^I see where you're coming from, for me though part of that past element came with a reset for Papika from what I remember, one where she basically got a clean slate to start a new life with Cocona. Where the old Papika seemed to have romantic feelings for Mimi, but the new and current Papika is romantic with Cocona. So I think we have different perspectives, and it's just something where we have to agree to disagree, which is fine imo. Where even after watching the whole series the romance of Papika and Cocona means the world to me, and still does all these years later.