Train Man: The Novel

Boy – bashful and not overly brave – defends girl from obnoxious drunk on a Tokyo train. Girl sends boy a thank-you pair of pricey Hermes teacups. Boy’s a geek and doesn’t know what to do next. End of story for most nerds – but this one turns to the world’s largest online message board and asks for help, so for him it’s just the beginning. This matchless love story is told through a series of Internet chat room threads.

As Train Man, our hero charts his progress and unveils each new crisis – from making conversation to deciding what to wear on a date and beyond – and in return, he receives advice, encouragement, warnings, and sympathy from the anonymous netizens. And Train Man discovers the secret to what makes the world go round – and proves we really do live in a universe where anything can happen.

By Hitori Nakano and Machiko Ocha