Did Mitsuki leave? I took the panel as Mitsuki putting on her music for Aya, maybe.

There's a door slamming shut on page 3, so it's implied she left.

Maybe she quickly went home to get her guitar or Aya's CD whether she's already finished it or not.

Oh My God

Talk to your girlfriend for 5 seconds, I'm starting to lose my mind lol

same here. Communication is alway key in these type of situation happens time and time again.

Oh My God

Talk to your girlfriend for 5 seconds, I'm starting to lose my mind lol

same here. Communication is alway key in these type of situation happens time and time again.

Yeah and it's hard being in the reader seat, where we're watching everything unfold and powerless to help.

I’m praying Mitsuki didn’t just go home after that… please tell me she’s staying to question her (I assume) girlfriend about what’s going on, if she’s okay, etc.

PLEASEE

^ I think she just went out to buy something for Aya's fingers.

Was that just a stress ulcer??? I’m confused lol

No. More likely she has tachycardia caused by anxiety and dehydration.

Edit: It should be noted that Aya had gone from walking outside in February cold, to entering a very warm subway car. The sudden shift in temperature caused her blood vessels to undilate, creating a normal drop in blood pressure. Her heart had to increase its beat rate, and because of her stress levels and irregular diet, it went beyond a normal rate.

I dunno. I live somewhere where it gets to -35C, even -40C is not unheard of, every winter, and I've never heard of such a thing. And I go outside for a walk every freaking day.

last edited at Jul 13, 2025 9:25AM

I definitely get the mentality of wanting to deal with everything by yourself, I've been guilty of that way too many times in my own life in the past (^^) It's a very difficult thing to admit to weakness, especially if you're under the impression that you can't without losing face. This is where Mitsuki will come in IMO, she's quite perceptive in her own way, and I'm sure she's already picked up on a lot of the signs before actually seeing the self-harm Aya has been doing to herself.

If people in works of fiction talked like sane people, half the books, movies, TV shows, and gay-ass manga in the world wouldn't exist.

For better or worse, we gotta ride out the done-to-death trope and hope it doesn't carry on much longer.

I'm pretty sure it'll start getting better now. The secret's out, so her girlfriend can properly support her now.

If people in works of fiction talked like sane people, half the books, movies, TV shows, and gay-ass manga in the world wouldn't exist.

And we would all be better for it. These kinds of contrived "conflicts" always feels like low quality fanfiction where the author either don't know how to create compelling communicating characters or they are out of ideas.

If people in works of fiction talked like sane people, half the books, movies, TV shows, and gay-ass manga in the world wouldn't exist.

And we would all be better for it. These kinds of contrived "conflicts" always feels like low quality fanfiction where the author either don't know how to create compelling communicating characters or they are out of ideas.

What is contrived about this situation exactly? Someone feeling insecure and stressed doesn't discuss their insecurity and stress with loved ones. That feels not only incredibly common, but as evidenced by the first time Aya avoided Mitsuki, very in character.

If people in works of fiction talked like sane people, half the books, movies, TV shows, and gay-ass manga in the world wouldn't exist.

And we would all be better for it. These kinds of contrived "conflicts" always feels like low quality fanfiction where the author either don't know how to create compelling communicating characters or they are out of ideas.

What is contrived about this situation exactly? Someone feeling insecure and stressed doesn't discuss their insecurity and stress with loved ones. That feels not only incredibly common, but as evidenced by the first time Aya avoided Mitsuki, very in character.

The argument that open communication is "normal" in real life and the lack of it contrived in fiction often comes up, maybe because readers are so used to seeing both the exterior actions and interior motivations of fictional characters that the solutions to fictional conflicts seem to be so "obvious" and "straightforward"--"Just tell [MC] what's going on!"

Meanwhile, back in real life, the number one issue in couples and family counseling is--wait for it--"communication issues."

last edited at Jul 13, 2025 1:53PM

No. More likely she has tachycardia caused by anxiety and dehydration.

Edit: It should be noted that Aya had gone from walking outside in February cold, to entering a very warm subway car. The sudden shift in temperature caused her blood vessels to undilate, creating a normal drop in blood pressure. Her heart had to increase its beat rate, and because of her stress levels and irregular diet, it went beyond a normal rate.

I dunno. I live somewhere where it gets to -35C, even -40C is not unheard of, every winter, and I've never heard of such a thing. And I go outside for a walk every freaking day.

You'd be surprised, shifts in temperature really do have large effects. Heart attacks are more common in winter, because the cold will raise blood pressure which can be harder on the heart and also loosen plaques that can cause blockages.

last edited at Jul 13, 2025 1:43PM

If people in works of fiction talked like sane people, half the books, movies, TV shows, and gay-ass manga in the world wouldn't exist.

And we would all be better for it. These kinds of contrived "conflicts" always feels like low quality fanfiction where the author either don't know how to create compelling communicating characters or they are out of ideas.

What is contrived about this situation exactly? Someone feeling insecure and stressed doesn't discuss their insecurity and stress with loved ones. That feels not only incredibly common, but as evidenced by the first time Aya avoided Mitsuki, very in character.

The argument that open communication is "normal" in real life and the lack of it contrived in fiction often comes up, maybe because readers are so used to seeing both the exterior actions and interior motivations of fictional characters that the solutions to fictional conflicts seem to be so "obvious" and "straightforward"--"Just tell [MC] what's going on!"

Meanwhile, back in real life, the number one issue in couples and family counseling is--wait for it--"communication issues."

Yeah communication issues are normal between people in every kind of relationship. That's why my frustration with the lack of communication here is acknowledging that it's coming from an audience perspective, and how the solution is right there and we're powerless to help the character(s) reach that point. From an in-universe and character perspective it makes sense that the character is having a hard time reaching that point.

God, this drama is so forced it’s painful.

God, this drama is so forced it’s painful.

I really don't agree there, this shit that just happens regularly irl and it's not contrived

No. More likely she has tachycardia caused by anxiety and dehydration.

Edit: It should be noted that Aya had gone from walking outside in February cold, to entering a very warm subway car. The sudden shift in temperature caused her blood vessels to undilate, creating a normal drop in blood pressure. Her heart had to increase its beat rate, and because of her stress levels and irregular diet, it went beyond a normal rate.

I dunno. I live somewhere where it gets to -35C, even -40C is not unheard of, every winter, and I've never heard of such a thing. And I go outside for a walk every freaking day.

You'd be surprised, shifts in temperature really do have large effects. Heart attacks are more common in winter, because the cold will raise blood pressure which can be harder on the heart and also loosen plaques that can cause blockages.

Anxiety is the main problem here. I know this from personal experience having had a couple of panic attacks in my student days with an accompanying accelerated heart rate. These happened after days of little sleep and irregular eating/limited fluid intake. Aya is pushing herself to physical exhaustion and her heart is in a borderline state. The sudden transition from a cold to hot environment simply pushed her over the edge.

This kind of anxiety related condition is very common in students. During the February exam periods, hospital ERs in Japan are probably full of students suffering from anxiety attacks, stress related conditions like hypoglycemia and anemia, and accidental overdoses from stimulants or other substances that people overindulged to stay awake etc..... In any case despite her embarrassment, Aya would have found plenty of company in the ER waiting area. The ER procedure for her is pretty straightforward: she would given an EKG by hospital staff as a precaution, and upon discharge she would have been sent home with either orders to get a normal amount of sleep, or been prescribed an OTC sleeping medication like diphenhydramine HCL (better known in the States as the active ingredient in Benadryl, Nytol, and Unisom, among others).

Providing of course that she has a normal EKG readout. But this isn't that kind of manga. Expect plenty of angst over her perceived failure to "keep up with" Mitsuki.

last edited at Jul 14, 2025 3:22AM

If people in works of fiction talked like sane people, half the books, movies, TV shows, and gay-ass manga in the world wouldn't exist.

And we would all be better for it. These kinds of contrived "conflicts" always feels like low quality fanfiction where the author either don't know how to create compelling communicating characters or they are out of ideas.

What is contrived about this situation exactly? Someone feeling insecure and stressed doesn't discuss their insecurity and stress with loved ones. That feels not only incredibly common, but as evidenced by the first time Aya avoided Mitsuki, very in character.

The argument that open communication is "normal" in real life and the lack of it contrived in fiction often comes up, maybe because readers are so used to seeing both the exterior actions and interior motivations of fictional characters that the solutions to fictional conflicts seem to be so "obvious" and "straightforward"--"Just tell [MC] what's going on!"

Meanwhile, back in real life, the number one issue in couples and family counseling is--wait for it--"communication issues."

Yeah communication issues are normal between people in every kind of relationship. That's why my frustration with the lack of communication here is acknowledging that it's coming from an audience perspective, and how the solution is right there and we're powerless to help the character(s) reach that point. From an in-universe and character perspective it makes sense that the character is having a hard time reaching that point.

Understood. I was just making the further point that the idea that a failure to communicate in fiction seems “contrived” or “forced” to some people is because we as readers have access to what’s going on inside the characters, and therefore we think we know what the (simple) solution would be—“Just talk to each other!”

That’s the incredibly privileged position readers are put in as compared to real life—we hear what Aya is thinking, we see her exhausting herself as she studies, our attention is drawn to the detail of her damaged fingers, we even are shown a symbolic image of her interior physical pain, none of which the other characters can know. Then, at least to some readers, the absolutely most common single everyday interpersonal dysfunction is regarded as an abnormal and unrealistic failure of characterization.

If people in works of fiction talked like sane people, half the books, movies, TV shows, and gay-ass manga in the world wouldn't exist.

And we would all be better for it. These kinds of contrived "conflicts" always feels like low quality fanfiction where the author either don't know how to create compelling communicating characters or they are out of ideas.

What is contrived about this situation exactly? Someone feeling insecure and stressed doesn't discuss their insecurity and stress with loved ones. That feels not only incredibly common, but as evidenced by the first time Aya avoided Mitsuki, very in character.

The argument that open communication is "normal" in real life and the lack of it contrived in fiction often comes up, maybe because readers are so used to seeing both the exterior actions and interior motivations of fictional characters that the solutions to fictional conflicts seem to be so "obvious" and "straightforward"--"Just tell [MC] what's going on!"

Meanwhile, back in real life, the number one issue in couples and family counseling is--wait for it--"communication issues."

Yeah communication issues are normal between people in every kind of relationship. That's why my frustration with the lack of communication here is acknowledging that it's coming from an audience perspective, and how the solution is right there and we're powerless to help the character(s) reach that point. From an in-universe and character perspective it makes sense that the character is having a hard time reaching that point.

Understood. I was just making the further point that the idea that a failure to communicate in fiction seems “contrived” or “forced” to some people is because we as readers have access to what’s going on inside the characters, and therefore we think we know what the (simple) solution would be—“Just talk to each other!”

That’s the incredibly privileged position readers are put in as compared to real life—we hear what Aya is thinking, we see her exhausting herself as she studies, our attention is drawn to the detail of her damaged fingers, we even are shown a symbolic image of her interior physical pain, none of which the other characters can know. Then, at least to some readers, the absolutely most common single everyday interpersonal dysfunction is regarded as an abnormal and unrealistic failure of characterization.

I agree, sometimes things can feel a bit forced and that can vary person to person depending on their perspective, plus tolerances. I should also apologize for confusing the conversation, I jumped into the response chain kind of out the blue since I had expressed some frustrations of my own with the lack of communication before you and others were discussing it.

I agree, sometimes things can feel a bit forced and that can vary person to person depending on their perspective, plus tolerances. I should also apologize for confusing the conversation, I jumped into the response chain kind of out the blue since I had expressed some frustrations of my own with the lack of communication before you and others were discussing it.

No apology necessary at all--just an ordinary, everyday glitch in communication. :-)

I agree, sometimes things can feel a bit forced and that can vary person to person depending on their perspective, plus tolerances. I should also apologize for confusing the conversation, I jumped into the response chain kind of out the blue since I had expressed some frustrations of my own with the lack of communication before you and others were discussing it.

No apology necessary at all--just an ordinary, everyday glitch in communication. :-)

Fair, thanks. Yeah I figured I should at least give a friendly heads up that I wasn’t who you were responding to previously, just since I jumped into the convo so suddenly lol

I wouldn't want to meet that Mitsuki in a dark alley, I'd get the hell polished out of my nails.

Time for nail therapy

Mitsuki being thoughtful at it's finest.