Nonetheless the concept was very intriguing, and from the beginning we are shown countless mysteries. Every time I thought the biggest plot twist had taken place, another one was revealed that made the prior pale in comparison. I found myself saying obscenities due to my shock more times than I care to count, it almost felt never ending how deep the lore kept expanding as if falling into an abyss.

The plethora of double or triple layered characters is something I have never experienced before, and most likely never will again. I came into this expecting an average manga but was blown away by the plot devices that seemed as if they were mocking you for thinking so shallow. Not to mention the vibrant artwork that displayed emotions in such a raw way, i could feel the madness, pain, sorrow, grief, and malice through the pages.

Plot Layout

To expand on the protagonist and the major plot points, Eiji Urashima, or Eiji Hachinoi. Both had their intriguing personality traits, the prior felt more relatable, a clumsy, chill guy who was striving for things we all do, a purpose, love, acceptance, and just a normal peaceful life.

Spoiler, click to view

We really see the extent of his character when he “dies” or his persona is erased, shown by his relationship with Kyouka Yukimura. Through his acceptance of her despite learning the cruel reality of her manipulating him so ruthlessly, showing his selflessness and unconditional love for her, knowing she, just like him had a horrible traumatic past and at the root of her actions was the yearning for someone to love and accept her, which he did in his final moments, thereby changing her and letting her once again feel emotion. Despite as what was said about him “not being human” due to being a created persona, he turned out to show us the most humanly emotions possible.

And the later persona, Eiji Hachinoi, aka “B1”, one could say the complete opposite of his counterpart. Rather than living for simplicity, he lived for revenge, brutal and callous with his thoughts and actions showing no remorse or regret for using all the people around him as mere tools to obtain his goals. Stemming from his trauma of losing both parents and the subsequent harassment and bullying for being the son of a supposed murderer.

Spoiler, click to view

Leading to the creation of the persona Eiji Urashima to cope with his trauma and to stop his mind from breaking. And after the death of that persona, we see his point of view since a child and a retelling of all the prior events, which adds multiple layers on the entire story we’ve been told up to this point. And from then on he has constant revelations that further develop his character, with the climax of learning the truth behind the “LL” murders.

Cementing his process of realizing who he was before all the tragic events, or the gradual joining of both personas. The way we reach the final conclusion is so complex yet explained in a comprehensible way to leave without a shadow of a doubt the truth of it all. Like a thousand piece puzzle put together where everything falls into place perfectly.

In conclusion I got way more out of this than I expected, reading it in a single sitting was quite enjoyable as opposed to my usual long reads. I think this is cream of the crop of the genre, and highly suggest this for any seinen/psychological enjoyers, thank you for reading