Given how Kotooka talks about unrequited feelings it seems like chapter 18 has all but confirmed that she was rejected by her old crush. So any empathy she feels for Washio wouldn't be 'I know what it's like to have an unrequited love' but 'I know what it's like to be rejected by the one you love' I guess. Previous chaps have Washio's own dialogue make it clear that there's a big difference between knowing and getting direct confirmation. Kotooka is definitely is "too nice" in this way. Trying to get Washio to give up and grow uninterested instead of having to tell her "the feeling isn't mutual." I mean she has straight up questioned if it's "okay" for two people to have "unequal" feelings, so stuff like that eats away at her it seems.
Also damn, the girl who rejected Kotooka must have been an ass if she made her want to go to an entirely different school. Maybe gave her the "don't wanna be friends with a creepy girl who loves girls" thing. It'd bring Subaru's comment about love confessions being creepy full circle. Given how short Kotooka's hair was when they all first met one another, maybe one of her 'abnormalities' was being a tomboy. That'd be hurtful word ammunition for her crush to shoot off but that almost seems too obvious. It'd give an added significance to her crush on Shiratori though!
As a sidenote: I think? Kotooka takes Washio's love as a serious thing. She didn't acknowledge any of her past boyfriends as someone who 'loved' her. Washio though? Cancelled the "nobody has ever loved me" thought. Kotooka's methods are very "don't think about feelings for too long/must end this madness" and it makes it harder to interpret how in/significant her passing comments are now that everything's gotten so complicated. Could her line about one-sided love being the "best weakness possible" be a hint about her own feelings? That not only is she frustrated that her plan is failing, but is also worried things might get more convoluted if she lets Washio too close? I doubt Kotooka would like to check 'loving two people' into the box of added 'abnormalities'. She could be referring to her man gallivanting but it'd be hilarious if the triangle keeps building till they all secretly love each other. The legendary triple triangle; all love no confessions! Unmarried 30 year olds end get. Since Kotooka already (most likely) has the dichotomy of been rejected/ has to reject girl I do think I'm probably overthinking the Washio stuff though. It'd be sadistic af.
last edited at Jan 6, 2017 10:46PM