"I will never forget you - for as long as I live"
—Tagline
REC - Kimi ga Naita Hi (other titles: REC - The Day You Cried, REC - Day You Were Crying, REC－君が泣いた日) is a single volume manga by Aoi Makino, first published March 15th 2011 by Shueisha.
Main heroine Minami Aizawa is a girl who has never cried one single time in her entire life, not even when she watches a sad movie starring her classmate Satoru Wakabayashi (sometimes called Akira), who suddenly retired from acting for no strong reason. She's more of an anti-social loner but always carries around a camcorder to film everything she likes. Despite the rumor that she is the one behind the viral video of a dead cat, Satoru suddenly approaches her and seems to understand her quirks. They quickly become friends, but we soon find out that Satoru is hiding a huge secret from the world...
Not to be confused with manga Rec (Rekku) by Q-Tarō Hanamizawa and no relation whatsoever to [REC].
A note regarding spoilers: This page assumes you know the First-Episode Twist of the work in the end of chapter 1 (out of 4), that is the reason why Satoru retired from acting. If that is too much for you, read that first before you continue here.
This manga provides examples of the following tropes:
- Arc Words: Minami's opinion on people is repeated several times and the true meaning of this more and more takes shape:"You said that you don't film people. Because you hate them, right?"
- Attention Whore: People accuse Satoru of being one for retiring just in his prime. He has other reasons however.
- Bad People Abuse Animals: There's a persistent rumor about Minami that she filmed a dying cat and put that video online for fun and profit. It turns out this is a lie.
- Better with Non-Human Company: Minami doesn't usually film people because she hates them. But she likes to film cats.
- Bittersweet Ending: To no surprise, Satoru dies in the end and Minami stays with him until the last second. A person from the hospital staff says Minami didn't cry from when all the nurses entered the room until he passed away. She isn't proud of this but when she remembers the night in a Flashback - they kissed for the first and last time and Satoru is implied to have been Peaceful in Death - she breaks down and finally cries. This is super sad but still bittersweet, as it is the first time in her life. This also invokes Her Heart Will Go On, as the story abruptly ends here but it proves how strong she is.
- Camera Fiend: She always has her camcorder with her and films a lot, but still uses it less that her classmates imply.Classmate: "I wonder if she walks around with it, to look for dead animals and suicide scenes to film."
- Central Theme: How you appear and how you really are. Minami appears to be a Creepy Loner Girl with No Social Skills and seems capable of being cruel to animals, but in reality she's a lot more sociable and aware than any other people around her. Satoru appears to be a perfect Bishōnen Teen Idol with no flaws but in reality he hates his last film, worries about being forgotten and is Secretly Dying from a terminal illness. The joining element of both characters is the camera that shows the things like they really are. Filming someone in this story is a metaphor for capturing the true self forever.Satoru: "If I'm not an actor, no one will care about me."
Minami: "That's not true. I'll make sure everyone knows! About the real you."
Satoru: "How do you plan to do that?"
Minami: "I'll film you." - Creepy Loner Girl: How Minami is perceived although she's a lot less creepy when you know her better. Her classmates constantly make up rumors about her and imagine creepy scenarios.Classmate: "That girl gives me the creeps."
- Cute Kitten: Minami likes to film cats and kittens and even finds one in the trash but denies rumors about the Instant Web Hit.
- Emotionless Girl: Minami sees herself as this and obviously cannot feel sadness. She can't empathize with the girl in Satoru's film.Minami: "I've never died before. So I don't know how sad it would be."
- First-Episode Twist: The fact that Satoru is Secretly Dying is established in the end of chapter 1 (out of 4).
- Foregone Conclusion: Minami WILL at some point cry. But when exactly?
- Foreshadowing: The very first panel of the manga sets away the tone of the story and foreshadows that death will be involved and Satoru's hidden motivation.Satoru (alias Ken): "Don't forget me even if I die."
- Friendless Background: Minami was never able to make any friends before. Satoru will be the first one.
- Girl-Show Ghetto: In-Universe, Satoru complains that he finds his last film boring too and can't understand why people have been moved by it.Satoru: "I can't believe my last work is a low-quality Chick Flick like that!"
- Heroic BSoD: Minami didn't cry in the moment Satoru died but she breaks down in tears when she thinks of their last first kiss.
- Ice Queen: Minami appears to be very cold to outsiders, but if you get to know her better...
- Instant Web Hit: There's a video of a cat being run over that gets viral immediately. False rumors immediately spread that Minami filmed this.
- Like You Were Dying Satoru retires from acting when believes that his death is nigh. It's the first time in his life when he can show his true face, just before his death.
- Malicious Slander: While already being friendless, Manami's reputation is hurt even more after she's accused of making a cruel video.
- Miles to Go Before I Sleep: Satoru wants to be remembered as a actor even if he should die. Also he wants someone (= Minami) to see his true face finally and when he's sure of it, he can die in peace.
- No Social Skills: Minami fails to answer to a good morning by Satoru, although it's the first time this ever happens to her.
- Perpetual Frowner: Minami almost never smiles and when she does it's not for very long.
- Pretty Boy: Satoru shows every trait of it. He's super handsome, slender, nice, come with the typical smile and shows no sign of aggressiveness. All girls love him and even some (rather masculine) boys make comments too.Male classmate (to Satoru): "You look so delicate."
- Secretly Dying: Satoru's reason why he retires from acting. He's terminally ill and only lets few people (not his fans) know it... He does die in the end, but isn't sad about it.
- Socially Awkward Hero: Minami starts out as this, she's rather anti-social, can't feel pity and is unable to cry.The Freelance Shame Squad: "She has zero sympathy. What a failure of a human being."
- The Stoic: Minami shows very little emotion and is Unable to Cry but sometimes expresses things like surprise.
- Strawman News Media: When the truth about Satoru's illness is revealed to the public, it's (like to be expected) completely superficial and full of lies according to Minami, who is the only person to know his true self. In the end they even show footage that Minami has shot, and the audience still likes it.
- Teen Idol: Satoru is a celebrated actor and beloved by many girls and is still in Minami's class.
- Tin Man: Minami claims that she can feel no emotions, although she occasionally does show signs of joy, surprise and fear. This goes a lot further in the end, where she cries after remembering Satoru's death.
- Unable to Cry: Minami's defining character trait. She hasn't shed a single tear in her whole life, not even when seeing Satoru's movie. Of course she does cry in the very end, when Satoru dies, but it's implied that she being the only person that Satoru was able to show his true self plays a big role too."You're a very strong girl, you know. You haven't cried this whole time."
- Your Days Are Numbered: Satoru is terminally ill and knows it. He has been ill since he was a child and hides it as long as possible. This is the time when he crosses Minamis way. Minami stays with him until the end.Satoru: "If it were possible, I would have liked you to film me. But it's too late now."
