I had no intention of going through this all in a day, but I had to finish what was unfolding before me. I also had no intention of writing this review, but here I am. It is my job to not let anyone reading this review pass up on this series, and I will tell you why.
You know from the beginning that the protagonist decides his life is essentially worthless and so he sells off the majority of the life he has left. So, what does a worthwhile final few months spent living look like? Whether you've thought about this before in your life or not is irrelevant.
What is relevant, is the question that our protagonist is asked repeatedly by Miyagi when he wakes up: "Mr. Kusonoki, how will you spend your day?"
We live in a time where many people will empathize with Kusonoki. Millions of people have lost hope over the course of their lives as they become filled with regret and self hate. If such a business were to ever open up, I have no doubt people would trade their time, lifespan or health for money.
Can a short story show you a better way to live? I'm telling you yes, yes it can.
What this story does is remind you that none of that makes you who you are. You are not shackled by your past. You are shown so elegantly that all that matters is who you decide you will be from today forward. So how does our protagonist do it?
Everything was executed poignantly. There is plenty of time for the character interactions to bloom elegantly, and nothing feels rushed as it all unfolds with ease and grace. I will refrain from going into detail about anything already in the synopsis. What I will say is that while this is not a handbook for turning your life around, the principles given for creating a life of value are honestly worth reflecting on.
Readers should know that there is also a bit of a romantic development in the story. It is not by any means rushed, nor does it outshine the main message the author is trying to tell. It coincides perfectly. By no means is the main focus for my manga collection romance, but rather diving into compelling, impactful storytelling accompanied by beautifully drawn art. You’ll get all of that here, but it just so happens to be wrapped in a cute little bow that just might warm your heart or require some pocket tissues. Seriously.
It is also worth mentioning how proper the most subtly drawn expressions are at just the right times. I value manga highly for art, and while this isn't the best art I've seen in my life, it is very, very good at capturing perfectly the emotions conveyed by the characters. There are also some moving, powerfully thought out, symbolic panels. You'll know what I mean when you get there.
I hope that for anyone who decided to give this manga a chance and who relates to the core message of this story, whatever your burden may be- I hope that you are inspired by lessons presented here and use them to make yourself the best you, so that in turn you can pass that flame onto the world. This series holds the torch for that example, and I am so thankful to have discovered it.
10/10 - I will probably read this every year.
**Note to get the best reading experience**
There are two added chapters, 8.5 and 16.5. For me, I accidentally read them out of order and I don't want you to do the same if you want the best experience. If you want to try it how I recommend, do the following:
After chapter 8, read the chapter "I say a little prayer", which should be 8.5 but may possibly be labeled as 16.5 like it was for me. Don't go by the numbers, look at the title. After chapter 16 (the final chapter), read the extra chapter "The unspoken lightness of being", which will wrap up the story properly and won't spoil anything for you.
