Ikioku - The Cooler Half

It is the story of two boys, Machizo and Tetsuo, who create manga together. Machizo's father is a successful mangaka (manga artist). Machizo feels he's living under his father's shadow, and resents his father's success. Tetsuo, who is at school with Machizo, enjoys drawing manga and is good at it. His favorite mangaka happens to be Machizo's father. The two boys strike up an alliance to draw a successful manga to win a contest, with Machizo writing the story and Tetsuo drawing the graphics. An important part is also played by a violent girl named Kimiko, who has a crush on Tetsuo.

This beautifully drawn short story by Yôko Nihonbashi, creator of G senjô Heaven’s Door, introduces the silent, beautiful Yaeko Shimura, a woman who brings new meaning to the words dutiful wife and good friend.

A mysterious disease. A young man fated to die. A woman whose love accompanies him to the unavoidable end.