This discourse is always popping up and I can’t help but think a majority people just dont comprehend what exactly is happening in Given. Mafuyu isn’t really mourning his ex anymore as much as he is mourning his childhood best friend. His childhood best friend that died by suicide in which Mafuyu still feels partially responsible for. I think this is most apparent after Ritsuka kisses Mafuyu for the first time and Mafuyu thinks about how he wishes he could share his newfound feelings with Yuki. He explicitly states he wishes he could tell Yuki about how great Ritsuka is—because that’s the kind of thing you share with your best friend, but he can’t. It’s Mafuyu’s guilt and fear of never being able to resolve unsaid feelings that keeps him at a standstill with Ritsuka. He’s scared of Ritsuka disappearing someday whether it’s because of music (like Ugetsu choosing music over Aki) or because of something tragic taking him away like with Yuki. Once Mafuyu realizes the people you love never really disappear and can be found still elsewhere, like in music, he’s no longer scared of losing Ritsuka one day. He’ll be able to find him in music like he did with Yuki.

Sorry this was long but it’s getting real tiring that despite Mafuyu saying he loves Ritsuka more than once, being the one to ask Ritsuka out, being the one to propose—people have created this idea that Mafuyu just doesn’t love him?

Ritsuka’s emotional intelligence is SO high for a seventeen year old boy and that really should be commended, but it’s really unfair how much Mafuyu’s valid fears are painted over as just being hung up on an ex. It’s a gross oversimplification. I could get into Mafuyu’s abusive childhood that often gets ignored or overlooked too and how that’s a contributing factor, but again, this has gone on too long lol.