Study Notes on 'One Morning This Sadness Will Fossilize'

Overview

  • Title: One Morning This Sadness Will Fossilize

  • Author: kushisnotokay

  • Rating: Mature

  • Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

  • Categories: M/M

  • Fandoms: Chainsaw Man (Manga), Chainsaw Man (Anime)

  • Relationship: Denji/Yoshida Hirofumi

  • Characters:

    • Denji (Chainsaw Man)

    • Yoshida Hirofumi

    • Kishibe (Chainsaw Man)

    • Hayakawa Aki

    • Higashiyama Kobeni

    • Himeno (Chainsaw Man)

    • Power (Chainsaw Man)

    • Arai Hirokazu

    • Yuko (Chainsaw Man)

  • Additional Tags:

    • Found Family

    • Hurt/Comfort

    • Angst with a Happy Ending

    • Emotional Constipation

    • Slow Burn

    • Slice of Life With Trauma

    • Character Death

    • Grief/Mourning

    • Depression

    • Implied/Referenced Self-Harm

    • Suicide Attempt

    • Survivor Guilt

    • PTSD

    • Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism

    • Loneliness

    • Unspoken Feelings

    • Internalized Homophobia

    • Quiet Intimacy

    • Idiots in Love

    • Happy Ending

    • The Past Haunts Them

    • Yoshida Hirofumi Cannot Catch A Break

    • Alternate Universe - Modern Setting

    • Implied/Referenced Child Abuse

    • Photography as a Substitute for Feelings

    • Araibeni

    • Kishibe Being Everyone's Emotionally Distant Father

    • Not Beta Read

    • Alternate Universe - No Devils (Chainsaw Man)

  • Language: English

  • Stats:

    • Published: 2025-09-01

    • Updated: 2025-11-11

    • Words: 25,611

    • Chapters: 3/?

Summary

  • Two boys struggle with their emotional wounds and find solace in their friendship:

    • Yoshida Hirofumi, who’s grappling with trauma and his place in the world, finds comfort in the more carefree Denji.

    • Their relationship develops through moments shared in quietness, conversation, and the acknowledgment of unspoken feelings.

Chapter 1: and we’re not out of the tunnel

  • Chapter Summary: The days blur as Hirofumi and Denji navigate their grief. Moments of stillness grow amidst their fragmented pasts.

  • Main Themes:

    • Grief

    • Isolation

    • Routine Comfort

  • Key Scene: Hirofumi wakes early, burdened by a memory-dominated dream. He moves through the apartment filled with a sense of dread for the day ahead.

  • Setting Description:

    • The kitchen is still, save for the fridge's hum and distant noises.

    • The light filters in as Hirofumi attends to his mundane routine of waking up without Denji.

  • Character Insights:

    • Hirofumi experiences a heaviness in his chest, linked to unresolved grief and trauma.

  • Denji’s Description:

    • Denji is found outside on the balcony, embodying a contrast of ordinary and fragile beauty, holding a cigarette – an image that encapsulates his persona.

    • Representativ of Hirofumi’s view:

    • “That strange kind of stillness that comes only in the mornings before the world remembers it’s supposed to be cruel.”

  • Camera as Symbol: Hirofumi photographs Denji in a tender yet intrusive manner, preserving the moment while grappling with the implications of his feelings.

Chapter 2: i'll be the night creature who roams

  • Chapter Summary: Hirofumi reflects on his past experiences and the heavy silence he feels in his home life, leading to frustrated interactions with his parents.

  • Main Themes:

    • Isolation from family

    • The burden of memory

  • Highlight:

    • When confronted about his absence from school, Hirofumi grapples with guilt as he recalls vivid memories of carefree moments lost.

    • He is thrown back into feelings of inadequacy, feeling disconnected from his past self.

  • Denji’s Interaction:

    • Denji represents both a lighthearted distraction and a mirror to Hirofumi’s emotional struggles, showing contrasting ways of coping.

    • A key quote from Denji: “Man, if I skipped that long, I’d already be expelled.”

Chapter 3: i always want you when i finally see you

  • Chapter Summary: Hirofumi navigates his relationship with Denji and the complexities of their bond.

  • Key Pivotal Moment:

    • Denji’s request for Hirofumi to accompany him to a salon serves as a significant turning point in their relationship.

    • Hirofumi grapples with conflicting emotions of wanting to be present yet fearing vulnerability.

  • Symbolism of the Salon Visit:

    • The hair salon visit epitomizes the desire for renewal and normalcy.

    • Their reflections in the salon mirror become a metaphor for self-identity and connection.

  • Ending Imagery:

    • The climax reaches a peak when Hirofumi silently acknowledges his feelings for Denji, culminating in a nearly intimate moment, highlighting his internal struggles with love and acceptance.

    • “No matter how far I run from it, I will always love you.”

  • Character Development:

    • As Hirofumi continues through these experiences, he learns to embrace moments with Denji, grappling with his inner turmoil while navigating their relationship.