Line

by Yua Kotegawa

On her way to school the beautiful and charming Chiko finds a cell phone someone has dropped. Before she has the chance to take it to the train station lost-and-found, the phone starts ringing. The voice on the other end tells her that a person will die in front of the train station at 3:50! Just as Chiko is about to drop off the phone, the phone rings again. This time the voice instructs Chiko, by name, to get to the roof. Naturally, Chiko hesitates at such a command from a stranger, but moments later the reason for the stranger’s command is clear, as a suicidal girl jumps from that very roof at the exact time predicted.

Chiko and her bookish friend, Bando, witness the suicide, and are the only ones who know about this mysterious phone caller. The adventure that follows, a night of rescue attempts and exploring the mystery of the mysterious caller, is intense and exhausting.

Chiko and Bando’s adventure is not only a race around Tokyo, but also an personal exploration for this odd couple. Chiko is outgoing and popular, and Bando is introverted and largely ignored at school (despite her athletic talents). Both girls learn about themselves and each other as they follow the directions of the strange voice in an effort to prevent suicides around the city.

Who is the mysterious caller? Is he predicting or causing the rash of suicides? The elusive answers to these questions take a back seat to the connection to Chiko and Bando make. This story is more about the ride than the destination, although the reader may be left with unanswered questions, there is a sense of closure at the end. This makes the reader wonder, what will the second volume be about?