It starts out as a decent whodunit with a bit of a Twin Peaks-y vibe to it. The underlying moral of the story is a critique of the harsh pressure Japanese society puts on its kids to succeed and excel academically. But the murder story that is spun here in order to convey that message is a bit far fetched. That would still be okay, but unfortunately it drags on way too long in the third act, all the tension is lost and it just becomes boring.