Confession

Gr 10 Up–Ishikura and Asai are two friends who have unfortunately gotten lost on a mountain hike after the snowy weather takes a hazardous turn. With the blizzard getting worse and Ishikura’s leg injured, he is certain he will not make it until morning. With this grim fate set in his mind, Ishikura confides a dark secret to Asai—a deathbed confession—and begs him for the peace of forgiveness. After Asai grants it, the storm shifts and Asai spots their cabin destination where they can call for help. Seemingly safe now, the paranoia over a shared secret plagues them as they wait for rescue, leaving the two ample time to question whether the threat has really passed and how far someone will go to defend themselves. Kawaguchi and Fukumoto have crafted a masterpiece. The art is well executed and blends seamlessly with the prose. The characters are flawed but realistic, and as the story progresses, readers will question how they would react in this situation, which is only compounded by the shocking twist ending. The result is an uncertainty about whether the creeping feeling of paranoia is justified, as judgements are formed about the characters and their motivations, enhancing the sheer genius of the story.