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| Original Title | 加護 |
|---|---|
| Author | 宮本 百合子 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | In a quiet community bound by tradition and unspoken bonds, a woman of unwavering faith becomes both a source of comfort and quiet torment to her closest friend. Oiku, buoyant and devout, dedicates herself to spreading the teachings of Tenrikyo, convinced divine protection will shield her circle from misfortune. Yet her earnest efforts strain her lifelong friendship with Megumi, a woman weathered by relentless tragedy—the loss of her husband, then her son—leaving her fragile and adrift. While Oiku sees faith as salvation, Megumi’s grief resists easy solace, creating a poignant tension between devotion and despair. As Oiku’s fervor intensifies, urging Megumi to embrace religious atonement, their bond frays under the weight of unspoken regrets and buried guilt. When a final crisis strikes, their intertwined fates unravel in ways neither anticipates, exposing the limits of conviction and the haunting cost of love. A delicate exploration of faith’s power to uplift and isolate, this tale lingers on the quiet tragedies etched into lives bound by duty and longing. |