I think I get it now. This isn't an arc, it's the resolution of a problem that has been building since after both confessions, that's why it never felt like a definitive arc, in fact it never gave me that impression at all given the pacing it handled. It's not communication problems (although it seems to be, no, it's not) It's a problem of their egos, what they both want for their future gets in the way by prioritizing themselves, the author's intention after the confession is not to make the protagonists even more aware of what they feel, that theme was already worked and very well, what was missing in the story is that they are aware of what the other person feels, of the true feelings of their partner.
Both convince themselves to do the right thing for their lives, and although they are not wrong, deep down they want to see each other and break the rules. Anna gradually saw Ichikawa's true feelings, how different their lives are and how selfish he is, but she can't blame him because she starts to feel the same way (The first sign is when she cries for sacrificing her audition for him, the second happens when she rejects ichikawa in the flashmob but she herself mentions that she actually did it for her future and hates herself for it), i cant renember more for the moment, i need read again haha.
That's why I guess I never felt this arc as an “arc”, because it's really not. I recommend you to read again the story from chapter 114 and you will understand my analysis. When I read this episode I was annoyed by how “fast” ichikawa came to his senses and acted on it, I thought he was in a hurry but in reality he wasn't, he was already aware of the problem, he was just lying to himself and as he mentions, it was his own ego. In reality he knew it, he always knew it and he understood it when he saw that she was moving away from him. This cleared all my doubts, it's not a mediocre arc at all because it never was, it's just the resolution to something that started almost 2 years ago.
Very good job Norio.
Both convince themselves to do the right thing for their lives, and although they are not wrong, deep down they want to see each other and break the rules. Anna gradually saw Ichikawa's true feelings, how different their lives are and how selfish he is, but she can't blame him because she starts to feel the same way (The first sign is when she cries for sacrificing her audition for him, the second happens when she rejects ichikawa in the flashmob but she herself mentions that she actually did it for her future and hates herself for it), i cant renember more for the moment, i need read again haha.
That's why I guess I never felt this arc as an “arc”, because it's really not. I recommend you to read again the story from chapter 114 and you will understand my analysis. When I read this episode I was annoyed by how “fast” ichikawa came to his senses and acted on it, I thought he was in a hurry but in reality he wasn't, he was already aware of the problem, he was just lying to himself and as he mentions, it was his own ego. In reality he knew it, he always knew it and he understood it when he saw that she was moving away from him. This cleared all my doubts, it's not a mediocre arc at all because it never was, it's just the resolution to something that started almost 2 years ago.
Very good job Norio.
