The Love Song of the Cracker Ball

Since childhood, Takeo has steadfastly looked after his next-door neighbor, Wako. Although they share the same age, Wako’s severe sensitivity to the cold frequently left him bedridden and missing school for days at a time. Now, however, Wako has grown stronger—perhaps due to Takeo’s constant, devoted care, or perhaps because of the quiet, daily battles Wako has fought on his own. Living next door to the love of your life comes with a profound emotional toll. Enduring the routine of sneaking into each other's rooms at night, walking to school together, and masking the pain of supporting your crush through relationships with others would test anyone's resilience. Wako simply wants to remain by Takeo's side for as long as possible. He has even mentally prepared himself to stand by and watch if Takeo ever finds a girlfriend or a wife. However, that carefully constructed acceptance shatters completely when Takeo drops an unexpected bombshell: "I could go for a guy, too."