[Finished Reading] #100 "Ano Ko no Kawari"

"Ano Ko no Kawari"

Author: Mana Sakura

The first thing I thought after finishing this book was,
the feeling that "it's genuinely scary, yet genuinely realistic."

It's not that any major dramatic events occur.
But the relationship definitely starts to drift apart.

That feels incredibly real, and there's no escape from it.

A best friend's pregnancy.
An event that should normally be celebrated,
in this story, it gradually warps their relationship.

There is a desire to celebrate.
But somewhere in the heart, something gets stuck.

The feeling of being left behind. The self that ends up comparing. The indescribable sense of discomfort.

This work scoops up those "unspoken emotions" exactly as they are.

This is where the title "Ano Ko no Kawari" (A Substitute for That Girl) hits home.

A substitute for someone.
In other words, an existence that doesn't have to be you.

But as you read on, you realize something.

This feeling isn't just about someone special,
it's a feeling that exists within everyone, perhaps.

Whether in love, friendship, or society,
the moments where you can be "the only one" are actually not that many.

That is precisely why people
want to be on the "chosen side."

And I think what makes this story amazing is
that it doesn't make anyone completely evil.

People hurt others unconsciously.

There is no malice.
But those words and choices
are definitely whittling something away for the other person.

And what's more, it happens between those who are closest to each other.

That's why it's all the more painful.

Looking at the cover again now, it gives me the chills.

A red background.
Two people facing each other.
But their faces are hidden, and they aren't truly facing one another.

And then, the ribbons and chains wrapped around their bodies.

This is truly symbolic, and what looks like a "connection" at first glance
is actually also a form of "restraint."

Friendship, empathy, and kindness—
all of these can sometimes become shackles.

The desire to "understand someone"
can, conversely, end up binding them.

Even more striking are the three dogs at the bottom.

They are all "dogs," yet they are all different.

This is likely the core of this story,
that no matter how close people are, they can never be the same.

Life doesn't progress at the same pace for everyone,
nor do people make the same choices.

Yet, the relationship continues.

That is why it drifts apart.

This story is not about a relationship breaking.

Rather, I thought it was a story about
a relationship that becomes distorted without ever breaking.

That is exactly why it is scary.

It doesn't end.
But it will never go back to the way it was.

After finishing it, I don't feel refreshed.

If anything, it leaves a slightlygrittyfeeling.

In the end, there are moments when people become a replacement for someone else.

But in the midst of that,
will you still stay here,
or will you leave?

You are forced to make that choice.

This book does not give you the answer.

It just quietly,
shows you the 'discrepancies' that exist within relationships.

#ASubstituteForThatGirl #ManaSakura
#FinishedReading #Reading #ReadingRecord #ReadingDiary #ReadingClub #ReadingNotes #BookReview #LifeWithBooks #WantToConnectWithBookLovers #Bookstagram #BookIntroduction #RecommendedBooks
#JapanBooksellersAward