Things are obviously not back to normal, Mitsuki has closed herself off to music. The drama around that is just starting.

Her resolution of her internal conflict was... to drop the band in the middle of a concert ? And there's no on-screen discussion about it ?

Calling this weird isn't doing it justice.

Her resolution of her internal conflict was... to drop the band in the middle of a concert ? And there's no on-screen discussion about it ?

Calling this weird isn't doing it justice.

It's not that weird, or even that unusual, just unprofessional or even juvenile. I speak from my own experiences in how once you loose joy from playing and performing, you just stop. Period. Done. And you just keep living without it. It's not a good thing and can cause some serious problems (mentally) if not addressed but it does happen, although normally it's far before a person gets to the stage where you have serious opportunities for professional work, because that's the sort of thing that would ruin a reputation, not just with music. The fact Mitsuki isn't talking about it with Aya isn't surprising, just disappointing as it shows a lack of trust in the relationship. Then again how often does anyone willingly allow others (no matter how much you love them) to poke an open wound, for ANY reason?

last edited at Mar 1, 2026 4:35AM

We are but in Aya's POV here; she knows something's wrong with Mitsuki, but doesn't yet get to know what exactly it is. Presumably the idea is to share her sense of anxiety/uncertainty. That's why it makes sense to me that we do not yet what Mitsuki herself is thinking ...

... on top of "what exactly do you need spelled out here?!" Obviously the concert went bad, afterwards she quit the band. Okay. What does showing that actually add? It's clearly unresolved; we can talk again if she just randomly declares she's fine now next chapter ^^

Blue yuri :(

BLUE YURI ARC COMING UP I DREADED TIMES LIKE THIS

Things are obviously not back to normal, Mitsuki has closed herself off to music. The drama around that is just starting.

Yeah I'm looking forward to it. We're setting up for a longer haul and I'm excited for that. Her reaction to that trauma is interesting and could lead to some "fun" interactions even while I assume she'll try to present as normal for a bit. Eventually, it'll come to a head. I wonder what'll happen in the meantime since Aya already understands there's an issue but can't find a good opportunity to pry without a negative reaction. Maybe the new "friend" will play a part in all of it. Also, a bug in my face like that would make me lose my mind lol.

We are but in Aya's POV here; she knows something's wrong with Mitsuki, but doesn't yet get to know what exactly it is. Presumably the idea is to share her sense of anxiety/uncertainty. That's why it makes sense to me that we do not yet what Mitsuki herself is thinking ...

... on top of "what exactly do you need spelled out here?!" Obviously the concert went bad, afterwards she quit the band. Okay. What does showing that actually add? It's clearly unresolved; we can talk again if she just randomly declares she's fine now next chapter ^^

Yeah I'm in agreement. This kind of narrative jump is common regardless of being a 4 pager but it seems lately some have decided that's the bone to pick and take every opportunity to blame it. I don't see the issue but it's become a bit hairy (nitpicky) in any comments about this series lately and I'm not someone who was ever a massive fan of the series in the first place.

This is just another step showing that something has changed for Mitsuki that she is too traumatized to share even with Aya. That's an interesting character decision that is not settled yet.

We may find out what the band breakup conversation was like later or we may not. It serves a purpose though to avoid those moments for now because narratively Mitsuki does not want us or Aya to know. We are meant to wonder like Aya does. That's not because it's only 4 pages. Nowhere in this chapter is the problem settled. I'm sure we'll continue to tiptoe around Mitsuki's issue moving forward as it builds. I wonder how she'll eventually react when Aya does successfully broach the topic.

It's also not just a lack of communication. Aya clearly understands the need for talking but recognized that it's potentially a major sore spot for Mitsuki and is unsure how to bring it up without causing major blowback or further trauma. That's a good thing to be hesitant about, while still looking for opportunities.

last edited at Mar 1, 2026 8:04AM

welcome back to peak everyone, we are SITTIN DOWN

Good job, kids! ^_^

We are but in Aya's POV here; she knows something's wrong with Mitsuki, but doesn't yet get to know what exactly it is. Presumably the idea is to share her sense of anxiety/uncertainty. That's why it makes sense to me that we do not yet what Mitsuki herself is thinking ...

... on top of "what exactly do you need spelled out here?!" Obviously the concert went bad, afterwards she quit the band. Okay. What does showing that actually add? It's clearly unresolved; we can talk again if she just randomly declares she's fine now next chapter ^^

Yeah I'm in agreement. This kind of narrative jump is common regardless of being a 4 pager but it seems lately some have decided that's the bone to pick and take every opportunity to blame it. I don't see the issue but it's become a bit hairy (nitpicky) in any comments about this series lately and I'm not someone who was ever a massive fan of the series in the first place.

This is just another step showing that something has changed for Mitsuki that she is too traumatized to share even with Aya. That's an interesting character decision that is not settled yet.

We may find out what the band breakup conversation was like later or we may not. It serves a purpose though to avoid those moments for now because narratively Mitsuki does not want us or Aya to know. We are meant to wonder like Aya does. That's not because it's only 4 pages. Nowhere in this chapter is the problem settled. I'm sure we'll continue to tiptoe around Mitsuki's issue moving forward as it builds. I wonder how she'll eventually react when Aya does successfully broach the topic.

It's also not just a lack of communication. Aya clearly understands the need for talking but recognized that it's potentially a major sore spot for Mitsuki and is unsure how to bring it up without causing major blowback or further trauma. That's a good thing to be hesitant about, while still looking for opportunities.

I think it’s rude to say I’m “nitpicky” for not having the same opinion as you about the pacing and scenes happening off screen, along with the condensed nature of the time skip here. It’s fine that we don’t agree, but I genuinely don’t think I’m being nitpicky because I think the pacing is bad, and the way things are happening makes me feel less connected to the story and frustrated. Those feelings are just as valid as you being fine with this chapter.

We are but in Aya's POV here; she knows something's wrong with Mitsuki, but doesn't yet get to know what exactly it is. Presumably the idea is to share her sense of anxiety/uncertainty. That's why it makes sense to me that we do not yet what Mitsuki herself is thinking ...

... on top of "what exactly do you need spelled out here?!" Obviously the concert went bad, afterwards she quit the band. Okay. What does showing that actually add? It's clearly unresolved; we can talk again if she just randomly declares she's fine now next chapter ^^

Yeah I'm in agreement. This kind of narrative jump is common regardless of being a 4 pager but it seems lately some have decided that's the bone to pick and take every opportunity to blame it. I don't see the issue but it's become a bit hairy (nitpicky) in any comments about this series lately and I'm not someone who was ever a massive fan of the series in the first place.

This is just another step showing that something has changed for Mitsuki that she is too traumatized to share even with Aya. That's an interesting character decision that is not settled yet.

We may find out what the band breakup conversation was like later or we may not. It serves a purpose though to avoid those moments for now because narratively Mitsuki does not want us or Aya to know. We are meant to wonder like Aya does. That's not because it's only 4 pages. Nowhere in this chapter is the problem settled. I'm sure we'll continue to tiptoe around Mitsuki's issue moving forward as it builds. I wonder how she'll eventually react when Aya does successfully broach the topic.

It's also not just a lack of communication. Aya clearly understands the need for talking but recognized that it's potentially a major sore spot for Mitsuki and is unsure how to bring it up without causing major blowback or further trauma. That's a good thing to be hesitant about, while still looking for opportunities.

I think it’s rude to say I’m “nitpicky” for not having the same opinion as you about the pacing and scenes happening off screen, along with the condensed nature of the time skip here. It’s fine that we don’t agree, but I genuinely don’t think I’m being nitpicky because I think the pacing is bad, and the way things are happening makes me feel less connected to the story and frustrated. Those feelings are just as valid as you being fine with this chapter.

I wasn't talking to you specifically and that specific comment about the vibe of the response to chapters was a general one, so I'm not interacting with this energy. Too early in the day. We disagree I guess.

last edited at Mar 1, 2026 12:33PM

I wasn't talking to you specifically and that specific comment about the vibe of the response to chapters was a general one, so I'm not interacting with this energy. Too early in the day. We disagree I guess.

Well we can mutually agree that it's too early at least. I woke up a bit ago, then I saw your comment and thought well dang that's rude, so I'm not wanting to argue only trying to say that we might have different opinions but they're both valid.

Wanting massively important moments of the story to actually happen isn't a nitpick. This is at least twice now that an incredibly major moment that NEEDED to be seen has been skipped and happened off screen. We're not talking about empty nothing being skipped. Mitsuki quit the band IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONCERT!? And we don't get to see it!?

Regardless of whatever actually happened, we have to see it. Doesn't matter if it was juvenile or emotional or dramatic or violent. No matter what, it's important.

This IS the bone to pick. It's absurd.

It would be nice to know how long it's been between the concert and the picnic moment. Are we talking weeks, months?

I swear a lesbian that actually knows how to communicate is a holy grail.

It would be nice to know how long it's been between the concert and the picnic moment. Are we talking weeks, months?

Yeah I wish we had more of a solidly defined timeline in general throughout the series. That would help me connect to understanding the gaps a lot better and the time passage.

Wanting massively important moments of the story to actually happen isn't a nitpick. This is at least twice now that an incredibly major moment that NEEDED to be seen has been skipped and happened off screen. We're not talking about empty nothing being skipped. Mitsuki quit the band IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONCERT!? And we don't get to see it!?

Regardless of whatever actually happened, we have to see it. Doesn't matter if it was juvenile or emotional or dramatic or violent. No matter what, it's important.

This IS the bone to pick. It's absurd.

Yes, exactly. It's not like the manga has been full-on introspective from the start. Normally, we do see the events happening around Aya and Mitsuki, to some degree.

If she'd just quit, I would understand not seeing the conversation. We already saw her interactions with the rest of the group and that she wasn't happy, which was context enough. An arc where she's quite her band, isn't really playing anymore, and not speaking with Aya ? Fine.

But quitting in the middle of a concert makes that event a lot more significant and we just don't see a single thing about it ? That's a major event, the surrounding discussion would have been a lot more involved than quitting normally, the repercussions and the number of people it affects are huge.

It doesn't make much sense to skip big events like that. I genuinely can't remember a similar event that would have happened off-screen prior to the big timeskip.

last edited at Mar 1, 2026 4:19PM

If the author doesn't wanna show such crucial moments, not just once but multiple times now, then just write a novel! We're already getting text dumps anyways on a series with four pages per chapter lol

Truly asinine to think "what would something 'obvious' (it's not) add to the story?" idk... How about some actual character progression on screen. Given it's a SoL series, I'd say it'd be pretty great to actually see those moments.

You people deserve to get your money back.

i'm still excited and happy, i missed these girls

Okay, her art keeps getting better and better but honestly the pacing is so terrible, what the heck!! It’s like I’m reading an illustrator’s work rather than a mangaka…

I don't expect most of y'all to share this experience, but the moment Mitsuki quit the band would barely exist to her. It doesn't really matter. It's an afterthought, an inevitability. Everything from the moment she stopped playing to where we are now, and probably for a while yet, will feel blurry to her. It's not surprising we immediately jumped to Aya's POV while Mitsuki is just going through the motions. What we do get from Mitsuki in upcoming chapters will be pretty depressed.

I went through some rough times musically around the same age. It was heartbreaking. Hope for better things for Mitsuki, but the music industry is rough and she's only beginning to understand that.

I wonder how much of this is drawing on Sumiko's own experiences or those of someone very close to her. There are moments in her work that feel very real, very lived, and the last couple chapters are probably up there with a specific part of Makoto no Momoka for how deeply it resonated for me.

last edited at Mar 2, 2026 12:10AM

I don't expect most of y'all to share this experience, but the moment Mitsuki quit the band would barely exist to her. It doesn't really matter. It's an afterthought, an inevitability. Everything from the moment she stopped playing to where we are now, and probably for a while yet, will feel blurry to her. It's not surprising we immediately jumped to Aya's POV while Mitsuki is just going through the motions. What we do get from Mitsuki in upcoming chapters will be pretty depressed.

Yeah there's a lot of potential for some interesting interactions and a slow peel back of what she's been going through. I'm wondering if she'll mask her depression well though as some can do.

It could definitely happen next chapter and work but I'm not expecting her to reveal her hand for a while. I feel the mystery of this personal event is something that we'll get slight hints of but could build up over time. How does her behaviour start to change? Does she start treating situations and people differently in subtle ways and will Aya pick up on the shifts? It would be right if on the surface things seem fine but we know there's a lot of uncertainty about what actually happened to her.

Also interested in how Aya continues to handle the dilemma. Will the mystery make her feel like she's not trusted? That's not the case but it wouldn't be surprising for her to wonder. And what happens if Mitsuki doesn't take broaching the topic well? Whenever she does come clean about her mental state, it could be a gut punch.

I went through some rough times musically around the same age. It was heartbreaking. Hope for better things for Mitsuki, but the music industry is rough and she's only beginning to understand that.

Especially now that her Uncle isn't physically there anymore. Besides Aya, who will be her support?

last edited at Mar 2, 2026 11:20AM

I don't expect most of y'all to share this experience, but the moment Mitsuki quit the band would barely exist to her. It doesn't really matter. It's an afterthought, an inevitability. Everything from the moment she stopped playing to where we are now, and probably for a while yet, will feel blurry to her. It's not surprising we immediately jumped to Aya's POV while Mitsuki is just going through the motions. What we do get from Mitsuki in upcoming chapters will be pretty depressed.

I went through some rough times musically around the same age. It was heartbreaking. Hope for better things for Mitsuki, but the music industry is rough and she's only beginning to understand that.

I wonder how much of this is drawing on Sumiko's own experiences or those of someone very close to her. There are moments in her work that feel very real, very lived, and the last couple chapters are probably up there with a specific part of Makoto no Momoka for how deeply it resonated for me.

Woah! thanks for sharing this! You even reminded me I had a similar experience, but it was related to art and being part of an art circle... I don't know why I didn't connect it, but now it's bringing up those memories. I'm able to reread the chapter and have it land a little better.

You cant avoid it forever