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| Original Title | 金魚撩乱 |
|---|---|
| Author | 岡本 かの子 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | In a secluded valley where water flows like whispered secrets, a goldfish breeder’s lifelong obsession unfolds. Fukui, consumed by the desire to craft an unparalleled breed of goldfish, battles failure year after year, his ambitions entwined with memories of Masako—a woman from the cliffside estate whose ethereal beauty haunts him. Their childhood encounters, marked by cruelty and fleeting tenderness, cast long shadows over his solitary work. As decades pass, Fukui’s fixation deepens, blurring the line between artistry and delusion. He isolates himself, driven by visions of transcendence through his aquatic creations, while Masako’s life drifts beyond his reach, her existence a mirage of unattainable grace. When nature intervenes in a storm’s aftermath, revealing an astonishing marvel in the murky waters of a neglected pond, Fukui confronts the cruel irony of his quest: perfection emerges not from control, but surrender. A haunting meditation on longing, creation, and the fragile beauty that blooms where effort and fate collide. |