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
