I read this again and man... still hits like a truck. I cry easily so yeah. Like, I had to like to sit back and take a deep breath after reading it. Sheesh.
Great story, yet creepy at the same time. I wonder what happened to her (died in an accident?) and if what he sees is an illusion or a ghost? (I would say ghost).
My guess is that she was murdered/died in the school holding onto her love for touji so her spirit remains in the school waiting for him. The outside conditions are probably affected by her as well
to make feels in 22 pages, 22 pages with enough text to fill maybe 2 pages in a proper book. I am now fully convinced THIS is true writing talent. I read alot and often get less attached to characters in 500X the amount of content. That is past skillful into masterful... I clap for you and the others who are really underrated as authors in the world.
10 years...When it starts that way, you can kind of tell it's going to be a tragic or heartbreaking story. And it...Kind of turned out that way. I really like the way this was told. There isn't too much explanation of what actually happened, just bits of narration from him, his interactions with his vision of her (or illusion, as he calls it), as well as that last 2 pages... When everything is revealed, it kind of lets you appreciate the previous pages a bit more, I think. Specifically, his previous interactions with her. I am extremely curious about what happened to her, and the circumstances regarding her disappearance...But in a way, I think it's better this way, left as a mystery. Almost makes me think the illusion/vision he sees of her at that abandoned school is her ghost, and she continues to wait for him to come and see her...Always. I just really love this release.
I didn't feel it was heartbreaking so much as bittersweet. I was thinking a ghost too after realizing she's been missing. But I agree i like that you as well as the mc are unsure.