And I transformed.
As a pure white cat, not a human
Netflix's popular animated film "I Want to Cry, I Wear a Cat Mask"
Published as a novel!

Netflix's popular animated film "I Want to Cry, I Wear a Cat Mask" has been published as a novel.
Like the film, which received much acclaim, the novel also portrays the sensitive minds of adolescents in a warm and sensual way, using the themes of 'masks' and 'unrequited love.'
The novel movingly conveys the meaning of living as one's true self, not as others want one to live, through three identical yet different individuals: "Gwangmu" at school, "Sasaki Miyo" at home, and "Taro," a cat that Sasaki Miyo transforms into by wearing a cat mask.

“You are tricking a child who does not have the discernment of an adult and taking him ‘over there’…
You too, be careful.
That guy is what humans call a bad cat monster.
Even if they are the same cat, it is better to avoid getting close to them as much as possible.”
Ginako didn't answer.
Then the old cat narrowed its golden eyes, as if looking a little sad.
“Is that what you want so badly, the happiness you can see?”
--- p.15

As I walked, I repeated to myself over and over again.
'I'm sick of this world.
I wish it would just disappear.'
That was when.
"oh!"
I was startled by the sudden shout.
Because there was no one on the road.
In front of me and behind me, but that stall was definitely there.
On a stand made of red-painted wood, masks were displayed in a row.
They came in a variety of colors, but they were all cat-shaped.
"mask?"
As I muttered, the owner sitting next to the counter turned to me.
He was a man of great stature, wearing an old-fashioned kimono, and he was actually of a very large build.
“Come in.”
The shop owner, wearing a hat pulled down low, took a deep drag on the pipe in his hand and smiled at me.
“Would you like to try it?”
At that moment, a strangely cold wind brushed my shoulder.
It was much later that I noticed that the letters on the red lanterns lining the road had changed from 'Sindeng' to 'Myodeng'.

--- pp.48~49

After finishing the can, Ginako suddenly saw herself reflected in the living room window.
A body covered in shiny, glossy brown fur.
You won't find any unnecessary fat.
Kaoru also praises her for being pretty, and thinks she looks great herself.
There is no hair loss.
But we must not forget.
That 'that time' will come to Ginako someday.
Suddenly, Ginako remembered the face of an old cat.
A black, old cat that always sat curled up on the pipe.
Now we can't meet or talk to each other.
Ginako didn't have much time left to hesitate.

--- pp.83~84

I broke out in a cold sweat.
This very moment, wearing Sasaki Miyo's mask, was so painful.
What arose within me along with it was a fierce anger.
When Mom left home, instead of telling her to come back, Dad brought Auntie Kaoru with him.
Anger at the adults who acted as they pleased and anger at myself for enduring the pain and saying nothing all at once surged up.
The woman continued speaking.
“Hey, Miyo….”
'It's done now.
Don't say any more.'
I cut the woman off in a low voice, completely different from what I had been used to.
“I told you, you’re really being selfish.”
--- pp. 141-142

“I like the weight.”
Well, me too.
“Hinode, I really like you too!”
There are many other things I want to say besides this.
But for now, just this.
The most important thing is that I will say it again and again.
Hinode, you give me the feeling of the rising sun warming the surroundings!

--- p.287