[DeepL Translation - needs review] Introduction to Volume 1: Masafumi Shizurai has no memory of more than a year and a half ago. Prone to memory lapses, he keeps a diary of his daily life, which he uses to search for his former lover, a man named "M". One day, he suddenly becomes friends with Nakagami, the master of his favorite coffee shop. As they search for "M" together, Shizarai becomes attracted to Nakagami and at the same time begins to think that he - Mamoru Nakagami - might be "M" hi...
Impressively good BL novel
I think this is one of the most engaging books I’ve ever read, I was genuinely gripped the entire way through.
Our protagonist Shizurai is a repeat amnesiac who lives alone in a small apartment. He only knows he’s a repeat amnesiac thanks to the diary he found in his apartment, detailing his romantic involvement with someone called “M”. Together with the owner of the local quaint boutique cafe he likes to frequent, he visits the places he wrote about in his diary in the hope it’ll jog his memory and he’ll be able to find “M” again. Who is “M”? Why does Shizurai have burn scars? Are you the same person as your past self if you don’t share his memories?
My only complaint about the entire first volume (I haven’t read any of the other volumes yet) is the what felt like a bonus chapter at the end from the POV of the バイト at the cafe that I just skim read.
I’m not really a mystery person and this does kind of become a mystery centric novel, but by that point I was so invested in the characters that I absolutely wanted to know the answers. The end gives you enough answers to feel satisfied while also wanting more.
The writing itself is really nice, not too complex and I found myself highlighting a lot of phrases and sentences to use/be inspired by as I start creative writing exercises in Japanese myself. The characters actions and feelings felt basically 99% reasonable the entire way through, my jaw actually dropped at some places, I physically couldn’t put it down on a few occasions, what more could you want?
It is a BL novel and does have a couple of sex scenes and NSFW illustrations so something to be aware of if you’re reading in public!
I’m not really sure how this story can go on for another 3 volumes is my only real concern.