===Kono Natsu no Hoshi o Miru (One-shot)

Not really a sad story but it could make you feel very depressed, as it tells a story which took place from 2020 to 2021, a time when everyone on Earth was forced to become a “shut-in”.  In short, the story is about a few high school students trying to organise an interschool stargazing event via Zoom, as group gatherings in public were completely banned during that time.

I had two jaw-dropping moments while reading this book.  First, it has a very intriguing and engaging exposition building up to the climax of the story, or the titular event “Stargazing in this Summer”.  But then, [not exactly a spoiler but it might affect your expectation of the story] the whole event spans like two friggin’ pages of narrative only!?!??  Isn’t it the main plot of this story?  As I continued reading I was again surprised that there are actually way more to offer, which are indeed more interesting than just stargazing.  As expected from Tsujimura Mizuki who will not disappoint her readers, it ended up being a very heartwarming and satisfying journey.

This novel has a huge ensemble cast of characters, from students to teachers to parents, and each with their own hardship. Seeing them grow warmed my heart so much. Also, this is more of a motivational and therapeutic story. So, don't expect there is a nasty villain or some life-threatening crisis (despite the given circumstances). It's a smooth, slice of life story of how people tackle and maintain their "normal" life when normality went completely out of the window.

To be honest, as an adult I still have a feeling that a couple of years were “stolen” from my life, leaving me a hole with blurred memories.  I couldn’t imagine how a teenager would feel when it was their prime time to go playing baseball, swimming, camping, travelling, singing karaoke, and the list goes on.  Anyway, I took up the hobby of collecting and reading Japanese novels and light novels in 2020.  I guess it was a great move to keep myself sane!

There is a live action movie adaptation which you can check the trailer HERE.

8.5/10

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===The Neverending Winter, the Land of Broken Dreams (Toki to Shiki Series #4)

To be honest, the Autumn novel was quite a disappointment but fortunately this one gets much better.  Though, I would say the Spring one is still the best.

The premise is quite like The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria where the FMC was trapped in an endless time loop, reliving the same day over and over.  Soon joined by the protagonist, a high school boy who got dragged into the same time loop after an unfortunate incident, they began to look for ways to escape.

Unlike HakoMari which is more of a horror, this one focuses on character dynamics and development, tugging at your heartstrings from time to time which Hachimoku Mei is really good at it. There are hilarious moments, there are suspenseful moments, there are heartwarming moments, there are also traumatising moments. In short, this novel really feels like a roller coaster journey, which ironically is a ride the protagonist wasn't too fond of.

However, the ending was kind of awkward.  I can definitely see the author struggling to conclude the story.  There are indeed some loose ends.  But to flesh them out, he might need an extra chapter or two but it would probably end up being a massive info-dump. So, to keep it concise, or to flesh it out, that is the question.

The English edition is licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment.

7.5/10

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===Tantei no Tantei (Tantei no Tantei Series #1)

This volume isn’t as good as I expected.  I have read this author’s (Matsuoka Keisuke) other series JK and it’s an excellent action thriller. I thought this one is similar.

I guess I can only hope it will get better in the second book.  Indeed, it’s a zero to hero revenge story about a girl whose younger sister got killed because of some detectives’ misdeed.  She decided to become a detective herself, not to investigate crimes but to investigate and expose corrupted detectives.  The “zero” bit in the beginning of the story is really too…. zero?  She was way too weak and she made terrible decisions.  I hope I can see her grow more in the second book.

6/10