Not gonna lie, I'm not sure if it's just because I'm sleep-deprived and my brain is fried, but I'm struggling to make sense of this arc.
In this arc, Jirou and Akari run into two of Jirou's former middle school clubmates, which stirs up some internal conflict for him. Feeling uneasy about being around his past connections, Jirou tells Akari he's considering changing his major to avoid sharing the same college campus as them. Akari disagrees, saying he shouldn't let other people influence such a big decision. Jirou acknowledges she's right but counters that Akari wouldn't fully understand his perspective—since, in his view, she's always been carefree and never had to struggle with uncertainty like he does. They end up 'arguing,' and we flash back to Akari’s past.
In the flashback, we learn about Akari's initial love for Tenjin and see some of her own struggles, revealing that her carefree attitude might not be as effortless as Jirou thinks. Back in the present, Jirou has a phone call with Tenjin, and they discuss what it means to live freely, acknowledging Akari's strength in doing so. Finally, Jirou and Akari reconcile.
I'm still trying to understand the main message of this arc and how these events tie together. If anyone could help shed some light, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks for the chapter!