Publisher Overlap has announced that light novel author Ayaka Sakuraze passed away on March 29, 2022. No cause of death has been announced.

Sakurakaze made their debut as a light novel author in August 2021 with The Reason for Dismissing the Demon of Medicine, which featured illustrations by As and Border. TO Books published the first volume in August 2021 and will publish the second volume on April 9, 2022.

Overlap published the first volume of Sakuraze's The Country of Long Night and the Final Ball novel series with illustrations by Suzunosuke on October 25, 2021. The second volume shipped on February 25, 2022.

Overlap stated its staff are still processing the news and their grief, and will decide at a later date what to do with The Country of Long Night and the Final Ball going forward.

Sakuraze wrote these stories as well as several other short stories on the Shōsetsu ni Narō website.

Source: ANN