The title of this manga is "After the Rain". Throughout the story, both Akira and Kondou had positive associations with rain because it seemed to bring them together. But from my perspective that literal rain was not the"rain" at the heart of this story.
Akira met Kondou when she was feeling lost in a storm of her own. He was a source of safety and kindness at a time when she felt alone and betrayed by the world. But, Kondou was in a storm as well. Both of them knew how cruel life can be and were metaphorically stuck in their own tempests. They provided comfort to each other at a time when they both felt beaten down by the world. They were each others' safe harbor--a beautiful escape.
But every storm ends. The rain lets up and you don't have to shelter anymore. After the rain, you can continue with the thing you were doing. Akira and Kondou may have taken comfort in the rain that brought them together, but they both longed for the rain to end so they could go back to what was put on pause during the storm. That's why Akira always looked with longing at the blue sky, why her favorite color is royal blue (like the sky), and why so much attention is paid by the artist to her blue eyes-- she's always been looking to the storm's end. Kondou keeps himself surrounded by reminders of the very thing he thinks he can't do anymore. His escape into books and the office he doesn't clear up are both his "blue sky"; writing is the thing that he longs to return to after the rain. So the storm passes, the rain ends, and because of their love for each other kept themselves afloat, they can carry on after the rain.
Depending on your age, I can see why there are so many different reactions to this story. I'm in my early 30s. Who in their 30s hasn't had that friendship brought together by circumstance that has since lapsed into memory? When you needed one another you were there for each other, but when circumstances changed you both went your separate ways, not because you didn't care about each other, but because you both got what you needed out of the relationship. Or the failed romantic relationship that ended so painfully, but now you can look back at with gratitude; remembering only the good times? Sometimes you just need someone to take shelter with against the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
This was an unexpectedly deep story, which I'm always a fan of. It's wonderful to be caught off guard by the profound. I'm so grateful to the original mangaka and the scanlators-- thank you for bringing this into my life. Thank you. This story will stick with me for a while.
I still wish I knew what happened with Kase and his step-sister, though.
