It's written on the first page of every chapter: she's 24 and Ai is even younger

right so they're basically babies

It's written on the first page of every chapter: she's 24 and Ai is even younger

right so they're basically babies

24 is plenty enough to be accomptable for your actions and decision. They are young, but they are not kids anymore.

Kon's aspiration, for the longest time, has been to fit into what her mother deemed as "normal". So, instinctively, she tried to make their relationship "ordinary" (going to work ordinary jobs, eating together, going on dates, sleeping together...),

We say this but the word "normal" is not a pejorative; it's not inherently negative. Kon's "normal" here is typical dating and monogamy. Yes in her mind it's partly based on her mom but from Ai's POV what is being asked of her? You just said Kon wanted them to do crazy things like go on dates and live together, as though those are bad or only the result of her mother. Ai was suffering from a GF who loved her, lived with her and even worse wanted to go on dates sometimes. I don't think their faults are comparable.

Most importantly, Ai had little issue with this version of normal. She attacked Kon's version of normal only when Kon asked her to separate herself from her abusive ex. Before that they were mostly fine and we saw that what actually caused AI's struggles was her addiction to this old ex, even hallucinating this woman, thinking of her constantly. She says herself that everything was fine until she took off the Blue Garnet and couldn't erase the nagging feelings; then asks Ghost Kaede what curse she put on her. I believe most of her apprehension about falling into complacency with Kon was actually about her anxiety for Kaede, which is why it jump started when she took off the necklace.

Ai was dating Kaede; she didn't date around then. They presumably went on dates together and she had a job before Kon. I'm sure she wanted to live her life with Kaede. Ai never said she has issues with that "normal." Normal was good then. Again, I feel like we're kind of exaggerating what Kon is asking for in the service of defending Ai but I don't feel Ai is being reasonable or even in the right mind. Kon has some issues and I understand Ai is struggling but what they're doing to each other is not "even."

last edited at Dec 8, 2025 7:27AM

"I don't know anything, and yet I still ended up abandoning her" girl WHAT? Kaede abandoned YOU, now you're going to abandon your current gf for what? Man I don't think even a fully formed frontal lobe and therapy can save this, Ai's version of closure is just not it. But of course with her trauma and personality type she truly can't let Kaede go.

I really feel for Kon, but at least this time she's not just going to keep chasing after Ai and following her flow hoping for Ai to open her eyes and chose differently. Although i always felt it might end up like this for her since she fell for someone who she knew was in a relationship, and was actively serching for that person despite the messed up nature of said relationship. I get the whole "you cant help who you fall for" but man Kon really picked.... interestingly. I really am rooting for her though, and I'm glad she didn't give up her life to go run around with Ai again, it seems she's having some actual growth and feeling a bit more comfortable in her own skin. I hope she keeps striving to do things the way she wants and doesn't let the wait for Ai mess her up too badly.

Speaking of... honeslty i dont know if Ai is going to even come back, and even if she does I have no idea what her mental state will be like especially if she still doesn't find Kaede, heck I still have on my mind what she said in the earlier chapters about how she would kill Kaede and then herself, who knows what might happen if she hears something that really sets her off. I'm not even sure what kind of ending I'm hoping for here, but I'm locked in for however this turns out.

Kon's aspiration, for the longest time, has been to fit into what her mother deemed as "normal". So, instinctively, she tried to make their relationship "ordinary" (going to work ordinary jobs, eating together, going on dates, sleeping together...),

We say this but the word "normal" is not a pejorative; it's not inherently negative. Kon's "normal" here is typical dating and monogamy. Yes in her mind it's partly based on her mom but from Ai's POV what is being asked of her? You just said Kon wanted them to do crazy things like go on dates and live together, as though those are bad or only the result of her mother. Ai was suffering from a GF who loved her, lived with her and even worse wanted to go on dates sometimes. I don't think their faults are comparable.

Most importantly, Ai had little issue with this version of normal. She attacked Kon's version of normal only when Kon asked her to separate herself from her abusive ex. Before that they were mostly fine and we saw that what actually caused AI's struggles was her addiction to this old ex, even hallucinating this woman, thinking of her constantly. She says herself that everything was fine until she took off the Blue Garnet and couldn't erase the nagging feelings; then asks Ghost Kaede what curse she put on her. I believe most of her apprehension about falling into complacency with Kon was actually about her anxiety for Kaede, which is why it jump started when she took off the necklace.

Ai was dating Kaede; she didn't date around then. They presumably went on dates together and she had a job before Kon. I'm sure she wanted to live her life with Kaede. Ai never said she has issues with that "normal." Normal was good then. Again, I feel like we're kind of exaggerating what Kon is asking for in the service of defending Ai but I don't feel Ai is being reasonable or even in the right mind. Kon has some issues and I understand Ai is struggling but what they're doing to each other is not "even."

I might be pedantic, but I do make a difference between leading a normal life and pursuing a normal life. There are no issue with leading a normal life, most people do, and it's not a negative thing. But pursuing a normal life, especially out of society's expectations can be quite toxic. Saying "this is not normal" as a justification is not a good answer nor a valid justification.

For example, when Kon answers that to Ai, when she doesn't want to delete Kaede's contact, it was not a good answer, and I would even go as far as saying that it wasn't the truth. The truth was not about normalcy, it was that it made her anxious, and rightfully so. "Don't do that, it make me uneasy and anxious" is a perfectly valid answer. But saying "this is not normal", it's just pushing society's expectations, without giving a real reason for it.

For example, when Kon answers that to Ai, when she doesn't want to delete Kaede's contact, it was not a good answer, and I would even go as far as saying that it wasn't the truth. The truth was not about normalcy, it was that it made her anxious, and rightfully so. "Don't do that, it make me uneasy and anxious" is a perfectly valid answer. But saying "this is not normal", it's just pushing society's expectations, without giving a real reason for it.

I don't see how any of that compares to what Ai has done. I don't agree with what you said because anyone would say what Ai is doing is not normal, but even if I did, that doesn't change the dynamics at all or address my point about Ai's actual objections.

We're now dissecting Kon's word choices, when what she's asking for is basic stuff. This compared to a GF running off to her ex while also wanting her current GF to stay put and wait for her to maybe come back and maybe not physically cheat (because she's already been heavily emotionally cheating). A GF who angrily snaps at her supposed lover when she does the unthinkable and asks that she cut contact with her abusive ex.

last edited at Dec 9, 2025 1:09AM