血の轍 [Chi no Wadachi] Series by Shuzo Oshimi, 押見修造

Seiichi's mother loves him very much, and his days pass with placid regularity. School, friends, even the attention of his attractive classmate Fukiishi.Until one terrible summer day, that all changes...Shuzo Oshimi (The Flowers of Evil) delivers his most unsettling work yet, the tale of a seemingly normal family suddenly swallowed up by the creeping horror of everyday life... moreSeiichi's mother loves him very much, and his days pass with placid regularity. School, friends, even the attention of his attractive classmate Fukiishi.Until one terrible summer day, that all changes...Shuzo Oshimi (The Flowers of Evil) delivers his most unsettling work yet, the tale of a seemingly normal family suddenly swallowed up by the creeping horror of everyday life. Gorgeous art and an understated script only serve to heighten the tension as we watch Seiichi Osabe's life spiral into nightmare. less

The last days of summer creep toward a violent climax...Seiichi's family begins to fall apart in the wake of his cousin's "accident," but nothing compares to the mental and emotional torture he undergoes as he tries to maintain some sense of self in the face of his mother's manipulations. Torn by his love for her, Seiichi is pushed to the breaking point and finds himself unable to speak, both literally and figuratively... moreThe last days of summer creep toward a violent climax...Seiichi's family begins to fall apart in the wake of his cousin's "accident," but nothing compares to the mental and emotional torture he undergoes as he tries to maintain some sense of self in the face of his mother's manipulations. Torn by his love for her, Seiichi is pushed to the breaking point and finds himself unable to speak, both literally and figuratively.The tension continues to build in Shuzo Oshimi's masterwork of understated psychological horror, as Seiichi falls further and further into the abyss of his mother's unraveling psyche. less

Unable to process the horrifying events of the past few months, Seiichi’s anger, fear, and frustration boil over. But even as he is haunted by the memory of his mother’s hands around his throat, he finds his voice again thanks to his classmate Fukiishi. Their puppy love provides a tenderness he has been missing, but it quickly comes under threat from his mother’s insane jealousy.. moreUnable to process the horrifying events of the past few months, Seiichi’s anger, fear, and frustration boil over. But even as he is haunted by the memory of his mother’s hands around his throat, he finds his voice again thanks to his classmate Fukiishi. Their puppy love provides a tenderness he has been missing, but it quickly comes under threat from his mother’s insane jealousy...Torn between the two women in his life, Seiichi is forced to make a choice that could bring his whole world crashing down. less

Encouraged by Fukiishi to stand up for himself, Seiichi exploded in a moment of rage, telling his mother Seiko, "I don't need you"—the first rebellious act of his young life. Now Fukiishi has offered him sanctuary in her room, hidden from her father and away from the watchful eyes of his own parents. But as Seiichi fumbles toward sexual awakening, his mother's specter is never far from his mind.. moreEncouraged by Fukiishi to stand up for himself, Seiichi exploded in a moment of rage, telling his mother Seiko, "I don't need you"—the first rebellious act of his young life. Now Fukiishi has offered him sanctuary in her room, hidden from her father and away from the watchful eyes of his own parents. But as Seiichi fumbles toward sexual awakening, his mother's specter is never far from his mind...Shuzo Oshimi's masterwork of psychological terror continues, as Seiichi struggles to navigate the tangled web of his competing emotions.Meanwhile, Seiko's desperate search for her son brings her to Fukiishi's doorstep... less

Beset by mental images of his mother, Seiichi flees from Fukiishi's embrace and returns home. Safety and reconciliation aren't the only things that await him there, however.The Osabes have become one big happy family again...but at what cost?Shuzo Oshimi's masterfully nuanced tale of familial horror continues to tighten its grip on the minds of its characters and readers alike.

Shigeru has finally awakened from the coma he's been in since Seiko pushed him off the cliff—but he remembers nothing of the incident, nor does he even recognize his assailant. Rather than setting Seiko's mind at ease, however, this only serves to disturb her further.Meanwhile, Seiichi is determined to keep his promise to his mother—with devastating consequences for everyone around him.

Ordinary middle school student Seiichi Osabe receives love and care from his mother Seiko.Until one summer an incident changes the family dynamic forever.This is a story of a mother's love that has gone too far....

Seiichi's aunt and uncle have arrived to confront Seiko, and the truth has come out at last. The lies—and his family—are falling apart, and Seiichi is left to pick up the pieces...But as he shakes off his mother's influence and faces police questioning, a shocking revelation about his past emerges!!

His mother finally in custody, Seiichi is questioned by police and recovers a memory of being thrown off a cliff just like Shigeru. He begins to free himself from his mother's spell, and even rekindles his relationship with Fukiishi...But even as Seiichi's heart fills with new hope, a strange visitor comes to him in the night—?!

Shigeru's midnight visit leads Seiichi back up the hill where his mother dropped him as a child...and as events begin to fold in on themselves like the layers of his psyche, Seiichi starts to see the past through Mommy's eyes...With one symbolic act, Seiichi can finally free himself of his mother's malign influence—but is this a nightmare, or is it all too real?!

Up on the hill, Seiichi's encounter with Shigeru merges with his own experience of being cast away by his mother, Seiko—and in that moment, he kills Shigeru in order to kill himself, a sacrificial rite to permanently sever his connection with his mother. Taken into custody, Seiichi feels only relief...But Seiko isn't gone from his life yet!!

It's been 20 years since his mother told Seiichi that she renounced motherhood, since she thanked him for being a killer, since he tried to strangle her there in the courtroom—and somehow he made it through. Living alone, working the night shift at a bakery, barely speaking to his father, Seiichi's life is solitary and empty, and he likes it that way. But nothing lasts forever...The grand preface is over—and now the real story begins!!

Seiichi is back home for the first time in ages to inter his father's remains in the family grave. After that, he'll be finished, nothing left to hold him in this world...until he happens to bump into Fukiishi, resurrecting all the feelings he had buried along with his past—Will Seiichi finally find peace in death? Or will the specters of the past keep him here against his will...?

Having finally found himself free to end it all, Seiichi is pulled back from the brink by a telephone call from the police: "We have your mother in protective custody."Facing Seiko for the first time in twenty years, Seiichi finds an old woman who neither recognizes him nor seems to fully recognize herself. And yet, during their strange reunion, her memories return.Seiichi's rage erupts, but he cannot bring himself to strike the woman who plagued his thoughts all these years... moreHaving finally found himself free to end it all, Seiichi is pulled back from the brink by a telephone call from the police: "We have your mother in protective custody."Facing Seiko for the first time in twenty years, Seiichi finds an old woman who neither recognizes him nor seems to fully recognize herself. And yet, during their strange reunion, her memories return.Seiichi's rage erupts, but he cannot bring himself to strike the woman who plagued his thoughts all these years.And later, the feelings in his heart draw him inexorably back to her side...Thus begins their long, long night together—and Seiichi gets his first glimpse into the true source of the darkness within his mother. less

From the creator who brought you notable works such as The Flowers of Evil, Happiness, and Inside Mari, comes his latest suspense drama centering on the theme of a toxic parent.Dive into this latest thriller by master storyteller, Shuzo Oshimi.". moreFrom the creator who brought you notable works such as The Flowers of Evil, Happiness, and Inside Mari, comes his latest suspense drama centering on the theme of a toxic parent.Dive into this latest thriller by master storyteller, Shuzo Oshimi."..if you enjoyed Oshimi's previous work with "Flowers of Evil", and you enjoy dark storylines with twisted characters, you'll no doubt enjoy "Blood on the Tracks"! Recommended!" - Neo Tokyo 2099The tale of Seiko’s past draws to a close, and Seiichi is left with one central, burning “Why did you ‘kill’ me?”Once that question has been answered, can some kind of relationship between mother and child be resurrected?The long night is over—now what will the dawn bring? less

Seiichi brings Seiko back to his place, and the two of them are under one roof again. But she has lost the will to live after her accident, and Seiichi resigns himself to the task of watching his mother slowly fall apart. Their final conversation unfolds in dream, while Seiichi himself is the object of another dreamer's thoughts...And so the tale finally comes to a close, the horrors of the past relegated to a welcome oblivion.