Imagine not being able to remember what you did yesterday, and the day before yesterday, and before that. Scary, right? This is the life of Maori Hino. Due to an accident she got into during her highschool. Maori developed anterograde amnesia. Because of this, she cannot make any new memories beyond the day of her accident. Waking up to the horror of her new disease, to accepting the painful reality, is Maori’s everyday life. In this endless loop blooms a love story, one that ends in a tragedy.
“Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight” written by Misaki Ichijo and translated in English by Winifred Bird (2022), originally published in February 2020 by KADOKAWA, is a sentimental tragic love story between two teens. Although the story is somewhat predictable right from the title itself, you will still have tears rolling down your cheeks. A drama filled slice of life, romantic tragedy that will definitely live up to your expectations. However, it does include mention of death multiple times, so you might want to look out if you are sensitive to it.
The novel opens from Toru’s point of view as he narrates us through his life since he was forced by the class bullies to fake confess to Maori Hino, the prettiest girl of their grade. Thinking it of a one time event, Toru acts accordingly to protect his friend, Shimokawa, from being bullied. Then one event led to another and now he is dating Maori. Fake dating to be specific.
Over the course of almost three weeks, the couple did not have any serious conversation, until one Saturday afternoon. They were out for a picnic date. Being around Maori brought comfort in Toru’s heart. As a child he never had any crush because of classic sister complex. But being around Maori helped him feel relaxed. That’s when he realized he had actually fallen in love with Maori.
“Is it okay if I fall in love with you?”
“No, it is not”
As we move into Maori’s point of view, we learn the reason behind her negative response and 2 other conditions that she had laid down before they had started dating. Maori eventually comes clean to Toru about her condition. Although shocked, the boy in love was not ready to give up on her. He asked her not to write about this incident in her diary and everything will go back to normal. And it did.
From this point on the story gets a bit slow, just pages filled with predictable happy days montage. However, there is no noticeable growth in their relationship itself which is rather disappointing. You will only see efforts from Toru’s end, but nothing from Maori.
It quickly starts gaining its pace back from when Toru delves into learning more about Maori’s condition. We also see a shift in the narrative from a different point of view more often, Including the perspective of Izumi Wataya, Maori’s best friend, who carries the story down to its last moment.
The ending comes with a rather predictable twist. However, it just happens without any story build up to that moment. How the reader will accept the ending is definitely up to the readers to decide.
Just two years after publication the novel received a movie adaptation on July 29, 2022 directed by Takahiro Miki, starring Shunsuke Michieda of Naniwa Danshi and Riko Fukumoto. The movie was a huge success at home and abroad. The cinematography definitely gave the novel a life by such an amazing adaptation. It is so beautifully translated into motion that I might just recommend the movie over the novel.
If you are craving for some heart wrenching, bitter sweet, tear jerking love story. “Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight” will be the right book to pick up . Do not forget to pair it with a tub of ice cream and tissues!
after watching the movie I feel like I am in the middle of the mirror of the sky which has formed just by the tears