The story also differentiates itself from similar ones such as Re:zero and Steins;gate with the sole fact that its a far more compelling reason to go this route. To continue that suffering since each moment with your significant other is precious and worth fighting for.
However, once the story shifts its focus away from the main couple, things start to fall apart. Most of the supporting characters feel hollow. They exist, but they don’t really contribute much beyond filling space. There were moments where it felt like the story wanted us to care about them, but it never gave us enough to actually do so. It felt simple in a lot of ways heres the best friend and the second love interest. There are moments there at the end where they feel like more but not enough to change the overall view of these side characters.
The undercover shtick and the DMC thing was another weak point. It wasn’t that the idea itself didn’t make sense, but more that the way it was written just wasn’t compelling. It ended up feeling like a forced plot device rather than something that added emotional weight or tension. It didn’t contribute anything meaningful to the story and honestly pulled focus away from what the series did well.
What left me more confused, though, was why Gyeoul took this direction in the story. Knowing everything he’d been through, it was hard to understand why he chose the path he did when there were simpler and more peaceful options available to him. It felt like the story pushed him toward a dramatic route just for the sake of conflict, even if it didn’t fully align with what we knew about his character. That shift made the ending feel more frustrating than satisfying.
In the end, My Reason to Die is worth reading for Ji-o and Gyeol alone. Their relationship is powerful and heartfelt, and it carries the entire series. But once the story moves away from them, it starts to lose its grip. The emotional moments are strong, but the surrounding plot and supporting cast don't measure up. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t quite live up to the potential it showed in the beginning.
I truly hope the author returns with a sequel with how vague the ending was. One where it continues to that next life where they have those intact memories. one where it breaks the cycle would it be pure romance and fan service? yeah. but thats this authors strength. and they should 100% lean into that.
Im very generous when it comes to a good love story but.
7/10