I want to share My thoughts on "Aitsu no Kanojo"
Why Shizuku Chose Takuto Over Riku:
So, the biggest mystery in the manga — why did Shizuku go out with Takuto instead of Riku, even though she clearly loves Riku? Honestly, it’s just one of those typical Japanese rom-com setups. Shizuku kept waiting for Riku to confess, but he never had the guts to. Time passed, and they got too comfortable with their friendship, especially with Takuto always around. Eventually, Shizuku started thinking maybe Riku didn’t like her that way, just like what she said in chapter 5, which probably pushed her to accept Takuto’s confession, though in reality she just couldn't bring herself to reject Takuto.
Takuto’s Confession & Jealousy:
In my opinion Takuto confessed mainly because he felt jealous and being left out. Riku and Shizuku (mainly Riku) is the only thing that makes him feel like he wasn't alone, but seeing how they were always so close together, he fears of being left out by them, he started feeling so lonely, especially with his family problems at home.
Was he always like this? I don't think so. Because Takuto knew Riku and Shizuku liked each other, he decided to dated Umimi to distract himself. (Umimi also used him to get over Riku), so they were both kind of running away from reality. But in the end their relationship fell apart, and this is the turning point for Takuto, he felt even lonelier. And when he knows Riku and Shizuku still not together, he finally decided to confess to Shizuku. (desperate not to be left alone)
Shizuku & Takuto’s Relationship:
Shizuku who didn’t have the heart to reject Takuto, decided to accepted his feelings. And by the time the main story starts, they’d been dating for almost a year. But here's the thing, honestly in my opinion their relationship always felt shallow, yeah they went on normal dates for time to time (reason Shizuku agrees because she basically just love being spoiled) and yeah they held hands, linked arms and even flirted a bit when they are in front of Riku. but I think is just that. there's no intimacy any further. It’s like Shizuku was just acting like a girlfriend in public. Takuto may had certain privileges as Shizuku’s boyfriend, like being able to walk her home. but I think that’s about it too. Shizuku never invited him inside her house, well maybe sometimes she let him go inside her house but I doubt that she ever invited him to enter her room. Most likely, Takuto only ever walked her to the door, and sometimes maybe he’d run into Shizuku’s mother, who knew that he was Shizuku’s boyfriend. *Shizuku once mentioned in the early chapters that Riku was the only person she’d ever consider inviting for a sleepover.
Even after almost a year being Takuto's girlfriend, Shizuku was still somewhat sweet towards Riku (teasing him and such) and even everyone in their class noticed how close they are as friends. Maybe, in her eyes, Riku was still the most special person of all. And because Riku started calling her “Minase” (because she's now Takuto's girlfriend) Shizuku noticed a small change in their friendship with Riku. That little distance between her and Riku made her think that maybe too intimate with Takuto wasn't fair for him, she tried to be equally care for both of them.
Shizuku’s Secret Illness:
Then comes the big reveal — Shizuku was sick. We never find out what kind of illness it was, but by the time the main story starts, her condition was already serious. She didn’t tell Riku because she didn’t want to make him worry, so she only confided in Takuto — and even then, not the full truth (chapter 67).
She said she’d be getting surgery and then studying abroad — a lie meant to cover everything. Before that, she asked Takuto to make happy memories as a trio with Riku until graduation. It was her way of keeping things the same for a bit longer, even if she knew she didn’t have much time left.
The Complicated Feelings:
So the story begins with Riku dozing off in class and telling Shizuku that he dreamed about her. And that’s the moment Shizuku starts thinking about getting closer to him again. She wants to know for sure, to confirm whether Riku really has the same feelings for her
When Shizuku said things between her and Takuto were getting complicated (chapter 2), she really meant her emotions not the relationship between her and Takuto (at least not yet, not until chapter 16). She basically wanted to get close to Riku again, to confirm how he truly felt about her before it was too late.
Meanwhile, Takuto had no clue what was really going on between them, He only saw Shizuku and Riku growing close again, which again triggered his jealousy. When he saw them walking together in front of him (chapter 16), he seems upset, and Shizuku, realizing it, choose to step back for a bit and went home with him instead. The next chapter shows a hickey on her neck (chapter 17). I think this is Takuto’s desperate attempt to “claim” her. as if to say that she belonged to him and he wouldn’t be left alone as long he has her as his girlfriend.
That’s where I think he might’ve tried to take things further (have s*x) because he was terrified of losing her. But Shizuku off course refused. We already know she wanted her first time to be with Riku. I’m guessing that was the first time she and Takuto had ever gotten that intimate. maybe even their first kiss. Yeah, they’d been dating for a year, but their relationship never really crossed that line.
The “Promise” & What It Really Meant:
After that, Shizuku told Takuto she’d be having surgery soon and wouldn’t be able to do anything more intimate with him (basically saying no s*x). *We know the truth that she actually wanted to save her first time with Riku. (This is backed up by chapter 41, during the beach arc, where she says something similar when she was being forced to have s*x with that beach guy) basically she used the same excuse to avoid that situation.
Takuto agreed to her request. They decided to just enjoy their time together with Riku until graduation. Without realizing it, though, he was actually being manipulated by Shizuku’s request. because it also perfectly aligned with what he wanted too. As long as Riku stayed with the two of them, Takuto didn’t really care about anything else. (This part could also be seen as a proof to the theory that Takuto might have romantic feelings for Riku. For those gay shippers) He believed everything she said, including her promise that they’d “continue from where they left off” after she came back (chapter 64). He didn’t know she hadn’t even had surgery yet, or that she probably wouldn’t survive it.
That’s why Shizuku was so desperate to experience everything she’d missed with Riku up until now— especially wanting to have s*x with him before it was too late.
The End & Aftermath:
In the end, Shizuku transferred schools before graduation. She realized her relationship with Riku would never go beyond what it was. She said she gave up on him, but maybe she just couldn’t handle the pain anymore. That's why she choose to leave him without saying anything.
In the end she thought that if she couldn’t be with Riku, giving herself to Takuto wouldn’t be so bad, at least it's a final act as his girlfriend before leaving for good (chapter 64)
But then later things happened between Takuto and Shizuku on the spot.
Knowing how Shizuku truly felt, Takuto decided to left Shizuku alone, he meets Shizuku's mother and finally learned the truth about Shizuku’s condition from her mother, because of this we saw him hit a breaking point, a moment of real emotional turmoil. As we know, in the following chapter, and then Takuto meets with Riku and tries to explain things and make sense of everything "try to redeem himself for everything that he's done". But in the end, he can only reveal the truth through a letter. (It’s a bit frustrating that he didn’t just tell Riku directly about how serious Shizuku’s condition was, well maybe he thought that, in the end, Riku would find out the truth from Shizuku herself)
And so toward the final act, Riku finally meets Shizuku again. As shown in that scene, they talk about their childhood memories, reminiscing about the time they spent together. Eventually, they both confess their feelings for each other. and the chapter ends with th
em finally having s*x (finally)
So, one chapter left, I can’t really predict how the manga will end, but I hope the final chapter manages to wrap everything up beautifully. At the very least, I want Riku to have a happy ending. even if Shizuku ends dying in the end. Let my man be happy.
Still, deep down, I really wish Shizuku survives and the story ends with her and Riku together, happily ever after maybe even getting married.
