This was a really hard read. I think everyone has gone through their middle school-age years and realized how brutal some kids can be. The narrator and Kojima's connection was set up really well but one can also infer that it's a result of them trauma bonding. As always, Kawakami's novel is littered with very visual scenery and moments that make you feel sentimental, plenty of images that fit a said moments. It was also very brutal but that's what some people are going through. I kind of wish it was longer and I just wish I liked it more. I'm happy for the narrator's release and freedom at the end, no matter how it's not neatly wrapped in a nice little package. I also usually love open ended endings but something about this one just doesn't feel right.