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: Kochan feels fundamentally different from his peers, particularly due to his weak physical constitution and his lack of interest in the athletic activities favored by his classmates.

: To conform, Kochan attempts to court a woman named Sonoko. However, he finds he can only appreciate her aesthetically; his true visceral attraction remains fixed on the masculine form . Literary Significance

: The title refers to the false persona Kochan constructs to appear "normal" and masculine to the world, while hiding his homosexuality and dark, violent fantasies.

The novel follows the protagonist, , as he navigates his development from childhood to early adulthood.