Presenting the kind of image people tend to like can initially feel like a way of protecting oneself. One hides any signs of displeasure, picks out the responses others expect, and puts on only the scenes where things are going well. But if that is what starts earning love, where does the actual self end up? Minami's "Hollowness" sings about the growing anxiety of losing one's place between the reflection in the mirror and the person in reality.
A polished persona to stand in for me
The initial allure is the promise of ease. If a version of me that people want steps in to replace my inadequate and anxious self, it seems like there would be less pain. The other self in the mirror therefore feels less like an unfamiliar enemy and more like a presence I once needed.
However, a persona crafted to meet others' expectations requires endless maintenance. Even when praised, it becomes difficult to be certain whether the compliment is directed at me or merely at the image I present. What began as a desire to be loved ends up making love feel unreal.
I want to break free, but there is nowhere to go back to.
As the song grows rougher, a fear emerges that one's place has vanished. The persona crafted as a substitute begins to feel like the real thing before anyone notices, and the self behind it loses even the words to explain itself. The situation becomes more complicated by the realization that not only others' gazes but also the person themselves have come to rely on that facade.
Getting rid of the mirror might seem like a relief, but it isn’t easy to do. That’s where I’ve been seeking validation, and without it, there feels nowhere else to stand. The scene of reaching out again toward what one wants to escape carries less lingering attachment than sheer desperation. You can feel the distance between recognizing the lie and actually managing to step away from it.
Not a welcome, but please see the me who is here.
As the song nears its end, the wish becomes unmistakably clear: please do not love only the polished appearance; do not forget the person who remains behind that facade. While this can be read as a critique of curated online personas, it also resonates with relationships where one has lived up to someone else's expectations.
Rather than taking the promise at the end as proof that all lies have ended, it feels more tender to hear it as a first confession of wanting to be honest again. It is the feeling of still being afraid of losing the relationship but not wanting to simply disappear. What remains after the strong voice passes is not a perfect self, but someone who wants to stay by your side even in an imperfect form.
Listen along with the track details
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Minami wrote and composed “Horonezu,” which appears as the fourth track on the standard edition of Kawa Ki wo Ameku, released on January 30, 2019. The anime edition of the same single features a different fourth track, so it is best to distinguish between editions when looking for the album.
Minami Official Album Introduction: FlyingDog Edition and Track Listing
If this song resonated with you
main actor — Minami expresses the desire to find one's place, even when feeling like a supporting character in one's own life.
Crying Out Thirst — Minami: A song that bursts forth with a strong voice the thirst that cannot be filled by words of love alone, along with emotions that have accumulated over time.