Akiko Abe is the original creator of the light novel Doko Yori mo Tooi Basho ni Iru Kimi e, which is also known by its English title, To You in the Beyond. She is the sole author of this work, which she wrote in the summer of 2017. The light novel was published by Shueisha on October 20, 2017, under their Shueisha Orange Bunko imprint, with illustrations provided by the artist syo5. The novel has been described as a mystery romance and a coming-of-age story, and it received significant recognition by winning the 22nd Honya Taisho Award, a major literary prize in Japan decided by booksellers.

The story of Doko Yori mo Tooi Basho ni Iru Kimi e follows Kazuki Tsukigase, a high school boy who carries a secret and transfers to Sakijima High School on a remote island to escape his past. On the island, there is a location known as the Cove of Spiriting Away, where Kazuki one day discovers a sixteen-year-old girl named Nanao lying unconscious. After she regains her senses in the hospital, her identity remains a mystery, and the only clue is the year "1974" that she murmurs. The narrative explores the complex emotions and hidden secrets of its young characters, blending a touching boy-meets-girl story with elements of mystery and temporal displacement.

A manga adaptation of the light novel has been created, with Akiko Abe credited as the original author and Haruka Chino serving as the illustrator. This manga began serialization on Shueisha's Tonari no Young Jump website on August 6, 2025. The first compiled book volume was released by Shueisha under their Young Jump Comics imprint on February 19, 2026. The ongoing manga serialization represents an expansion of Abe's original story into the visual medium of sequential art.

The most significant development in Akiko Abe's career as a creator is the adaptation of her light novel into an animated feature film. The film, titled To You in the Beyond, is scheduled to be released in Japanese theaters on October 9, 2026. The animation production is handled by TMS Entertainment, with distribution by Shochiku and Pony Canyon. The film is directed by Junichi Wada, known for his work on the HIGH CARD series, and the screenplay is written by Sayaka Kuwamura, whose credits include Strobe Edge and Josee, the Tiger and the Fish. In comments released to the press, Akiko Abe expressed her gratitude for the adaptation, noting that the film is not an exact copy of her novel and that she appreciates how the adaptation does not simply follow the story verbatim. She observed that there were things she could not have written nine years prior and things that can only be expressed through animation.

Akiko Abe's artistic identity, as evidenced by her sole major work, centers on crafting emotionally resonant mystery narratives with a strong sense of place. The remote island setting serves as a crucible for characters seeking to escape their pasts, while the central mystery involving a temporal anomaly adds a layer of speculative intrigue to the interpersonal drama. Her work has gained attention on social media platforms such as TikTok, indicating a broad appeal that transcends traditional literary audiences. Her industry significance is demonstrated by the rapid expansion of her original light novel into a manga and a major anime film production, marking her as a literary talent whose work has successfully transitioned into multiple forms of media.