Soul Severed from Ahan

Author: Akizuki Junichi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Akizuki Junichi, breaking away from his usual style of writing about extramarital affairs of middle-aged people, begins to reminisce about his own youth. This tragic story, which carries the shadow of Akizuki's own life experiences, will bring us even more heart-stirring impact. Eighteen-year-old genius painter Tatsuko Toda, after disappearing mysteriously for four months, was found dead by the freezing Akan Lake. The ice and snow preserved her still beautiful face. The brilliant flower of youth suddenly withered in the harsh winter of Hokkaido. Twenty years later, Tatsuko's high school lover, who has become a famous writer, Tatsuki, returns to his hometown with memories of his first love to investigate Tatsuko's death. Thus, we see that behind youth lies scheming; in love, there is ulterior motive. Tatsuki visits five men closely related to Tatsuko and her own sister, and he is astonished to discover that, in Tatsuko's eyes, men were merely stepping stones for her ascent. Her youth, beauty, and talent made every man she dated believe that Tatsuko loved them; only her sister Riko spoke of Tatsuko's true feelings—Tatsuko loved herself. However, why would a young, beautiful, and talented painter suddenly take her own life at the peak of her life? What secrets lie behind this? It is a touching story of youth, a beautiful rose that withered too early.