Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria

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Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria, or The Empty Box and the Zeroth Maria, tells the sinister story of Kazuki Hoshino, who is almost madly attached to his everyday life, and his antagonist Aya Otonashi, who suddenly transfers into his class—for the 13,118th time. She majestically announces to “break” him, without paying heed to anyone else around them.

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This is but the start of a dark roller coaster ride that turns the two against themselves, the people around them and the one who may be god. Read on as their relationship slowly changes as they go against their most basic values in their struggle against the world itself.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Hakomari
The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria
Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria
Zerowa Maria i puste pudełko
Пустая шкатулка и нулевая Мария
空ろの箱と零のマリア
虛空之盒與零之麻理亞
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Gekkou (2)
Zaregoto (1)
Kamisu Reina wa Koko ni Chiru (1)
Tatakau Shisho (1)
Tsukumodou Kottouten (1)
Shuuen no Shiori (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. enjoyed my time
  2. Masterpieces in their own category
  3. Enjoyable read
  4. Mystery Stuff
  5. pretty good stuff

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33 Reviews sorted by


Passionate_Reader
Passionate_Reader rated it
December 28, 2021
Status: Completed
This is the first novel of its kind that I have read. Honestly, it was a refreshing experience.

It was an intense experience, especially as I gradually moved towards the end.

The best part of this novel, personally is......

Spoiler

That there are no miracles in life. Everything depends on you and you yourself. It forces you to take a good, hard look at the cold reality.

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Finally, "Hats Off" to the Author for such a masterpiece.
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Konstantin
Konstantin rated it
January 23, 2021
Status: v6
I've read and then re-read this series multiple times years ago. First, when only 4 volumes were released. Then, when only 5. Then, when only 6. I still have not re-read it for the last time, now that the whole story got completed. Because the latter few volumes are rather dark and emotionally hard-hitting. And because I don't want this story to end in my mind. I want it to stay incomplete. And I'm afraid that the ending would be bitter-sweet at best, but even more likely it would be... more>> tragic. I'd rather pretend that everything was solved in the end and that everyone achieved their happy end. Maybe, if one day it would be adapted into an anime, not just a general half-assed adaptation, but a masterpiece level adaptation, then I'll watch the anime. And maybe, just maybe, I'll complete this story in the end. And accept the true ending, whatever it is. But for now... This story will just continue to exist somewhere in my heart. Never completed. <<less
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1darling
1darling rated it
June 2, 2020
Status: Completed
My very first Novel and I absolutely love it... Kazuki, he is the MC here but trust me he will give you show you different emotions from happiness to madness. The journey from the beginning (when Maria enters his daily life) to the ending (when it feels like everything is going apart), I loved every arc there. Except the 2 and 3rd novel. but later it got interesting.. and I really loved the last volume. An abnormal madness, just to protect his daily life.. just to save his daily life..... more>> wow.

Daily life? It really sounds too much interesting (atleast to me).

And it is my heartfelt wish for this novel to get an anime adaptation.

P.S don't mind my english here, because it sucks! Jut give it a try. <<less
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SifaV6
SifaV6 rated it
September 21, 2019
Status: Completed
One of the best supernatural horror/mystery novels out there. If you could wish for anything, what would it be?

This novel is in essence, a cautionary tale about the twisted outcomes that might happen when one isn't careful of what they're wishing for.

The plot of this novel, especially volume 1, was very well thought out and delivered in a manner which immediately drew the readers' attention. The characters were well developed and the writing itself was especially good. Definitely a novel that I would recommend for those looking for something that... more>> is a bit different to the other novels on NU. <<less
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Fulminata
Fulminata rated it
February 22, 2019
Status: v1
I'm basing this review on the first volume. My opinion might change as I progressed more into the novel.

It's not everyday that you'd find a webnovel that keeps you constantly on your toes with suspense, thrills, and mystery.

The 1st volume tells us about a strange, recurring day that our MC keeps repeating. As things progressed and more and more bizzare clues come out, the once simple conclusion that we first thought might just... not be the right answer ?

I have to admit, the ending of v1 seems to... more>> be a bit rushed. And so far, if you're looking for a "strong, op, and mature" type of MC, this novel might not be the one for you.

But really, give this novel a chance. You won't regret it. <<less
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The Great Sabo
The Great Sabo rated it
November 14, 2023
Status: v7
Brief volume reviews:

... more>>
Spoiler

Volume 1 - the hook, and it also gives a glimpse of the story's true essense. If you don't like it from here then you won't like it after and it's just not for you.

Volume 2 - there are nice moments, but objectively the weakest part of the whole book.

Volume 3 & 4 - an escape room battle royale or something like that. There's a feeling of ass-pull and you'd wonder whether the author is just pulling your leg. Personally my least favorite as there are moments in this arc that are just SO. f*ckING. FRUSTRATING. although there are parts that are good. You might get tempted to finally drop it despite persevering upto this point. You do you.

Volume 5 & 6 - PEAK.

Volume 7 - Why aren't you here? I'm lonely. I miss you. I miss you. Miss you. AHHHHHHHHH I DON'T WANT IT TO END BUT IT ALREADY HAS THE PERFECT END NOOOOOOOOOOoooo. 🥹🥹🥹

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Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria, at its core, is a romance story. Not even a romantic tragedy. Just a pure romance story.

Yes, it has the tragedy tag, and it definitely deserves it. There are elements that can be considered horror, and it also presents some mystery. It's undeniably a psychological thriller, as it certainly f*cks with you.

It'd be quite unfortunate if you view it like that though. As, like I said, HakoMari at its core is a story of romance.

So if you're not really into that, if you came to this story for the mystery, or the psychological thriller, or something else, or even if you like romance but you're not into the main couple, even if you get some fun, you won't ever be able to fully enjoy it.

I read this series some years ago, when I was 14 and everything was deep, heh. And I recently finished rereading it. Like, really recently. But it might as well be a "first" read, since me then and now, well...

Anyways, what I really wanted to say from the start is, The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria is my favorite romance story of all time.

There might be some others that are better, or ones that I like more. There's even a multitude of reasons I can think of as to why "actually, the romance is bad."

Spoiler

For example, it can be said that "Kazuki's feelings for Maria are false, it's basically implanted" and I won't be able to deny it.

Because it's the truth that Kazuki really could only have feelings for Maria because they met. And they met because he was designated as her "savior". And that happened because Nana thinks of him as a savior, and so Maria subconsciously understood that as him being the "savior".

Other characters in the series also said that Maria is an outsider, that everything wouldn't have been wrecked if she wasn't there. And it's true, everything only happened because of her. Because she brought the box with her.

Kazuki wouldn't have been the "savior" if Maria didn't meet Nana, but Nana wouldn't really have met Maria if not for her mission, Aya's mission, which Maria used as a coping method. And so Kazuki would have never been in love with Maria if she didn't make him.

But you know, all this really boils down to is: Kazuki wouldn't have been in love with Maria if they never met, never crossed path.

Which is hilarious. Because if that means their love is false, no love is real.

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That being said, if I have to say my favorite romance. Then it's this. It'll always be this. Always. Forever. <<less
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Soaringsky
Soaringsky
January 20, 2023
Status: Completed
After 3 whole days of continuous reading, I've finally completed this series. I stayed up till 3 am last night to finish the sixth volume.

Well, this series is one of the very few light novels I've completed. So I cant really compare it with others, but considering I never completed those other series it is suffice to say it was good and I liked it a lot.
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nimeaano
nimeaano rated it
October 16, 2021
Status: v1
Drop it after completed Volume 1.

The concept is not bad, but it is overly complicated for me, there aren't much progress for a long time, the repetition is killing me. Wonder how the character stay sane, MC (understandably) on edge, I can't stand the anxiety.
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zumba29
zumba29 rated it
September 27, 2020
Status: v7
This series is really amazing. There is a reason for everything, the characters all have motives and thoughts, no one is an NPC at all. The wishes have to be believable, if you can't imagine how it will work then it won't work the way you want, so the other reviewers have overlooked this point. It was really sweet and made me incredibly happy that I found this novel.
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Kiboobs
Kiboobs rated it
July 26, 2020
Status: Completed
My faourite novel. I love it. The character development is sumptuous and every loose end is tied down at the end of the story. Totally recommend it.

20/10 stars
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Master10K
Master10K rated it
July 6, 2020
Status: v4
One's everyday high school life interrupted by supernatural hijinks. Rarely have I seen it done as well as it has been done here. Volume 1 sets the bar high, with its "groundhog day" story. Plus other extreme & unpredictable supernatural phenomenon as the focus in every volume. It is a shame that it has such a weak-willed male protagonist, paired with an excessively competent female protag to compensate.
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Vagrant
Vagrant rated it
December 25, 2019
Status: v4
Not for everyone. Even I get tired after reading it.

Vol 1 is surprisingly good. The mystery is well-thought and the pace is excellent.

But in vol 2, the story starts draging out. And to solve a single mystery, 2 vols are needed.

It is when I lose interest and realise that this is still a light novel after all. The world in this novel is just too small. You could say this novel have only one char and that is our MC. The whole novel (at least until vol 4) is... more>> his character arc. The other chars (even the main heroine) are only meant to be a challenge for his growth. We feel like the world is a test, everyone is npc with a certain role (90% is insane or genious by the way), and only MC can be considered as normal person. Despite its constant tension and drama, I can hardly feel nervous when the story confirm that MC will never get killed and never have an irreversible consequence.

Spoiler

"the box" in this novel really get on my nerve. Basically, you gain a wish and other people can't do anything about it unless you voluntarily give your box or they kill you and destroy your box. I only read 3 wish in this novel and all of this is foolish and simply plot devices.

Wish 1. If you don't want to die, why not wish to be immortal instead of rewrite time so that you would die over and over again?

Wish 2. Why not just simply wish to obtain happiness instead of becoming someone else?

Wish 3. Why not just simply wish life can be more colorful instead of creating a game people killed each other?

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