Among all the negativity, I must say that I like the line "I must admit I'm an idiot, even I think this wouldn't happen"

I think many highschool sweethearts couples, even moreso ones with stories like these, end up letting go on doing the constant effort that relationships require because "we're meant to be"(which is really just the reverse of "who else would you be with?", if you look at it cynically)

It's... awful to see that Mitsuki only gains conciousness of the problems in the relationships once a potential rival comes along, but it's also natural, it happens.

Personally, it really speaks to me, I've been on both ends. And nowadays I quite hate the assumption that you'll be with someone forever because it causes these issues, so I quite liked this episode.

Yeah, at this point, it's not even that the "rival" means anything. Mitsuki is jealous, but Aya hasn't shown any romantic interest in Shu, Shu just has a one-sided crush thus far.

Aya is lonely because Mitsuki isn't talking to her, but Mitsuki isn't talking to her because she's afraid that because their relationship is based on music, that if she can't play then Aya will lose interest. Ironically, that emotional instability is also probably part of why she's lost her mojo in the first place.

But Aya's interest was never because of the music, it was because Mitsuki is sweet and attentive and considerate. The accidental rizz moments scattered through the series all come from Mitsuki being concerned about Aya, but Mitsuki just remembers using music, so she think it's about the music itself.

It's worth remembering that Joe also nearly lost the love of his life because he didn't realize that all she wanted was to know she was cherished.

to be fair this is 100% an accurate representation of people in their early twenties in a relationship

which is exactly why we need more yuri of women in their 30s

I don't really mind this arc much in the grand scheme of things if only we would get those 4< page chapters more. That 12 pager with Shu and Rinko was really good, I liked what I learnt about these side characters! You would think something like that would be used for establishing these recent story beats, too. It's clear that these are crucial moments in their relationship. Or maybe there just wasn't much to say. This story is so popular I don't know if "4< pages would break the social media traction" applies much as an excuse anymore.

to be fair this is 100% an accurate representation of people in their early twenties in a relationship

which is exactly why we need more yuri of women in their 30s

I love Arai Sumiko's older woman yuri writing and I REALL REALLY hope she continues those someday pleaseeeeee

I really commend Sumiko for what she is doing with this series. I know many feel like this conflict is drawn out and frustrating but this really is such a great depiction of a pivotal stage in every relationship.

When the girls finally started dating, there was a sense of relief, as if the hard part was over and it would just be smooth sailing from there. But in reality, becoming a couple is just the beginning because after you confess your feelings and they are returned, you enter a honeymoon phase where the relationship feels effortless. Affection and intimacy feel easy because the relationship is fun and novel. You love someone and they love you back—they want to hold your hand and kiss you and be intimate with you. This honeymoon phase feels lovely and easy and meant-to-be…. until it doesn’t. Because no one stays the same forever—not you and not your lover. And no matter how much you love them and how much you love what you have together… Your relationship will have to grow and change because the both of you are (hopefully) growing and changing, too.

Work, university, clubs, friends, music gigs, parties, movie nights, having fun and drinking too much… Mitsuki and Aya are not the same high school girls from before. They spend more time apart during the day then they do together and that is good! That’s life! But life will naturally change them and it will, in turn, change their relationship. It’s inevitable and beautiful and necessary. And that is where they are right now. Their honeymoon is over. It has been interrupted by the inevitability of change and they are struggling with what that change means for their relationship.

Mitsuki is afraid of what it will mean if she admits that music is just not something she particularly enjoys anymore (at this moment, at least)—especially since she feels like it was the foundation of her relationship with Aya. And on some level it kind of was. It wasn’t the only thing that drew them together but it was an important part of them getting to know each other and falling in love. So, she avoids the issue entirely because she is isn’t prepared for what this change will mean for their relationship.

And of course, Aya is frustrated that Mitsuki is unwilling to open up about her struggle but at the same time she is also actively grieving the loss of something that she feels is foundational to their relationship. But at the same time she’s also not just grieving the loss of their shared love for music—she is also grieving the loss of the closeness and honesty that they were able to share through their mutual love for music, they way they were able to attune to each other. She wants that sense of closeness and emotional intimacy back but how can she have that without leaning on their mutual love for music?

I think Sumiko is pushing the girls to answer questions that every couple has had to at some point in their relationship; what defines our relationship? How do we adapt to individual growth and change? Is this a relationship in which we can grow and change or is it one in which we are expected to stay the same forever? These are very scary questions for anyone but especially so for a pair of 20 year old girls who have only been dating for a few years.

I think it’s really wonderful that Sumiko is taking the girls— and us—there. So often authors are limited by a narrow idea of what love and relationships look like which can lead young readers to have unrealistic expectations of what their own love lives might look like. But Sumiko seems to understand what a real adult relationship entails and I love that. We need more adult yuri. We need more honest representations of what relationships look like, beyond high school and beyond fluff. Sumiko is really doing something here and I am so excited to see how our girls grow and change—individually and as a pair.

I really commend Sumiko for what she is doing with this series. I know many feel like this conflict is drawn out and frustrating but this really is such a great depiction of a pivotal stage in every relationship.

When the girls finally started dating, there was a sense of relief, as if the hard part was over and it would just be smooth sailing from there. But in reality, becoming a couple is just the beginning because after you confess your feelings and they are returned, you enter a honeymoon phase where the relationship feels effortless. Affection and intimacy feel easy because the relationship is fun and novel. You love someone and they love you back—they want to hold your hand and kiss you and be intimate with you. This honeymoon phase feels lovely and easy and meant-to-be…. until it doesn’t. Because no one stays the same forever—not you and not your lover. And no matter how much you love them and how much you love what you have together… Your relationship will have to grow and change because the both of you are (hopefully) growing and changing, too.

Work, university, clubs, friends, music gigs, parties, movie nights, having fun and drinking too much… Mitsuki and Aya are not the same high school girls from before. They spend more time apart during the day then they do together and that is good! That’s life! But life will naturally change them and it will, in turn, change their relationship. It’s inevitable and beautiful and necessary. And that is where they are right now. Their honeymoon is over. It has been interrupted by the inevitability of change and they are struggling with what that change means for their relationship.

Mitsuki is afraid of what it will mean if she admits that music is just not something she particularly enjoys anymore (at this moment, at least)—especially since she feels like it was the foundation of her relationship with Aya. And on some level it kind of was. It wasn’t the only thing that drew them together but it was an important part of them getting to know each other and falling in love. So, she avoids the issue entirely because she is isn’t prepared for what this change will mean for their relationship.

And of course, Aya is frustrated that Mitsuki is unwilling to open up about her struggle but at the same time she is also actively grieving the loss of something that she feels is foundational to their relationship. But at the same time she’s also not just grieving the loss of their shared love for music—she is also grieving the loss of the closeness and honesty that they were able to share through their mutual love for music, they way they were able to attune to each other. She wants that sense of closeness and emotional intimacy back but how can she have that without leaning on their mutual love for music?

I think Sumiko is pushing the girls to answer questions that every couple has had to at some point in their relationship; what defines our relationship? How do we adapt to individual growth and change? Is this a relationship in which we can grow and change or is it one in which we are expected to stay the same forever? These are very scary questions for anyone but especially so for a pair of 20 year old girls who have only been dating for a few years.

I think it’s really wonderful that Sumiko is taking the girls— and us—there. So often authors are limited by a narrow idea of what love and relationships look like which can lead young readers to have unrealistic expectations of what their own love lives might look like. But Sumiko seems to understand what a real adult relationship entails and I love that. We need more adult yuri. We need more honest representations of what relationships look like, beyond high school and beyond fluff. Sumiko is really doing something here and I am so excited to see how our girls grow and change—individually and as a pair.

Really nice. Agreed pretty much fully, especially the bold sections. I am also excited that she's been willing to do something genuinely uncomfortable and has her character make real, flawed decisions. Can't wait to see how she resolves everything now that it's been slowly built up and is currently crashing. I'm sure they'll be so much stronger after actually being tested.

last edited at Jun 9, 2026 8:29PM

You're telling me the characters in this story made mistakes, supposedly learned from them, then made the same mistakes again? Teenagers being melodramatic? Insecurity manifesting as suspicion? That's not realistic at all. Who could possibly relate to that nonsense? Bad writing and dropped.

Lol
For real though, even if they weren't teenagers, my parents have been having the same fights for 20+ years, and some of those fights were really nasty (they should have divorced at least 15 years ago). It's very easy to fall into patterns of behavior with someone.

Yeah there's repetitive things to all of us as humans and our relationships, but I also don't think a total refusal to communicate in basically any regard and then jumping to an absurd assumption about cheating is being handled in a very realistic or interesting way in this arc. Also I wouldn't want this story to be going for 20 more years with 0 character growth and repeating the same character resets where nobody learns lessons just because some people think that's a realistic relationship lol

They haven't had zero character growth and this hasn't been going on that long. The cheating issue is entirely about her own lacking self worth, to put it simply, and not a reflection of anything else. I don't understand how that could be absurd unless you're disregarding what her mental state has been. She's been aware of her distance, feels she's not providing much without her music and is massively insecure recently as a result of these traumas. Why wouldn't she be in the state to jump to conclusions, when those conclusions satisfy the biases she has against herself?

I was saying if we're going to have a situation where this series keeps going by having the couple repeatedly get into the same fight for years to come it would be something where there's no character growth. Sure there are some couples in real life that are like that but it would make for a miserable story experience in my opinion, others may disagree as they think that's the most realistic situation a couple could be in. I don't think most couples are like that though so I don't think it's a very realistic personally.

Also yes Mitsuki has biases against herself but it's absurd to me that she ignores Aya, gives her the cold shoulder, and the moment Aya LEANS on a friend Mitsuki instantly thinks Aya is having an affair with her friend. Not only does Mitsuki have biases against herself but she has no faith in her partner, despite Aya trying her best and giving Mitsuki no reason to doubt her.

Anyway I think it's better to agree to disagree and move on at this point, there's people that think this arc is a well realized and very well written realistic drama, where as I think this arc has become an exhausting situation boarding on Soap Opera drama. I don't think we're going to agree and that's fine.

I don’t want to be nit-picky but I do have to point out that Aya did think Mitsuki was cheating on her when she came home after band practice both exhausted and affectionate. I think Mitsuki’s fear is just a tiny bit more sound in this situation, haha. But either way, I don’t think either of the girls is really meant to come off as perfectly rational at this point. I think they’re both supposed to be coming off as immature and inexperienced and unintentionally making everything worse despite the love they have for one another.

But I do think this conflict is reaching it’s apex and will be resolved soon, hopefully with the relationship ending up more realized and fortified as a result. Power struggles in relationships are difficult and require a lot of work but they make for a stronger couple if weathered through and I think Sumiko and the girls have what it takes.

Edit: I just remembered that Aya also thought Mitsuki had brought a girl home in the chapter with the projector, haha.

last edited at Jun 10, 2026 1:27AM

You're telling me the characters in this story made mistakes, supposedly learned from them, then made the same mistakes again? Teenagers being melodramatic? Insecurity manifesting as suspicion? That's not realistic at all. Who could possibly relate to that nonsense? Bad writing and dropped.

Lol
For real though, even if they weren't teenagers, my parents have been having the same fights for 20+ years, and some of those fights were really nasty (they should have divorced at least 15 years ago). It's very easy to fall into patterns of behavior with someone.

Yeah there's repetitive things to all of us as humans and our relationships, but I also don't think a total refusal to communicate in basically any regard and then jumping to an absurd assumption about cheating is being handled in a very realistic or interesting way in this arc. Also I wouldn't want this story to be going for 20 more years with 0 character growth and repeating the same character resets where nobody learns lessons just because some people think that's a realistic relationship lol

They haven't had zero character growth and this hasn't been going on that long. The cheating issue is entirely about her own lacking self worth, to put it simply, and not a reflection of anything else. I don't understand how that could be absurd unless you're disregarding what her mental state has been. She's been aware of her distance, feels she's not providing much without her music and is massively insecure recently as a result of these traumas. Why wouldn't she be in the state to jump to conclusions, when those conclusions satisfy the biases she has against herself?

I was saying if we're going to have a situation where this series keeps going by having the couple repeatedly get into the same fight for years to come it would be something where there's no character growth. Sure there are some couples in real life that are like that but it would make for a miserable story experience in my opinion, others may disagree as they think that's the most realistic situation a couple could be in. I don't think most couples are like that though so I don't think it's a very realistic personally.

Also yes Mitsuki has biases against herself but it's absurd to me that she ignores Aya, gives her the cold shoulder, and the moment Aya LEANS on a friend Mitsuki instantly thinks Aya is having an affair with her friend. Not only does Mitsuki have biases against herself but she has no faith in her partner, despite Aya trying her best and giving Mitsuki no reason to doubt her.

Anyway I think it's better to agree to disagree and move on at this point, there's people that think this arc is a well realized and very well written realistic drama, where as I think this arc has become an exhausting situation boarding on Soap Opera drama. I don't think we're going to agree and that's fine.

I don’t want to be nit-picky but I do have to point out that Aya did think Mitsuki was cheating on her when she came home after band practice both exhausted and affectionate. I think Mitsuki’s fear is just a tiny bit more sound in this situation, haha. But either way, I don’t think either of the girls is really meant to come off as perfectly rational at this point. I think they’re both supposed to be coming off as immature and inexperienced and unintentionally making everything worse despite the love they have for one another.

But I do think this conflict is reaching it’s apex and will be resolved soon, hopefully with the relationship ending up more realized and fortified as a result. Power struggles in relationships are difficult and require a lot of work but they make for a stronger couple if weathered through and I think Sumiko and the girls have what it takes.

Edit: I just remembered that Aya also thought Mitsuki had brought a girl home in the chapter with the projector, haha.

From what I remember when Aya thought of the cheating while still dumb and a rather absurd conclusion to jump to, it was generally treated as a brief nonsensical almost gag like moment, and wasn't part of a greater drama focused arc. The story moved on quickly and didn't drag it out, now the series has Mitsuki jumping to this conclusion in the midst of a drama arc, after neglecting Aya. Along with everything else that follows.

As I said before though I really rather just move on because I don't think I'm going to agree with everyone that's currently defending the series at this time. Agree to disagree, live and let live, all of that lol

You're telling me the characters in this story made mistakes, supposedly learned from them, then made the same mistakes again? Teenagers being melodramatic? Insecurity manifesting as suspicion? That's not realistic at all. Who could possibly relate to that nonsense? Bad writing and dropped.

Lol
For real though, even if they weren't teenagers, my parents have been having the same fights for 20+ years, and some of those fights were really nasty (they should have divorced at least 15 years ago). It's very easy to fall into patterns of behavior with someone.

Yeah there's repetitive things to all of us as humans and our relationships, but I also don't think a total refusal to communicate in basically any regard and then jumping to an absurd assumption about cheating is being handled in a very realistic or interesting way in this arc. Also I wouldn't want this story to be going for 20 more years with 0 character growth and repeating the same character resets where nobody learns lessons just because some people think that's a realistic relationship lol

They haven't had zero character growth and this hasn't been going on that long. The cheating issue is entirely about her own lacking self worth, to put it simply, and not a reflection of anything else. I don't understand how that could be absurd unless you're disregarding what her mental state has been. She's been aware of her distance, feels she's not providing much without her music and is massively insecure recently as a result of these traumas. Why wouldn't she be in the state to jump to conclusions, when those conclusions satisfy the biases she has against herself?

I was saying if we're going to have a situation where this series keeps going by having the couple repeatedly get into the same fight for years to come it would be something where there's no character growth. Sure there are some couples in real life that are like that but it would make for a miserable story experience in my opinion, others may disagree as they think that's the most realistic situation a couple could be in. I don't think most couples are like that though so I don't think it's a very realistic personally.

Also yes Mitsuki has biases against herself but it's absurd to me that she ignores Aya, gives her the cold shoulder, and the moment Aya LEANS on a friend Mitsuki instantly thinks Aya is having an affair with her friend. Not only does Mitsuki have biases against herself but she has no faith in her partner, despite Aya trying her best and giving Mitsuki no reason to doubt her.

Anyway I think it's better to agree to disagree and move on at this point, there's people that think this arc is a well realized and very well written realistic drama, where as I think this arc has become an exhausting situation boarding on Soap Opera drama. I don't think we're going to agree and that's fine.

I don’t want to be nit-picky but I do have to point out that Aya did think Mitsuki was cheating on her when she came home after band practice both exhausted and affectionate. I think Mitsuki’s fear is just a tiny bit more sound in this situation, haha. But either way, I don’t think either of the girls is really meant to come off as perfectly rational at this point. I think they’re both supposed to be coming off as immature and inexperienced and unintentionally making everything worse despite the love they have for one another.

But I do think this conflict is reaching it’s apex and will be resolved soon, hopefully with the relationship ending up more realized and fortified as a result. Power struggles in relationships are difficult and require a lot of work but they make for a stronger couple if weathered through and I think Sumiko and the girls have what it takes.

Edit: I just remembered that Aya also thought Mitsuki had brought a girl home in the chapter with the projector, haha.

From what I remember when Aya thought of the cheating while still dumb and a rather absurd conclusion to jump to, it was generally treated as a brief nonsensical almost gag like moment, and wasn't part of a greater drama focused arc. The story moved on quickly and didn't drag it out, now the series has Mitsuki jumping to this conclusion in the midst of a drama arc, after neglecting Aya. Along with everything else that follows.

As I said before though I really rather just move on because I don't think I'm going to agree with everyone that's currently defending the series at this time. Agree to disagree, live and let live, all of that lol

Given the short length of the chapters and how insistent the author is on fitting as much context as possible in every single page, my impression has always been that even the gags at minimum tell us something about the characters and and at best foreshadow what’s to come. The automatic and absurd assumption that Mistuki was cheating—and twice, at that—gives us insight on Aya as a character and in turn on the insecurities that are present in the relationship. This is a way of quickly cuing us in on the state of affairs of the relationship. I also wouldn’t say that people are "defending the series," I think they see something in the storytelling that maybe others don’t, which is just a different reading or interpretation. It's alright to interpret media differently. The entire field of media analysis exists precisely because we can often interpret the same media in different ways. But I think you are right. We can just agree to disagree on this one. Best!

reading it again, and it really makes no sense for me to people to complain about it.
characters being idiots and causing conflict... yea, that's a story. and a good one at that
i really love how they really act like two 20's high school sweethearts living together would act and this whole conflict reflecting how much they love and miss each other, even being idiots not knowing how to deal with it. It huuurtsss cause they careeee and that's love baby it's fucking goooood

So, I kinda see why Mitsuki is spiralling and why she’s terrified of losing Aya. She’s based her entire self-worth on her music and Aya and she’s just (she thinks) lost one of those and she believes that music is the main thing that connects them. However, Aya fell in love with all of Mitsuki, her music, her awkwardness, her kindness and her looks and Mitsuki really needs to hear that right now… and probably get some therapy cause basing your entire self esteem on your partner and hobby isn’t healthy.

Great to see Joe and Kanna back

I hope Aya and Mitsuki resolve their problem like Joe and Kanna

she went out to buy a CD !! to gift it to Aya, to listen to together, cry a bit and then they will talk heh c:
at this point I'm just coping
but really nice touch with Dave grohl n his daughter x Joe n mitsuki
missed joe n kanna really bad tho

I will take that Queens of the Stone Age mention and be happy about it. Lovely seeing Joe and Kanna again. They look like they've settled in so well. Mitsuki definitely following in her dad's footsteps a little too closely. Gotta make a swerve. Looking forward to the next chapter, as always.

last edited at Jun 14, 2026 7:08AM

I hope Aya and Mitsuki resolve their problem like Joe and Kanna

Yes...! hopefully without one of them moving abroad first though

Best Uncle continues to be Best uncle.

SONGS FOR THE DEAF MENTIONED

KRDL Curdle 109, we spoil music for everyone!

reading the comments from the past chapter and seeing the word realistic, when all i thought was that it feels very American University/College Drama Romance movie vibes lol (like
The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the likes. you know, several of the things that happen in those type of movies happen in real life, but they have that “vibe”, I don't know how to describe it) it’s annoying of course just like most of those movies, but it fits the whole vibe of the manga, which is influenced by western music.

My theory is that this is the final arc of this manga, and that is why this problem has been long, music being the tool to showcase Mitsuki grown and resolution, it’s going to end when she takes back music, eveything will get resolved with Aya too and HEA ending

last edited at Jun 14, 2026 2:10PM

A truly nice chapter for a change. ^_^

but what does this mean...... my brain lacks the cells to analyze this

I hope Aya and Mitsuki resolve their problem like Joe and Kanna

Yes...! hopefully without one of them moving abroad first though

But this is an american romance, you need to have the scene where the protagonist rushes to the airport to confess their love!

It is really incredible how much these four pages tell us. This short chapter works to remind us of a few things that we may have forgotten along the way.

First, this is a reminder that worrying in silence is, in fact, a Koga family trait. It’s so fundamental to their family structure that is down right genetic. And that is not the only thing—music is, as well. This chapter reminds us that music is deeply ingrained in the family dynamic. It has been fundamental to the way that Mitsuki relates to others because it has been a fundamental way that her uncle has related to her—it’s a shared language within the family. This also sheds light on how deeply Mitsuki has been hurting, feeling rejected by the thing that has played such a key role in her life and thus feeling lost and confused about who she is and what she could possibly be without it. This chapter reaffirms why this rejection and pain has been extremely difficult to cope with and understand, much less express to anyone else.

This chapter also tells us that Mitsuki has not called her uncle in a long time, which lines up with the musical break-up that she has been struggling to cope with. This insight also allows us to better understand just how deeply this has impacted her.

Of course this chapter is also reminds us of what Joe and Kanna went through in their relationship and how they eventually overcame their own communication breakdown. I can’t help but look at their hands. They’re both wearing wedding rings. Or perhaps engagement rings? Either way, this is meant to tell us something, right? That despite their differences and how difficult it was for them to get on the same page, they were able to attune to each other and commit to being together, to take on change together. This is a welcomed break in the tension that has been building up so far—a sigh of relief and a hopeful foreshadowing for what is to come, I think.

But the last thing that I believe this chapter is also shedding light on (perhaps unintentionally) is that Mitsuki has a non-existent support network outside of her relationship. She does not have a mother or a father or siblings or really any extended family that we know of. She has an uncle who raised her as best as he was able to but that now lives overseas… and this is sad and scary, especially when you consider her age. Mitsuki is also someone who does not ask for help because she has difficulties with communication—either because she has difficulty being vulnerable or because she worries about burdening others with her feelings and making them worry over her… I think these things also helps us better understand her as a character and how we have arrived at our current juncture.

All in all, I think this short little chapter is doing a lot. More so that it really has any right to do. I don’t really understand how Sumiko manages to squeeze so much into so little space. These mere four pages reiterate some of the things that perhaps we have forgotten, ties everything back to the trajectory of the story and the characters, gives us more clarity on why Mitsuki is hurting so much and gives us hope that this current conflict and struggle for growth —just like Joe and Kanna’s—could make our characters better.

Of course this chapter is also reminds us of what Joe and Kanna went through in their relationship and how they eventually overcame their own communication breakdown. I can’t help but look at their hands. They’re both wearing wedding rings. Or perhaps engagement rings? Either way, this is meant to tell us something, right? That despite their differences and how difficult it was for them to get on the same page, they were able to attune to each other and commit to being together, to take on change together. This is a welcomed break in the tension that has been building up so far—a sigh of relief and a hopeful foreshadowing for what is to come, I think.

wow you have amazing sharp eyes. They are indeed wearing rings.

I hope Aya and Mitsuki resolve their problem like Joe and Kanna

Yes...! hopefully without one of them moving abroad first though

But this is an american romance, you need to have the scene where the protagonist rushes to the airport to confess their love!

But Joe already did that, too!