"Literary Girl"

 　1. If you feel lonely, read a book. Imagine what that person is thinking, what they want to convey. Perhaps then you'll find a beautiful treasure.

　　— *The Literary Girl*

　　2. Absolutely, I will never cry again. From now on, I will hide my sorrow and laugh like a clown. Sometimes I will yearn like a ghost, sometimes I will make decisions like a fool, but even bearing the filth of a fallen angel, I will hold flowers and the moon in my heart and continue walking like a pilgrim heading towards a holy land.
　　— Inoue Kokoro, *The Literary Girl*

　　3. Relationships that last forever only exist in naive fairy tales. If you easily believe in such things and are then betrayed, you will only be hurt.
　　— Inoue Kokoro, *The Literary Girl*

　　4. Humans are born into this world to know why they live. Moreover, the value of a person's life depends on whether they have truly thought about this question. Therefore, what truly matters is not what you can obtain, but the continuous pursuit.
　　—From *The Literary Girl*

　　5. We are also bound by all sorts of things. Bound by family, friends, lovers, anger, joy, and sorrow! You might think that these are all necessary for humans, and that we cannot continue to survive if we cut off these things. However, it is precisely by severing the connection between ourselves and our mothers that we are born into this world. If we do not try to sever ties with the past, we cannot move towards the future. Sometimes we must destroy everything that exists and suffer all kinds of pain in order to understand certain things, see certain scenery, and experience certain feelings.
　　—From *The Literary Girl* by Mizuki Nomura

　　6. When night falls and darkness envelops us, walking alone on a pitch-black road, we may feel tired, we may feel tiring, but as long as we look up and can still see the twinkling stars in the night sky, that clear radiance will surely reside in our hearts, giving us the courage and strength to continue moving towards our destination.
　　—From *The Literary Girl* by Touko Amano

　　7. Every time I finish reading a book, I also have a sad feeling, like waking up from a dream. Although I felt quite happy while reading, I also felt very lonely when I finally finished, as if I had become an empty shell. But even if I woke up, it didn't mean the dream was gone. The memory of having a beautiful dream remained. And then, that memory would slowly radiate a warm light in my heart.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*


　　8. Half of my soul has fallen into hell because of sin. Should the other half be kept? How can only half be saved and enter heaven?
　　—Konoha Inoue, *The Literary Girl*

　　9. It's so good that we met. It's so good that we could see the same dream. Even if it's an illusory dream, like a flower in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water. Even if one day I have to wake up from this dream. It's so good. It's so good that we could meet.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　10. That back that never looked back. The tender voice that echoed deep in my ears, heartbreakingly sweet. Farewell. You were the most important person to me.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　11. A person is born into this world only by severing the connection between themselves and their mother. If you don't try to cut off the past, you can't move towards the future!
　　—Tomoko Amano, *The Literary Girl*

　　12. The artificial starry sky has somehow become a real starry sky. Above us, the stars shine dazzlingly. Pilgrims continue their journey towards the sacred place they envision in their hearts. Ah, everything seems so transparent at this moment. Like—the blue sky.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　13. There is never just one way to read a story. As long as there are other characters, there will be other stories.
　　—Tomoko Amano, *The Literary Girl*

　　14. The strongest human emotion is hatred!
　　—Ryujin, *The Literary Girl*

　　15. A wealthy man's son doesn't sit under a dangerous roof.
　　—Kokoro Inoue, *The Literary Girl*

　　16. The best and the most painful are the same.
　　—Madeleine, *The Literary Girl*

　　17. The things she gave me. The Literature Club after school; the scent of old books, the small mountain of books; the sound of turning pages. The charred, brown table with its peeling top, the iron chair by the window. And the dust motes dancing in the sunlight. And that gentle smile; the bright voice telling stories; the flowing, sparkling words. In the setting sun, in this radiant glow before the world sleeps, I slowly recalled all the scenes I had witnessed so far. In every single one of them, there was Touko-senpai.
　　—Inoue Kokoro, *The Literary Girl*

　　18. "One day I'll be like Campbell, riding the Galactic Railway to the ends of the universe." "I want to become Giovanni and set off with you." "Only Campbell reached the ends of the universe; Giovanni got off halfway." "I don't want that! I'll try my best to keep up with Campbell, so going together is fine, right?" "Then let's make a map, so even if we get separated in space, we can find each other again."
　　—Nomura Mizuki, *The Literary Girl*

　　19. She believed in hope, believed in the future, and continued to turn the page of the story.
　　—Amano Touko, *The Literary Girl*

　　20. Writers don't just describe reality; they should illuminate reality and imagine new stories from it!
　　—Nomura Mizuki, *The Literary Girl*

　　21. "If you stay here, you'll become a character in the story too. But I've become something higher, I've become the story itself." "
　　You can't understand real life without experiencing it yourself!

　　22. When you can't bear it anymore, cry your heart out! Simply enduring isn't enough to give us the power of rebirth. Life is about experiencing the unbearable, and that's why people are reborn!

　　23. 'A truly despicable person wouldn't admit to being despicable.'

　　24. Dazai Osamu's greatest magic is allowing readers to create an invisible second person. That's the 'resonance' between the reader and the work." 25.


　　Until now, I've always longed for the world in books, and now I exist in that world.

　　26. Most things, if you want them, you can get them. Except, of course, a person's heart.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　27. It's my freedom to do what I want and where I want to be. I just do what I like when I like.

　　28. Beautiful music is equal for all listeners, but not for the person who creates it. That talent can't last forever.

　　29. Being different from others is terrifying. Loneliness is also heartbreaking.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　30. If you don't write more, I'll curse you!

　　31. Ah, God, Heaven bestowed upon humanity such a special thing as 'love,' but it did not give us the right to squander it at will.

　　32. I have always lived a life of shame.

　　I feel like the most incongruous black sheep in a flock of white sheep.
　　Unable to share joy or sorrow with my companions, unable to eat the same food. The only thing this miserable black sheep can do is sprinkle white powder on its black fur and pretend it is also a white sheep, unable to understand the emotions of its companions—love, tenderness, thoughtfulness, and so on.

　　So, I still wear a mask and continue to play the role of the clown.

　　33. Don't cry! Sing! Keep singing! Not songs praising God, but songs of challenge.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　34. You will definitely succeed in the future, but the price of success is that you must first bear this kind of misfortune.
　　—*The Literary Girl*

　　35. You and I, and all the characters in the story, all the people living in this world, each of us has our own foolish parts. If people weren't foolish, there would be no art and literature! Yes, we are all fools!
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　36. The older I get, the more I feel the difference and gap between my thoughts and those of others. Things that make others happy or sad, I feel nothing at all, not even the tip of my little toe. Why do people feel happy? Why do people feel sad?
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*


　　37. We are born yearning for freedom, desiring ease, hoping for unrestrained self-expression.

　　38. Don't worry. Just truthfully record what happens and how you feel. True words written with painstaking effort by someone who doesn't usually write are more moving than articles crafted with various techniques!
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　39. Is that my fault? Is it my fault that I'm born unable to understand others' thoughts? I can't feel sadness, nor can I love others tenderly, so I continue this dangerous acting. Am I to blame for becoming like this? Ah, it must be. I was born a sinner; I am merely Cain draped in the bark of a silver poplar. Even if I am blamed for this, there's nothing I can do. I am powerless to do anything but feel endless pain.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　40. Because hate is more intense and more enduring than love.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　41. A beautiful world so transparent, so full of kindness—how could the author write it without shame? Everything written in this book is a lie. Someone who only sees the human heart and the surface of things, basking in the sunlight and naively believing they are walking upright in the middle of the road, will only innocently hurt others and drive them to their doom.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　42. It's common for people to lose their ability to make calm judgments and clear decisions once they fall in love.

　　43. But one can't only read beautiful books.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　44. We both only look at ourselves, regardless of who the other person is—regardless of what secrets they hold, we understand nothing. And we don't understand the monster lurking within ourselves. We share the same pain now. That's why we've drawn together. But your dark desires keep pressuring me.

　　45. Since there are kind people, there are also wicked people, and even more indifferent people. This is true in both school and society.

　　46. The truth doesn't necessarily bring salvation. There are also cases where ignorance brings happiness.

　　47. Everyone has shame they don't want to share.

　　48. The method of clearly measuring the vague concept of talent, the illusion of talent that will never exist in the past or future, can sometimes be a deadly weapon.

　　49. Things we can't achieve no matter how hard we try,
　　hunger we can't fill no matter how much we try,
　　truly exist in the world we live in.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　50. If I had never liked you. If I had never met you. If that's truly the case, then I wouldn't need to endure this sadness, fear, and loneliness of being left alone in the darkness. I don't want to get too deeply involved with anyone anymore. I don't want this longing anymore.

　　51. This is a dark city that belongs only to angels and me. Only in this gentle darkness can I lament the misfortune that has befallen me, only then can I be allowed to despise and pity the ugliness and filth clinging to myself, feigning innocence while smiling in the sunlight.


　　52. The strongest human emotion is hatred. Hatred lasts longer than love. Because there is still love, one can continue to hate; because one hates, one can continue to love.

　　53. I always smile at everyone, neither too close nor too distant, maintaining an appropriate distance—I've always done it this way. Because I can't bear to lose anything important again, and I hate hurting others or being hurt.

　　54. A long, bitter story, which at the last moment transforms into a story filled with clear, gentle light and prayer—this is what the "literary girl" wants to convey.

　　55. What you lack is not words, but the passion to convey your feelings to the other person.
　　—Tomoko Amano, *The Literary Girl*

　　56. Truth isn't always beautiful. There are also ugly, painful truths that are unbearable to witness. However, the night will embrace everything, and the moonlight will continue to shine upon us as always. Things that never change and beautiful things still exist.

　　57. I try very hard to play the role of "human" well. People around me say I'm cheerful, optimistic, and kind. I don't care if others belittle or laugh at me; instead, I feel at ease. But if someone says I'm kind, my stomach starts to cramp, and I feel very uncomfortable. When I crave to be seen as a good person, I'll act silly to make everyone laugh, or pretend to like puppies, even though I'm actually burning with shame. Why do I say this? Because it's all fake; it's all an act. Because I'm not the kind person people say I am. It's all just a trick I'm using. So every time someone says I'm kind and approachable, I have an urge to scream, even to commit seppuku.

　　58. Yes, we all have to live in hell for the rest of our lives. It's okay, as long as you have this awareness, you can survive no matter where you are.

　　59. Because everyone wants to be understood, and longs for others to understand them. Being different from others is terrifying. Loneliness is also heartbreaking.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　60. People all fear the wind and rain, all get lost in the darkness, and weep at the reality exposed to the morning light.
　　—Mizuki Nomura, *The Literary Girl*

　　60. It's impossible to go back to the past. I don't know what the future will be like.

　　61. In the cold room, watching the sky gradually turn white and bright, the sun gradually rise, I felt as if I were being punished, as if my body was being torn apart by the light that illuminated everything.
　　—Asakura Miu, *The Literary Girl*

　　61. A round of red petals fell from there. Those were, Nadeshiko flowers…

　　62. Every failure seems to make one timid and despicable.
　　—Nomura Mizuki, *The Literary Girl*

　　63. We wanted to try to get closer to each other, but in the end, we couldn't open our hearts, and the result was that we just passed each other by.