I loved the deliverance of Hajime being portrayed as a monster until he is unveiled, not just in looks, but also with insight on his situation and maybe a better understanding of why he did what he did. And the significance of plants smelling “of life” was so beautiful. The scene of Hikaru waking up in the hospital bed after the kiss was so gut wrenching and a beautiful way to end this book.
This one is probably going to stick with me for a little while. Not for a bad or triggering reason, but because Hikaru’s thoughts and drowning guilt felt so real. This whole books felt like a beautiful and woeful moment, frozen in time. Especially with the dates being the same as when they first met. What a lovely detail
