I love this manga and I'm left with a sad and empty feeling knowing that there will be no more to this story. I'm trying to rationalize the ending, so I'm commenting to help fill my void and perhaps provide some insight to others. Feel free to agree/disagree, add onto, etc.
How I interpreted this story is that a mentally exhausted FMC was alone in her struggles and one day found someone (MC) going through the same struggle.
As a means to help both parties, she initiated her advances (not romantically) to help a kindred spirit along with helping herself, by breaking her mother's heavy expectations of being a "good girl". What was meant to be a rebellious act orchestrated by the FMC, turned into a romance due to the support and understanding both the FMC and MC were able to provide for each other.
The ending paralleled how they first met in the cafe. What first started off with two exhausted individuals wearing the same mask meeting at the cafe, ends with the same two returning but as individuals that have learned to live for themselves as well as for others. Unfortunately, to meet both criteria, both parties have to live their lives separately.
The MC proposal to "stay together in the future" can be a hopeful sign for people looking for a happy ending (me). As much as the MC and FMC cherish each other, both parties value their family just as much. Indulging in their relationship now would be selfish and I think both parties understand that they first need to allow their families sometime to realize that their relationship is genuine.
My hope is that they'll reconvene once FMC is an adult and financially independent.
Hopefully, by then, the MC's daughter 😠would learn to consider her father's happiness and wellbeing as well.
As a means to help both parties, she initiated her advances (not romantically) to help a kindred spirit along with helping herself, by breaking her mother's heavy expectations of being a "good girl". What was meant to be a rebellious act orchestrated by the FMC, turned into a romance due to the support and understanding both the FMC and MC were able to provide for each other.
The ending paralleled how they first met in the cafe. What first started off with two exhausted individuals wearing the same mask meeting at the cafe, ends with the same two returning but as individuals that have learned to live for themselves as well as for others. Unfortunately, to meet both criteria, both parties have to live their lives separately.
The MC proposal to "stay together in the future" can be a hopeful sign for people looking for a happy ending (me). As much as the MC and FMC cherish each other, both parties value their family just as much. Indulging in their relationship now would be selfish and I think both parties understand that they first need to allow their families sometime to realize that their relationship is genuine.
My hope is that they'll reconvene once FMC is an adult and financially independent.
Hopefully, by then, the MC's daughter 😠would learn to consider her father's happiness and wellbeing as well.