A tale of kindness and sadness intertwined in the story of a raccoon dog and a family【Uso no Kodomo】

“Uso no Kodomo” is a story centered around a raccoon dog with a past of suffering at the hands of humans. The raccoon dog, plotting to retaliate against humans, decides to transform into a human and engage in various misdeeds. Along the way, he decides to take the form of a girl he sees in a photograph in an unfamiliar house he visits.

While exploring the house in human form, he encounters a woman named Nana eating in the living room. Nana bursts into tears with surprise when she sees the girl figure that the raccoon dog has transformed into. The figure he took was that of Yuzu, Nana's deceased daughter.

The raccoon dog, having confirmed his ability to make humans cry, decides to cause more mischief. However, Nana's warmth, as she tearfully says, “I'll never let you go,” “Welcome back,” and tightly hugs him, reminds him of his own family and siblings, and stirs his heart. He falls asleep in comfort and unintentionally returns to his original form.

Thus begins the peculiar cohabitation of the couple and the raccoon dog who transformed into their young, deceased daughter. The story unfolds with the heart-stirring “lie” which is both gentle and sad, along with the raccoon dog's amusing and adorable antics.

The perfect balance of kindness and sadness pulls you into the story. The amusing misunderstandings of the main character continue, giving the story a warm, charming atmosphere. Yet, there's an undercurrent of sadness that piques your interest to know more.

The changing dynamics between the couple and the raccoon dog, and how the story unfolds towards its conclusion - you can't help but look forward to it, sincerely hoping for a happy ending. The balanced narrative and delicate descriptions in “The Child of Lies” make it an engaging story, inviting the reader to think about the bonds of family.