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My piece for the @lovefoolszine - It was really important to me that there was something for Nao and Mitsumi

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#skip and loafer #skip to loafer #stl #mitsumi iwakura #nao chan #my art #illustration #zines #fanart #i started this drawing almost 2 years ago so its weird to look at now lol

skip to loafer chapter 73 analysis // spoilers

an arc concluded with a hug: after much hard work and dedication from the students, the school festival has come to an end. mitsumi, previously a newcomer to tokyo, can finally enjoy it without worries, and shima doesn't just watch her walk through the halls, but instead he takes actions that not even he expected.

i always enjoy chapters that conclude such important arcs. not only because i enjoy seeing how each character has grown through the events, but i also find it interesting to see how sensei chose to tie up so many important plot points and bring in new ones to be explored.

first of all, let's start with the long-awaited hug. this moment of such strong impulse from shima is incredibly significant. he, who previously could barely express himself properly, did what his heart told him to do without even thinking twice. this shows, in my opinion, the comfort mitsumi brings him and the sense of relief of finally facing acting with an open heart (and, consequently, his family too).

the hug represents more than just affection, but a victory. shima finally feels he's taken another step forward and is closer to achieving the person he dreams of being. being able to perform such an important role on stage, portraying a character he identifies with so much, is incredibly significant in the life of a boy who believed he would never again be able to remove the social mask he constructed with so much fear. facing his mother and stepfather and hugging his brother with such affection the day before represents, for him, the final stretch of a race he's been facing for years... and on the other side, mitsumi is waiting.

i also think his reaction afterward (or rather, the confusion) is completely justifiable and fits his character very well. of course, his confidence wouldn't be at its full strength as soon as he stepped offstage, so having a short-circuit at that moment demonstrates how young he is and how he still has a lot to learn. however, it's extremely important to note how his concern fell directly onto mitsumi and how she would be perceived at school by her peers. he also reflected on how his actions could cause more trouble than good, leaving mitsumi even more confused about him and her feelings. it shows how much he sees his relationship with her much more important than any other societal norms that he imposed on himself as a protection. it’s not about him and his reputation anymore: it’s about her and how she would be affected by all of this.

all this worry returns a little later when he watches mitsumi give her speech. it's confusing for him to understand what she felt in this whole situation. is he really the only one facing such raw feelings? now, we wait for more chapters.

and to end all this turmoil with kanechika's provocation... so good!!!! he was present in several moments where shima's confusing feelings for mitsumi were clear, so having him there to make the atmosphere even cuter and funnier was a perfect choice.

speaking of presence, another person who was there for so many important moments was nao to mika. i'm so happy she managed to arrive just as mika was talking to the new boy and overheard some of their conversation.

nao sees in mika a lot of her past self and also everything she always dreamed of being as a teenager. she can connect with mika on a deeper level because she can unravel what's going on in the young girl's mind just by looking at her. and, of course, the concern of someone who has experienced so many heartbreaks also ends up surfacing, since no one wants to see the one they love suffer such a deep disappointment.

i think it's important for mika to understand that she is indeed seen as a pretty girl by other boys and that she tries to go on dates and be herself. it's hard to know whether this will work out or not, and i have the same concerns as nao, but it's extremely important that mika tries and builds her strength through trial and error. we (and aunt nao) can only hope and pray that he's a nice and respectful guy (and that mukai does something... but that's another conversation entirely).

nao being present while mitsumi gives her long-awaited speech also highlights the importance of her aunt's presence in her life. even though her family is always close to her, far away or not, the one who was there throughout this new experience in the big city was her aunt. she was the one who saw mitsumi make new friends, open up, explore more of her interests, and fight for what she believes in. having the whole family together with nao represents the past (nao finally being able to be her true self with the ones she holds so dear in her heart) and the future (mitsumi taking the steps towards a bright tomorrow).

mitsumi's confusion about the hug is quite normal for a teenage girl, and i love it. really, such an unexpected moment is cause for so much confusion!! what did he mean by that? was he really feeling sick or testing her? this last question made me reflect on how her first reaction was to get angry and not forgive him. i think this is a huge step, especially for her, who is so bewildered about the whole situation. but deep down, she knows that shima is, above all, a great friend to her and wouldn't use her like that.

and finally, we end with a beautiful speech from a girl who fought so hard to carve out her place in this immense tokyo. while at the last festival she reflected on the loneliness of being an outsider, today she can demonstrate all her hard work, which she achieved thanks to her perseverance and strength. mitsumi is a beautiful character, full of layers so well written and developed, and seeing her grow so much and become the senpai she always admired carries a huge weight in her development. it's beautiful to see a story where the main character brings so much happiness to everyone around her as she grows and evolves with each step. mitsumi never stopped opening her heart to new opportunities, even with all the fear and insecurity. finishing the festival successfully and without any problems reinforces how important her presence is in the lives of so many.

this is definitely a day she will never forget. and i bet she isn’t the only one who thinks like that…!