One thing we need to remember is that "communication issues" have been a defining aspect of Mitsuki's character ever since the very beginning, and while she certainly has gotten better at expressing herself to others since the time when a crisis in communication meant she put a bag over her head:
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/the_guy_she_was_interested_in_wasnt_a_guy_at_all_ch27#3
Just being in a loving relationship doesn't mean that her personality is totally transformed--communication is something she and her loved ones are going to need to work on all her life. Mitsuki still best expresses herself via unintentional rizz and her music, and in fact the current crisis consists of anxiety about her music.
I know it's a relief to readers when characters finally "just talk to each other," but in real life "communication issues" are consistently the number one problem that therapists and family counselors see for very good reasons.
Honestly I think my issue is less with the poor communication between the characters and more that the series feels like it's poorly communicating with the audience. With time passage feeling disjointed, and character motivations and emotions feeling condensed and vaguely defined. It feels like more is happening off screen than it is on screen with most recent events, and we the audience aren't invited. That's just how I feel anyhow, and I've noticed other people feel differently which is equally valid.
I absolutely agree with you here, the time jumps between chapters is a bit hard to process, especially seeing where the manga was years before with a lot more direction and linear focus. I appreciate the glimpses of the characters' new lives as adults - it's fun! - but it's not the pacing many (myself included) expected from the manga. The introduction of Shu-chan felt super rushed, whatever tension was attempting to be made with their character got lost fast, only to jump into Mistuki's troubles with artistic integrity. I just wish it kept a more focused structure, but hey, who knows what's planned and what's in store?
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