Reiji’s mother is checked out, he’s stuck caring for his grandmother with dementia, and his childhood friend treats him like a lackey. Then beautiful, big-city pop star Nagi miraculously shows up working the counter at the local convenience store. Reiji is starstruck. When she offers him the ultimate way out of his claustrophobic existence, will he succumb to temptation…?
Reiji’s mother is checked out, he’s stuck caring for his grandmother with dementia, and his childhood friend treats him like a lackey. Then beautiful, big-city pop star Nagi miraculously shows up working the counter at the local convenience store. Reiji is starstruck. When she offers him the ultimate way out of his claustrophobic existence, will he succumb to temptation…?
Reiji’s teacher Ms. Shiba and best friend Gen are both determined to prevent him from killing himself, but their motives aren’t pure, and their methods are dubious. Meanwhile, Chako obsessively pursues the writer she hero-worships, while pop idol Nagi schemes to keep her hooks in Reiji.
Reiji’s teacher Ms. Shiba and best friend Gen are both determined to prevent him from killing himself, but their motives aren’t pure, and their methods are dubious. Meanwhile, Chako obsessively pursues the writer she hero-worships, while pop idol Nagi schemes to keep her hooks in Reiji.
Author Esemori reveals a terrible secret from his youth. Reiji gets closer to Nagi while his best friend Chako longs to get closer to him, but it’s not Reiji who ends up trying to seduce her. Meanwhile, Reiji’s teacher Shiba tries to bribe him to continue their illicit relationship.
Author Esemori reveals a terrible secret from his youth. Reiji gets closer to Nagi while his best friend Chako longs to get closer to him, but it’s not Reiji who ends up trying to seduce her. Meanwhile, Reiji’s teacher Shiba tries to bribe him to continue their illicit relationship.
When Gen reveals a shocking secret about Reiji’s mother, Reiji kicks into high gear in his determination to save her. Then, Reiji finds it’s not as easy to extricate himself from his illicit affair with his teacher as it was to fall into it. Plus, he and his spirited, nerdy friend Chako grow closer…and closer…
When Gen reveals a shocking secret about Reiji’s mother, Reiji kicks into high gear in his determination to save her. Then, Reiji finds it’s not as easy to extricate himself from his illicit affair with his teacher as it was to fall into it. Plus, he and his spirited, nerdy friend Chako grow closer…and closer…
Now that Ms. Shiba and Chako have each found out about the other’s relationship with Reiji, things get ugly. While Chako’s parents tighten their stranglehold on her, Reiji’s mother, Yuko, secretly meets with Gen and Esemori. And then, Ms. Shiba makes Yuko a reprehensible offer…
Now that Ms. Shiba and Chako have each found out about the other’s relationship with Reiji, things get ugly. While Chako’s parents tighten their stranglehold on her, Reiji’s mother, Yuko, secretly meets with Gen and Esemori. And then, Ms. Shiba makes Yuko a reprehensible offer…
Author Kosaku Esemori met Reiji’s mother when he first arrived in their miserable backwater as a teenager. How intimate was their relationship? Then, it turns out Reiji and Nagi aren’t the only ones in town with suicidal ideation. Is it true that a double suicide unites two souls as one? (Hint: The answer is no.)
Author Kosaku Esemori met Reiji’s mother when he first arrived in their miserable backwater as a teenager. How intimate was their relationship? Then, it turns out Reiji and Nagi aren’t the only ones in town with suicidal ideation. Is it true that a double suicide unites two souls as one? (Hint: The answer is no.)
As Reiji and his mother recover in the hospital from their injuries, they receive a series of visitors with differing agendas: Gen, Esemori, and Chako. Then Nagi is attacked! Plus, Gen not only reveals a dark secret from his past but makes a surprising love confession…
As Reiji and his mother recover in the hospital from their injuries, they receive a series of visitors with differing agendas: Gen, Esemori, and Chako. Then Nagi is attacked! Plus, Gen not only reveals a dark secret from his past but makes a surprising love confession…
Gen disappears from town, Reiji drops out of school, and Chako’s unshakable optimism takes a hit. Meanwhile, Reiji’s former teacher Ms. Shiba finds new ways to meddle in their lives. Plus Reiji’s older brother finally emerges from his room…with a surprising request.
Gen disappears from town, Reiji drops out of school, and Chako’s unshakable optimism takes a hit. Meanwhile, Reiji’s former teacher Ms. Shiba finds new ways to meddle in their lives. Plus Reiji’s older brother finally emerges from his room…with a surprising request.
Reiji, Gen, and Chako become ever more entangled in Ms. Shiba’s web of lies and manipulation. Finally, the childhood friends have the courage to leave town for Tokyo. But sometimes achieving a dream only leads to new problems. Is it true that you can never escape yourself?
Reiji, Gen, and Chako become ever more entangled in Ms. Shiba’s web of lies and manipulation. Finally, the childhood friends have the courage to leave town for Tokyo. But sometimes achieving a dream only leads to new problems. Is it true that you can never escape yourself?
Reiji, Gen, and Chako have escaped to Tokyo, the city of their dreams. Now what? To understand their present and dream of a brighter future, they must first understand their past. Esemori tells the story of his teenage relationship with Reiji’s mother—a tale of violence, redemption, lost love, regret…and fire.
Reiji, Gen, and Chako have escaped to Tokyo, the city of their dreams. Now what? To understand their present and dream of a brighter future, they must first understand their past. Esemori tells the story of his teenage relationship with Reiji’s mother—a tale of violence, redemption, lost love, regret…and fire.
Esemori’s relationship with Reiji’s mother, Yuko, is a complex tale of infidelity, broken hearts, and an attempt at heroism that led to a fateful outcome. How does Esemori’s tragic life inform his writing and his feelings for Reiji? And is Yuko really to blame for everyone else’s suffering?
Esemori’s relationship with Reiji’s mother, Yuko, is a complex tale of infidelity, broken hearts, and an attempt at heroism that led to a fateful outcome. How does Esemori’s tragic life inform his writing and his feelings for Reiji? And is Yuko really to blame for everyone else’s suffering?
Reiji meets with Nagi in Tokyo, further fanning the flames of Chako’s jealousy. Back in their hometown, Yuko takes drastic steps to clear the way for Reiji to come home. Then, Reiji’s stepbrother Kazu and Ms. Shiba form an unexpected alliance.
Reiji meets with Nagi in Tokyo, further fanning the flames of Chako’s jealousy. Back in their hometown, Yuko takes drastic steps to clear the way for Reiji to come home. Then, Reiji’s stepbrother Kazu and Ms. Shiba form an unexpected alliance.
As Chako loses her moral compass in Tokyo, Ms. Shiba appears to be regaining hers. Reiji heads home to his toxic mother, but not before reconnecting with his former lover Nagi. Then, when Reiji returns to town, he discovers a shocking secret about his friend Gen, followed by a horrifying confession…