Ikoku Nikki • Journal with Witch - Episode 5 discussion

*Ikoku Nikki*, episode 5

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* [Official Website](https://ikoku-anime.com/)

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**All discussions**

Episode|Link
:-:|:-:
1|[Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q3symw)
2|[Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qa2cc5)
3|[Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qgbkp5)
4|[Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qmm9xx)
5|[Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qt1j44)

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AnimeMod2026-02-01 16:33

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szalhi2026-02-01 16:47

Asa's conditioned towards the [illusion of free choice.](https://i.imgur.com/E7eriI2.jpeg) She probably thought she would have to be a rebellious teen to have her way, which ended up being false because of Makio.

ModieOfTheEast2026-02-01 16:58

Honestly, at first I thought it might have been some kind of her wanting there to be rules. Like when she asked if she could dye her hair and Makio wonders why she is asking her, I was thinking that maybe Asa wants a few limits because that would make it feel more like she is living with her mother again. There is the potential that a child can feel like you don't care at all if you just allow everything after all. Which might have even been confirmed a bit by how her mother talks about Makio. Not being very empathetic.

Then again, the whole visit also shows how the same behaviour can be interpreted differently depending on what kind of head space you are in.

ayaholley2026-02-01 17:11

Being told that you need to make your own choices in life and then being criticized when you make those choices is seriously a recipe for that kind of stuff, I swear.

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 18:45

It seems as if Minori would occasionally tell Asa things like "Be whatever you want to be." But in practice, she made most of her daughter's decisions for her--if only because she thought Asa was taking too long to make up her mind herself, as when she had to choose a club in elementary school.

Whether because she got in the habit of doing that or because she still had rigidly conventional ideas about what women or girls should do in any given situation, it looks as if Minori had a tendency to react negatively on the rare occasions when Asa did decide to do something on her own, as when she got her hair cut short ("You look like a boy!").

It looks as if Minori and Makio got along reasonably well when they were both pre-teens. But as she approached her teens, Minori appears to have become excessively preoccupied with acting "grown-up" and conforming to stereotypical ideas of what girls her age were supposed to do or be interested in. Hence her sudden scorn for Makio's still reading "childish" manga at what appears to be the not-so-advanced age of ten or eleven. Their mother was onto something back when she categorized Minori as "caring" and Makio as self-sufficient--but more in the sense that Minori cared a lot about meeting others' expectations than in the more usual meaning of her being empathetic.

Unlike Makio, Minori wouldn't dream of doing anything as socially unacceptable as criticizing her mother for becoming "dull and snide" in her old age. If such a thought had ever occurred to her, she would undoubtedly have immediately suppressed it. But this probably stems less from genuine empathy than it does from Minori's compulsion to conform to social norms. She certainly displays little interest in or ability to understand or sympathize with the feelings of anyone whose behavior she finds even mildly inappropriate or unconventional, even when that person is her own younger sister.

The flashback confrontation over Makio's continued interest in "childish" manga suggests that Makio's self-sufficient indifference to external standards of age- or gender-appropriate behavior really started to bother Minori at this point. As the two of them got older, Minori appears to have regarded Makio's nonconformist behavior as more and more of a threat, whether because it implicitly called her own obsessive attention to social norms into question or because of its potential impact on her own public image. I'm reminded of the MTV animated series "Daria" 's depiction of high school social misfit Daria's relationship with her fashionable, popularity-obsessed younger sister Quinn, who made such strenuous efforts to distance herself from her oddball big sister that Quinn's friends referred to Daria as "that girl who lives at your house."

As the potential social stakes grew higher, Minori's initial relatively mild distaste for her kid sister's "childish" interests intensified. This eventually led to the late-teens confrontation when Minori came across Makio's work-in-progress and harshly ridiculed her for writing a fantasy novel, derisively advising her to grow up and "face reality already."

ak_them2026-02-01 16:57

it's annoying how this shit makes me smile like an idiot

omarous_III2026-02-01 17:59

Wow really? It fills me with melancholy. (In a good way).

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:19

It has plenty of melancholy, to be sure. But also a lot of gentle (and credible) sweetness -- very like Tamayura.

Stelare2026-02-02 05:31

I think this is the best way to put it!

I don’t feel like I’ve watched another anime like this one before. I have really enjoyed the ways in which each character is unique and complicated in their own way. I like that it makes you feel sad, not in the way where it just smacks you right in the feels and makes you cry, but like… a deeper sadness? This anime definitely makes me feel weird things but in the best way possible 🤣

OldManStocktan2026-02-01 18:10

Oh I feel this deep in my soul. Then I'm like "why are you smiling, that ain't you" hahahah.

disDeal2026-02-01 18:15

It consistently manages to make me sad and emotional in every episode. And I love it

Aviri2026-02-01 17:04

Absolutely masterclass character interactions in this show.

Also that romance doesn't seem quite dead and buried yet.

good_wolf_19992026-02-01 17:17

Deep down, Kasamachi hopes they can become a couple again but he won’t push that wish on Makio

As for Makio is hard to tell, she likes having him around but we don’t know how she feels about getting back together

Personally, they give me the impression of a couple that realized that they don’t quite work as a couple but work great as friends so, I don’t mind is the romance is confirmed dead at some point in the show

Uppercut_City2026-02-02 11:07

I got the impression that Makio struggles with intimacy because of her nature. Not that they don't work as a couple, I think they do, but at the time they broke up she was kind of overloaded and didn't really have the bandwidth to handle it. I can actually see them getting back together since Makio's arc is learning to communicate and handle more interpersonal contact

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:18

The characters and their interactions (verbal and non-verbal) are utterly fantastic. Pretty much every single second feels real (in a very good way).

Whether the "romance" still has any faintly glowing embers, the (BFF-level) friendship is definitely very much alive and well. Incidentally, I liked how Asa was pretty nonchalant about that whole sofa situation.

Mr_Zaroc2026-02-01 22:09

> Pretty much every single second feels real (in a very good way).

Thats whats striking me so much about this show. You see all their struggles, awkward moments and its not always perfect
And all this just makes everything that is happening to Asa hit way harder then usual

I am really impressed with how well written this is

Uppercut_City2026-02-02 11:03

Introducing a guy who's fully still holding a candle, but not being all weird about it is such a refreshing thing to see. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a character like Kasamichi in anime before. He isn't a creep, and he understands what it is that Makio needs, even if that means it isn't him (romantically at least) at the moment. Asa was the best thing that happened to him because she instantly got him more face time with Makio lol

ObvsThrowaway51202026-02-01 17:05

It’s kind of interesting to see these flashbacks of Asa’s mom from her and Makio’s perspective. There are moments where she comes off as controlling or condescending and dismissive and then moments where she seems like a loving parent and kind sister. I suppose you could say she was complicated. Which is to say, she was human.

One thing’s for sure. Her death has left a lot of unresolved emotions and trauma in both Makio and Asa. At least they seem to be working through ‘em together.

thisisdropd2026-02-01 17:15

One of the charms of this show is how human everyone felt instead of a caricature of tropes. It really helped us with immersing ourselves into the world and stepping into their shoes rather than simply view it as a work of fiction.

BosuW2026-02-02 06:18

Honestly I think a lot of us can probably attest to having similar experiences with our parents. It's likely just a normal learning curve of the process. Of course they're gonna tell their kids that they can make their own life, what else could you say? Only of course you'll eventually do something they disagree with because, well, that's what being an individual means. But if course they can't imagine it before it happens! I mean, you've known this person their whole life, but suddenly they're different, a bit wild. Must be shocking.

On the other hand there are definitely parents with a "you'll do exactly as I say" style, but I imagine they're in the minority.

ModieOfTheEast2026-02-01 17:06

I really love seeing Makio talking with other people. When you only see these moments with Asa, you can come to this conclusion that she is a wise, knowledgeable adult that always knows the right thing. But then, you have her talk with other people and she either completely breaks when it's someone she doesn't know or is just way more emotional when it's with friends. That whole exchange with the lawyer was really funny. Because they made it really feel like that he was interrogating her, only to reveal that he didn't even want to come across like that.

As for Asa, at first I got the feeling that she is still a bit torn in how to think about her mother. For example, the one flash back where her mother chooses the choir for her is obviously something she thought was a good thing. So she appreciated the guidance there but later it changed to her feeling restricted in what she is allowed to do. Makio is doing the opposite, giving her technically complete freedom, but therefore fails to see when Asa is struggling with a decision.

For example, that moment when she said, she can just join the music club. She only says that and while she means that, Asa would have understood her better and not think that she meant something different, if she actually discussed that decision with her. Guiding Asa to choosing this option. It's obviously just the fundamental difference between Makio and her sister, but for Asa, she is a bit stuck between both extremes. Which is probably why she has a hard time as well to just trust what Makio says.

Vkusno-Nutty2026-02-01 18:38

Regardless of how the lawyer wants to come across, he was admittedly aggressive in his interrogation of Makio and kept sticking his foot in his mouth. He had made a ton of wrong assumptions about her beforehand. Maybe due to his lack of experience. I wonder who hired him anyway.

ModieOfTheEast2026-02-01 18:47

Yes, sure and that is why he apologizes. But this is something that can easily happen with two different characters like this. The lawyer didn't actually think Makio was taking money that was not hers (as that belongs to Asa) but that she just didn't send the proper receipt with it. At least in my opinion. The lawyer is probably used to people immediately stopping him when there is something wrong. So he interpreted Makio's silence as her allowing him to continue.

Again, the lawyer himself understood that he can't talk like that with Makio which I really appreciated as a conclusion to that scene. But I don't think he really was trying to interrogate her during that scene. He was doing it by accident due to Makio reacting differently to information being presented.

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 19:21

Yes, when Makio just sat there, unable to explain the three hundred thousand yen withdrawal, he probably interpreted her failure to explain the charge as a tacit admission of negligence about record-keeping, if not inappropriate usage of funds from Asa's bank account. When Makio was actually just stunned speechless and unable to figure out what could have happened.

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 18:57

Yeah, is it really that unusual in Japan for people to a) not have full-fledged Caller ID (I guess, although maybe the laws there prevent phone technology from automatically revealing the name or affiliation of the person calling, even if the call is coming from some kind of business) and/or b) not pick up when they keep getting calls from an apparently random number that they don't recognize?

I got the impression that the lawyer was automatically appointed by whatever government agency Makio had to apply to in order to become Asa's legal guardian. It sounded like the requirement he cited for Makio to submit financial, etc., updates about how she was dealing with Asa's needs was part of some standard government-imposed procedure.

todd-ashi2026-02-01 19:35

I also tend to not answer from unknown callers, unless I'm expecting a call like that. I expect them to leave voicemail if they're legit! I wonder why he didn't.

N0rTh3Fi5t2026-02-01 19:45

Not in Japan, but I wouldn't answer or call back a random number without prompting even *if* I happened to notice it was the same number repeatedly (which is doubtful). If he left a message though that is a different case. I would still be wary of someone claiming to be a lawyer I don't recognize, but you'd have to get back in touch and try to figure it out just because the situation with guardianship of her niece is too serious to ignore it.

flybypost2026-02-01 20:19

> He had made a ton of wrong assumptions about her beforehand. Maybe due to his lack of experience.

Also because Makio ignored his calls. He thought she was a deadbeat who was only after Asa's insurance money. He softened afterwards but then had to deal with "Awkward Makio" and just wasn't use to that too.

It seemed like he was rather new at this job too.

Zetafunction642026-02-01 20:28

nah he's just a young guy with a good heart, from his POV he was dealing with a negligent guardian who might've embezzled Asa's money

karer3is2026-02-01 23:08

It might have been tactless, but his assumptions aren't exactly based on empty prejudice... no matter what country you're looking at, legal guardianships (esp. those involving inhereitances), are rife with potential for abuse- and have been abused.

KumaKumaGambler2026-02-01 19:18

I like your interpretation on Asa's reactions to her mum's advice given in the past.

It also goes to show people like to hear what they want to hear.

Example:

Parent: "Live the life you want."
Child hangs out with the wrong crowd.
Parent: "Stop hanging out with these people who are bad influence."
Child: "But you said I could live the life I want!"

shewy922026-02-02 00:44

>Makio is doing the opposite, giving her technically complete freedom, but therefore fails to see when Asa is struggling with a decision.

I think that's something Makio needs to work on. Kids need structure, telling Asa "do what you like" might come off as cold and her being not interested, which results in Asa going behind her back with the money thing and not having a discussion about clubs. She needs to be more active in Asa's life imo and I think the ending where she calls her over to the TV for the band she likes is a step in the right direction. We know Makio pays attention to Ada, but Asa doesn't know that and might feel lonely, which I think was a big thing in the last episode.

ModieOfTheEast2026-02-02 01:32

Agreed, I think the final scene of the episode is so important for their relationship. Because it shows Asa that Makio cares about her and listens to her even if she doesn't say much or even calls it annoying. Also, during that scene they just talk about what Asa actually likes and have a small conversation about it which is really important. Truth be told, part of it is thanks to Kasamachi which is why I hope, they can get over the differences they had and get back together.

KumaKumaGambler2026-02-01 17:09

Perhaps Asa wasn't concerned about her final decisions and choices; she just wants an adult, parent figure, to discuss and speak with. At least this is how I interpreted the key theme of this episode.

All of us can relate to Makio on at least one aspect. Incoming unknown number? Ignore. Lol!

Young Makio and current Asa have similar hairstyles. I am still wondering whether it symbolizes anything.

CerberusZX2026-02-01 17:51

I agree. Asa was asking if she could when what she really wanted to know is if she should.

HackingYourUmwelt2026-02-01 18:03

I think there's also an element of Asa's mom probably "growing" from outright judgement of her sister to saying "you can do whatever you want" to Asa but not meaning it, and Asa projecting that subconsciously onto Makio

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:22

I think it fair to say that Minori is/was -- like all the other characters here -- a rich and complex character -- and will continue to deepen as we discover more.

FCT772026-02-01 19:32

Yeah there is an element of her mom saying "you can do whatever you want" but criticizing and misunderstanding the details about her. Like how at the start of the episode she said she liked the band and she thought it must mean Asa finds those boys cute. It seems to me like she regretted belittling Makio's career, tried to let Asa be herself but I guess she didn't succeed.

I will say, still loved this episode attempt at humanizing Asa's mom, the one thing that would've killed this show for me would've been the mom being cartoonishly evil. More and more she looks like she was worried about Asa, tried to not make the same mistakes she made before, (and I will presume Makio too) but was not able to communicate properly.

flybypost2026-02-01 20:25

> the one thing that would've killed this show for me would've been the mom being cartoonishly evil.

And the other would have been to give her the basic "she cared but didn't know how to show it" trope. A bit of that seems to be there but like you explained, her softening with Asa (but not exactly succeeding) after whatever went down between her and Makio.

fer_sure2026-02-01 20:30

>worried about Asa, tried to not make the same mistakes she made before

I completely read Asa's mom as trying to figure out how to deal with an artistic and imaginative daughter, having regretted the experience of going scorched earth with an artistic sister. She says what she thinks is the right thing "be yourself!" and then walks it back because it's unnatural for her to be so hands off.

Poor Asa is so used to her mom's conflicted approach that she doesn't really trust that Makio genuinely wanted to be hands off.

I think this episode was also a lesson to Makio that she *can't* be completely hands off - Asa's a kid and needs at least some guidance.

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:20

Asa really DOES look like young Makio!

ModieOfTheEast2026-02-01 18:42

I think that is also why that final moment was so important. It showed Asa that Makio not setting up rules has nothing to do with Makio not caring about her or not actually wanting to help her. Because Makio clearly remembered that Asa was singing that song and called her over to watch the band with her. It made her understand that this freedom is not a lack of interest in what Asa wants, but it really just comes down to Makio being different from her mother in approaching these things.

DugACCat2026-02-01 18:48

This episode was so good at showing them each struggling with their new, slightly forced roles. Asa is a teen so is staged to resist authority and expect “parents” to be a pain. But of course deep down she wants a little bit of parenting, even if teens sometimes don’t recognize the positive aspects of that. She didn’t really want push back on her choices, but some degree of interest and engagement, which Makio instinctively resists providing. And clearly Makio hasn’t been quite willing to accept being a parent or even a guardian, though I think she’ll warm up to it as she gets over the shock and intrusion. The business with the lawyer was a good reminder she can’t just ignore that stuff. I had the thought when she was ignoring the calls that a parent/guardian probably has to answer that kind of thing since it could be something important, like it proved to be. Such an amazingly well done and complex show.

thisisdropd2026-02-01 17:11

>*Watch out for cars, both of you*

To think that her mother had just jinxed Minori, although it took a couple decades. Was also surprised that Asa was also on the scene. I thought she wasn't with her parents during the accident seeing as she's not involved in it.

Might not be addressed in this series as it's not too relevant in the grand scheme of things, but I'm curious to how Makio and Minori's relationship gradually broke down seeing as they got along pretty well in their childhood despite their opposite temperaments. While we have seen the latter disapproving of the former's career choice, I'm sure that's just a factor instead of the singular event that tore them apart.

Didn't expect Shingo to get that physically intimate with Makio while watching the telly, or that she welcomed it instead of pushing him away. They might be exes, but you wouldn't be able to tell from this scene alone. Is there a chance for them to rekindle their relationship or were they convinced they're better off as friends?

Ocixo2026-02-01 17:37

> Didn’t expect Shingo to get that physically intimate with Makio while watching the telly, or that she welcomed it instead of pushing him away.

Have you ever seen a [Bernese Mountain Dog](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/3-BerneseMountainDogInGrass.jpg)? I too wouldn’t be able to resist giving it a big ol’ hug.

They’re fluffy, sweet and loyal. Yeah, I’m starting to see the likeness with Kasamachi.

Ocixo2026-02-01 17:13

Wow. Minori feels like a totally different person in the memories of Makio (mean sister) and Asa (kind mother).

Makio might come across cold towards others, but there’s a sense of kindness in everything Makio does. Like how she doesn’t want to taint Asa’s memories.

I do believe that Makio has been bit too lenient with Asa at times. She needs a parent’s guidance. Asa also wants Makio to set some limitations for her, I believe.

SmallJon2026-02-01 20:19

I get the feeling Minori wasn't a very nice person, but also aware of it and struggling to deal with it as a parent. And I think that would balance well against Makio, who's a very introverted person now being set to be a parent for a child she's barely met. Makio's too loose to offer guidance against Minori's trouble of being too rigid.

Ocixo2026-02-01 20:51

I got the impression that Minori used to have an unpleasant personality as a teen/young adult, but drastically changed after having given birth to Asa. Having broken off all contact, Makio supposedly never saw this new side of her sister.

flybypost2026-02-01 20:33

> I do believe that Makio has been bit too lenient with Asa at times. She needs a parent’s guidance. Asa also wants Makio to set some limitations for her, I believe.

At the very least Asa is used to some sort of parental guardrails and that seems to be incompatible with how Makio lives her life.

Ocixo2026-02-01 21:03

Yeah. Asa isn’t used to having this much freedom. It probably is a bit overwhelming to her.

Asa was definitely testing Makio’s reaction when she proposed to dye her hair. Minori would’ve stopped her daughter from making a possible mistake, but Makio was fine as long as she continued to abide by the school rules.

flybypost2026-02-01 21:44

Yup, testing and/or simply expecting some discussion about such topics and some pushback because that's how the main adult in her life behaved.

And then she bought that Macbook without asking for permission because she feared a "no" to question where she really wanted a "yes" (I think)… and felt bad about it and like she might get punished for it (probably why she said nothing about it at first when the lawyer was questioning Makio).

kemuraaa2026-02-01 17:14

I'm absolutely in love with this show it's insane

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:25

Still my favorite show of the season -- and the gap widens more with each passing week. Probably will be my favorite of the year (of new shows at least).

StegosaurusGrape2026-02-01 17:15

I love all of the adults in her life now. The family lawyer seems very passionate on making sure the children he takes care of are being treated right and not being taken advantage of for their money. I’ve certainly heard stories about caregivers taking money for themselves out of their wards bank account.

Asa’s relationship with her mother seemed difficult. Like Kasamachi said before, raising a kid and loving them, are two different things. Her mom seemed like she was hot and cold with Asa making her own decisions.

Also, I think Makio’s and Kasamachi’s relationship with each other will be a nice normalcy for Asa. It seems like her parents weren’t close with each other at all, or at least weren’t affectionate in front of Asa, and Makio’s close relationship with her ex(?) will show the upsides to having a romantic connection. Personally, my parents almost always fought and yelled at each other in front of us kids. That’s why I have a hard time seeing myself married because I don’t want to live like they do.

That smirk Kasamachi made when Makio said she picked up on one of his habits!! Definitely feels like he still loves her romantically. It’s been 5-6 years(?) since they broke up? That’s definitely long enough for personal growth for both of them and if they want to get back together…. I wouldn’t mind.

Ocixo2026-02-01 17:31

It was pretty amusing to see Makio get so flustered in front of an attorney like Tono, but I was honestly a little scared for her. Fortunately, Asa spoke up before this misunderstanding could escalate further.

Tono is definitely a good guy, but he certainly dealt some critical hits to Makio.

eightcheesepizza2026-02-01 18:24

A lawyer who keeps putting his foot in his mouth is good comic relief.

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 19:07

I'm still wondering how Asa managed to withdraw three hundred thousand yen from the bank account without anyone's knowledge. Since Asa is only fifteen and Makio is apparently legally responsible for the bank account, I'd have thought the bank would at least require Asa to present some kind of form with Makio's signature authorizing Asa to make such a hefty withdrawal.

SA0902026-02-01 17:16

The beginning of this episode where she’s asking if she can dye her hair and Makio telling her to do whatever she likes as long as it won’t break the school rules; felt like she’s pushing buttons or testing boundries. Which I assumed was me reading into it a little too much.

But then, with the flashbacks of “her” descisions being made for her basically, somewhat emphasised that thought. I don’t believe her mother was bad or anything, if there’s anything to say, she’s not out of the norm of most mothers at all and I would also say that Asa might have found it easier at first too.

Until she cut off her own hair and her parents didn’t like it. Aka, the first try at a rebellion. Which sadly was just before the accident and that try never got a discussion or a closure.

Which in turn, makes her utter freedom from Makio’s side a huge source of conflict that she will need to navigate slowly as well. Not just that, high school is opening new doors and new friendships which I assumed will be a source of struggle as well. In a good way, though.

Makio’s strategy or way of living of letting Asa retain the memory she wants of her own mother is fantastic. But it does make me a bit too curious on what exactly happened between the sisters to cause this animosity… being too different in personality is one thing sure, but I still want to know a bit more.

Anyway and as always, brilliant episode and I hate that I have to watch it weekly as one episode is simply not enough.

Ocixo2026-02-01 17:41

> Which sadly was just before the accident

I haven’t seen anyone else mention this yet, but the actual car accident looked horrific:

This truck had slammed into the back of the car driven by Asa’s parents and crushed all passenger seats from above. Hopefully they didn’t have to suffer for long…

SA0902026-02-01 17:42

She said she’ll talk to them in the Spring break about the hair, and then it cut to the accident so I assumed it was implied? Maybe it was me running away with a thought.

Gaporigo2026-02-01 17:52

This is hitting close around me (In Colombia), there was an accident just like this about 1 month ago that was all over the news, a car stuck in traffic behind a truck, kid got off to pee, parents recording him and joking that they were gonna leave him behind and another truck crashes against them killing them instantly, it was horrific stuff.

[NSFL video about it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQnreQJDd08) (in Spanish)

Sacramentlog2026-02-01 18:16

It somehow didn't register for me before that Asa was present at the scene of the accident. That was rough to watch.

ElHeim2026-02-01 23:45

I believe this is the first time they show us?

kyokoariyoshi2026-02-02 01:35

The show hadn’t told us how she found out up until this point! I thought she‘d learned about their death after the fact from the news or some other source. I’m really thinking her sleepiness is a trauma response. That is such a traumatic thing to see /:

metadun2026-02-02 03:02

I believe it was mentioned in the first episode that she had just gone into the store when it happened, so was definitely there, but we didn't get more details than that.

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:24

The scene was a bit cryptic -- but it looked like the car had stopped to allow Asa to go buy a bottle of water -- and that she actually SAW the accident site (though presumably not the accident as it happened). Am I mis-reading the way this was edited?

falsefingolfin2026-02-01 18:32

yeah, i think the stopped at a convenience store for asa to buy snacks and drinks, and while she was in there the truck hit their car

flybypost2026-02-01 20:16

Yup, she looked more surprised (and not exactly horrified) when she saw the accident. It probably happened while she was in the store.

mekerpan2026-02-01 20:18

I would imagine she feels that their death was HER fault (at some level).

flybypost2026-02-01 21:40

That's also a possibility. Although it feel to me like she's still in a phase of confusion, shock, and/or adjustment to all those chances so that this type of guilt might surface later once her head's clear of all that initial cacophony.

PracticalMarsupial2026-02-01 18:21

>But then, with the flashbacks of “her” descisions being made for her basically, somewhat emphasised that thought. I don’t believe her mother was bad or anything, if there’s anything to say, she’s not out of the norm of most mothers at all and I would also say that Asa might have found it easier at first too.

This part made me so mad, and really relate to Asa and remember my own youth. My parents were fine but they did this contradictory shit to me. Saying I should do one thing and then getting in me for doing the thing.

Like how is Asa supposed to learn to make decisions on her own if her mom is always making them! This is just too real, lol.

flybypost2026-02-01 20:14

> The beginning of this episode where she’s asking if she can dye her hair and Makio telling her to do whatever she likes as long as it won’t break the school rules; felt like she’s pushing buttons or testing boundries. Which I assumed was me reading into it a little too much.

To me it didn't feel like testing boundaries but more along the lines of slowly falling into old patterns and asking her "mom" for permission because that's how it was before. Asa constantly got feedback and when she was indecisive at times her mother stepped in.

She doesn't have that here, for better or worse. And she might miss it.

> But then, with the flashbacks of “her” descisions being made for her basically, somewhat emphasised that thought. I don’t believe her mother was bad or anything, if there’s anything to say, she’s not out of the norm of most mothers at all and I would also say that Asa might have found it easier at first too.

Yup, she seemed rather normal in how he raised Asa which is a contrast to how the two sisters seem to have grown apart. Sure she occasionally decided for Asa but it seemed to have been moments where Asa herself didn't know what choice to make. And otherwise she seemed to let her make her own decisions.

A solid guiding hand with maybe the occasional pushiness but not necessarily in a bad way. Just a bit of "mother knows best".

> Makio’s strategy or way of living of letting Asa retain the memory she wants of her own mother is fantastic. But it does make me a bit too curious on what exactly happened between the sisters to cause this animosity… being too different in personality is one thing sure, but I still want to know a bit more.

As small kids (playing SNES/Super Famicom) they seemed inseparable and harmonious.The one scene of them as young girls (around the middle school/high school divide?) seems to indicate when they started drifting apart and the divide only got bigger with time.

There's a guideline to young development and the eras we go through. Young kids are very much formed by their connection to their parents (they are also the biggest presence in our lives at that time). Then around their teenage years that shifts away from parents and their habits, ideals, and everything else gets shaped more by our friend group. After that's somewhat solidified it's one's working environment (early 20s) that takes on the prominent role of shaping who we are.

It makes sense that Minori could maybe change more drastically (into the more serious person we know as an adult) when she got into high school while Makio's friend group went into a different direction.

> Anyway and as always, brilliant episode and I hate that I have to watch it weekly as one episode is simply not enough.

Just before the ED started I was thinking to myself that they wouldn't dare to end it here. The episode has just begun!

cleaulem2026-02-01 22:35

> Makio’s strategy or way of living of letting Asa retain the memory she wants of her own mother is fantastic. But it does make me a bit too curious on what exactly happened between the sisters to cause this animosity… being too different in personality is one thing sure, but I still want to know a bit more.

That's the one thing that is bugging me too. We have seen flashbacks of Minori digging at Makio, but I got the feeling that this is only scratching the surface.

I hope (and believe) that we are going to learn what exactly happened between the two sisters.

ActualRound76992026-02-01 17:17

I’m starting to wonder more and more just what it was that drove such a wide rift between the sisters and I wonder how much involvement the mother had. The show does a good job of toying with us and beating around Makio’s seeming deep distrust and dislike of her mom and sister.

But at some point, I hope we get a reveal as to the core event that led to it.

You can see the struggle as Makio learns to basically parent Asa. She wants her to make her own choices, but how far does that go and where is Makio’s hard line. I am interested in seeing that too.

StegosaurusGrape2026-02-01 17:29

Siblings just clash with each other sometimes for no rhyme or reason. I’m only close with one sibling out of the four of us. She’s the oldest by 8 years and we’re closer now as adults than when we were kids.

ActualRound76992026-02-01 17:33

Right. Having two brothers I get that. I also get from what we have seen in flashbacks that Minori was probably just very toxic and a bully to Makio and she just naturally would have rather avoided her.

I guess my interest lies in whether there was one particular falling out or if it was the gradual bullying that led to it. Because this isn’t just a sibling clash. The scars go pretty deep.

Even hearing the way the mom talked about Minori and Makio, I feel like there was probably some pretty open favoritism from the mom and kind of a refusal to address the bullying properly.

StegosaurusGrape2026-02-01 17:49

Oh, I definitely can see some of the favoritism. Her sister was probably seen as the golden child because she followed society’s norms and she might’ve resented Makio for it. But I honestly think Makio played a role in the siblings falling out too.

From the flashbacks, and even now, Makio kind of has that air of someone who thinks she’s all that (I know she’s not) and is stoic to strangers. Her straightforward approach and personality probably made it harder for her sister to connect too.

ActualRound76992026-02-01 18:02

See, I wonder about that. Not to say Makio doesn’t have those traits but I do wonder if they developed as defense mechanisms against a judgmental family and society 🧐🤔

falsefingolfin2026-02-01 18:10

i dont think there is actually anything behind the rift at all, except for the memories that makio has of of her sister. in fact, i dont want the conflict to be revealed where the sister is clearly a bad person, it would ruin the whole point of the show for me

especially since from asas point of view, the sister is a pretty decent mom

ActualRound76992026-02-01 18:24

hmm true. But by the same token, Asa. a choose to see whichever part of her mom she wants. I wouldn’t necessa want it revealed broadly, but seeing it in flashbacks for me would suffice

Magnafeana2026-02-01 17:17

Hi, Mori! Goodness, she’s so tall.

Are any of these posters easter eggs for other series, I wonder.

Whoooooa that typesetting was so cool! With the lines crossing out and everything; that was dope.

Aw. They seemed like such good sisters in their youth.

Ugh. None of this should make me cry, but here I am.

で~す

He has multiple beauty marks, waow.

>I just can’t do things like a normal person.

I’ma circle back to that.

Happy family, happy family 🫶🏾

Aw. I was hoping the song would be like a one-time only special ED.

***

It really is the eye of the beholder in understanding a person, and this series is a good reminder of how we’re really only privy to certain sides of people—and those sides can be warped in our perception.

**Also executive dysfunction is a bitch**. (🔗 **[Cleveland Clinic](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23224-executive-dysfunction)**)

Makio’s executive dysfunction is so, *sooo* relatable.

People find it so hard to believe that consistent communication takes effort and skill, and both are sometimes too exhausting and paralyzing to do. I’m sure they may agree *superficially,* but then, all of a sudden, they aren’t understanding of that when you confide you didn’t answer the phone because you were paralyzed in emotions to do so 🙃

Of course people want to be responsible and reliable! But I feel like shit that I just ***can’t*** go to the DMV before my birthday or get my updated tags online. Or that I can’t answer the phone. Or I just barely got my passport renewed before it expired. Gods, does it feel shit that I *know* I need to do XYZ, but my body and mind just cannot do it.

Or the fear and anxiety take over and has me catastrophisizing teehee 🤭

Even among people within the ND community, there’s ableist commentary with executive dysfunction. And that shit sucks. I ***hate*** not doing things like normal people, and it’s even worse when your own community judges you for it too. I feel so behind 😞

Again. Still no idea if the series confirmed Makio is ND, but I’ll just continue to headcanon 🌻

I hope Asa can find emotional stability alongside Makio. Coming from a more “involved” household and then going to a relative for a month where she and her husband didn’t care what I did—I was so unmoored. So I get Asa heavily. Freedom is such a wishywashy thing.

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 19:10

Yes, Mori is so tall that I'm surprised nobody was trying to recruit her for the girls' basketball team. Maybe the school doesn't have one.

Ocixo2026-02-01 17:22

Makio and Kasamachi looked so good together. Totally comfortable with each other! I cannot help but to start shipping them like a 15-year old teenage girl.

I really liked the picture of the three of them watching TV from this cramped couch too. Is this the start of their little family?

Kasamachi arriving at the perfect moment to hear Tono, the attorney, mentioning that he was ready to support Makio and Asa got a laugh out of me. This must’ve given Kasamachi a good scare for a second.

ayaholley2026-02-01 17:22

Asa's third business card! I can't help but wonder if that's a whole motif at this point, like something symbolizing that she's being thrust into adulthood so soon.

dancelordzuko2026-02-01 18:00

I think there is something to be said there for sure! Her mother’s passing directly correlates to the increasing presence of adults in Asa’s life. She’s noticing how her perception of them is changing too.

I might be reading into it too much, but the school scenes seem to show how Asa already feels “othered” compared to the rest of her class. Either the grief, growing up too fast, or both.

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 19:00

Her junior high best friend Emiri winding up in a different class--and then managing to quickly become part of what Asa's classmates categorized as the "cool" crowd, to the point where Emiri was too preoccupied to even notice that Asa was there on one occasion--certainly didn't help.

dancelordzuko2026-02-01 19:34

It was interesting too how in that same scene, her classmates make it a point that one of the girls who used to be bullied is now part of that group. I really wonder where they're going with that.

Good catch!

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 19:53

Yeah, when one classmate remarked that the previously-bullied girl would be safe now that she's become part of the "cool kids" group, that might suggest that Emiri is making an effort to cultivate that crowd for similar reasons. Especially if Emiri is worried about potentially not fitting in with her high school classmates due to her lack of interest in boys (whether because she likes girls instead or is just a late bloomer), as that flashback about their parents' reactions to the girls' music fandom suggests.

lemon9000982026-02-02 02:01

Emiri prefers female idols, isnt sure if she wants a boyfriend but won't say why, and is cozying up to the pretty girl she just met. I think she is unsure about some things.

I think saying things like that about female idols is a way some people might test the reactions of their friends before coming out. It's a safe way to see who might react in an offensive way. If Asa had asked why Emiri likes female idols that conversation could have gone differently.

Nickthenuker2026-02-01 17:36

Dye her hair?

Choir is fun.

Ah right that again.

Oh, her grandma.

Lol she thinks she hates everyone.

Huh. Who's calling?

So, there's that friend of hers from school.

So, she's going overseas?

Who's that?

Oh, was he the one calling who she ignored?

Huh. That's a lot of money. What's up with that?

Macs are expensive but ¥300000? Did she opt for 64 GB of RAM or something? And all the trimmings?

So, she's going to join the band?

So, he's here.

Wonderful_Look_45052026-02-01 18:22

Hahaha I think Asa definitely went for the high-tier, large-screened Macbook Pro.

Nickthenuker2026-02-01 18:23

Asa went to the Apple website/store and said "give me one with _everything_".

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:33

Probably the model best suited to creative thinks -- like computer music making (and video editing). Of course, then she will need to buy lots of software too, right?

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:30

\>> ¥300000

I think the Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M4 Pro, 2024) would cost around that much.

Nickthenuker2026-02-01 18:30

I did check the Apple website and yeah a new MacBook Pro would set one back around that much.

Weak_Season_Of_Anime2026-02-01 17:45

Even though Asa's mother appears supportive, telling her to do whatever she wants, it seems that Asa had a lot of choices decided for her while growing up, so when given complete freedom of choice it confuses her.

Makio seems distant from her mother (not visiting in 5 years?), but she still cares about her in her own way. I guess she doesn't like returning because it reminds her of the falling out with her sister.

Asa and Emiri seem to be drifting apart a bit, at least from Asa's POV, they're in different cliques now. Feels like something is being set up with Emiri with some of the stuff that was said.

Makio taking emotional damage from the lawyer was funny. Also, her and Kasamichi cuddling on the couch, did they really break up?

Gaporigo2026-02-01 17:56

> Asa and Emiri seem to be drifting apart a bit, at least from Asa's POV, they're in different cliques now. Feels like something is being set up with Emiri with some of the stuff that was said.

After the first scene it was nice to see them being cool later on, hope nothing much happens, they are really cute together (not like romantically even if Emiri may not exactly be straight based on a couple lines today)

alarxv_2026-02-01 17:47

i think the "bass line" song is sang by bialystocks, but i just cant find it.

If its a show specific song (unreleased made only for this scene), ill be pretty sad

if not, please drop the name, thanks

StegosaurusGrape2026-02-01 18:12

I saw a Japanese comment on Twitter that says it’s called “Upon You”. Also you have the band name correct.

eightcheesepizza2026-02-01 18:21

[Bialystocks - Upon You (2022)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F7jt5BjmHQ) according to the credits.

mekerpan2026-02-01 18:30

bialystocks was mentioned in the credits....

IudexJari2026-02-01 18:03

Seeing Makio and her sister play as kids was so cool, and I assumed Asa's mom was kind and loving in her own way.

zool7142026-02-01 18:05

Aww they look like a happy little family cuddled up on that couch

It is interesting though as we get more and more flashback of her mom from Asa’s POV. She seems like a normal mom, not good not bad. Perhaps leaning more on the strict and controlling side but she seems like what a normal parent is.

Oemmy2026-02-01 18:07

I wonder if Makio and Minori's relationship were strained by too much comparison? Like there was no winning : Makio is too independant and cold but Minori wasn't independant enough.

Also, it's interesting how Minori raised Asa basically saying "you can do what you want, but not like that it's wrong" and maybe it's an inherited pattern from her own mother?

OldManStocktan2026-02-01 18:21

So many thoughts and emotions after an episode.

Seeing that accident scene immediately put a lump in my throat. Poor Asa having to walk into that.

Minori through Asa's eyes seems like such a caring and sweet mother. I'm loving how this show handles the complicated nature of a person's identity as seen through other people.

Makio telling Asa that the reason she won't share her own views on Minori is because she doesn't want to taint her views on her own mother. A great lesson for anyone interacting with kids when you have a strained relationship with one of their parents.

I'll say it again, give me the Blu-ray, ship us the volumes in America. Put the live action on a streaming service. This is excellent.

disDeal2026-02-01 18:28

Another great episode.

I want to hear the song that played during attorney's interrogation

Wonderful_Look_45052026-02-01 18:34

The three of them on the sofa felt like they're forming their very own unique family unit. Also, I can't help but wonder did Asa get to keep the Macbook in the end?

LeonKevlar2026-02-01 18:36

[She had to return the laptop according to her diary.](https://i.imgur.com/pbqGQvc.jpeg)

Wonderful_Look_45052026-02-01 18:44

Oh I missed that. Thanks for pointing it out.

AngelicaSpain2026-02-01 19:40

Asa did say that in her journal. But that might have just been her initial reaction to all the trouble her unauthorized purchase caused.

It's not really clear yet whether Makio would be against her keeping the laptop, now that she knows about it. Asa might have just assumed that Makio would make her return it, since that's probably what her mother would have done if such a situation had arisen while her parents were still alive.

Educational-Tap-86112026-02-01 20:57

Actually in one scene Kasamachi offers to buy Asa the MacBook, but Makio clearly tells her that she still has to pay for her actions, so I think that the return is Makio's response to the situation, which shows that she can be severe when it is right to do so, maybe they will take the Laptop away from her later, but now she has to learn the lesson.

LeonKevlar2026-02-01 18:35

That opening scene [where Minori is telling Asa to be whoever she wants to be](https://i.imgur.com/Pw98qbG.jpeg) and that [she'll always be on her side](https://i.imgur.com/YqgPUHE.jpeg), is making me think that Minori must've regretted making fun of Makio's life choices. Maybe she wanted to repair her relationship with Makio, but thinks it's already too late, and tries to make up for it by being supportive of Asa.

Those flashbacks of [Minori telling Asa that she'll choose for her](https://i.imgur.com/1WlXH7j.jpeg) and then [telling her to make choices on her own](https://i.imgur.com/xEmEkHG.jpeg) were a little bit too close to home. I'm sure every Asian kid has this experience of parents wanting you to be independent, but at the same time, making choices for you when they think it's for your own good. >_<

[This is absolutely brutal.](https://i.imgur.com/M80v3fq.jpeg) I thought Asa was at home when her parents died, but it looks like, [she was with them when it happened](https://i.imgur.com/cmFyy1G.jpeg). The only reason she's alive right now is that she was just getting back from the nearby store when a truck pancaked their car with her parents in it. IIRC, in episode 1, this all happened in a parking lot.

[That flashback of Minori and Makio playing together](https://i.imgur.com/gNQnVCB.jpeg) was bittersweet. They looked like they used to be so close until a rift formed between them [around the time they were in high school](https://i.imgur.com/DPazE6b.jpeg), and it never got any better. I'm glad that at least their visit to grandma ended way better than I hoped with [Makio telling her mom that she's willing to lend an ear.](https://i.imgur.com/EANwwzx.jpeg)

[This Attorney was pretty intense!](https://i.imgur.com/ccYecAZ.jpeg) The dude just saw Makio, and the way he talks to her, he's already treating her like she's a bad guardian to Asa. I guess he thought that [Makio withdrew all that money for herself.](https://i.imgur.com/0wbcLyE.jpeg) That's probably a common occurrence in his line of work.

I am glad that [the attorney started slowing down](https://i.imgur.com/vApXPI2.jpeg) after Makio told him that he's scaring her. The dude suddenly became understanding after that. What I didn't expect was for [Asa to admit she's the one who withdrew the money to buy a MacBook.](https://i.imgur.com/KIMw5ta.jpeg)

She's so used to her mom telling her no that even after Makio has explicitly told her that she has complete freedom, she still snuck around and did it [because she's afraid that she'll say no just because she's an adult.](https://i.imgur.com/B6fKBOz.jpeg) I'm just glad that after hearing all of that, the attorney was understanding. [It looks like we'll see more of him in the future.](https://i.imgur.com/xDiDxeU.jpeg)

[**OH MY GOD!**](https://i.imgur.com/n9w9jDq.jpeg) Not gonna lie, I genuinely squealed when Kasamachi cuddled Makio! [They look so fucking good together!](https://i.imgur.com/BANU8AU.jpeg) The fact that Makio still lets him do that even tho they're technically just friends right now clearly means she still has strong feelings for him. [That shot of the three of them sitting together](https://i.imgur.com/fuahAtf.jpeg) was so cute too! They're pretty much a family now. <3

Ocixo2026-02-01 19:33

> [They look so fucking good together!](https://imgur.com/BANU8AU)

I’m genuinely not sure when was the last time that I’ve shipped two anime characters this hard. I want them to become a couple (again) so bad now!

I love that Kasamachi just went for the hug. He’s such a cool character.

Atario2026-02-01 19:41

> this all happened in a parking lot

Truck was pulling off an amazing trick to get up to enough speed to cause that kind of damage inside a parking lot (or maybe was flying off a freeway directly into one)

[](#lwahorror)

ayaholley2026-02-01 21:28

Ooh, time to be overly pedantic!

The first episode calls out an "Otsuki PA" which doesn't seem to exactly exist, but I found a Hatsukari PA in the *town* of Otsuki, and sure enough, [that's the one!](https://files.catbox.moe/z3crnx.jpg)

How does the layout look? [Well, there's not a lot of parking for cars, and even less for trucks, and it looks like you park parallel when the spots are full... and the parallel parking is *right* off the expressway.](https://files.catbox.moe/sgls9g.jpg) So I can see how a highway-speed truck crash can happen.

seninn2026-02-01 23:18

That is some attention to detail.

BonerPorn2026-02-02 00:49

This is too high effort to be so buried in the thread. lol

Veskito2026-02-01 19:07

There is no way these episodes are 24 minutes long...

roryteller2026-02-01 19:10

The first time we see the scene where Asa's mom tells her to be whatever she wants, that she's on Asa's side, I thought it felt a bit like a coming out chat, where even with parents that are trying to be supportive "I'll love you no matter what you are" you can often tell that they have some reservations or hesitation.

And then we get all the scenes where she *doesn't* let Asa do what she wants.

Great writing and acting.

And then we have Emiri, who maybe doesn't want a boyfriend, and I have to wonder... queer themes?

Shimmering-Sky2026-02-01 19:10

- [That checks out.](https://i.imgur.com/yubB9jn.png) [](#wakarimasu)

- [Well, that certainly explains why Asa asked Makio for permission about the hair dyeing thing.](https://i.imgur.com/9BEAFAR.png)

- [Oh… shit, Asa *witnessed* the crash her parents died in?](https://i.imgur.com/jlvX1DQ.png) [](#whatdidijustread)

- [Damn…](https://i.imgur.com/kUcdTqK.png) [](#forgotkeys)

- [Is Asa going to start reading her aunt’s books?](https://i.imgur.com/LPVCi4Y.png) [](#rengethink)

- [Mm…](https://i.imgur.com/JVvLHYv.png) [](#mug1)

- [Dang…](https://i.imgur.com/wkHpii3.png)

- [Hah, mood.](https://i.imgur.com/mPQc3qd.png) [](#kukuku)

- Who *is* that unknown number that keeps trying to call Makio… [Was it this guy?](https://i.imgur.com/gEJLikX.png) [](#bigthink)

- [Yeah, it was him.](https://i.imgur.com/P94ipAK.png)

- [Who took that 300,000 yen…](https://i.imgur.com/6V6BjBq.png)

- [Naruhodo.](https://i.imgur.com/0qja16i.png) [](#missingpiece)

- [Oh, that’s a good reason to want one though!](https://i.imgur.com/PuN8bwk.png)

- [Hah, Tono went straight to that.](https://i.imgur.com/fHKsBtu.png) [](#kotohoops)

DragonPup2026-02-01 20:08

> Hah, Tono went straight to that.

He pre-watched the end of the episode.

StrawSolider2026-02-01 19:13

Felt weird to go from an insert song to the ED song. But good episode nonetheless.

todd-ashi2026-02-01 19:37

Right? I was hoping that song would continue into the credits. It seemed natural to do so, and I was thrown off.

gnome-cop2026-02-01 19:33

I feel you Makio. I also have a bad habit of avoiding typical adulting tasks even when it causes problems.

The issues presented in this episode seem to have been brewing for a long while. Asa’s indecisive tendencies and impulsive actions out of the fear that what she wants will be denied result from her mom’s behavior but the roots of it are probably even older. Like passed through the family line old.

Not really sure how to put it into words properly but I can see how her grandma’s personality formed the way Makio and her mom, (is this the first time we’ve heard Minori?) are.

I feel bad for saying this but in a way, Asa’s parents passing and her making contact with Makio might be helping her to grow up and mature earlier than she would’ve otherwise. Adolescence is for becoming your own person and I feel like that would have been difficult for Asa, the way things were with her parents effects on her making choices of her own will.

She feels very much like a real teenager, making a decision without thinking much about the consequences of secretly withdrawing a lot of money. Very realistic good character writing.

I like the bit of how the “slinging arm around shoulder” thing has been unconsciously passed down from Kasamachi to Makio. Says a lot about how used they are to each other.

insidiousadamant2026-02-01 19:47

Makio has a really reddit friendly personality and the author seems to be a bit on her side as well but she pisses me off in so many occasions. Her whole philosophy is about everyone having the freedom to do what they want while also maintaining a arbitrary level of sympathy for others. This means that sympathy isn't a responsibility to her, just a feeling that happens to exist within her. I can understand this way of thinking and this also does make her help her niece when she's really in need.

The problem starts when that lack of urgency for having sympathy causes her to not really try to understand others, to cut away people who she deems annoying like her mother and possibly her sister (though it might've been something more serious in her case) very easily. This also means she doesn't really "play mom" for her niece and doesn't stop her niece from doing whatever she wants even if it might turn into something against her which Asa struggled a bit with this episode. I can understand this part too though it's definitely a part of her that I don't like at all.

The part of her I hate (which also is her most reddit-esque part) is when she starts giving lengthy explanations about why she's doing what she is, only because she wants the other side to understand what she's doing is "justified". So she goes out of her way to remind her mother that she hated her sister and that also she's very much not sad about her but she would listen. Or contently reminding Asa that she hated her mother...and also not giving her the reason. These statements hurt people. It makes it hard for them to connect to her even if they want to do so, which doubles the hurt. What Makio is doing here isn't an effort to make the other side understand the situation. It's very much just a selfish move to make the other side shut up about any expectations they might have from her and also to help herself feel safe that she's in the right side when doing this.

Basically she hurts people so that she can stay safe, and then she believes (and expected others to believe) that she's in the right when doing this and lashes out at others if they show the slightest form of protest against her method.

I think I didn't explain this very well but overall Makio alongside all the other characters feel extremely real with all the flaws and the characteristics which makes this show a great watch. The only thing I'm concerned about is that the story seems to stay critical with all of its characters (while also sympathizing with them all the time) except Makio, whose flaws and failures seem to be attributed to others not being good enough to understand her rather than her having anti-social behavior. But that's just the feeling I got from the "tone" of the story and nothing has actually happened to indicate that's how the author is looking at things so depending on what happens next that "tone"might change as well. All in all great story, dialogue and production this will most likely be a special experience

falsefingolfin2026-02-01 21:18

i dont think its fair to say the show is being uncritical to makio, theres a reason kasamachi and her broke up, you can see exactly how it affects everybody around her.

and to take it a step further, i think the show is trying to say the sister may not even have done anything that wrong from most people's point of view, it just appears that way to makio.

however, thats also just how people are sometimes, people are different, and makio has found a group of people who can accept who she is, a very anti-social person

ebongreen2026-02-01 21:26

FWIW, I think you’re misreading Makio badly.

IMO, she’s not making a philosophical or practical argument about Makio’s Way is Best for Everyone - she’s literally opting out of controlling Asa, or really anyone in her life, other than herself. And she clarifies overtly in this episode that she’s not telling Asa about her relationship with Minori in order to avoid further contaminating Asa’s own relationship with and memories of Minori. This is in contrast to, say, a child of divorced parents whose parents emotionally dump on the other parent in order to make the child take sides! Makio is drawing a good and reasonable emotional boundary here: she’s giving Asa the bare fact that she and Minori were on bad terms, and telling Asa that’s all she’s going to get. Asa’s relationship with Minori is Asa’s business - which Makio will help her sort through as best she can from an adult perspective, while bringing as little of Makio’s own baggage into that assistance as possible. There will always be some, because dual relationship - but that partition, however imperfect, is a good wall to have. Makio is doing her best to live up to the standards she has set for herself: “I’m not going to coerce you, I’m not going to control you, I’m not going to shame you for your feelings. Your relationship with Minori is yours; my relationship with Minori is mine. Don’t mix them up.”

Makio is a feral introvert, probably neurodivergent, and very authenticity-driven. She’s received more than enough “what’s wrong with you?” from her sister and her mom (and doubtlessly others we haven’t seen), and she’s done her best to come to terms with her strengths and weaknesses. She doesn’t/can’t follow the social and economic conventions her sister expected of her (and, likely, her mother as well), and she has all but cut out of her life people who think she Should Be someone other than who she is. She has replaced her blood-family with family-of-choice (Daigo, Kasamachi, etc.), which is a very queer and/or neurodivergent choice to make. She doesn’t Play Nice with her mother, but she makes a genuine offer at the end of their visit to have more of a relationship with Mom than they have - up to Makio’s terms of enthusiastic consent as her daughter. Yes, she wants Asa to understand why she’s making the choices she makes, because that’s part of being a parent to a teenager: she’s role-modeling/teaching adulthood.

Honestly, Makio has excellent emotional boundaries overall, IMO, and lots of folks could learn from her example.

superguy1332026-02-01 20:04

Honestly my only gripe with this show is that you really feel how fast they are going through things. Each scene and moment is done so well, but there ends up being just a bit too little room to breath between. It's probably since they are trying to go through the whole story in 13 episodes (Probably could have been double if they wanted). Still the fact it's this good even with that is really a testament to the quality here.

NanDemoKnaives2026-02-01 20:09

Kasamachi pulling Makio in made him look so suave, I like how pleased he look when Makio told him his influence made her do the same thing with Asa. It was nice to see the two seated together and then Asa joining them, hopefully we can see some good developments between the two.

The scene with Toono was amusing, I like how concerned he was for Asa but Makio was overwhelmed lol.

It was interesting to see Makio used to have the same haircut as Asa does now. Asa is also gaining interesting in the arts, I find it a little intriguing.

CommunistPuppy2026-02-01 20:09

Don't mind me, just here for my weekly feels trip 😭

Atario2026-02-01 20:23

[Isn't it, though?](https://files.catbox.moe/ovi30n.jpg) [](#sassyimouto)

[Damn.](https://files.catbox.moe/iu6q5s.jpg) That was a [far harsher](https://files.catbox.moe/bb59dc.jpg) experience she faced than I thought — I thought she got the news by a phone call from the police or something [](#watashiworried)

Great work on the [subs here,](https://files.catbox.moe/qwsy2v.jpg) by the way [](#kannathumbs)

Not sure if it will turn out to be relevant, but [her mom's books](https://files.catbox.moe/eiezu1.jpg) are about needlepoint, crochet, knitting, cooking, some health things, some self-help type things about being successful and persuasive, and that whole bottom shelf seems to be a bunch of stuff about economics [](#missingpiece)

[Also my reaction.](https://files.catbox.moe/xvlfzc.jpg) Mac?? What a waste of money [](#trollnui)

["Have to"?](https://files.catbox.moe/sruyvd.jpg) I wonder what that means [](#riddhethink)

[I HEARD "KEION-BU"!](https://files.catbox.moe/t8m3ax.jpg) This show is now _K-On!_ [](#mugiwait)

Zetafunction642026-02-01 20:24

As much as this is a story of an orphan and her cold hearted aunt getting closer, we are also learning the story of a dead mother- her daughter recalls her through the lenses of teenage angst, and a sister cut off- Makio still sees her ghost.

Asa's mom surely changed later in her life, it felt like her declaration to support Asa comes from regret about Makio. Still she made a snide remark about Asa's hair, not really malicious in my opinion, just another thing she picked up from her mom

SIRTreehugger2026-02-01 20:34

I can't tell if Emiri is possibly gay from the "boyfriend" and "more into girls like idols" comments or if it's just random conversation between friends. With the talk about the cool cliques I hope nothing bad happens. I might just be overthinking. It would just suck if Emiri was this manipulative bitch who kept Asa around for some mean girl sort of logic.

Props to Tono for keeping a watchful eye over Asa's situation. Without context it does look a little sketchy, but he was clearly just doing his job. He also apologized for acting too harshly once the misunderstanding was cleared up. Asa sitting quietly just feeling guilty when she realized it was her fault, but was too scared to speak up. Do people in Japan not believe in leaving voice mails? I mean I'm the same way when it comes to unknown numbers. If I don't know you I won't pick up so you better leave a message with your name and the details. I just feel someone concerned with Asa safety working in a law firm would at least leave a voicemail.

Makio starting to remember Asa's tastes and quirks. Also how Makio managed not to spill any wine when Kasamachi her closer! I definitely would have dropped some and been trying to de-stain it. The shot of the three of them watching the band at the end on the couch.

[](#delighted)

Yesshua2026-02-01 20:44

What's really really insightful about this episode (and the story overall) is how it recognizes that the emotional process of grief happens alongside other emotional processes. 15 years old is when you're running into the realization that adults are flawed and contradictory and frustrating and the promise of growing up to be an adult was never a path to a promised land.

So Asa is grieving for her mother and in parallel realizing her hypocrisies. But doesn't even have the natural outlet to act out, because her aunt doesn't care about her haircut or color or extracurricular in the same way. She's an angsty teen without her natural outlet and everything gets muddled.

Genuinely best in class character writing.

Clemastina2026-02-01 20:47

That sudden shot to to the accident... seeing your parents death like that... man I can´t or want even imagining that.

avboden2026-02-01 20:52

I did not expect them to show the car crash....or the fact that she witnessed the aftermath. Wow.

KRAKUMAL_ALEPH2026-02-01 21:01

The Ending Song should have just kept going lol. Weird cut. 😭

KloppersToppers2026-02-02 02:11

THIS SO MUCH. The way it was rolling in it the credits with that song was really cool and really matched the warm, hopeful vibe of the ending.

So hard cut to the contractually obligated ending song was a bit disappointing. :(

zeltheturtl2026-02-01 21:18

How smooth was that from Kasamachi! I imagine he got a bit jealous after seeing the lawyer, so the smug face he made after hearing Makio pulled Asa in the same way was very satisfying!

It's great that Asa decided to join the band club in the end, her mother's looming presence still made her think she needs to hide her passion, but after properly talking it out, she decided to find her own path.

DegenerateRegime2026-02-01 21:46

It's subtly sad that Asa goes looking for a childish boundary, like "don't dye your hair," and runs into a very adult one (don't illicitly fuck around with legal and financial arrangements). The series is about her growing up and engaging with the adult world like that (the "strange land," I suppose - a reason to like the multiplicit title).

But it's also heartwarming that the adults are... adult. Not always professionally perfect, not superhuman, but responsible and capable. Makio recalling the song and asking Asa to come watch, that was really lovely. Taking an interest, of course, and a synthesis of the conflicting needs to provide freedom and guidance.

[](#morecomfy "this show Gets It")