I'm not abandoning the series! I'm just going to take a break to rest up and consume some new media for inspiration. I'll be back when the writing bug bites me again✨

Huge thanks to everyone who has read, commented, and supported me❤️

After a thunderous sparring match between deities, Bartholomew Roberts finds himself sharing a quiet drink with the Sun Goddess, Quetzalcoatl.

Amidst the swirling dust of the simulator, the pirate captain who lives by his own "Code" reflects on the stains of his past and the crystalline sanctuary he holds within. Is it possible to find respect in a space where two different lives—one meant to save, the other meant to subjugate—can never truly overlap?

A story of tea, mezcal, and the beautiful boundaries that define a soul.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/80387341

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

The JP version was out of print, but the FGO Ordeal Call III hype finally got us a reprint. so glad he’s popular.

btw it opens from the left since the Japanese text is vertical.

As I’m translating my own work, I can't help but feel a little uneasy about it. There’s the historical weight of an Aztec god speaking the colonizer’s language—isn’t that a bit… complicated? Even if the game justifies it with her love for Lucha Libre and modern Mexico, it feels like it borders on a caricature/stereotype. I’m torn on how much "Spanglish" to include, especially since I don't want to sacrifice readability.

Midnight at the rain-slicked wharf. Detectives Saito and Percival are closing in on a high-speed transport ship owned by Bartholomew Roberts—a man who navigates the world by his own private compass.

As the investigation pushes into a "untouchable" zone, Percival’s straightforward conviction clashes with the realities of the underworld and the weary pragmatism of his partner. In the silence of the bridge, a solitary truth emerges through the smoky rain.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/80104166

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

In the foggy slums of Limehouse, Ritsuka witnesses the ruthless side of the "Handsome Pirate." No chivalry, no passion—only the cold, efficient violence that maintains Bartholomew’s Order.

Blackbeard and Drake weigh in on his aesthetics, but for Ritsuka and Bartholomew, their bond remains a dry, functional beauty that needs no romance to navigate the darkness.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/79902286

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category: Gen

The heartbreaking reality is that a significant portion of the public supports Sanae Takaichi and her party, who are pushing to remove the "Renunciation of War" from Article 9 and lift the ban on arms exports. In today’s Japan, when celebrities or influencers post "No War" on social media, they are immediately attacked and labeled "anti-Japanese."

It is a bitter irony: people will never forgive K-pop artists for wearing mushroom cloud T-shirts, yet an increasing number of "patriots" rally behind a political movement that is steering the nation back toward a state capable of war. When I see this fervor, I feel a deep melancholy—it feels like a dark reprise of 80 years ago, imagining the public excitement leading up to the war with the U.S.

The Japanese public is incredibly sensitive to their own suffering as victims, yet they refuse to acknowledge their past as an aggressor nation. PM Takaichi is exceptionally skilled at "playing the victim," and in that sense, she is the perfect representative of the modern Japanese psyche.

We must learn from history. Peace cannot be built by taking the post-war generosity of Asian nations for granted. It can only be sustained through tireless self-reflection.

I recently had my disability pension cut because my "symptoms have stabilized," and now I’m plagued by the realization that in three years, I might lose my job just like she did. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it. I keep wondering if my career history as a writer will still be competitive against AI by then.

To make matters worse, the Japanese labor market prizes fresh university graduates above all else, which makes being "middle-aged" a significant handicap. For context, I’m the same age as Lady Gaga lol.

Even with my 15 years of experience as an advertising director, I was rejected by more than 100 companies during my last job hunt. Between managing a mental health condition and caregiving for my parents, the chances of finding a new job feel slim to none.

Of course, if I weren't "picky," I could find grueling work like my previous job where I clocked 100 hours of overtime a month, but I know I can't survive that again.

I post Japanese versions of my AroAce fanfics on Pixiv, and promote new works on X and Bluesky. While it’s one thing that my work isn't getting much reach, I have been continuously receiving hateful anonymous messages telling me to "stop the PC [politically correct] agenda," and that "interpreting characters as AroAce is disrespectful to them." As a non-binary person, I am also a target of transphobia.

Japan is a country where backlash happens before any real progress is made. Even though BL is so mainstream here, fanart featuring characters holding a pride flag will cause a storm of controversy on social media. In this environment, it feels like BL consumed by cis-hetero women is treated as unmarked, while queer content created by queer people is marked as something that needs to be scrutinized.

Nevertheless, I will not stop posting on X with the AroAce hashtag. X has become so plagued by hate that it’s hardly a space for constructive discourse anymore, but it is still a fact that it holds a large community of fandom and offers immense cross-border reach.

Fortunately, I have many followers on Bluesky who are AroAce or allies, and it has become my safe haven. I know there are supportive people here on Tumblr, too. Thank you for being my emotional support.