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SPY x FAMILY: Family Portrait (スパイファミリー () (ぞく) (しょう) (ぞう) , Supai Famirī Kazoku no Shōzō?) is a light novel spin-off of the SPY x FAMILY manga, written by Aya Yajima and featuring illustrations by Tatsuya Endo.

On February 4, 2023, Viz Media announced an official English version for Fall 2023.[5] However, on July 21, 2023, the book release was postponed to December 26, 2023.[6]

Synopsis[]

Join the beloved cast of the best-selling Spy x Family as they embark on five exciting adventures!

In this book of Spy x Family original prose stories, Anya attempts to make friends with her target Damian during an Eden Academy camping trip, Yuri spends his day off babysitting his niece, and Franky seeks Loid's help in winning the heart of a blind opera singer. Then, when the family sits for a portrait painting, Yor is terrified that her secret identity will be blown. And in the final story, the family is scrutinized by a pair of unseen observers... There's never been a family quite like this one!

Summary[]

Novel Mission: 1[]

Anya's Nature Class (アーニャの () (ぜん) (きょう) (しつ) , Ānya no Shizen Kyōshitsu?) is the first chapter of the light novel. Eden Academy is holding an overnight nature class. Anya hears Loid's thoughts and plans an "Operation Camp Friends" with Damian. She is assigned to the same group as Damian, but they keep quarreling and the plan is in jeopardy... Thanks to Becky's misunderstanding, Damian and Anya are now in charge of fetching water. What will become of the plan...?[7]

Plot:

When Eden Academy announces an upcoming overnight camping trip at a wooded mountain they own, Anya shares it with her parents. Loid tells her to get along with her classmates, with Damian specifically in mind. Hearing his thoughts, Anya creates "Operation Camp Friends," where she plans to impress Damian with her camping skills, which will lead him to invite her family to his house for a joint-family camping trip and fulfill Operation Strix.

On the day of the trip, Anya is grouped with Becky, Damian, Emile, and Ewen, thanks to Loid altering the group assignments. Anya's plan quickly goes to ruin after she angers Damian and gets him in trouble with Henry Henderson when he insults her. Damian assumes leadership of the group while they prepare their own lunch, but Becky quickly takes over. Enjoying the "romance" between the two, she sends Damian and Anya off to gather water from the river. Wanting to impress Damian with her camping knowledge, Anya leads the way, but they get lost after wandering too far. Damian is further frustrated when Anya reveals that she left behind peanuts as trail markers, only to discover that all of them were eaten by a squirrel. Just as the children start to look for a way back to their camp, it begins to rain, forcing them to hide inside a small cave. When lightning strikes, Anya is terrified but is comforted by an equally scared Damian, who holds her hand.

The children are found by Mr. Green and Henry, the latter who is upset with them for irresponsibly getting themselves into trouble. Anya and Damian protect each other from getting punished, and Henry relents by making them help prepare for the stargazing activity. Shortly after, the pair quickly return to their bickering ways. After the trip, Anya returns to her home and is dejected with "Operation Camp Friends" failing. She is welcomed back by Bond and Loid, who notices her glum demeanor. When he inquires, Anya talks about her bad experiences. Loid then asks if Anya did not have fun, causing her to remember all the memorable moments that happened during the trip and cheer up. As the three head inside, Loid tells Anya that he and Yor prepared dinner for her, to her excitement.

Novel Mission: 2[]

Yuri's Day Off (ユーリの (きゅう) () , Yūri no Kyūka?) is the second chapter of the light novel. During one of his days off, Yuri is asked to take care of Anya in place of his favorite older sister, Yor. Yuri reluctantly takes Anya to a vocational experience facility, but he finds out that a parent or guardian is required to accompany Anya to the police station booth for an interrogation experience. Yuri reluctantly changes into his uniform, but...[7]

Plot:

After finishing a SSS interrogation, Yuri is ordered by his captain to take tomorrow off for the upcoming holiday after discovering that he has been overworking himself. Yuri accepts but realizes he has nothing to do until he receives a surprise call from Yor, who asks him to come to the Forger home for a favor. Yuri happily follows, only to find out that it is to look after Anya while Yor fills in for a sick Millie at a work event. Yuri begrudgingly agrees, though he makes it clear to Anya that he does not intend to entertain her. He quickly changes his mind when Anya threatens to tell Yor about his treatment and they go have an outing.

Yuri takes Anya to Kids Street Workplace, an indoor amusement facility that encourages children to play different jobs for future interests. At the facility, they go to the police workplace at Anya's request, and Yuri finds himself also participating in the interrogation activity with her as they dress up as officers. After Anya confidently performs her interrogation and gets praised by the adults, Yuri gets called to do his own. Yuri meets a suspect who appears similar to Loid and is told that the man had beaten his wife over her cooking. Thinking of Loid, an angered Yuri goes all-in on the interrogation and slips into using his SSS intimidation tactics, which terrifies the actor playing the suspect into breaking character. After everyone calms down, they are amazed by Yuri's "performance" and suggest he take an acting career, and their praise raises his mood.

Yuri and Anya excitedly explore the facility's attractions, going through all the jobs they have to offer. During their lunch break, Anya concludes that she would rather play for a living, disappointing and annoying Yuri. Anya suggests going to a jewelry section next, wanting to bring home a brooch as a gift for Yor for working hard. This resonates with Yuri, who agrees to make one as well. Later, Yor has already returned home and overhears Anya and Yuri bantering as they arrive. She smiles to herself as she thinks about how Anya brings Yuri back to being a kid and eagerly welcomes them back.

Novel Mission: 3[]

Franky's New Love!? (フランキーの (あら) たな (こい) !?, Furankī no Aratana Koi!??) is the third chapter of the light novel. On his way home from a hospital visit, Franky meets Alessa, a blind girl with an angelic singing voice. Franky visits Alessa as often as he can and their friendship deepens, but one day she tells him that she is going to undergo eye surgery. He promises to visit her when she can see again, but she is actually the daughter of a famous family...?[7]

Plot:

Franky finds himself making another visit to Berlint General Hospital after getting injured on a mission with Loid. Thinking about how perfect Loid's life appears to be, an annoyed Franky grumbles to himself that if he was half as handsome as him, he would be living a life of romance and excitement. On his way out, Franky ends up at the hospital garden and encounters a young girl with a beautiful singing voice. He compliments her singing, and during their conversation, he quickly realizes that the girl, Alessa Baltzar, is blind.

In the following month, Franky begins visiting Alessa at the hospital, and their bond deepens. As they spend time together, Franky trades stories with Alessa, gives her small gifts, and listens to her sing. It is revealed that Alessa hails from a family of famous musicians and had lost her ability to see after suffering from a neurological disease two years prior. Despite this, she continued to practice her talents since then. Alessa reveals that she will be undergoing a serious eye surgery next week and expresses her desire to continue her being with Franky afterward. Despite Alessa's assurance that she will be with him regardless of his looks, Franky meets with Loid to ask for help changing his face when she finishes her surgery. Loid refuses, and a desperate Franky offers to have Alessa become an unwilling informant for information on her family. Loid is disappointed that Franky would make such a suggestion, but after coldly telling himself that there is no friendship between them, he decides to assist him.

After Alessa's surgery is a success, the disguised Franky visits her at their meeting spot, with Loid secretly observing them from afar. To Loid's surprise, Franky breaks things off with Alessa, claiming to have to leave due to urgent business abroad. Alessa is heartbroken but fulfills Franky's final request for one last song. Afterward, Loid finds a drunk Franky at their usual bar. As he reflects on Franky's situation, he realizes that while things could have gone well between the two, Franky, despite caring for Alessa, ended things with her due to his secret life as an informant and ensured that she would not be able to recognize the real him after their final interaction. Loid is surprised that Franky was able to pull one over him and comforts his heartbroken friend as he gets them more drinks.

During Alessa's hospital discharge, she misses Franky and regrets the things she said to him in their last meeting but believes that he will always be supporting her. As she exits the hospital, she passes by Franky and recognizes his scent, but after taking a look at him, concludes that he was not the man she knew. As the two part ways for good, Franky quietly says his goodbyes.

Novel Mission: 4[]

Portrait of the Forger Family!? (フォージャー () (しょう) (ぞう) () !?, Fōjā Ke no Shōzōga?) is the fourth chapter of the light novel. When the Forgers are showing off their harmonious relationship at the park, a young man asks if they could become models for his painting. They accept, but he turns out to be a very famous painter!! Afraid that having the painting displayed in a museum would interfere with her assassination job, Yor continues to act strangely in order to avoid having her face depicted in the painting. Naturally, Loid has no way of knowing the truth behind her actions, but....[7]

Plot:

While on an outing at the park for a picnic, the Forgers meet a young painter who requests to paint the family. As a spy, Loid initially tries to refuse to avoid leaving traces of himself. However, Anya sees a rare Bondman patch on the man's bag that he graciously gifts her, forcing Loid to reciprocate the generosity and accept the painter's request. As they make introductions, the painter is revealed to be Felix Curtis, a famous yet humble contemporary artist known for making photorealistic watercolor paintings and having the ability to "turn any canvas into a camera lens." With his art in great demand, Loid and Yor worry at the possibility of a painting of the family being featured at a museum exhibit due to the nature of their secret jobs, with Yor especially distressed as an assassin.

Yor tries everything she can to make sure her face does not get painted, hiding her face behind her hair and sweater hood. She then pretends to have dirt in her eyes, and when Loid goes to check on her, she quickly gets flustered and shoves him away with all of her strength, though he manages to recover while unharmed. Throughout the rest of the session, Yor desperately struggles in vain to not have her face painted. Felix only manages to complete the rough painting, but thanks the now-exhausted Forgers for their cooperation and promises to show them the finished work in a week. Determined to ensure that the painting never goes public, Loid plots to obtain the painting from Felix.

Loid asks Franky to find where Felix lives so he can steal the painting. Franky hands over the information and gives Loid extra information on the artist, which amuses him when he reads it. A week later, the Forgers meet with Felix to see the finished painting. What they see is an oil painting that hardly resembles them at all. Felix explains that he spent most of his career with watercolors and has little experience working with oil paints, but he was able to rekindle his joy in painting thanks to the Forgers. Loid, who had already seen the painting after sneaking into Felix's apartment, comfortably puts his worries to rest. Meanwhile, Yor, whose mood had been glum the whole week prior, immediately cheers up after seeing it. While the family discusses how they liked Felix's painting, Twilight, despite his "Loid Forger" persona, genuinely feels at ease and lets out a smile.

Short Story[]

Family (Temporary) (ファミリー( (かり) , Famirī (Kari)?) is the short chapter of the light novel. A restaurant in the capital of the eastern country, Berlint. Lily, a waitress who has failed to get married, and her colleague Rose are talking about marriage. Amidst many unhappy-looking families, the topic of conversation turns to the Forgers, the ideal family that everyone longs for. Lily is motivated to get married when she imagines such a picture-perfect happy family. However, these women are unaware of the Forgers' true nature.[7]

Author's Notes[]

Thank you very much for picking up a copy of the Spy x Family: Family Portrait novel.
I've had the privilege of working with Shonen Jump's novel department several times in the past, but I never imagined that one day they'd be publishing a novelization of my own work.
I felt honored that my series was going to be novelized, but I was also anxious about my first experience having someone else adapt to a different medium the characters had created.
As it turned out, my favorite story in this collection is Mission 2. I couldn't help but laugh at the snappy banter and slapstick between Anya and Yuri. I also loved the back-and-forth between Loid and Franky in Mission 3. Aya Yajima did such a great job bringing the characters to life through words that I could effortlessly picture every scene, which made drawing the illustrations for this book just as easy. (That said, I'm sorry to say I couldn't figure out how to express the portrait described in Misson 4, so I ended up drawing a different scene instead.)
I hope all my readers have enjoyed seeing the zany antics of Spy x Family in novel form (with a few illustrations) as much as I have.
Tatsuya Endo (Afterword)
I love everything about Spy x Family - its comical yet somewhat sinister tone, its somber yet refined setting that's so reminiscent of Cold War Europe; its thrilling, cinematic scenes; its powerful, heart-wrenching monologues; its exhilarating action; its lovable cast... I love it so much that if I could, I would move to the city of Berlint and get a job with the clerical staff at Eden Academy, just so I could get a front-row seat to watch the characters I adore.
I am so thankful to Tatsuya Endo for not only carefully supervising my work, but also providing the many wonderful illustrations to accompany it. I've loved his work ever since his first serialized manga, Tista, and I was moved to tears seeing the beautiful original art he made for this book.
I'd also like to thank my editors, Rokugou and Nakamoto - it was a privilege having them to turn to every time I ran into trouble while working on this book. I'm also grateful to the editorial staff at Shonen Jump's novel department, who've taken great care of me ever since my debut work with them; Lin at Jump+; Shiotani at NAHT, who handled the proofreading; and the many other people involved with the production and publication of this book.
And of course, I'd like to thank from the bottom of my heart every person who reads this book. Thank you so much. I'm excited to continue enjoying Spy x Family together with you all!
— Aya Yajima (Afterword)
The first novelization of my life! I could not be more grateful.
— Tatsuya Endo
I love Spy x Family! It always makes me laugh and cry!
— Aya Yajima


Characters[]

George Glooman Portrait
Illustration
Bondman Portrait
Mentioned
Dominic Portrait
Mentioned
Camilla Portrait
Mentioned
Millie Myers Portrait
Mentioned
Sharon Portrait
Mentioned

Extra Pages[]

Audiobook[]

On December 20, 2023, Shueisha released an audiobook version of the novel, which features Miyuri Shimabukuro and Ryōhei Arai as voice actors. This also makes the novel the first Jump J-Book to receive an audiobook version.[8]

Trivia[]

References[]

  1. SPY x FAMILY Family Portrait: Shueisha
  2. SPY x FAMILY Family Portrait: Tongli
  3. SPY x FAMILY Family Portrait: Tongli
  4. SPY x FAMILY Family Portrait: Amazon
  5. Viz Media Announcement Tweet
  6. Viz Media Second Announcement Tweet
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 JUMP j BOOKS
  8. Comic Natalie Article


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