Kuzu no Honkai choked me with its absurd start, leaving me gasping for air throughout the drama and left me with a sense of catharsis, so overwhelming that I didn't realise my tears begin to drop as the ending unfolds. I see Hanabi as a caterpillar inside a cocoon – one that is yet to know that there is a vast world beyond the darkness of her cocoon – and the ending is where she finally spreads her fresh new wings and is ready to take her first flight in the open sky.

Unrequited love that turns into an obsession slowly creeps like a dark cloud and eats into your soul leaving you empty, lonely, desolated. It is true that misery loves company and in Mugi, Hanabi finds a camaraderie that she longs for and a place to relinquish her pent up emotions. In a way, Mugi is a reflection of Hanabi. They make up a pair who shares mutual loneliness and frustration of unrequited love.

Don’t expect this drama to comfort you. There’s nothing comforting in seeing twisted lonely individuals eating each other out. Some may perhaps be turned off by the many sexual insinuations shown in this drama but for me, it is the very element that adds nuances to each character’s development and understanding of their feelings, sexuality and self. The physical contact also gives us a hint of the relationship dynamic and perhaps, underlying feeling towards one another.

Adolescence is an awkward and confusing phase of our life and it is also a phase where we begin to explore and try to understand ourselves and our sexuality. Mix in with loneliness, the story unwrap all these elements in such a twisted way.

I find that the music blends in well with the overall ambience of the story. It enters at the right moment to create a maximum impact. I also love the short opening music and also the ending song (which I find quite anime-ish imo). The main actors played their role very well and I find Yoshimoto Miyu’s performance quite stellar especially the contrast that she’s shown when she is speaking to herself or alter ego. The play of colours whenever these inner dialogues happen is also fascinating, with a strong emphasis on red and muted hues.

The only reservation that I have for this story is Kanai-sensei and his unconditional feeling towards Akane-sensei. I wish there’s more depth to their relationship to explain how he can turn a blind eye towards all her flaws and promiscuous behaviour. Kanai-sensei is also the weakest link in the story as he is too one-dimensional to warrant such fascination and obsession from Hanabi.

In the end, you can never escape toxicity without removing the toxins out. The ending is one of the most satisfying one – a sigh of relief to both Hanabi and Mugi. The promising undertone of the ending is what compels me to give this drama a higher rate, and also the fact that this story left me with a lingering aftertaste and a lot to think about.

Alas, after all the uncomfortable experience inside the cocoon, it is time to get out and spread your wings. So, fly, Hanabi! Fly!