[Favorite Bookshelf #0016] "After the Rain" by Jun Mayuzuki

With the New Year's mood still lingering, I have nothing in particular to do, so I find myself watching the Hakone Ekiden relay marathon every year.
It's not that I'm rooting for a specific university, nor am I familiar with the rankings.
I just gaze blankly at the students running on the other side of the television screen.

Rather than the act of running itself,
I am reminded of someone who once spent their time in a period where "running was just a natural part of life."
From that, a manga suddenly came to mind.

The reason I chose this book today

As I have written several times before, it takes a bit of effort for me to read books with a clear introduction, development, twist, and conclusion.
The more complete a story is, the more I feel I have to focus and engage with it,
so I end up being picky about the timing and energy I have for reading.

The same goes for romance manga; it's not that I dislike them.
However, with ongoing series, I find myself getting emotionally swayed by the developments,
or overthinking things from an adult's perspective,
which often prevents me from focusing on the story itself.

In that sense, **After the Rain** is already complete.
There is a sense of security in being able to read it knowing the ending,
and it lacks the intense emotional ups and downs of typical romance manga.

The Ekiden is just a trigger, not the theme.
What I remembered while watching the students run
was this story, which depicts what happens after one can no longer run.

At the beginning of the year, when the engine of daily life hasn't quite started up yet.
I wanted to distance myself a little from the anxiety of feeling like I have to start something,
so I chose this book.

When I first encountered it

I bought it in October 2016.
It was a popular work, but I remember being a bit wary of the term "age-gap romance"
and putting off reading it.

When I actually read it, more than the romance itself,
the depiction of time standing still and emotions that couldn't be put into words left a strong impression.
Even after finishing it, it has become a book that I often recall
on rainy days or days when I don't have much emotional breathing room.

Synopsis

Akira Tachibana. 17 years old. Second-year high school student.
She is not very expressive and seems cool, but she hides a secret crush in her heart.

The object of her affection is the manager of the family restaurant where she works part-time.
He has a bit of bedhead,
his zipper is sometimes down,
and he has a bald spot on the back of his head—a lackluster middle-aged man.

A girl who stopped in the middle of her youth, and
an adult who has reached the halfway point of his life.
It's not flashy, but it's a love story that quietly remains in your heart.

Favorite points

The way the time spent unable to run is not invalidated
Akira's void after she could no longer continue track and field
is not forced into a positive meaning.
The time spent standing still is also properly depicted as a part of life.

The way the lackluster adult is properly depicted as an adult
Rather than coolness or reliability,
the sincerity of his words and attitude gradually accumulates.

The way emotional ups and downs are gentle
Not rushing for excitement or conclusions,
but valuing distance and silence is what makes this work unique.

When I want to read this

・On New Year's Day, when time seems to flow slowly
・When you don't feel like starting anything new
・When you aren't looking for excitement in a romance manga
・On an afternoon when you want to quietly turn the pages

E-book notes

Available as an e-book.
Since it's not a long series at only 10 volumes, starting with the manga is highly recommended.
Personally, I think reading it all at once at a manga cafe without buying it is the best way to enjoy it.

When you find it hard to follow text, the anime version is great, and
if you have travel time during the holidays, starting with the visual version is also a good idea.
There is also a live-action film version, so it's also suitable when you want to experience the atmosphere of the story through film.

A one-sentence summary.

A story about what happens after you can no longer run,
recalled by the sight of a student running.
A book that will quietly stay by your side during the margins of the New Year.