The Moon on a Rainy Night - Vol. 10 Ch. 38 - Hereafter

[csebi]

I feel like the confession is still so far ahead

 

[Kamui]

I know what Kanon's mom was worried about but it's completely ok to be roommates even if you have different lifestyles. I shares a room with my highschool classmate during college and we have little to nothing in common, we went on our own way everyday and even when at home we didn't interact that much. I think it'd be better if I had shared room with my close friend and it'd definitely be better for Kanon to live with Saki

It's not really about "lifestyles" or "little fights". It is about how Saki and Kanon's relationship is centered heavily on Kanon and her needs. Kanon's mom isn't an idiot and she has noticed the same thing Kanon and Ayano did: Saki never expresses her wants or needs. As they are now, their relationship won't survive the challenges cohabitation does bring. Saki needs to learn how to express what she actually wants and figure out healthy outlets for her feelings. Kanon also needs to find out what she actually wants from Saki.

I kind of disagree with Kanon's mom intervening, though. I feel letting the girls figure shit out on their own was the right call, but I can understand why she felt the need to say something to Saki specifically.

 

[Redrot]

The time for a confession is upon us.

 

[lookey23]

I feel like the confession is still so far ahead

Indeed, we haven’t know many things about saki past… especially what happened at middle school

 

[Thrembs]

Wait, why people acting like she ain't being homophobic?

This is some serious sidelong "back off".

 

[hellbore]

Wait, why people acting like she ain't being homophobic?

This is some serious sidelong "back off".

Because she was speaking entirely about their platonic relationship.

 

[sticktermicp]

Wait, why people acting like she ain't being homophobic?

This is some serious sidelong "back off".

From my understanding, Hibiki has genuine concerns: She’s clearly noticed Saki’s tendency to bottle up her feelings and has openly acknowledged how complicated living together would be. It’s also likely she fears a repeat of what happened with Ayano, which could have damaging consequences for both girls.

However, her attitude and word choice also reveal disapproval of Saki and Kanon living together. I strongly believe Hibiki intuitively senses their emotions go beyond ordinary friendship—even if neither girl fully understands the other’s feelings yet.

Her ambiguous language, the mention of "future boyfriends," reinforces her goal: keeping their relationship within friendly boundaries. If they’re just friends sharing an apartment, why would a boyfriend cause conflict? Simple—Hibiki doesn’t see them as "just friends." It’s common for friends to plan living together after high school to ease financial burdens, even while studying different careers. But that’s not what Hibiki’s observing. She’s sensing a emocional intimacy.

I’d suspected for a while that Kanon’s mother was starting to notice her daughter’s feelings, for two reasons: Kanon’s comment about living together (Chapter 21) and their mother-daughter talk in Chapter 33. When Kanon bluntly asked who Saki was thinking about while playing that piece, Hibiki looked genuinely perplexed—like, "Kanon never talks about these things... something’s up." What surprised me was her sensitivity in picking up on Saki’s feelings for Kanon too. I’m not saying Hibiki’s 100% certain, but she clearly sees both girls starting to blur the lines between friendship and something more.

Now, if Saki and Kanon eventually start dating, Hibiki might initially hesitate. But she’ll come around to support them—she knows Saki has a good heart.

That said, it’s unfair to label her decision to intervene as h*mophobia. Hibiki’s worries are real: she’s the mother of a girl with disabilities and understands the complexities and sacrifices involved in dating someone with health challenges (I say this as someone with a health condition myself). Add to that the fact they’re both girls, and it’s a lot. She’s just a concerned mom—for her daughter and her student.

 

[Thrembs]

Because she was speaking entirely about their platonic relationship.

What? She literally said "You will cross the line of being friends. If you live together your relationship will interfere with her studies. "End of conversation!" face"

"What if you find partners?" Is classic "You should both find someone else to date, because this ain't happening" shizz.

This is textbook "do I have to say it?"

People in the public spotlight being queer is still kind of a shocking thing in Japan, especially among the older generations.


Are zoomers so used to people shouting their homophobia they can't recognise "I don't want to say this, but I want you to understand that I don't approve of it"?

That's just how it was for millennials and gen X. People were like "ummm... Is he... yknow... like that?"
"She talks about you all the time. 😐
I hope you two stay friends until she goes off to college. 🙃She's going to be very busy and not have much time. 😒"

Just say vaguely homophobic things, choose a homophobic church to really pound it home.

People don't need to go "I don't want my daughter to be gay, because it's absolutely disgusting and wrong and you're grooming her blah blah growl growl!"

Facebook isn't as popular in Japan.

 

[Thrembs]

From my understanding, Hibiki has genuine concerns: She’s clearly noticed Saki’s tendency to bottle up her feelings and has openly acknowledged how complicated living together would be. It’s also likely she fears a repeat of what happened with Ayano, which could have damaging consequences for both girls.

However, her attitude and word choice also reveal disapproval of Saki and Kanon living together. I strongly believe Hibiki intuitively senses their emotions go beyond ordinary friendship—even if neither girl fully understands the other’s feelings yet.

Her ambiguous language, the mention of "future boyfriends," reinforces her goal: keeping their relationship within friendly boundaries. If they’re just friends sharing an apartment, why would a boyfriend cause conflict? Simple—Hibiki doesn’t see them as "just friends." It’s common for friends to plan living together after high school to ease financial burdens, even while studying different careers. But that’s not what Hibiki’s observing. She’s sensing a emocional intimacy.

I’d suspected for a while that Kanon’s mother was starting to notice her daughter’s feelings, for two reasons: Kanon’s comment about living together (Chapter 21) and their mother-daughter talk in Chapter 33. When Kanon bluntly asked who Saki was thinking about while playing that piece, Hibiki looked genuinely perplexed—like, "Kanon never talks about these things... something’s up." What surprised me was her sensitivity in picking up on Saki’s feelings for Kanon too. I’m not saying Hibiki’s 100% certain, but she clearly sees both girls starting to blur the lines between friendship and something more.

Now, if Saki and Kanon eventually start dating, Hibiki might initially hesitate. But she’ll come around to support them—she knows Saki has a good heart.

That said, it’s unfair to label her decision to intervene as h*mophobia. Hibiki’s worries are real: she’s the mother of a girl with disabilities and understands the complexities and sacrifices involved in dating someone with health challenges (I say this as someone with a health condition myself). Add to that the fact they’re both girls, and it’s a lot. She’s just a concerned mom—for her daughter and her student.

She says outright that she doesn't want them to live together because they will end up more than friends.

Sounds pretty "NO. No gayness. She has a promising future."

She gives her the fucking evil eye 🪬

 

[yungpobo]

This series is so goooood!

Thanks for the TL!

 

[WaterSoluble]

What a wonderful chapter. The way that Hibiki cares about Saki as her own person, not just her daughter's friend, is really rewarding to see.

I agree with all of the others who have focused on Saki being someone who tends to prioritise other people; however, Saki's conversation with Hibiki is used to highlight that Saki's tendency to prioritise others also means that she herself lacks firm priorities. Hence her lack of any real goals for her music career and her inability to even comment on it effectively. Hibiki giving her guidance on the issue and offering a path forward is a great intervention on her part.

The other facet, I think, is genuinely recognizing that their relationship isn't necessarily well-equipped to handle living together. At least currently. Their relationship is simultaneously too intense for them to succeed as casual roommates, and too ambiguous for them to succeed as partners. The potential for conflict is huge, and Hibiki seems to recognize that even if she doesn't recognize the romantic feelings that underpin it.

The implication of the final few pages seems to be that Saki's "weak will" problem will be put to the test as she has to fully confront the fact that if she wants a future with Kanon she'll need to start making decisions about how to develop their relationship further. Inertia is not enough!

 

[sticktermicp]

What a wonderful chapter. The way that Hibiki cares about Saki as her own person, not just her daughter's friend, is really rewarding to see.

I agree with all of the others who have focused on Saki being someone who tends to prioritise other people; however, Saki's conversation with Hibiki is used to highlight that Saki's tendency to prioritise others also means that she herself lacks firm priorities. Hence her lack of any real goals for her music career and her inability to even comment on it effectively. Hibiki giving her guidance on the issue and offering a path forward is a great intervention on her part.

The other facet, I think, is genuinely recognizing that their relationship isn't necessarily well-equipped to handle living together. At least currently. Their relationship is simultaneously too intense for them to succeed as casual roommates, and too ambiguous for them to succeed as partners. The potential for conflict is huge, and Hibiki seems to recognize that even if she doesn't recognize the romantic feelings that underpin it.

The implication of the final few pages seems to be that Saki's "weak will" problem will be put to the test as she has to fully confront the fact that if she wants a future with Kanon she'll need to start making decisions about how to develop their relationship further. Inertia is not enough!

I loved your perceptive comment!

In another thread about this chapter, I actually addressed that very point with this line: "Moreover, I believe their conversation about career futures planted this realization in Saki: if she wants a lasting relationship with Kanon, she must start planning her future more maturely."

The core of Saki and Kanon's relationship lies in the fact that their feelings for each other aren't only friendlies. Yet, for different (and valid) reasons, neither has managed to express that desire assertively. Saki struggles with deep emotional repression, while Kanon is emerging from longterm isolation and only beginning to reconnect with others, because of this, she still lacks the sensitivity to fully grasp what’s happening inside Saki (though I doubt it’ll take long before something happens that makes Kanon aware of Saki’s wounds). For Saki part is so trapped in her own emotional restraint that she fails to understand the true nature of Kanon’s advances. This is precisely the meaning behind the title Amayo no Tsuki: emotions that reside within the other but remain hidden from plain sight.

Despite they haven’t converged emotionally to realize they’re mutually in love, Saki and Kanon have compatible and complementary personalities. Once they mature in these aspects, they’ll be on their way toward building a mature & realistic future together. However, everything suggests Kuzushiro is conveying that for this promise to be fulfilled, both must first grow emotionally and confront their respective realities.

As you rightly noted, Saki lacks defined priorities—but this aimlessness stems from her emotional repression. Despite this, she’s shown talents others have recognized, like her gift for teaching and a piano performance that captivated and earned praise. The piano, in particular, is deeply tied to emotions she’s tried to suppress: her longing for attention from the three women who shaped her life—her mother, Umehara, & Kanon. The day Saki makes peace with her past, stops feeling guilty for how she loves, and accepts her emotions, will also be the day she reconciles with music. Only then can she freely choose the future she wants and fight for that promise.

Ironically, her conversation with Hibiki—who, despite her genuine concern for both girls, also wants things to stay within the bounds of friendship—ends up flipping a switch in Saki. That talk becomes the catalyst for her arc: it’s the first time Saki admits to herself that she isn’t content with just being Kanon’s friend—she wants more.

Never forget Ayano’s words to Kanon (Ch.27), foreshadowing this relationship’s near future:
"If she ever finds herself in a tough spot, make sure you can be there to help her."

 

[EllyOliphant]

Inertia is not enough!

Your whole analysis was spot on, but this sentence in particular is the best relationship advice I've seen in a long time! Saki finally realized this after her talk with Kanon's mom. May we all realize this in all our relationships, platonic and romantic. ❤

 

[AssassinCat4]

This is my favorite Yuri I love it so much

 

[Murasaki_Chan]

Thank you for the TL!

Saki has been able to remain fairly static these past several chapters, since the narrative focus has been on Kanon's developing feelings for Saki. Now we've shifted the narrative back to Saki and events are starting to put pressure on her feelings, specifically time pressure. Kanon's mom and Kanon's interest in writing are reminding Saki that high school doesn't last forever, and that she will either have to accept Kanon drifting away as their differing college/career directions push them apart, or she will have to make an active effort to keep the two of them together.

Going into speculative territory, I originally thought that the photo shoot would place scrutiny on Kanon's and Saki's relationship and trigger Saki's "don't let her find out" trauma and lead to her denying any non-platonic interpretations of her and Kanon's relationship. This would then mean that when Kanon figured out her feelings, she would think Saki has no chance of returning her feelings.

However, the time pressure that Saki is feeling here might push her to step outside of her comfort zone and actively assert how important Kanon is to her. Perhaps that will be a factor in Kanon finally realizing her feelings?

My theory was that, with the pictures, Kanon was going to be able to see from a different perspective how Saki looks at her and immediately realize that Saki is down bad for her, and using that as a mirror to understand her own feelings.

But now, with this episode, the series went into a completely unexpected direction, and now I'm not sure how Saki's feelings of pressure are going to play into it.

 

[thed4rknss]

She says outright that she doesn't want them to live together because they will end up more than friends.

Sounds pretty "NO. No gayness. She has a promising future."

She gives her the fucking evil eye 🪬

If by "more than friends" you mean being roommates, yeah, she don't want them to be roommates.
Their relationship circles around Kanon, Saki got monologues this entire chapter of how she doesn't care about things as long as she stays by Kanon side and Kanon is happy, Kanon mom noticed that, that's why she said that while talking about college. It's more like a Wake Up Call for the future then anything else.

 

[Thrembs]

If by "more than friends" you mean being roommates, yeah, she don't want them to be roommates.
Their relationship circles around Kanon, Saki got monologues this entire chapter of how she doesn't care about things as long as she stays by Kanon side and Kanon is happy, Kanon mom noticed that, that's why she said that while talking about college. It's more like a Wake Up Call for the future then anything else.

🤦‍♀️

 

[dumbziri]

I don't really see Kanon's mom as being purposefully homophobic here. It's like how Kanon happily explained that the sign for marriage is a man and a woman - the assumption that everyone is straight is just baked into society. Saki's homosexuality has always been paralleled with Kanon's disability in that way. Super overt depictions of bigotry just hasn't been this series' style so far.

 

[shittycoolusername69]

"You will cross the line of friends" was a funny thing to say, though maybe in the original Japanese it didn't sound as suggestive. In English "to cross the line of friendship", in those exact words, is usually a euphemism for two friends hooking up.

 

[miadiamia]

...
AAAA!ASAAAAAAAAAAA!AAAA
help