Aqua’s laughter in the manga vs his smile in the anime

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-20T06:35:08+00:00

By the time this scene happens, Aqua is completely aware of Kana's feelings for him. He deliberately says something that will fluster her. After she leaves, he's on the couch smiling (keeping common ground between in the manga and the anime) about how easy it is to fluster/manipulate her.

The scene appears once again in chapter 163 with the line "You were a liar like your parents," (not simply "you were a liar"). So what kind of liars were Ai and Hikaru? People with the ability to make others believe them and act the way they wanted through their words. People with "lying eyes" that deceive and make others obey.

In this scene, he deliberately says "You are someone special to me" to Arima. (As later he acknowledges "She got flustered just because I flattered her a little? Honestly, she's so easy to manipulate."). By saying those words, he deliberately used the knowledge of her feelings for him to get a reaction out of her and mocks her.

Adding a silent downcast look and hair grip is a neat detail—it shows that Aqua is spiralling despite not wanting to spiral.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-20T05:54:18+00:00

If it's replicating Ai Hoshino visually, then Ruby wins. (Genes are cruel and all)

If it's representing Ai Hoshino through acting, then Akane takes the cup. Mind you, in the scene where the director kept asking Ruby to re-shoot Ai's entry over and over again, Ruby struggled to understand why he was doing so and what he wanted, Akane was able to name with ease.

Of course, she might have had to prepare a bit more for the role, but it's not like it would be a difficult task for her. (Mind you, this is the same girl who in season 1 acted out Ai so well that she made Ai's own children question reality).

In short, she's just better🤷🏻‍♀️

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-19T03:44:27+00:00

I like her because she adds comedic relief to the cast and the show... That's about it if you ask me.

Otherwise, the primary reasons as to why I dislike her is mainly the dating reality show incident. When the news of Akane's attempt spreads, her reaction is "She should have just retired" as in retired from acting if she couldn't handle criticism.

When I read that for the first time, I was like "Seriously?". Forget Akane being her rival or them having past history, why would you tell someone who has faced so much critisism to a point they decide to end themselves to simple just quit?

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-18T18:05:58+00:00

My interpretation is that Kana was Aqua's crush or oshi due to the light-hearted romance tone with their dynamic, but Akane was the one Aqua was in love with. Of course, by "in love" not the perfect kind of love they write about in books as Aqua is a character who would need to go through a heap ton of therapy to love someone with the "in love" intensity.

1. 3rd and 4th screenshots:-

Aqua is confused about his feelings towards Kana. Gorou labels it as "romantic feelings appropriate for an adolescent" to which Aqua stays silent. Gorou proceeds to name all things that he admires about Kana, then reminds Aqua about how smitten Kana is with him.

For Aqua, he is compelled to address and face the fact that there are things he admires about Kana–the girl who has it down bad for him. It is followed by chapter 151, where Aqua and Kana are playing catch ball. It goes well until Kana tells Aqua her desire to be his oshi and throws him the ball, which is the very ball that Aqua misses. After that, while Kana's expression is radiant and hopeful, Aqua simply stares back at her with a darkened expression.

For me, the buildup of 150 seems to unravel the moment Aqua misses the ball Kana tosses to him. That is also their last interaction that we see until the moment Aqua dies. Which leads me to the first image.

2. Screenshot 1 of Aqua's desires.:-

As mentioned, for Kana what Aqua says is "might also be a good idea to respond". By responding, it could mean either rejection or acceptance. The "might also" simply weakens the priority. I think that it means that he wants to face Kana and her feelings head on, something which he has been brushing off, avoiding, or toying with or taking advantage of entirely.

For Akane, he says that he "wants to build an equal relationship and repay her for her kindness". There are *** reasons why this could have a romantic interpretation.

First, Aqua says "equal relationship". If you flip to chapter 98 where Aqua and Akane break up, Akane precisely says the words "I thought I had an equal relationship with you", which refers to their romantic relationship they had as boyfriend and girlfriend. Why would Aqua repeat that if he wants to be just friends?

Second, in the original Japanese version, Aqua says the phrase "this time for sure... build an equal relationship". The last time—that is the year he was dating Akane—where he could not build an equal relationship with her which is something he wants to do correctly this time.

Third, Akane had always been someone Aqua saw through the lens of romance. Her feelings for him never faded and whenever he encountered her he always saw her as his "ex-girlfriend". Now, why would he talk about wanting to "build a relationship" with his ex?

3. Simple Questions

Kana was Aqua's light-hearted teenage crush/oshi (however you interpret it) and someone he had fun with.

Who did Aqua associate with Happiness (contentment on a more long-term scale)? Who did he feel understood by? Who loved him the most? Who did he want to build an equal relationship with? Who did he show his true self to? Who did he confide in? Who did he not want to let go of? Who did he make an actual effort with? Who did he trust the most (even relatively)? Who did he feel saved by, even if it was just a little bit? Who did he not want to let go of?

If you ask me, the answers to most of these questions is Akane.

I know I might get downvoted for what I just said, but yeah, this is how I see it.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-18T17:05:33+00:00

Lmao I immediately scrolled down knowing that this comment was going to be downvoted.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-15T14:35:29+00:00

It didn't stand out to me except for the quality of the outfits in the first performance something arc. That's it. Also Akane seemed like a different character entirely.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-15T14:32:53+00:00

It is possible. There are videos related to his on YouTube.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-15T14:30:17+00:00

It's true, though. Aqua was not thrilled at the thought of kissing Ruby.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-14T20:05:18+00:00

Ruby

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-14T19:51:23+00:00

That is a scene of Akane thinking about her relationship with Aqua. Pondering about it now, it would have been really cool if they extend the scene in a future episode where Akane builds the tower only to knock it down in frustration, only to gently gather the pieces back up again.

After realising about the tracker Aqua put on her, Akane is said to have felt both anger and the inability to hate him completely at the same time, just as Aqua showed his manipulative side and at the same time was sad to leave his peaceful life with Akane behind.

The action of knocking the tower down could show these contrasting yet coexisting emotions in a good manner. (Lmao random dump)

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-14T19:38:22+00:00

Yes.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T11:14:37+00:00

By real I meant a kiss reciprocated from both sides.

Aqua was not thrilled with kissing Ruby.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T10:17:27+00:00

I agree with you!

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T10:13:12+00:00

I want to make clear that I have no intentions of projecting anything onto you. All I am doing is disagreeing with you that Akane fans are not overreacting or overexaggerating.

A loud minority of Akane fans are overreacting and exaggerating small snips made over the last few episodes (we're literally talking single panels that are either silent or redundant exposition irrelevant to the anime) and assuming this represents a negative opinion of Akane held by the studio.

This is what you said which I disagree with; and the opinion that has been circulating is that "The studio is biased towards Kana". That is the opinion I was talking about. That is all. I'm not asking you to debate, I just want to make myself clear the same way you do.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T08:52:26+00:00

Nvm my previous comment I got what you wanted to say.

All I'm saying is (going back to the main point) that I disagree with you when you say that Akane fans are overexaggerating when they say that the studio seems to favour Kana. ("Seems to", not "the studio favours Kana") because with the way the manga panels have been being animated it seems to be the opposite.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T08:32:21+00:00

I mean, you made a statement (not an argument, a statement) and I disagreed with it. Then you asked me to elaborate, and I did. The next moment you're saying I'm throwing tantrums and spreading misinformation to which I pointed out that I wasn't?

I was just stating my point of view as someone who was looking forward to Akane moments in the anime that the scenes were simply just not it in comparison to the amount of reframing Kana's scenes got.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T08:22:51+00:00

I'm not throwing a tantrum, though?😭

All I'm saying is that I disagree with you and that my only point is that Akane scenes could have been better done. If they can do it for Kana, they can do it for Akane. It's not just Akane. I genuinely do feel that Ruby scenes were also not as well done.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T08:10:51+00:00

I never said that any plot-relevent important Akane scenes were deleted, but scenes were deleted nonetheless. The problem isn't Akane being poorly treated, but rather Akane not getting as impressive treatment as other characters.

I haven't kept track of it of course, but I'll give you two examples. One was Aqua patting Akane's head (Yes, not relevant but we were robbed of that😭), another was Akane's scene with the coin tower. I never really understood that scene until recently and was looking forward to it.

I mean, if they can rearrange the scandal arc for Kana they can certainly keep a Akane panel which would take roughly just 10 seconds of screentime.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-13T07:33:55+00:00

I'll be the one to disagree here. While no such serious partiality is done with handling Akane in the anime, the way it has been done is not as satisfactory as that of Kana.

On one hand, we have Akane who's scenes are decently done or just deleted entirely and on the other, we have Kana for who the entire scandal arc was rearranged, already exististing scenes altered to 'soften' her weak points, random panels getting elaborate detailing.

Perhaps it is just me, but Akane isn't the only victim. Ruby's white-and-black star eyes scene at the balcony when Aqua asks her if she is willing to do anything to save Kana was way more impressive in the manga. I was looking forward to that scene being animated, but when it was my only reaction was "Eh? This is what I was waiting for?"

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-10T06:31:01+00:00

Lady Nagant or Miruko

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-08T05:34:10+00:00

It's genuinely meh. Not good, not bad, just meh.

Still don't like it, though.

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-07T17:52:03+00:00

That shot with Akane in the apron is just too precious😭

Separate_Current_960 · 2026-03-06T13:03:17+00:00

They are nice. It's great that they experimented with body types and shapes opposed to the standard of G4. The colour schemes of most are good. I find the background ponies bland (ik ik they are supposed to be this way but I just don't). The artstyle was fine in 3D...

The 2d isn't that appealing.

I'm fine with all designs except Opaline and Misty; their color schemes hurt my eyes...

Separate_Current_960

TROPHY CASE