Wingman by @Fabrication

Reviewed and recommended by I.

Rain is an interesting phenomenon. Whether it be a fierce thunderstorm toppling the landscape or a light drizzle that patters on your umbrella, rain entrances us at every turn, affecting us all in a different way. Since the existence of words, rain has ceased to bore the medium. Fabrication's Wingman tells a story of love borne from a fateful encounter with a girl who smells of rain.

Wingman is a story revolving around Keichi, a high school student who has grown apathetic of the world. All experiences have a fuzzy filter, as he drifts through each day, numbed by the lidocaine of life, existence itself. His close friend Takeshi insists on taking him to mixers where they would spend time with a different girl nearly every day. Keichi acknowledges his friend's questionably good intentions and humors him. Things begin to take a turn after meeting a girl at the library one rainy day. Though he doesn't approach her, Keichi takes a keen interest, the fuzziness fading bit by bit.

"I've only seen her
when her damp hair
sticks to her neck."

The world he (Fabrication) has built through the eyes of Keichi and what transpires around him gives it an extremely relatable feel, as if you could have passed that café with the faded windows or waited at that crosswalk in the rain, your light umbrella in hand. This style (not only excluded to the world covered in rain) is reminiscent to the works of Kashiwa Daisuke*, an amalgamation of modernistic dissonance and melodic charm. The direct and indirect way that Fabrication has immersed us into his world is truly a feat of its own.

As a cell phone novel, it stands as yet another strong contender. Although each chapter on average are a tad longer than other works, this does not cheapen Wingman. The line breaks in each chapter give the story a nice flow without feeling like the trail of thought was truncated. The occasional wandering thought of Keichi (i.e. self-musing while something is happening in the foreground) gives the narrative a more organic voice. White space follows steadily with the preceding structure, giving it a clean feel regardless of its length. It reminded me of falling raindrops, rushing steadily downwards.

My lack of going into details in regards to the main plot was intentional. As a youth learning to love, hate, laugh, cry, and smile on their own, readers will follow in his footsteps as Keichi's story will enthrall you. Bring your umbrellas and rain boots, and step out into the rain that is Wingman.

*Kashiwa Daisuke is a Japanese new age pianist. You can find some of his works here: