The new 5 Centimeters Per Second novel re-tells the emotional love story of Takaki and Akari. 'The Other Side' gives readers a different side to the story, retold more from Akari's perspective with more details. Fans of the original series will again be immersed in the beautiful world of Shinkai. Takaki Toono and Akari Shinohara, two very close friends and classmates, are torn apart when Akari's family is transferred to another region of Japan due to her family's job. Despite separation, they continue to keep in touch through snail mail.
When Takaki finds out that his family is also moving, he decides to make a long trek to see Akari one more time. As years pass by, they continue down their own paths, their distance slowly growing wider and their contact with one another fades. Yet, they keep remembering one another and the times they have shared together, wondering if they will have the chance to meet once again. Based off the original story, this new novel goes into in more details and more depth from Akari's perspective.