Natsu Hyuuga, the author behind The Apothecary Diaries, has cancelled her upcoming physical appearance at the Overload NZ Anime & Manga Convention following health concerns that have resulted in her hospitalization. The event is scheduled for September 26 and 27, 2026, in New Zealand. Confirmation of the change was shared on September 21 through the official The Apothecary Diaries X account, with organizers and representatives apologizing to fans who had planned to meet the creator during the convention.

Hyuuga later addressed the situation directly through her own X account, explaining that she remains in hospital and that the results of her latest blood tests have not yet reached a satisfactory level. As a consequence, travelling to New Zealand and taking part in the convention in person is no longer considered possible. The author also expressed her regret to attendees who had been looking forward to seeing her and apologized for the disruption caused by the last-minute change.

Her participation in Overload NZ has not been cancelled entirely. Instead, the convention program has been reorganized to include a live online Q&A session, giving visitors an opportunity to interact with Hyuuga remotely. The previously planned book hand-over sessions have also been replaced. Attendees who reserved these sessions will receive a card personally autographed by Hyuuga, accompanied by an original sticky note featuring artwork from The Apothecary Diaries. The Overload organizing committee is expected to contact affected ticket holders directly with additional information.

The announcement comes only days before a major new chapter for The Apothecary Diaries anime. The first cour of Season 3 is scheduled to premiere on October 2, 2026, while an original theatrical movie is planned for December. The series will then return with the second cour of its third season in April 2027. For now, the official team has emphasized that Hyuuga's recovery remains the priority while preparations continue for both the convention's revised program and the franchise's upcoming releases.