Blood on the Tracks vol. 16

We learned a lot about Seiko’s history last time in a way that actually went a good deal towards humanizing her, fifteen volumes in.  Even if mangaka Shuzo Oshimi doesn’t seem to want to explore the obvious role that mental illness has had on this character’s life, her character feels more understandable here, which isn’t something I was expecting to say after how she’d been portrayed up to this point.  That trend continues here as Seiichi and his mother reach something of an understanding at the end of the night and he leaves in the morning to embrace a more peaceful life.  At least, until his mother falls down some pedestrian stairs and winds up in the hospital.

What follows next is somewhat difficult to read, but not in the title’s usual way.  We see Seiko in the hospital, clearly struggling to communicate as her son tries to process what has happened.  When he brings her back to her apartment, she’s not able to care for herself and he winds up having to visit more regularly in order to see that she’s eating and maintaining basic hygiene.  Even if this was brought on by a specific incident, it serves as a sobering reminder of what happens to one’s parents as they get older and the responsibilities their children will have to bear in taking care of them.

That the person doing this is Seiichi does make one worry for Seiko’s well-being.  Still, he does manage to muddle through in a way that’s admirable by his standards.  Seiichi manages to maintain his composure through the most difficult parts, when it appears that his mother is coming undone before his very eyes.  It’s new territory for “Blood on the Tracks” and it has me interested in seeing where Oshimi goes into it.  Even if it’s just to Seiko’s all-but-inevitable death at this point.