EPISODE CONTEXT

Coming off 'The Alighting Angel!,' where Mikako reckons with jealousy and gains a clearer read on Tsutomu's feelings, this episode continues the series' steady deepening of its central relationships at the halfway mark. It functions as connective tissue — consolidating emotional ground already covered while nudging character dynamics forward. It directly sets up 'Delusions of the Duo,' where anxieties around Mikako and Tsutomu's relationship take center stage, making this a key transitional episode in the season's ongoing focus on growth and connection.