Takao Kasuga is a bookworm. And his favorite book right now is Baudelaire's Flowers of Evil. While the young man may often be seen lost in thought as he rabidly consumes page after page, Takao is not much of a student. Actually when we are first intr... Read more

Takao Kasuga is a bookworm. And his favorite book right now is Baudelaire's Flowers of Evil. While the young man may often be seen lost in thought as he rabidly consumes page after page, Takao is not much of a student. Actually when we are first introduced to the middle school teen, we find him sneaking some reading as he receives and F on a recent language exam.
Nakagawa is known as the class bully. When she is not receiving zeros she is usually muttering profanities to those around her. While she doesn't care for books or their readers, she does have a thing for troublemakers. Takao may not be one, but having read over his shoulder a few times, she knows he is not very innocent. If anything he is bored and aware of it.
Together, by chance, they shake up their entire rural community as Takao tries to break out of his shell in a random moment of passion and affection...not directed towards Nakamura. And contrary to Takao's predictions, the girl he was falling for, Nanako Saeki, responds by eventually accepting the bibliophile for who he is. Or at least, who she thinks he is.
And therein rests the conflict. Takao is not a hero. He is not trouble-maker, either. He is a regular teen who through equal moments of cowardice and chivalry takes a long step towards adulthood as he desperately tries to cover up a dark secret. Takao Kusuga has stolen an item precious to someone he is attracted to, and if he doesn't form a "contract" with his new best friend, she is going to tell.
In the fourth volume of Flowers of Evil, Takao makes his decision...He will try to win Nakamura's affection. This will be no simple task. Sawa Nakamura is one damaged teen. Growing up without a mother has twisted her heart and left her with a warped sense of self. She acts like someone twice her age. Furthermore she is just unhinged with her emotions.
Helping someone like that open up may be impossible, but Takao has thrown away his own humanity. He is in search now of a utopia. One that can only be shared with his best and only friend. One that will be made in the rice paddies and in the mountains. One that pokes fun and underminds every little thin ideal that holds this town together. There is no way their new society will be accepted, but that is exactly what they wanted in the first place. Less