English Dub Review: Tsukigakirei “And Then”

This is it! We’ve finally made it! We’re going to find out if these two are really going to be  in love for the rest of time! At least, we’re going to find out how they end up for now. Or, I hope we will. There could be a fake-out cliffhanger at the end, and I wouldn’t be surprised. This show has never had a strong grasp on story structure.

Spoilers Below

Right away, Kotaro learns that he was not accepted to Akane’s private school. It’s the most embarrassed he’s ever been in his life. Kotaro’s bookstore friends suggest that none of his pain is in vain because he can write about it. (That’s a trope that I do not enjoy at all, but that may be a personal thing.) Akane is understanding, but also very sad. Her sister asks if they’re going to date long distance. When she says yes, her sister quickly states that it will never work.

They text each other – and just think back to how difficult it was for them to text in the beginning! I’d hate to see them throw this all away.

Kotaro eagerly awaits his exam results for the local public school – and he got in! Also, so did Chinatsu. She grabs his in excitement, which does not bode well for the strength of this long distance relationship. But Kotaro doesn’t even like her and if they end up together I’m going to be mad.

Chinatsu wants to know what Kotaro’s going to do with Akane now. She clenches her fist in anger when he says he intends to keep things the same. Chinatsu, come on. They clearly love each other. Anyway, she takes this time to finally confess her feelings. I thought Kotaro should have figured this out by now. She then asks how Kotaro feels about her. Obviously, he turns her down (although I was worried there for a second). Chinatsu immediately accepts Kotaro as just a friend again, and the look on his face makes me question the future. But I never know what that boy’s thinking.

It’s the last day of school, and everyone is all emotional. Kotaro tells his friends he was up all night writing, and they tell him he should post it online. Somehow this has never occurred to Kotaro before. Akane and Hira also say goodbye.

Akane and Kotaro meet up at a bridge. They talk about moving – she’s leaving tomorrow. Kotaro asks if he can come visit her every weekend. It’s two hours each way. Akane is worried. She says it’s not fair for him to put in all the effort and he says not to worry. “But I do worry!” she blurts out. She asks Kotaro why he didn’t tell her Chinatsu confessed. She’s worried, just like I am. She’s sobbing, and come one, Kotaro, why aren’t you hugging her? For the first time, Akane directly brings up her anxiety. It’s been a big thread throughout Tsukigakirei but it’s only been seen until now. “All I do is cause you trouble,” she says.

That’s not true. Kotaro causes her way more trouble than she does for him. During her breakdown, she kisses him and runs away. So that’s been the antagonist this whole time. Not some looming love triangle, but Akane’s anxiety.

Kotaro doesn’t know what to do. He lays on his bed and stares at the ceiling. It seems like everyone knows a breakup is coming, even though it’s no one’s fault.

As Akane is packing up, she stares at her worry potato sitting on the windowsill. It’s the only thing left in the house beside a few cardboard boxes. Kotaro squeezes his own worry potato at home.

Chinatsu is saying her goodbyes. She suddenly remembers that she found Kotaro’s masterpiece online not too long ago and shows it to Akane, who reads it, wide-eyed. She comments on it: What happens next?

As Akane boards the train, Kotaro runs toward the station. Never the track star that Akane was, it’s a struggle and he doesn’t make it. As Akane reads Kotaro’s final admission of love, she sobs again.

The epilogue flashes by like a slideshow – Kotaro gets a job so he can pay for train fare to visit. They fight and make up, they graduate high school. And suddenly they’re married! They even have a baby.

Well, there it is. True love forever. It really was meant to be. In the end (even by the middle, really), I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Tsukigakirei ended up being a beautiful story. This middle-school love was truly heartfelt and absolutely worth it.