Ko's problem is that he didn't want to deal with the drama. His issues are more deeply rooted than he's been letting on. He struggles to make friends because his interests aren't particularly mainstream to begin with. He'd rather watch bugs than play active games with others. He comes off as a very strong introvert to me. He longs for companionship, but really struggles with groups. His cognitive center believes that he struggles to feel that attachment, and thinks also he can't make friends. But that's obviously not the case. He always had Akira, and he's gotten instantly attached to Nazuna and vice versa.Originally Posted by neflight86
On the other hand, it's also true that his limited energy for social activities means he struggles with wanting to be situations where he's uncomfortable. I've known that feeling where someone says they like you and you don't want to lie to them and tell them that you feel nothing for them. People want to be polite about it. Pressed into that situation, Ko turned her down because he's honest, and got ostracized for it. He had gathered a pretty decent social group (per himself and Akira), and when the drama happened, he had an epiphany about it. He was going to stop pretending to be a social person, and went back to being a pro-introvert full time.
So, he didn't randomly decide to stop interacting with others. He decided to stop faking that he was a social person and be honest to himself as well. He'd always been that way. Akira even said she was surprised that he had become a lot more outgoing and had made a lot of friends...and noticeably, "missed her chance."
Akira is the same way, which makes her equally fascinating. The "missed her chance" thing got straight up passed by this entire episode, but it is very obviously a confession of regret. Throughout the episode, Akira throws flags all over the place that she has an equal number of issues that Ko has. The obvious stuff is the regret and longing she has for Ko specifically, culminating in her subtle plea to choose her over this creepy new weird older woman who claims to be a vampire and looks like an exhibitionist.
Putting aside the constant hints about how much she still romantically likes Ko now, Akira has always connected with Ko more than anyone else. She cherished the gift "he left her" more than anything else. Akira leaving early and going for hours long walks is very similar to what Ko's doing and indicates some problems at home or at least disengaged parents like his are. Akira isn't really as straight-laced as she came off, because she didn't disapprove that he's out late, just that he's having "risky fun" with this strange woman. But she isn't really bothered or hurt by the fact that he's interested in Nazuna either (maybe she's relieved that he does feel those kinds of things?).
I really like the way they've set up Akira to be Nazuna's complete thematic opposite. She's the girl he hangs out with at dawn instead of midnight. She's awkward instead of charismatic. She holds her problems in close like whispers instead of yelling in the street (though both are pretty open about them, a very un-Japanese trait). She's accepting of his interest in other women instead of throwing a tantrum over it. She's authoritative and direct instead of teasing and roundabout. She's got big boobs instead of small ones, heh.
And they're both upset that Ko is drawn to the other.
The series might be low-stakes and subtle, but it is comprehensive, very elegantly crafted, and detailed about interpersonal stuff while being indirect about conveying it. I'm glad I never got around to reading the manga, because the voice acting adds so much to it.
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