“People die all the time. Life is a lot more fragile than we think. So you should treat others in a way that leaves no regrets. Fairly, and if possible, sincerely.”
Chapter 1: The Suicide Note
The novel opens with Kazami Kano, a young woman in Tokyo, learning about the suicide of her close friend, Saki. Saki had been translating a collection of short stories titled NP by the late writer Sarao Takase. The book is rumored to be cursed—translators and readers connected to it have died by suicide. Kazami becomes entangled in the mystery when she meets Otohiko, Sarao’s son, and his half-sister, Sui.
Chapter 2: The Cursed Manuscript
Kazami delves deeper into the enigma of NP, discovering that the 97th story in the collection was never published. Those who read it allegedly take their own lives. Otohiko reveals that his father had an incestuous relationship with his sister, which may have influenced the dark themes of the book.
Chapter 3: The Haunted Translator
Saki’s ghost seems to linger, and Kazami struggles with grief and guilt. She grows closer to Otohiko and Sui, who share fragmented memories of Sarao’s disturbing behavior. The trio begins to question whether the curse is real or a psychological manifestation of unresolved trauma.
Chapter 4: The Unfinished Story
Kazami finally reads the unpublished 97th story, which mirrors the lives of Sarao’s children. The narrative blurs reality and fiction, suggesting that the characters might be trapped in a loop of fate. Sui, who has a psychic connection to her father’s writing, becomes increasingly unstable.
Chapter 5: Breaking the Cycle
Kazami and Otohiko confront the emotional weight of Sarao’s legacy. Sui attempts suicide but survives, symbolizing a possible escape from the curse. The novel ends ambiguously—whether the curse was real or a metaphor for inherited pain remains unresolved.
Key Ideas
- The blurred line between fiction and reality in shaping human fate.
- The psychological impact of unresolved trauma and familial secrets.
- The cyclical nature of grief and the possibility of breaking free from it.
- The power of literature to both haunt and heal.
- The fragility of life and the importance of sincere human connections.
Who should read this book?
- Fans of psychological fiction with supernatural undertones.
- Readers interested in Japanese literature exploring trauma and existential themes.
- Those who appreciate introspective narratives about grief and human fragility.