Lollypop or a Bullet

砂糖菓子の弾丸は撃ち抜けない

by Sakuraba Kazuki
published by Fujimi Mystery

Yamada Nagisa is a thirteen year old girl who has decided to focus only on bullets -- things that relate directly to survival. Her father died ten years ago, her mother works at a supermarket, and her brother is modern nobility -- he never leaves his room, and does only what he wants, spending money they don't have.
Transferring into her school is a very strange girl -- Umino Mokuzu (Mokuzu means 'drowned at sea') who fires sugar candy bullets, or lies and fantasy. Mokuzu claims to be a mermaid, come to land on a mission to find a true friend before the storm comes. This explains why she always drags one leg behind her when she walks. The two of them form a strange friendship...
Except the first page of the novel is a newspaper article detailing the discovering of Umino Mokuzu's mutilated corpse, and the narrative keeps cross cutting with Nagisa's climb up the mountain looking for the body she hopes isn't there.
Obviously, this is one hell of a harrowing read. It's anything but light -- this book probably should have been put out from a major publisher and nominated for a few awards.
The Japanese titles translates as: Sugar Candy Bullets Can't Pierce Anything.
It sports, sadly, some of the worst illustrations I've ever seen.

easternstandard