https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/bloom_into_you_ch31#37 The bottom of this page is so telling on so many levels. On one hand, obviously, there's the subtext that she hadn't even thought about what comes after the play. On the other, that outburst? That's something she would NEVER have let slip when she had her front up.
Ah, that's what it was. I was wondering why that panel stood out to me so much, when in context it seemed to fit in perfectly as comedic Touko.
Must point out that pages 39 and 40 Yuu is holding onto the crutches, the remnants of Touko's weakness in the play. Just more symbolism of how she's afraid of being left behind.
I found the play an odd mixture of satisfying and unsettling. Satisfying because the play by itself, if it were to be performed in reality, is satisfying and hits all of its themes well. Unsettling because, of course, real life is not a story and neither Touko nor Yuu have resolved anything, despite the play's conclusion. I think the play is actually not the climax, none of it, at least not in the way we'd usually think of a climax. It's reading like a subversion of that idea. Hospital-girl couldn't just choose a side of her to live the rest of her life as, and neither can Touko finish the play and perform that part forever, no matter what it was. She needs to choose who she becomes, not have it scripted for her.
Best of all, and I mean that non-sarcastically, nothing is resolved yet change still occurs. Touko's parents come to the realization they could be more supportive, the play director learns an unknown something about the situation, there's the sense of finality and passing with Touko crying, and a reminder that life continues, with Yuu's very understandable fears of losing Touko.
I think I just love that very real feeling of a performance, event, ritual, milestone completed, and knowing it doesn't mean a thing yet knowing it's also endlessly significant.