I've encountered numerous stories about an MC who is a hopeless shell of their former selves. Much of those stories had an irresistibly sweet girl turn them back into a hopeful person again. So, was this novel also only about a meeting of two soulmates?

For me, it was much more than that. It was an incredibly compelling tale, especially for those readers who've wished to sell their own life span at some point in their lives. It gracefully describes loneliness in it's rawest form and how people, when free from the shackles of life, start craving for those chains around their soul once again and then having to face an even greater depression.

The story starts at the lowest point of the MC, Kusonoki's, life yet, and continues to grow more morose while simultaneously getting enriched with some very impactful characterisation and developments oh-so very natural.
There is one aspect of storytelling that I really adore, or if I'm being a little haughty; a standard I use to judge it, that is, the deftness to present something incredibly ordinary in a way that feels like "there is nothing better than this". Whenever I'm caught living lifelessly in my mundane life, I'm reminded that "Ah! These little things are what I found so beautiful in that book..", and that alone makes me a teeny bit happy. And make no mistake, this novel does it to a tee.
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To the ones that either love a "happy" end or a "sad" one, they'll enjoy it's conclusion regardless, as they come to appreciate the journey. Personally, it was one of the most satisfying endings.
Alluringly enough, few of it's ample of great pages come after the story is complete. That is, author Miaki's afterword.

While this beautiful story may very well be conceived as one, Miaki himself mentions that this isn't a grandiose tale about value of life/love, rather a piece of writing meant for that moment where those people pained by their own shallow breaths learn it's beauty when they're about to enter the realm where none may be taken. And I love it all the more for that.

In short, it is an experience to be had.

The lesson I learned after having parted with this book?

~~It is much more charming to close your own umbrella and get drenched with the other person than offer them yours. Even if both of you happen to fall ill.~~ We all wish to feel, to be useful to someone, to anyone. And that isn't really a negative thing. On the contrary, I find it incredibly poignant. Also, I never really parted with this book cause I'll be for sure revisiting this piece of beauty now and again :)

P.S.- Do read a short story from the other MC Miyagi's POV that came alongside this novel called "I Say A Little Prayer", after this novel has been read.