Blood on the Tracks - Vol. 17 Ch. 153 - A Quiet Space

[Marxofcain]

People forget that most of Oshimi's work follow an autobiographical tendency

I will add that (obviously) he didn't go through this level of abuse but apparently his mother was controlling and even ripped up a love letter he got from a girl in middle school.

 

[koollinade]

It's probably just my lack of knowledge and amount of mangas read lmao, but I think it ended in the best way it could've ended in, even if he went through all for nothing in the simplest way possible, there were times I wished that seiichi did end his life, but there were also times I was glad that he was still alive until now, the mangaka did a great job on expressing and presenting the situation, it felt as if I was seiichi himself, all his thoughts, feelings, his senses, from sight to taste was all I was feeling, I'd feel dread, peace, happiness and more, at the start, I was awfully confused, then it went to understanding and acceptance, and back to confusion, like a loop, like how seiichi could not escape his mother, and everytime he found peace for himself he would crawl back to the person who put him through hell and over, whether it was his fault or her's, and I felt this feeling, I can't explain it, when his father died, and when he met his mother again, and from taking care of her to her death, this feeling was lingering over me, it was probably paranoia, but it wasn't in a negative way, at the same time it was, I couldn't stand the feeling, so when it came to the end where seiichi finally grew up, matured, and couldn't remember his mother's face, the feeling washed away, it brought me back to where I was, reading the manga, and not in seiichi's body, it made me feel so happy, that everything came to an end, his father passed peacefully and seiichi fulfilled his wishes, ending the relationship not with distance but with acceptance, even if it was after his death, he finally understood his mother, the increasing anxiety over him over, his childhood crush living knowing the boy she loved and couldn't stay with, the boy she related to so much was also in a stable situation, and that, even if his mother wasn't completely gone that smile of hers wouldn't stay any longer, but anyways I'll stop yapping now I'll just say I don't think I'll ever experience this feeling again

 

[Valentfred]

Damn, what a ride. And the ending was just... I loved it, it was realistic. Truly a gut-wrenching experience.

 

[moonmoon1802]

I am not sure what I think of this ending I am still dissapointed that the author made Sei kill his cousin but I guess this ending was better than I expected kind of. Although I genuinely feel disgusting and messed up after binge reading the whole thing. I truly wish to cry but cannot and I am so sad that Sei did not really get a happy ending just a content one which fits the narrative of the story but not my personal wishes. This manga had some relatable aspects so I would be happy to see the main character live a happy life at the end somehow. I feel so melancholic because of all this this was definitely one of the worst binge reads to do because it is so heavy and I wish I digested it a bit more while reading but I was just very curious about what was to come next. The artwork was beatiful and I loved the story until chapter 85 and to his credit the author did "fix" it to the best of his ability after the disaster of chapter 85 in my opinion. Honestly what a good manga htough it truly did mess me up real good.

 

[zerio]

Finally managed to finish this.
Honestly, I don't like the way this was written. There were so many illusions and imaginations, and it always happened when they were about to reveal facts.
I'm still not sure if Seiichi was really thrown from the cliff when he was kid.
Not sure if his mom really pushed Shigeru.
Not sure how Shigeru could visit Seiichi, why he wanted to go to the mountain, and if Seiichi really did kill him.

Sure, it's a good depiction of mental illness. I also like the part after timeskip where he dealt with his dad and his mom.
But I really wish the facts are clearer.

 

[Ar2009]

I liked it and not. Sei got his peaceful end at the cost of his wellbeing. Shigeru got what he deserved, but didn’t deserve death. Mother got her freedom, but wanted Sei in the end. And Fukiishi, she got love, but not from the boy she wanted. I like this

 

[eirianrobotto]

That's the good life. Reading books and not being a kiddy fiddler.
Congrats, Seiichi.

Now, we can get to the part where he discovers friendship.
It's gonna happen, right?
Take up line dance or something.

 

[PuffBottom]

nice

 

[SmallFox]

I discovered and finished this manga recently, so here are a few thoughts on some topics mentioned in comments - here or in previous chapters.

I'm not a native English speaker, so I apologize for any errors.

Entertainment​

I don't think the purpose of this story is to entertain. Rather - as others pointed out - it's a study. It's understandable that people looking for entertainment are disappointed - both by ending and some twists along the way, but I believe it's not the manga's fault.

To some of us, it's a way to relate and talk about our own experience, for others it's a way to understand people more.

And actually, I think that many people who don't relate and don't understand it are the lucky ones, in a way.

"But I don't like to read about real world! I read to escape from it!" Yes, that's valid, but in that case - this manga simply isn't for you. (And I don't mean it in a bad way. It's just different type of stories and Oshimi isn't the only one making them.)

Ending​

For reasons I just described, I believe the story ended exactly where it should.

I understand why some readers might feel that the end was dragged and should finish much sooner, maybe even before the timeskip. And actually - if the purpose of the manga is to just entertain, I might even agree. We would have a some kind of horror with the introduction, the main act, and the clear conclusion - either bad (Sei ends with his mother forever or ends in the juvenile detention) or good (Sei escapes and lives with Yuiko happily ever after.)

However, as a study, that wouldn't cut it. The life is not that simple and I believe this manga describes that very well. The feeling of dragged and somewhat simple ending is very important part of it.

About Confusing Parts​

The scene where Seiichi pushed Shigeru from the hill was seemingly random or confusing to many. When I was reading that, I didn't feel lost or anything, instead I had a couple of ideas how to interpret it. The thing is - there are some advanced ways how to tell a story and this particular arc requires certain skill to interpret it. Personally, I partially learned the skill while reading Umineko no Naku Koro ni (When the Seagulls Cry) which forever changed how I look at stories. Before, I would be completely clueless, too.

So rather than asking "what the heck is going on?", I was just wondering where it's going to lead and feared that Seiichi will do what he ultimately did. (I got that from another work of the Umineko author,

Spoiler: but even just naming it is a spoiler

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

.)

Additionally, this kind of storytelling has a very interesting and maybe weird taste. I would like to compare it to olives: I heard somewhere that everyone hates olives first, you just need to eat lots of them to start liking them. I'm exactly like that about unclear, weird, abstract, highly metaphorical scenes, especially in anime (for example Neon Genesis Evangelion, Animatrix, and Genius Party Beyond.)

Btw. I don't like olives.

Strongest Panel​

For me, the emotionally strongest part is the chapter 32, page 19, where Seiichi and Yuiko are hiding from Seiko. The way Yuiko looks at Sei just before covering his ears is so powerful here! Maybe I'm just projecting there, but I see

• Compassion with his situation.
• Strength to endure it.
• Willingness to stay by his side.

"I'm here with you!"

Maybe it hits me so much, because I had been on both sides in similar situations and I have an idea how hard it must be...

Overall​

I like this manga a lot. It really feels like Oshimi really understands what he's talking about and can express it very well. It was huge emotional rollercoaster, miserable, scary, hopeful, depressing. Definitely not for everyone, but that's not a bad thing.

(P.S.: I didn't end up with my Yuiko either.)

 

[yurimakesmeuglycry]

Saddest ending out of anything I've read by him so far...

 

[palegrey]

even as an old woman when he first reunited with her after so many years he saw her as young and perfect. Over time he saw her real face and aged look, watched her die, and now completely dead even in his mind that he can't recall how she looked. Not a bad symbolic ending but the way we got here could have been better and less simplistic?

 

[Smokey-san]

And its finally over. This manga was ok. Wasn't some great masterpiece that everyone makes it out to be but it was alright

 

[MPawar]

Made me almost cry 😭, I need to adapt and process this shi