A Grand Return for Ko Matsuzuki: The Prince, the Witch, and the Princess ~After the Tale~
Fans of classic shojo manga have a solid reason to celebrate today! The popular series "The Prince, the Witch, and the Princess" is finally back with a brand-new sequel that many of us have been waiting for. Titled The Prince, the Witch, and the Princess ~After the Tale~, this new series by the talented Ko Matsuzuki has officially kicked off in the latest volume of the electronic manga magazine, Hanayume Ai Vol.89. If you have been keeping track of the calendar, you would know it is releasing today, March 20th, giving us all a very nice surprise to dive into during our free time.
For those who might need a quick memory refresh, the original story of The Prince, the Witch, and the Princess was quite a unique one during its initial run. It was serialized in Hakusensha's famous Hana to Yume magazine from 2009 to 2014, capturing hearts with its interesting twist on classic fairy tales. The story revolved around Oji Subaru, who was a "princely" girl and extremely popular among the female students because of her cool charm. What made it really stand out was how it dealt with the theme of reincarnation—Subaru and several other boys in her life were actually reincarnations of famous fairy tale princesses from their previous lives. It is easy to see why The Prince, the Witch, and the Princess is a must read modern fairy tale twist for anyone who likes a bit of magic mixed with school life drama.
A Glimpse into the Future: 12 Years Later
This new sequel isn't just a simple continuation of where things left off; it takes a big leap forward in time. We are now looking at a story set 12 years after their high school days ended. It is really fascinating to see how these characters have grown up and changed as adults. Subaru, who we all remember as the charismatic lead, is now a couple with Hitoshi Kuromori. The story begins on a very nostalgic note with a class reunion, where all the familiar faces from the past start gathering once again. The emotional weight of seeing these characters interact after more than a decade is quite something.
The concept of past lives and fairy tale connections always felt very fresh in this series. In the original run, seeing boys struggle with their "princess" identities while Subaru played the role of the "prince" was both funny and quite touching at times. Now that they are adults, it will be very interesting to see if those old connections still influence their lives or if they have completely moved on to new identities. Many old fans believe why The Prince, the Witch, and the Princess is a must read modern fairy tale twist lies in this perfect balance of magical destiny and real-world growth.
What to Expect from Hanayume Ai Vol.89
- New Chapter Release: The first chapter of "\~After the Tale\~" is a major highlight for this digital volume release.
- Nostalgic Reunion: The plot heavily focuses on the dynamics of a class reunion, bringing back fan-favorite characters.
- Relationship Evolution: We finally get to see the adult life of Subaru and Hitoshi as a settled couple.
- Ko Matsuzuki's Art: The artist's style has matured beautifully, maintaining the charm of the original 2009 series while looking very polished.
It is honestly great to see Hakusensha bringing back these beloved titles for the digital era. For those of us who grew up reading these chapters in the early 2010s, this is a real trip down memory lane. The reunion of Subaru and her friends is not just a plot point, it feels like a reunion for the readers too. Let us see how Matsuzuki-sensei handles this "after story" and what new fairy tale elements might pop up even after 12 years have passed in their world.
