Hibari no Asa

[Swanwire]

Loved it: I'm one of those schmucks who gave it 10 stars. The comments prepared me for a depressing ending, but

Spoiler

there's no indication that she committed suicide or anything. Yeah, she seems to have run away from home, but that rids her of her primary danger, and if she's graduated high school, then she's an adult and can do as she likes. The title is “Hibari's Morning,” referencing the morning that she stops holding her breath and tries to start making her own way—because staying any longer will kill her. But she won't tell us how she plans to live now because everyone who has had a chance to help has failed her, by being powerless or cruel or just unwilling to shoulder some risk. The ending felt like an FU to her audience, and I loved it. If anything, I thought the ending was hopeful.

 

[Mangolala]

Really great storytelling about someone dying at the hands of people not trying to kill her but failing to help her. A story of selfishness, self-centeredness, pettiness and powerlessness.

I love how it spits on common trope like the aloof but kind guy, who ends up being the one with the least ability for empathy. The only one who really tried to talk to her was the high school boy, but what can children do? Often, not much. The adults were the ones who should have done something.

Overall a really good mood piece.