what the fuck. I was so impressed by how mature and real the situation unfolded, the nuance of what Meguro felt and how she casually chatted. There's legit in The Search of Lost Time by Proust a similar treatment, of all those made-up scenarios and conversations that we think we need, that we'd crave vindication and envy when seeing again a lost love, when by the time it might happen, it won't matter to us too, and not only the careless past lover.
And then the worst and most stupid decision by Koga. Him not exactly understanding what Zaizen was to her was already a terrible sign.
BAKA BAKA BAKA
It would have been a great idea for him to tutor Meguro himself. I find that it can be important for every one in the couple and manage understandable insecurities to reappropriate some things that your partner did with someone else. Because those experiences belong to you first and foremost, not to your ex, so for example, why would you stop to go to a restaurant you like just because you went there with them? Why not supplant any memory there with them with new ones with your partner?
They could have kept supporting each other and learning together, but no, instead he's pushing his gf towards her ex, when he has no morals. It's a recipe for disaster.
I can guess it will mostly be an occasion for Zaizen to reconsider the damage he wreaks around him because he still dgaf but fuck seeing him grow, he can just rot in his corner! I love neatly resolving every conflict but often the healthiest thing to do is cut the bullshit and stay away from lost causes. And I hate that any success in Meguro's exam will be due to Zaizen's tutoring even if all goes well eventually.
The story always led to dealing with that initial drama but I hate this shit, their couple is so wholesome that it's a treat to read without this self-sabotage