Dear reader,

This was a genuinely uncomfortable read, but in a very intentional and thoughtful way. What stood out most to me was how the story handles memory and trauma through Akane and Yukari reconnecting years later. The emotional damage is not shown through dramatic twists but through quiet conversations, regret, and the weight of realizing how much was missed back then. Yukari’s story especially hit hard. She was vulnerable, isolated, and placed in a situation where a trusted teacher abused that imbalance of power. The manga captures how complicated those emotions can feel years later, especially when someone keeps questioning whether they are even “allowed” to feel hurt. Akane’s regret added another emotional layer. She realizes too late that Yukari needed help and that she was not there for her. The confrontation near the end was especially frustrating in a realistic way, and I found myself deeply disappointed by how quickly Yukari’s feelings were brushed aside in defense of “art.”