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why did this happen? why did i do that back then? was i doing wrong this whole time?

how did things turn out this way? is this my fault?


this kind of feeling is called regret

regret is the feeling of sadness or disappointment over something that someone did or thinks they have failed to do


... especially when drastic events occur, humans quickly feel regret
how could i not see this coming? if i had done that in the past could i have prevented this?

regret is as human an emotion as can be. it exists because humans can think. thinking about what happened in the past and reflecting on it is one of the most human things possible. and regret is the negative part of this reflective process. it often leads to questioning ones life up until this point.

and fujimoto tatsukis one shot "look back" is about this part of the human condition

it is about regret and it is about dealing with these feelings of regret and coming to accept that the past can not be changed, no matter how hard one tries.

but in look back, fujimoto thematises not only regret, but also the joy of creating with and for other humans and themes of dependance and independence. I could write so much more just about how dependence is used in fujimotos manga, but im a bit too lazy right now. so regret is what im gonna focus on.

fitting for the manga format, what the main characters, fujino and kyoumoto, interestingly sharing kanjis with the mangaka fujimoto himself, create is manga.

the story starts out in elementary school with both of them publishing their works in the school newspaper.

they become rivals at first and soon friends, working together to create, bringing joy to each other through their company and creations. nonetheless this is not an equal friendship! kyoumoto adores fujino, and is almost fully dependent on her in the beginning. slowly she gains more and more independence, and as she does seem to have found her independence

in classic fujimoto fashion, of course there has to be some kind of break. and through this break, fujino gets to know regret. and hast to find a, also classically fujimoto-esque, funny but also deeply touching way to deal with these newfound feelings, this regret to ever let kyoumoto become dependent and then again gain independence from her.

so, to anyone who wants to read a deeply touching manga that deals with deeply touching themes of the human condition, deals with the joy to create and share with others, with regret, while still staying funny, and in short format. look no further, because this manga is all of it. and i wholly recommend it!