Overtime: Japanese female writer urban novel series

Author: (Japanese) Kitagawa Eriko, translated by Li Jianyun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: "People think the back view is beautiful because it evokes a sense of standing behind and watching the person leave, with a gentle gaze. Sending off a loved one, parents watching their child go to school, a wife watching her husband go to work—all involve gazing at their backs." Like Long Vacation, the story of this book is also about a sibling relationship under the same roof, but the ending is vastly different.
Katsura Ichiro, a 25-year-old photojournalist, doesn’t chase the news at the gas explosion scene but rescues the injured instead. As a result, he is transferred to a desk job and moves to Tokyo to live with his older sister, Haruko. But while he fails in his career, he succeeds in love—his rescued innocent female college student, Komari, finds him and becomes his girlfriend.
Kasahara Natsuki, a 29-year-old beautician and a lodger in Haruko’s house, is in a relationship with Dr. Hisashi, which is close to engagement. Suddenly, the situation takes a turn. Ichiro is fired, and his photo collection The Back View is rejected by the publisher. Too proud to confess the truth to Komari, he instead faces misunderstanding and a tearful breakup. Fortunately, Natsuki’s steadfast encouragement gives Ichiro the courage to enter the overtime of life.
The situation changes again. Hisashi abandons Natsuki and moves to the United States, leaving Ichiro to comfort her. In a moment of emotional confusion, the two have a one-night stand but soon realize they are not suited for each other—close friends may not be lovers, just as the "back" is not the same as the "front."
After the storm, Komari and Hisashi both change their minds. Watching Natsuki run into Hisashi’s arms, Ichiro captures her back view.