Yeah, seems Reddit has a different take, ranging from rage to dissapointed…mmmm, I guess you could say it is a real life version of the pressure of the media where you have people who look to find deeper meaning in a work and you have others who take a more surface look or react emotionally with them comparing the work to others that left them disappointed.

Almost like Love Today or Tokyo Blade

Shows you why Aqua decided to try bury all his family trouble with him

All I can think of is people carrying expectation from Aka’s other work and how his earlier stories proverbially poisoned the well so to speak - as there seems there is a feeling of Aka not being able to “end a series”.

Cannot help but think of the Manga artist scenes at the start of the play arc and how it is re-enacting it self out.

People loved the characters and are probably dissappointed in not receiving the payout they felt they deserved or expected from the personal investment in the story.

I say fair enough, hope no one takes it too far then the show becomes too real, but I have to try accept that not everything clicks with people like same way things do not click with me

That is a nice take on a meta-narrative level as the most powerful moments have shown how “popular” tragedy is as, I for one when thinking back, has it’s strongest points anchored around tragedy with Aqau’s moments that draw in the audience throughout the series, Akane’s tipping point, Ruby’s channeling of her darkness, Melt’s acrobatic display, even Kana with how people were gravitated by her acting born from her channeling her pain ( with her trying to overcome it through her feelings for Aqua and how that also manifested in a positive way,somewhat, in the play) and heck even Kamiki seemed to be successful despite his proclivities.

There are examples with almost all the characters showing how the industry has effected them in some way, most of it being tragedy or dealing with its reality and trying to work within the system.

It shows how we, as humans, seem fascinated by the darkness and how captivated people are by those able to channel that or overcome it.

The industry knows this and it is eager to profit off of it just as much as it is eager to profit off those that know how to “play the game”.

One needs to adapt, be strong and endure the suffering and through that can one’s strength of character be radiant but that is contrasted by how ruthless the industry is as well, as people are quick to come to conclusions and how powerful that pressure is as people resort to all sorts of terrible ideas and actions in pursuit of trying to find meaning from that pressure - which can dangerously become their crutch as the industry expectation bears down on the individual.

It is personal opinion and all, but I liked it - not mind blowing but satisfying enough… it started with lies to make one happy, and ended with lies making one happy - although Ruby seems to be living with lies with some depth born from love whereas Ai lied to find love and tried to love in that deception.

Kana seems to have to find peace in her regret and probably processes it through her acting like how she used her mother.

Ruby did what her mother couldn’t which is bitter sweet but a dream was realised, in multiple ways if one wants to intepret the brighter stars as her playing to her intended audience.

Overall, satisfied with the conclusion as I can try to fill in the blanks on my own with my own narrative based off what the series showed what the characters are capable of and it brings to an end the journey of follow them

A part of me feels that Ruby understands the difference in the deaths, like Garou and Ai were killed and there was no justice, she wanted to punish the ones that took away the most important people in her life.

But now she is still upset and grieving, but maybe she feels like she got that justice she was looking for, but it cost her someone really dear to her.

So she is grieving her love, but sort of understands how much he loved her when she probably got told of the assassination attempt and him putting a stop to it once and for all

True, especially since they have a confession with a list of suspects that are not connected to the incident but to murders related to Kamiki and it probably looks like a case of the one murder he decides to get involved in to finish off Aqua as he is his son, but Aqua could have been prepared because of the movie research - kind of line of investigating

As the expression goes, paraphrased: “When plotting revenge against your enemy - dig two graves; one for your enemy and one for yourself.”

Edit: I do feel Aqua/Garou is the kind of guy that doesn’t believe in half measures and when he fully commits to something when he puts his all to it.

On reflection, he fell in love with Ai, because Sarena loved her.

His stand-out performance in the play comes from having to torment himself into method acting.

And he spent I would think almost all his income on DNA tests - which in hindsight is a bit of a weakness in Aqua’s plan if that type of information became public knowledge, but I guess the movie being released helps distract people from looking too deeply into his past and focus more on Kamiki instead.

This is the type of stuff I really appreciate and was looking for - a lot of emotion and closure without much unneccessary words.

“Detective” Akane being the narrator as the great Kamiki mystery is solved and how she explained how Aqua might have thought leaving nothing behind gave some insight in how he really wanted to separate and remove everyone he cared about away from any kind of rumour or suspicion for them to have the best life.

Kana crying genuinely and having her show her true emotions, Miyako showing indignation and rage when she thought Kana disrespected Aqua’s corpse with a slap to breakdown when she saw Kana’s heartfelt and painful confession.

Seeing Taiki, who is shown as so stoic, showing some real emotion and even Frill seems to show sadness

With what Akane said in the final scenes I am sure at least Ruby is going to perform at the Dome, now with both her brother-Aqua/ person she loved -Garou and mother in mind.

I like how “Dark” Ruby is on scene when thinking why everyone leaves her and on the last page has her revert to “Bright” Ruby

Kana is probably studying a movie script but who knows what the final chapter will bring with showing Ruby and Kana’s resolve

True, I am sure if Aqua didn’t kiss her that time they found his body Akane would have probably pieced together the Aqua/Gorou link.

Overall lots of pain incoming,especially as you said, for Kana who has made Aqua her “star” and I sure Ruby will also not handle it well either.

Who know maybe B-Komachi performs at the Dome as a send off with Kana doing one last performance in Aqua’s memory.

Thanks for confirming, I saw the finale text and I was left feeling like something was missing and didn’t check if more was coming

Edit:

The scenes preceding this moment was pretty visceral with the adrenaline wearing down and the panic setting in as everything comes into focus before finally just accepting that what is done is done and going out again at least this time with happy thoughts

Feel uneasy if this was Aqua’s final moments like “see the tunnel” experience.

Its set up in a way where Aqua/Gorou can die and his spirit fades away or he is being brought back to life and he is comes back as Aquamarine Hoshino as Sarina’s key chain is left behind which I feel is like saying Gorou’s part of him has finally found a reason to move on and allow him to be Aqua and act his age.

I really like how they made use of the eyes and contrast

Kamiki, losses his “darkness” to only be engulfed by it as he could not let go of his fleeting moment of brief happiness Ai brought, which ultimately became the “weight” that dragged him with the karma of his actions coming full circle.

Also how his life revolved around keeping things in place to chase a memory. It was a selfish gesture to make himself happy

Meanwhile, Aqua has two “white”, albeit fading, lights showing how he has finally found full clarity in his actions and can actually find true peace in what he achieved, his “weight” has been lifted as he can finally feel like that pit that has made his life horrible is finally gone as he frames his life away from darkness in revenge, to finding light in living for someone else.

They are both selfish, but the difference is one took life to chase happiness and the other gave their life for someone else’s happiness.

(Still feel Aqua has a good chance at living as he was floating to the surface, but who knows how it ends)

Kamiki: Smugly All according to the plan

Aqua: I am Karma, I am become Death

Kamiki : What?

Aqua does the thing of confronting Kamiki with his two favourite murder methods

I am enjoying the manga with its symbolism and all, although I am more for the exploration of the human condition than the supernatural elements

Liked the introspection of peace and compassion from Aqua before commiting to the bit - nice moment of reflection on how heavy and commited he has been to enact his revenge but done with a lighter tone showing him being honest with himself and finding clarity in thought.

Happy with the confirmation with the questions I was pondering in regards to Kamiki with the earlier panel in, i think 154,where his “black eyes” were ablaze showing he was putting in a “star” level performance selling and even convincing people (and judging by what I have seen been said about him before this point) of his lies.

Edit: looking at manga pages around 154 again, kamiki lost his “light” during the affair with the married woman and has been down the path of darkness ever since.

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There might have been an misunderstanding, the ninja squad that attack Higan’s home show how with the first ninja they killed how they take advantage of openings, and how pony tail guy likes to come in after the “fodder” ninja weaken the target. That squad has been killing ninjas in that area from the news reports.

Back to Mari, she was probably disabled in a moment of weakness between killing ninja and trying to protect her child, with that the pony tail ninja( probably killed the child and threw him at Mari) waited for higan and stabbed Mari in front of him to make an opening.

I mean it did work as the “fodder” ninja was able to sneak up and stab Higan

The leader ninja forbade Zai from fighting with his old team( which Zai considered at one time family) and seems something like a retainer or right hand man( who knows the reason, besides the trope of friend turn rival showdown).

Zai seems to be blind and I am curious how that happened between present day and that betrayal. It all depends how they flesh it out, I mean sure it is tropey, but it doesn’t have to have the best writing as the action scenes do a lot of the heavy lifting for the show.

Also the Auzu( who the head is obsessed with data collection - possible ninja AI learning ) acting independent and in an alliance with Ninja seems to show some friction.

There is an interesting thing I noticed with episode 5, but that is reserved for that topic I am sure.

It might be rough on the technical details but, for me, it is “logically consistent” enough that I am interested where and how the story will unfold

I thought the episode showed Mari is hesitant when it comes killing children ( mother and child she hesitated so she isn’t completely cut off from her empathy), the most likely thing that happened is like how they stabbed Higan, they probably grabbed the child, while the mother was killing ninja and either killed the child or threw the child at her and in the moment she tried to protect, they took advantage?

Zai is specifically instructed not to engage Higan, so there must be some reason that will be explored later I am sure, as they are still willing to try kill him.

Found it interesting how their is tension between the Ninja and Auzu, so there is probably something cooking there too

Only thing I can think about the arts is that it is tied to a ninja until death and until they are dead it cannot be used,I don’t know maybe it will be explained. I mean the ninja boss was there at Higan and Co’s Ninja ceremony.

It isn’t perfect but it does carry enough weight until the next action set which I am satisfied with