This is probably by far one of my favorite manga/light novels I have ever come across. "Calling you - Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai" is a collection of short stories written by Otsu-ichi. This manga in my mind is absolutely captivating and has me completely moved every time I read it.
These stories focus primarily on the concept that people develop odd and unusual friendships but it underlies a supernatural twist.
The main (and most popularly heard of story) is Calling You. This story involves a student named Ryo who is socially awkward and has terrible communication skills. One of the big things about her is that she shelters herself off from interaction with others for the fact that she is unable to tell the difference as to whether or not someone is being sarcastic with her or not. This being the case, she often found herself being hurt when she found out truths about what people really meant. For instance, she speaks once of how she got a haircut when she was young, and a girl said that she liked it a lot, but was actually joking. In turn, she kept the same hair style for several years because she thought people liked it only to find out that they were actually laughing at her.
Another issue facing Ryo is that she is the only one at her school who lacks a cell phone. Despite how she comments as to being unable to use one, she still wishes that she could have one, even though it is pointless considering she has no friends to even talk to. Still, she feels envy whenever she watches all of her classmates with theirs.
This all being taken in to consideration, she creates a fake cell phone. Ryo imagines as to what her cell phone would look like if she actually had one. As she envisions it, it almost seems like it was really, but in actuality, it is only in her mind. However, one evening, she hears a phone ringing, only to figure out the one that she imagined actually worked.
She received a phone call from a boy named Shinya. In order to prove that the other is real, in fear that both of them had gone mad, they both go to a magazine stand and pick up a magazine that neither of them had seen, then the other went to find it and told them what was on the page before the other could look. Once verifying that the other existed, they built this wonderful bond and began to encourage each other to do more things.
I would continue, but I would be releasing huge plot spoilers. My best suggestion is to go and read the manga itself in order to know what thrilling plot twists happen next.
I must warn people however, this particular story was confusing for me. I had to re-read it a good two or three times until I actually understood what was happening.
The second story here is Kiz/Kids. This story is very interesting. It is about a boy who gets transferred to the special class due to the fact that he kept getting in to fights with his classmates. The reason he got in to fights was the face children would make fun of the iron burn on his back that was given to him by his abusive, and now dying, father.
While in the special class, he somehow becomes friends with a quiet young boy named Asato. Asato lives with a foster family after his mother went psychotic and killed his father then attempted to kill him as well.
They in turn become friends and the boy discovers that Asato has a strange ability. He is able to move injuries from one person to another, using his body as a medium between the two.
This story is an excellent one of childhood friendship that develops through misfortunes that plague others.
And finally, what is only featured in the light novel (this story I am the least familiar with) is called, Flower Song. The most I can really elaborate on it is the fact that a patient in a hospital some how finds a flower that has the face of a girl that always hums beautiful melodies.
All in all, these stories actually have beautiful inter workings that make you come to tears. I still cry each time I read them. They have great messages conveying as to how powerful friendship can be with unlikely pairs.
There was even a movie adaptation, which I suggest viewing. It is not entirely the same to the manga, but it is very similar, which is good enough. The movie adaptation was actually really nicely done and will forever make me remember the sign language at the end of the movie. The song "Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai" by Dreams Come True is featured as the main theme in the movie as seen below:
If I could give a rating for these stories, it would definitely be a perfect score and I would recommend it to anyone.
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