I’m crying because this reflects my aromantic experience so much?? From not feeling romantic love and knowing I never will, to being pressured about dating and marriage by friends and family who don’t understand, and feeling alienated by people who can’t even fathom a world without romantic attraction when I try to explain it.
And the end where Akira explains that Sasaki-sensei is still someone full of (platonic) love is something I’ve always believed about myself but I’m glad that it was said here for anyone who needed to hear it.
I’m also really happy this talked about specifically romantic love instead of “liking people” or “being attracted”, because that gives it room for getting confused and/or conflated with asexuality. Sorry for being super excited and happy over this, it’s just that this is one of the first examples of positive aromantic representation I’ve seen in any media that felt real and natural to me, so I’m gushing (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞