It feels like I've read this years ago—probably at a time when I was far too simple-minded to truly appreciate everything this book had to offer beyond its incredible artwork. Looking back, I can tell I was most likely just scrolling through it mindlessly, admiring the visuals without really paying attention to the dialogue, the conversations, and the emotions hidden between the lines
But I've grown since then, and so has my outlook on life. The way I see the world, the way I understand people, and the way I appreciate stories have all changed. Reading this now felt so wholesome and profound that I genuinely found myself wondering whether I was even worthy of experiencing such a masterpiece hahaha
From the very beginning, I already had an idea of where the story was heading. Seeing how dull and detached the male lead's outlook on life was, contrasted by how the main character seemed like a spark of light among the "dull," I could already feel the themes taking shape in my mind. It became clear that this wasn't simply a story about romance—it was about grief, healing, and finding hope in places where hope seems impossible to find. More than anything, it was about discovering purpose within yourself and finding a place that truly feels like home
Despite coming from very different circumstances, both characters shared something deeply similar: they were lost. They came from a place of stagnation, loneliness, and a feeling of not belonging anywhere. They were both struggling to find where they fit into the world. I think that's ultimately what drew them together. It felt as though an invisible string was pulling them toward one another, guiding them toward a meeting that was inevitable. They were destined to cross paths, and in many ways, they became each other's salvation
What I particularly loved was how hopeful the story allowed its characters to be. So often, stories portray people becoming comfortable in their suffering, almost embracing it as part of their identity. While those portrayals have their place, this story offered something different. Instead of settling into the darkness, the male lead desperately reached for the light the moment it presented itself to him. He didn't romanticize his pain. He didn't cling to it. He clawed his way out of it
And to me, that's beautiful
It captures something deeply human—that even when we're faced with despair, there remains a part of us that wants to survive, to keep moving forward, and to find something worth living for. No matter how broken we become, there is often still a small voice within us reaching for the possibility of a better tomorrow. The story portrays that struggle so honestly that it becmes impossible not to root for him
That's why seeing them find happiness together was so satisfying. Not just happiness, but contentment. They became each other's guiding light, and through that mutual salvation, they nurtured a love that eventually became a home—a place they could always return to no matter how difficult life became. There is something incredibly comforting about seeing two people who were once so lost finally find peace within each other
And honestly... maybe I'm just lonely as hell
The fact that I spent most of this review talking about the male lead probably says a lot about how much I gravitated toward his character. His struggles felt painfully relatable at times. The feeling of being stuck, of not knowing where you're supposed to be in life, of desperately searching for something that gives meaning to your existence—I understood all of that far more than I'd like to admit
Another thing that genuinely made me tear up was when Kasumi mentioned how Chinatsu's father sounded so sad when he called out to him for the last time
Because when you really think about it, Chinatsu was all he had left
After murdering his wife and losing his eldest son, Chinatsu became the only remaining connection he had to the life he had destroyed. In a twisted and tragic way, I think he saw Chinatsu as both his salvation and his punishment. Chinatsu was a reminder of everything he had done, but also the only thing keeping him anchored to reality
The tragedy lies in how he tried to cope with that guilt
Instead of confronting his sins, he attempted to mold Chinatsu into someone just like himself—as if making Chinatsu carry the same burdens and darkness would somehow lessen the weight of his own guilt. He wanted Chinatsu to inherit the consequences of actions that were never his to bear. It was selfish, cruel, and deeply tragic because, at its core, it came from a man who could neither forgive himself nor fully accept responsibility for what he had done
And I think that's why it devastated him to see Chinatsu finally find his own light
Not within his father. Not within the expectations forced upon him. But within someone else
Within a future that didn't revolve around carrying his father's sins
For the first time, Chinatsu chose a path that belonged entirely to him, and in doing so, he broke free from the cycle that had defined his life. It was painful, but it was also beautiful
It feels like I've read this years ago—probably at a time when I was far too simple-minded to truly appreciate everything this book had to offer beyond its incredible artwork. Looking back, I can tell I was most likely just scrolling through it mindlessly, admiring the visuals without really paying attention to the dialogue, the conversations, and the emotions hidden between the lines
But I've grown since then, and so has my outlook on life. The way I see the world, the way I understand people, and the way I appreciate stories have all changed. Reading this now felt so wholesome and profound that I genuinely found myself wondering whether I was even worthy of experiencing such a masterpiece hahaha
From the very beginning, I already had an idea of where the story was heading. Seeing how dull and detached the male lead's outlook on life was, contrasted by how the main character seemed like a spark of light among the "dull," I could already feel the themes taking shape in my mind. It became clear that this wasn't simply a story about romance—it was about grief, healing, and finding hope in places where hope seems impossible to find. More than anything, it was about discovering purpose within yourself and finding a place that truly feels like home
Despite coming from very different circumstances, both characters shared something deeply similar: they were lost. They came from a place of stagnation, loneliness, and a feeling of not belonging anywhere. They were both struggling to find where they fit into the world. I think that's ultimately what drew them together. It felt as though an invisible string was pulling them toward one another, guiding them toward a meeting that was inevitable. They were destined to cross paths, and in many ways, they became each other's salvation
What I particularly loved was how hopeful the story allowed its characters to be. So often, stories portray people becoming comfortable in their suffering, almost embracing it as part of their identity. While those portrayals have their place, this story offered something different. Instead of settling into the darkness, the male lead desperately reached for the light the moment it presented itself to him. He didn't romanticize his pain. He didn't cling to it. He clawed his way out of it
And to me, that's beautiful
It captures something deeply human—that even when we're faced with despair, there remains a part of us that wants to survive, to keep moving forward, and to find something worth living for. No matter how broken we become, there is often still a small voice within us reaching for the possibility of a better tomorrow. The story portrays that struggle so honestly that it becmes impossible not to root for him
That's why seeing them find happiness together was so satisfying. Not just happiness, but contentment. They became each other's guiding light, and through that mutual salvation, they nurtured a love that eventually became a home—a place they could always return to no matter how difficult life became. There is something incredibly comforting about seeing two people who were once so lost finally find peace within each other
And honestly... maybe I'm just lonely as hell
The fact that I spent most of this review talking about the male lead probably says a lot about how much I gravitated toward his character. His struggles felt painfully relatable at times. The feeling of being stuck, of not knowing where you're supposed to be in life, of desperately searching for something that gives meaning to your existence—I understood all of that far more than I'd like to admit
Another thing that genuinely made me tear up was when Kasumi mentioned how Chinatsu's father sounded so sad when he called out to him for the last time
Because when you really think about it, Chinatsu was all he had left
After murdering his wife and losing his eldest son, Chinatsu became the only remaining connection he had to the life he had destroyed. In a twisted and tragic way, I think he saw Chinatsu as both his salvation and his punishment. Chinatsu was a reminder of everything he had done, but also the only thing keeping him anchored to reality
The tragedy lies in how he tried to cope with that guilt
Instead of confronting his sins, he attempted to mold Chinatsu into someone just like himself—as if making Chinatsu carry the same burdens and darkness would somehow lessen the weight of his own guilt. He wanted Chinatsu to inherit the consequences of actions that were never his to bear. It was selfish, cruel, and deeply tragic because, at its core, it came from a man who could neither forgive himself nor fully accept responsibility for what he had done
And I think that's why it devastated him to see Chinatsu finally find his own light
Not within his father. Not within the expectations forced upon him. But within someone else
Within a future that didn't revolve around carrying his father's sins
For the first time, Chinatsu chose a path that belonged entirely to him, and in doing so, he broke free from the cycle that had defined his life. It was painful, but it was also beautiful
Eugh
This story really got me, I'm dying alone lmaooo