Have you ever had a question in mind that what would you tell your younger self if you could? It’s the kind of question that high schoolers are mostly asked in their English assignment. For students it’s quite easy to answer like telling your younger selves that that things will get better eventually or to stay calm and do not stressed out. Obviously, there are many other responses to this kind of question which are either scary or motivational. The concept of meeting our younger selves is quite interesting but if we look into it closely it raises a different question. If we really get a chance to suggest or tell something to our younger self, will our present self remain same or it will change according to our advice to our younger self?
Anoka Kayonagi is not like other kids. She is intelligent and understands many things without asking many questions but when it comes to apply them practically or on socially, she lacks behind and according to her there’s something wrong in the head. This peculiar girl has no peers of her age. As she is set to explore, she befriends some strange people: a prostitute, a self-harming kid and a retired old woman in isolation. Each one of them will give her an advice so that she can find some happiness.
The best thing about this series is that it’s a complete book with more than 500 pages. There is no cliffhanger at the end of a chapter to test your patience. Reading a series without any gap is extremely satisfying. The happiness you feel after reading the end of a good series is not something which can not be found so easily.
So here comes a bit of a spoiler. It all begins with Nanoka being revealed as someone who does not have good social skills. The reason why she is not able to befriend people of her age is because she is unable to understand how they think. She is more inclined towards the people who as the same mindset as her which means her unusual and older peers are same when it comes to social acceptance. But later we come to know that they are somehow connected to her. They are actually her futures selves or can be if she doesn’t resolve her problems.
This series is not like other slice of life stories. It deals with some grave social and mental issues that Nanoka is shown to be fighting with like depression and self-harm and the way it is depicted in the series is not something we usually see in other slice of life series which are mostly focused on romance. The extent of this issues has been portrayed in a great manner and even the cause of it was not quite thoughtful that begins from the traumatic events. The next one is a prostitute that has been portrayed very well and although she has been referred as someone who sells youth, it’s quite evident that they are sex worker who have been looked down upon in the society. In the last the depiction of consequence that results in bullying is done exceptionally well in Kitty’s case.
Overall, I had That Same Dream Again is a great story. It’s quite peculiar and stands out in its genera. It’s a work of art that blends fantasy with reality in a much unexpected manner. The best part about this book is that you do not have to wait for the end and you finish it with a peaceful mind and the feeling of satisfaction. It is highly recommended to all manga readers or even novel readers who like to read realistic stories set in a fictional world.
