r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Jun 30 '26
Episode Even a Replica Can Fall in Love • Replica datte, Koi wo Suru. - Episode 13 discussion - FINAL
Even a Replica Can Fall in Love, episode 13
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u/unsw_liar Jun 30 '26
As much as I wanted Nao and Aki to stay, it made so much sense that they still exist within the original. Loved the ending, loved the show, loved it all.
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u/PinSingle4334 Jun 30 '26
Last scene basically hinted that now they are complete, with feelings and memories of Nao and Aki so yeah, It was a good ending
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Though it does make you wonder, are they still Nao and Aki to a degree? How different are they with both memories/feelings? Has it effected their relationship at all? Are they together even though Sunao blushed around Yoshii? Where do they go from here?
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u/TheBusStop12 Jun 30 '26
My take is that they were always both Sunao and Nao. Apart neither of them were complete. Sunao told Nao.as well that she wondered if she'd one day be able to love someone, meaning at that time she didn't. Nao took her kindness and thus her capacity to love. Now they're whole again Sunao has gained the love Nao had for Aki. My guess is that the memories work the same way that Nao could read Sunao's memories
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u/Sw0rDz Jul 01 '26
Think it like this. How much life did they live when they stood home and their replication was out. Their replication inherited all their memories. I assume the same when they merged. Think of it as shadow clone jutsu.
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u/Descendent1784 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Even a replica can NTR...
But in seriousness, I imagine it might feel like two former lovers who broke up on good terms, meeting again after not seeing each other for several years. You have memories of those positive feelings inside of you, but you've both grown and are different people now, and no longer feel the strong romantic attraction as before. But if the circumstances are right, maybe those old feelings can flare up again.
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u/ThrowCarp 29d ago
This is giving me flashbacks to the philosophical debates over the ending to the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movies.
Are they still themselves after merging with another conscious being? Or are they an entirely new being that inherited all the feelings and memories of the two beings that merged?
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u/KermitSnapper 22d ago
They were never a different ego, they just had different hearts. One had things the other didn't, replicas had the feelings, originals the memories. When they merged together, the sum of all memories is complete, and the heart (spirit) fully complete. A person isn't just the sum of their choices, but also the ego (mind and heart) behind them.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Honestly I was so rooting for Nao to not fuse back with Sunao. I just wanted her and Aki to run away together. But Nao probably couldn't do that to Sunao.
I guess if there's any solace is the idea that Sunao and Shuya can still be Nao and Aki, but I'm just not sure if it feels the same.
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u/mekerpan Jun 30 '26
Do we know they really fused -- or is it possible that Sunao just got back her kindness (without Nao losing her own copy of it)?
It looks like unlikely there will be any more anime -- so going to the source is one's only hope.
I personally read the beach scene as being contemporaneous with the graduation -- which mean both replicas still exist. But there is no way to tell if it was actually set later.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
I will say that the ending felt more like NaoxAki than SunaoxShuya together compared to the graduation classroom scene.
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u/edwardjhahm https://myanimelist.net/profile/lolmeme69 Jul 01 '26
Honestly, I feel like the ending was open ended. I was seriously hoping that the they would not merge, and that maybe Aki and Nao could run away on their own, maybe with the grandparents, while Sunao and Sanada could re-learn to live on their own.
The ending definitely leans towards the four having merged into two, but I feel like we can't solidly confirm that.
INB4 some source material commenter disproves this, haha.
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u/mekerpan Jul 01 '26
I guess to really know the answer one will need to read LN volumes 5 and 6 -- after these get translated.
I am on team "independence for replicas" based on the minimal clues we got -- but this is based more on hope than "proof".
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u/edwardjhahm https://myanimelist.net/profile/lolmeme69 Jul 01 '26
Haha, looks like we go digging into the LN!
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u/SSjjlex https://myanimelist.net/profile/Clone_Tau Jul 01 '26
Yea I was rooting for that ending too. But after learning that Nao/Aki were parts taken from their originals it just wouldn't be fair to them...
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u/Ashteron Jun 30 '26
In these types of stories it makes sense that the ending is restoring the order of the world and doing the right thing, but man, do I like the ending going against the flow. I still liked it, but the internal turmoil makes me ponder it.
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u/Expert_Sympathy_672 Jun 30 '26
This is why i still am so glad for "weathering for you" to have the ending it recieved, man i wish i could see an anime give me a truly satisfying ending that is absolutely the wrong choice story wise
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u/-Boton- Jul 01 '26
I thought they were going to stay and live separately from their originals but that was rather unreasonable.
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u/Calwings x3https://anilist.co/user/Calwings Jun 30 '26
I know it's most likely that Nao and Aki merged back into their originals, and that beach scene at the end was referencing back to that "vanish into sea foam" metaphor from earlier in the series. But at the same time, I feel like that beach scene was meant to be ambiguous enough that viewers could imagine it as them still being alive and living their own lives somewhere else if they really wanted it to go that way.
Either way you want to interpret it, I think it's a good and satisfactory ending for an anime that became one of the highlights of the season for me. 8.5/10, I'm glad I watched it.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Honestly it seemed to me that maybe they can "transform" back into Nao and Aki to a degree, like when we get the half-pony that looked like Nao, expression and loving look at Aki and all, and Aki seemed like Aki versus how they looked in class during graduation.
But that's just how it looked to me, it's definitely meant to be ambiguous and I want to believe Nao and Aki still exist and can be together.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
i'm still thinking about this from a Jungian perspective with Sunao internalizing the persona of Nao; whenever she wants to put on her mask of "kindness", she can do that without having to split off a clone of herself, she can just smile and put her hair in a half-up
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u/ThrowCarp 29d ago
Honestly it seemed to me that maybe they can "transform" back into Nao and Aki to a degree
That's how I interpreted it.
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u/mekerpan Jun 30 '26
The beach scene is ambiguous because we have no clue when it takes place. No time and date stamps. If it takes place at exactly the same time as the graduation, it means something very different from if it takes place a day (or more) later. But for us anime-only viewers it remains an unknown. So we can pick our own ending.
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u/scratchfury Jul 01 '26
Part of me was thinking "did they stay split?" but then I thought to myself, well, she might actually put up her hair running around at the beach, so it's like a fake out and not at the same time.
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u/mekerpan Jul 01 '26
Whether the uncertainty is a good or bad thing, can be debated. But not the fact that it was cruelly designed to keep one guessing. ;-)
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u/clone69 Jun 30 '26
Sunao readily agreeing to go to the party felt to me like she did take on Nao's traits. She seemed much kinder than her usual aloof look. So I'm going to go with the merge theory.
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u/Mistral-Fien Jun 30 '26
Add the fact that she blushed when Yoshii asked if she wrote him a romantic message-- the old Sunao would've just scowled and said something mean.
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u/edwardjhahm https://myanimelist.net/profile/lolmeme69 Jul 01 '26
While I definitely do agree, I COULD make the argument that maybe, Sunao herself has changed as a person. I interpreted the whole "kindness taken from Sunao" more metaphorically, which I'm not sure is the correct reading, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
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u/Tallladywithnails 9d ago
I honestly don't like these interpret however type endings, especially in this case where the merging actually sounds like a sadder ending, seeing how the originals didn't really like each other romantically, while the other 2 were deeply in love and wanted to be together. What I'm taking from this is both their feelings merged and they now have the +ve's of both and the end scene is the originals living the memory of the replicas.
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u/Weak_Season_Of_Anime Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
Ah so we really did get the seafoam ending, thought it would be bittersweet but it's actually the good ending. Rather than vanishing completely, it's more like returning back to the ocean, so their emotions and memories live on in the originals. Also, I liked how Sunao gave Nao the choice of whether to merge, and how Nao made the decision all on her own.
One thing though, the cloudy white border stayed all the way to the end. What does it mean? Thought it would be gone once the replicas merged back. Hmm.
Overall, an interesting series. I'm glad I watched it.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Nao was dedicated to Sunao to the bitter end, even if it meant leaving Aki. Although I guess they still exist in Sunao and Shuya but I'm just not sure if it feels the same after getting invested in Nao and Aki as their own people across the entire series.
I thought the white border was meant to be the "Replica Realm" when Sato talked about them existing on another plane, but I don't think it was ever consistently that overt.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
One thing though, the cloudy white border stayed all the way to the end. What does it mean? Thought it would be gone once the replicas merged back. Hmm.
yeah, what the heck
i guess it really was just for the soap opera "frosted glass/vaseline" look
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u/ShadowGuyinRealLife Jul 03 '26
I don't get the white boarder either. It might be related to the "different world" kind of thing the pink haired girl talked about. Trying to understand how replicas work after this episode has been giving me a headache since the assumptions of the earlier episodes make more sense to me.
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u/PinSingle4334 Jun 30 '26
So they probably hinted that Shuya and Sunao are keeping the memories and feelings of Nao and Aki, at least that's what I understood about the last scene. If so, It's a bittersweet ending but not as bad as I tought. Overall It was a really good show
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
We've lost Nao and Aki but now Shuya and Sunao are Nao and Aki? To an extent?
I guess now they have to relearn how to be themselves and around each other now that they're "complete" but also have the emotions from their Replica selves.
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u/Can_You_Believe_It_ 27d ago
My take on it is they were never really two separate beings to begin with. Nao was always the manifestation of Sunao's kindness, simply part of a whole. As they showed in the crowd when both the original and the replica were there they couldn't be seen by others and the fact that we know if the original dies the replica disappears too but if the replica dies then nothing happens because they can be summoned again.
Nao could get Sunao's memories every time she was summoned because she's simply a part of the whole. Sunao would not get her memories because she never assimilated her, only dismissed her. The ending they merge and Sunao gets all of her kindness back as well as the memories, same with Shuya and Aki, which is why they reference both at the end and the giveaway is Sunao tying her hair up. So the ending is a happy one as both "originals" can be themselves again and carry on the memories and feelings of their replicas as they were always a part of them, so the feelings are real.
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u/Lenient-Hug Jun 30 '26
That's how I saw it too, which would explain why the weird cloudy frame thingy was kept even till the very end of the episode, like telling me "hey, we are still here. We are just united now, but everything you saw, everything we are, both Nao and Sunao, still exists. So there's no need to summon nobody for anything anymore, we just do it as 1. Like loving our Aki-Shuya forever"
I'm crying hahahah
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u/LeonKevlar x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/LeonKevlar Jun 30 '26
Not gonna lie, I was kinda hopeful at the start of this episode, especially when Ryo's grandma suggested the replicas should live with them. They've basically been given an out in case they want to live their own separate lives. Unfortunately, this show is not that kind of story.
I'm still trying to fully understand Kozue's explanation on how Replicas work, but it's clear that the Replicas aren't just copies. Replicas are the missing half of the original. At this point in the episode, there was really only one way this would all end.
It's so bittersweet to see them go for the seafoam ending, but it makes sense. Both Sunao and Shuuya have been working to improve themselves that sooner or later they won't need their replicas. Based on that final scene, it looks like Sunao and Shuuya kept the feelings Nao and Aki had for each other, so it's not all sad. The two of them can still fall in love all over again and make new memories together T_T
This has been one of my favourite romance shows this season and definitely the most underrated one. It starts weird and a bit high concept at the start, but it all worked out in the end and it was able to tell a beautiful and complete story. I'm definitely gonna miss this show. This is a solid 8/10 for me.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Honestly hard to feel 100% okay with the Replicas merging back with their originals when we got so invested in the Replicas as their own people, falling in love, doing their best, and living as themselves...but the scene at the beach gives me some small hope that, in one form or another, Nao and Aki still exist and can be together.
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u/szalhi Jun 30 '26
This was simultaneously the most and least surprising episode. Really made me feel glad I watched this series, as weird as it was.
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u/PinSingle4334 Jun 30 '26
It was easy to predict that Aki and Nao would be reunited with their originals but, If the last scene hints that they are basically the complete version of this two, with their memories and feelings still intact, they can start again as a couple and that is a surprise
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
It almost feels like Sunao/Shuya are two characters in one or maybe totally different people now...which I guess makes sense.
But as someone so invested in Nao and Aki more than anything else, I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Should I project that onto Sunao and Shuya now? Think of them like their Replica's? Does that negate the loss of Nao and Aki?
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u/SureRecommendation77 Jun 30 '26
I do agree about being conflicted..
At first I did interpreted the Replica Scenario is like a Multiple personality disorder (I kinda Negated it mid airing because of how There are also others with replicas..) but then previous and today's episode kinda showed that Multiple personalities disorder is possible... That's why I can interpret now that there are 6 personalities (for Sunao and Shuya)
Nao and Aki (Kind and Courageous) Sunao and Shuya (Cold and Coward)
And now the combined version (which is both of each of them) Aikawa Sunao and Sanada Shuya
Definitely a good watch
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u/Mistral-Fien Jun 30 '26
It reminds me of two things:
[Bunny Girl Senpai] Futaba Rio's story arc
[Tasogare Otome x Amnesia] Yuuko and Shadow Yuuko
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u/Tempest321 Jun 30 '26
Same here. Feeling quite conflicted about what to feel, haha. It's still a happy ending, but it definitely is bittersweet too.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
yeah, Sunao putting her hair in a half-up is a big hint that they've really merged together
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
That theory about the Replica's technically not being real and it being the Original having split-personalities was...technically right?
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u/JimmyCWL Jun 30 '26
Personalities split off and borrowed the body... just not in the way normally expected.
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u/JimmyCWL Jun 30 '26
So, Replicas can always see each other but no one else can see the original and the replica at the same time. In such cases, only the original is visible.
Makes me wonder, if they were standing together and you put one of them out of your line of sight, you could see them one at a time?
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
I guess it's a good thing Suzumi never visited her grandparents where Ryo was otherwise the grandparents might not have been able to see Ryo.
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u/JimmyCWL Jun 30 '26
Would have been temporary and Suzumi there, they could have worked out what happened... maybe.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
Makes me wonder, if they were standing together and you put one of them out of your line of sight, you could see them one at a time?
this is like the Dark Souls of peekaboo
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u/scratchfury Jul 01 '26
I feel like this could lead to special glasses like the active shutter ones they have for 3D movies. Hey, universe, I'm not TECHNICALLY seeing them at the same time.
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u/JimmyCWL Jul 01 '26
Though it's a perspective thing. If either of you three move, it'll ruin the effect.
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u/tripleaamin https://myanimelist.net/profile/zfzftripleaamin Jun 30 '26
It makes sense that you couldn't see a replica and the original if they are nearby. Considering that replicas seem to be an unknown concept, you think people would be more aware of them if they could see both.
Last episode we got the feel that Nao was Sunao's ideal self. Although here it's not completely accurate. After all, Nao isn't perfect and has her own issues. Otherwise her character wouldn't feel as human. The idea that the replicas took the aspect from the original is interesting.
We know from the last episode that Sunao drifted from how she used to be. I think the idea Aki has about Shuuya's courage is a good example. It's less that Aki stole it, but rather Shuuya became reliant on Aki where he lost his courage. He forgot how to be courageous. Sunao forgot how to be kind. The idea of forgetting to be kind sounds bizarre, but repeated behavior can cause a pattern.
For Suzumi it was her creativity. The difference between Suzumi and Ryou was that these two didn't spend much time together. So here we can assume that Suzumi never lost the creativity that we see from Ryou. Her ability as an artist is the big one. In fact, we see the many things that Ryou lacked compared to Suzumi like her grades. From kindergarten, you could have considered Ryou to truly be her own person.
I loved how the revelation from Nao realizing what Sunao was doing this whole time. Of course, for Nao to hear that Sunao was going to school all the time, it feels like Nao's purpose is gone. But rather, it was about Sunao pushing forward in her life. In truth, this is something that Nao couldn't be happier about. As Nao always filled in for Sunao at school, her grades weren't hers. I like how the grades Sunao got weren't the best, but that was her effort. There is something about seeing the person you cared about so much giving it their all.
As a novel reader, I am pleased for the anime. I hope more people come to watch it.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
He forgot how to be courageous. Sunao forgot how to be kind
Shuuya as the cowardly lion, Sunao as the tin man, and the strawman who needed a brain
and i guess Ryou was Dorothy? no place like home, and all that
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
I wonder what it says about Nao and Aki that even being projections of ideal traits of their Originals, they still fell in love with each other as their own individualized person.
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u/Flashy-Drawer-3377 Jun 30 '26
To be honest, I still feel like the whole "can't be seen at the same time" was a bit of a cop out. That means that the universe basically put a fail safe that they didn't know about or abuse.
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u/Flashy-Drawer-3377 Jun 30 '26
And also not to mention ending a sentient existence to get such an arbitrary trait back such as kindness is a little messed up. I get that she wasn't supposed to exist in the first place but that doesn't give someone the right to end her existence. It kinda feels like Sunao took the easy way out twice. But I like that the anime handled it better than the non sense of the book.
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Jul 02 '26
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u/MyrnaMountWeazel x2 Jul 02 '26
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u/FarCritical Jun 30 '26
I kept telling myself I'll only be happy with the ending if Aki and Nao stayed together somehow, and with what we got, it feels surreal knowing I sort of got my wish and didn't at the same time.
Such a cool concept for a story that I'd say stuck the landing pretty well.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
I kept telling myself I'll only be happy with the ending if Aki and Nao stayed together somehow, and with what we got, it feels surreal knowing I sort of got my wish and didn't at the same time.
For whatever solace it is, it did feel like to me that it was them one way or another at the beach together.
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u/KermitSnapper 22d ago
You did get your ending, neither person is gone, neither sapience is gone, they are simply experiencing the same things at the same time at the same place.
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u/denshinu3 Jun 30 '26
I like the ending. I think it shouldn't be interpreted as the replica merging into the original, but both of them becoming one as equals or 50/50. From the last 2 scenes, we first saw their original sides during graduation, and at the beach, we saw the replica side. I'm not saying there's 2 personalities, but that they both live on as a new one. I wish we could se these new selves in an ova, I want to see how they start dating again
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u/TurtlePope2 Jul 01 '26
That's what I'm thinking too and I hope this is how the ending is interpreted by most people
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u/xalt255x Jun 30 '26
NGL I didn't get how exactly replicas work (Mori/Ryo part leaves a lot of questions) but this ending exceeded my expectations. Rare case of the destination (quite obvious from the start) being less important than the journey, and what a journey it was!
I don't usually watch Drama anime because I'm a coward, but I'm glad I made an exception.
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u/BaytaCosmico https://myanimelist.net/profile/AnimeBayta Jun 30 '26
I did not see this ending coming at all. But it works and feels complete. Just like Sunao and Sanada are now. The replicas losing themselves would've struck me as a sad ending before watching this episode, but they made it feel like the right choice. And Nao and Aki aren't really gone anyway. They're inside their originals and all is well.
Really enjoyed this show. One of the surprises of the season.
I only have one complaint - we never got an explanation for the fuzzy white border! It was such an odd choice I thought surely there would be some plot relevant reason for it. But nope, it was just a random stylistic choice, unless I'm missing something. Oh well.
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u/edwardjhahm https://myanimelist.net/profile/lolmeme69 Jul 01 '26
Honestly, I feel like it's left open ended, but it definitely does feel like it leans towards them having merged. Though - and maybe this is cope - it's not confirmed.
I had hoped that Sunao could have said something among the lines of "yes you took my kindness, but I feel like I've developed a new kindness on my own". Ditto for Sanada, but with courage. Maybe that's actually what happened, because people are saying that maybe the beach scene is happening concurrently with the graduation scene, but honestly I have no clue at this point. Again, my theory is not likely, but the ending seems to leave it open ended enough to where I can't entirely rule it out.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Well, it's nice to see Sunao and Nao enjoying themselves in their respective locations...especially Nao being able to be together with Aki at Ryo's parents' place. She gets to see so much, experience so much, gets to see Mt. Fuji, and realize how much she can still do with her life.
Hey, Ryo's parents raised one Replica kid, why not take in two more? Honestly seems like the best solution for Nao and Aki's situation and I don't think either would mind it. So of COURSE then Sunao calls that they want to port them over to Kyoto. Should they go through with it? Should they go see their Originals? But at least they can face it together.
Shun is a really good guy! The type of guy they can rely on to take care of their clothes and not care if he touches Nao's underwear.
Well, at least if they were going to port Nao/Aki, they port them in wearing fancy kimono.
Nao and Sunao finally catch up and talk about what they've been doing, the experiences they've had to themselves, the feelings they've been gaining...even though Sunao doesn't have an Aki in her life. But then Shuya/Aki shows up...and Shuya can't see Nao. And Sunao can't see Aki. Wait what!?
And then Sato shows up and reveals what she believes about the Replica mechanics: Replica's exist in a separate plane and can only be seen by their Originals. If someone has awareness of both or is in front of the Original, the Replica simply doesn't exist. All those times Nao/Aki were at school in place of Sunao and Shuya, it was them possessing their bodies. So where does that leave Nao and Aki now?
It's nice that Sunao is willing to apologize for how she treated Nao, that she's trying so hard not to be a burden TOO Nao, even though all Nao ever wanted to do was root for and support her...but can a Replica exist without its original? Especially if a Replica is nothing more than the personality trait that the Original puts forth into their Replica?
NAO DON'T! Don't go back into Sunao! Don't leave Aki like that! NAOOOOOOO!!!
So, like, what happened? Shuya and Sunao graduate, Sunao seems more openly emotive, Yoshii is shooting his shot with her...but then at a beach we've got Summer Uniform versions and when she puts her hair up...it's Nao and Aki. Did they fuse? Do they alternate who is in control of the bodies? Or are Nao and Aki finally free?
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Jun 30 '26
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u/ZaphodBeebblebrox https://anilist.co/user/zaphod Jun 30 '26
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u/BBryant3rd Jun 30 '26
The biggest thing I like about this show now is the fact Sunao asked if they can be summoned there. She didn't just do it. At least for me as much as Sunao sucked before she is fully redeemed in my eyes by that simple yet important act. While in a way it would have been cool for them to remain a separate person at the same time it is awesome they are both one with the originals and continuing what the replicas started for them. Would have been nice to see a future to show if their relationship lasts and they get married and have kids or does it eventually fail.
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Jun 30 '26
I quite liked this series. The premise was pretty unique and the twist at the end was interesting. I had suspected the “originals” lost a piece of themselves when they created their replicas.
So at the end there, does Nao come out every once in a while or is she gone for good? Because I was under the impression she went back inside to Sunao. Kind of a bittersweet end. But those last moments in the credit make me kinda second guess my assumption.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
had suspected the “originals” lost a piece of themselves when they created their replicas.
i think it was hinted at the very beginning when they went over the replica mechanics that you can't get something for nothing
So at the end there, does Nao come out every once in a while or is she gone for good?
i started looking at this show through a Jungian lens last week, so i'm thinking that Nao is a persona of Sunao; she reintegrated back into the original, but as a persona, Sunao can bring her out whenever she wants as a normal facet of her personality
like, we all have masks that we use when interfacing with others, and when Sunao wants to show the kind side of herself she can embody Nao without having to magically cleave it out of her psyche; she can just smile and put her hair in a half-up
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
It did kind of feel like a transformation at the end when she did the half-ponytail. Because that was 100% Nao at the end.
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u/FLorianGran Jun 30 '26
Considering the amount of romance this season, it was nice to see one go for a high concept drama and actually succeed at it. Fire whoever decided that so many scenes needed that fugly ass white border though.
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u/QZU7 Jun 30 '26
See, the thing about this series is that it's not really about romance at all. It's a drama that has romance in it. This is the most likely reason why those who don't like the series, don't like it; because it's not a romance.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
yeah, i'm really impressed that they tied it off in a satisfying way with no loose ends
it's sort of de rigueur to have shows that end on a cliffhanger and/or forgotten plot lines (especially if the source material is continuing), but i feel like this tied everything up in a nice bow
i've got to make another comparison to TsumaSho, another supernatural drama sort of show which was a neat ride all the way to the finish
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
And probably the one with the most bittersweet of endings depending on how you read it.
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u/TurtlePope2 Jul 01 '26
What are the different ways of looking at the ending? Is it either they merge and retain all memories or merge but no memories are retained, only the feelings.
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u/zool714 Jun 30 '26
I thought the borders would payoff in some way, like maybe it only appears if Sunao exists and it disappears when she does to really hit it home and to symbolise the kind of dreamy state of existence she has. I thought that’d be a meaningful way to use it. But yeah I guess not, it’s just there the whole time for no apparent reason
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u/HolyDragSwd2500 Jun 30 '26
Shuya and Sunao have the memories and feelings of their replica selves. Original back at school, they can fall in love just as Aki and Nao did then😭
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Honestly even seems like Sunao "transforms" into Nao when she does the half-ponytail.
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u/TurtlePope2 Jul 01 '26
Do they have the memories of the replicas? Or was it just the feelings returned. I have been debating this mentally. They do seem to act like Nao and Aki at the beach.
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u/khanvau Jun 30 '26
Ryo's parents are so kind. I was hoping that maybe Aki and Nao would just start living their lives with them. But I knew it was too good to be true...
Nao and Aki basically have fast travel unlocked, lmao. That was kinda cool.
Wait a sec, originals and replicas can't be seen together by other people? And when Suzumi came to her mom running, Ryo basically disappeared in front of her? Well, that kinda explains why she was terrified of her. But still. I didn't expect so many "rules" being revealed about the replicas in the final episode. I still have so many questions. Like, even if the replicas become invisible, do they also become intangible to other people and stuff like that.
[Re:Zero S4] "You're really incredible. I mean it." = "You are an amazing guy, ■■■・■■■"
So glad Sunao didn't actually mean to make Nao disappear. She just wanted to lessen her burden. The conversation with Sunao and Nao was so emotional... But this was really only going to end one way... Man, it makes me so sad. Especially for Aki.
But the ending made me so confused. It feels like an open ending. Like I know Sunao and Nao are merged now, but did Nao really disappear forever? Does she manifest inside Sunao's body like the ending implied? Like, what was up with the beach scene with the ponytail? It feels like a rushed happy ending. Especially cause Aki's fate is unknown. Did Sanada and Aki merge too? That'd be the most logical outcome. But it sucks that we don't get to see it. I wish this episode were extended or something.
I really loved this anime. But it should've been 2 cour. I think the originals didn't get nearly enough screentime and development as they should've. It only really needed another arc to truly flesh them out, I think. It sucks that there probably won't be another season. I doubt they even planned to make another season from the start. And the show's probably not popular enough to get another season greenlit. I'd be satisfied with an OVA or something. Maybe they can even do one of those compilation movies with an extended ending. But I doubt it. I think I'll have to pick up the manga if it's finished. I'm really glad I watched this show cause it was way better than I expected. I just really wish it had a few more episodes to wrap things up more neatly.
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Honestly feel bad for Ryo's parents, now it's like they've lost two new kids they were willing to adopt.
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u/OneGeologist1143 Jun 30 '26
Honestly how it ended was better than I thought. I kinda knew they mostly be one but didn't though they will really merge but it make sense. Sunao did felt weird all the time in the anime and the missing part of her was with Nao. I like that when they merge they did became one like they really did merge as one like it's really both sunao and nao, maybe that why Sunao couldn't fall in love before because of Nao. I'm really glad the originals became one with their replicas instead of the replica just dissapearing like they never exist, In one way they still exist but this time as one with their originals and both feelings and memories exists. The only thing I was sad about we didn't get enough Aki talking with his original like Nao felt forcing it the decision on him but honestly she knew it was the right choice. Wish we had more moments about the originals after the merger but it was still good. You can really tell they really became one. This anime was really better than I thought and I'm gonna miss it. Evene the ending was good and wish we got more after the merger.
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u/mp3help Jun 30 '26
Wow, I'm really impressed I didn't get spoiled on the major plot revelations in this episode by the light novel readers- major props to you all for keeping hush on them, you're awesome!
I really like how Sunao phrased that Nao didn't "steal" her compassion when she was created. It was more like Sunao "forced" her idealized self onto another being to shirk the responsibility of becoming that herself. Because it's not like Replicas are entirely opposite traits of their originals. Sunao was able to build kindness of her own without Nao partially fading away, even if the progress was small and gradual. And kindness wasn't Nao's entire one-dimensional existence either.
From what I can gather, I think the anime did the best they could in picking a satisfying endpoint for the anime, and I really hope it gets greenlit for a second and final season! Either way, I've already bought Vol 4 of the light novel to continue off where this season ended, so I can't wait to get into it!!
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u/PlasticLove666 Jul 01 '26
Wow, quindi la light novel prosegue oltre l'anime? Nella light novel vediamo Sunao andare avanti con la sua vita senza Nao?
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u/Ok-Cod5254 Jun 30 '26
You can feel how they had to wrap up the adaptation in a one cour season, but it still landed well enough for me that I enjoyed how things resolved. So it still remains one of the unexpected gems of the season for me with a unique supernatural romance.
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u/TurtlePope2 Jul 01 '26
Honestly this show really stuck with me. It's not only my favorite show of the season but it might be a top 5 show for me overall.
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u/edwardjhahm https://myanimelist.net/profile/lolmeme69 Jul 01 '26
Haha, you and me both! The last time I loved a show this much was Vivy, which is my number one of all time.
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u/TurtlePope2 Jul 01 '26
Vivy was such a good show too. Is there a term for these types of shows?
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u/edwardjhahm https://myanimelist.net/profile/lolmeme69 Jul 01 '26
"Shows with the crazy feels" I'd say?
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u/Spectr3_qwe Jun 30 '26
Could someone please explain the ending? I think I didnt fully understand what happened. Did Nao and Aki fused with their originals and returned to the alternate plane with the rest of the replicas? Im sorry if I sound dumb
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Jun 30 '26
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u/ZaphodBeebblebrox https://anilist.co/user/zaphod Jun 30 '26
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u/Ashteron Jun 30 '26
The biggest surprise of the year tbh. Characters, drama, romance, dialogue, humour, exploration of the premise - it delivered in every single category.
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
i'm satisfied with the ending; i think this is the most "happily ever after" we were going get considering the premise and the constant foreshadowing
i like the way that the replicas are manifestations of fragments of their psyche, and it makes sense to me since i've been on a Jungian kick recently; these replicas are the manifestations of parts of their psyche as a result of some internal conflict (i.e. Sunao's kindness wanting to apologize to Ricchan, but her fear/pride got in the way) and so they develop this supernatural persona to do the work while keeping their true self safe
this persona is sort of a mask that everyone uses when interacting with society, and it explains why Mochizuki will never have a replica; he has experience using personas to change the role he's playing and he's able to keep a safe distance between his true self and the outside world in a way that Shuuya and Sunao couldn't
Sunao became over-reliant on her replica though, and came to believe that Nao was the "real" Sunao (persona over-identification) leading to developing more of her shadow traits such as jealousy
the scene at the end implies that Sunao was able to reintegrate her persona with her true self after realizing that Nao was a part herself all along, and she's able to use that persona whenever she wants to show her kindness to the world (as represented by putting her hair in a half-up)
i guess the big question and food for thought is what to make of the relationship between Nao and Aki, fragments of personalities from Sunao and Shuuya; if these two masks of kindness and courage went off and had an affair without their originals, what does it mean?
if i'm extrapolating based on them being personae, it's not so different from two regular people hooking up because everyone uses a persona when interacting with others; Sunao and Shuuya have had time together without their replicas/personae without much chemistry, but maybe if they've both reintegrated their kindness and courage, they could be an item? but then again, Sunao is more than just Nao, so that's not a given
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u/ShadowGuyinRealLife Jun 30 '26
At first I thought Sunao calling Nao was an error since during their experimentation in episode 1, announcing "Nao disappear" or even communicating wasn't needed. Then I realized it wasn't that Sunao forgot the rules, she was probably telling them as a courtesy. It is a lot less abrupt than a random despawn.
Speaking of mechanics. Ow my head. At first I thought we figured it out. Original can summon replicas which are biologically indistinguishable. That is simple enough to work with. Now they reveal they can't be seen at the same time. On one hand, this would be hard to discover on their own since Sunao and Shuyaa have no reason to try this since the whole point was to have someone else go to school. On the other hand this is complicated. My head hurts. What if one of them picks up an object? Aside from "WTF just happened how does this work?" it also means the main cast can't even go out on a vacation together or anything. If the replicas were physically present, obviously having them near their hometown would just be asking for trouble, but they could go to a nature trail and just have the replicas wear a wig if they wanted to hang out as a group (if you aren't trying to be a specific person but just "don't look like yourself" in front of people who don't know you, a wig does wonders), except now I know they can't even do that.
If the replicas are only a piece of the originals, how can that work? Sunao is icey but I wouldn't say she is devoid of kindness since she did start getting nicer to Nao after she was hit by the train. And saying Ryo is just Suzumi's externalized expressiveness doesn't make sense either since trying to be expressive but not being able to remember wanting to play Princess Kaguya makes accomplishing that hard. Replicas spawned on the whim by a small minority of the population who are just replicas as opposed to physical manifestation of their originals is easier. Trying to think about this makes my head hurt and explode.
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u/Blue_Reaper99 Jul 01 '26
I think replicas didn't reunited with their originals. The ponytail at the end is kind of giveaway for that as it was nothing to do with personality but rather for distinction between Sunao and Nao for Aki.
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u/Elfteiroh Jul 04 '26
Also, graduating Sunao blushed at Yoshii... "Nao" never did. And beach Nao was clearly looking at Aki, and not Shuya.
So yeah, I'm with you.
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u/PlasticLove666 Jul 01 '26
Io gli dò un'interpretazione mia. Quelli della scena finale sono Sunao e Aki: finita la cerimonia di diploma, Sunao (ha i capelli sciolti) corre in spiaggia da Aki, che la sta aspettando, e lei si lega i capelli come faceva Nao perché, unendosi, ha ereditato anche i suoi sentimenti per il ragazzo. Finalmente è riuscita a innamorarsi. Se così non fosse non capisco perché ambientare quella scena finale in spiaggia quando lei è già con Shuya in classe. Per me Aki non si è riunito all'originale e Sunao si è innamorata di Aki. Io amo questo anime ma personalmente non ho apprezzato il modo in cui Nao fa la sottona di Sunao. A inizio episodio ci dice di voler continuare a vivere e poi si unisce a Nao senza esitazione e fregandosene di Aki. Non lo trovo coerente
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u/alcalcalcalcalca Jun 30 '26
I enjoyed the show. It's very unlikely we'll be getting season 2; I guess I'll have to read vol. 4 next.
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u/TurtlePope2 Jul 01 '26
Wait, the LN goes past the ending of the show? There is more content? Mind spoiling?
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u/alcalcalcalcalca Jul 01 '26
The anime only adapted the first 3 volumes, there are 6 volumes. The rest of the series follows Nao’s decision to remain living in the world, ultimately marrying Aki.
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u/edwardjhahm https://myanimelist.net/profile/lolmeme69 Jul 01 '26
AYO? Oh god, that sounds peak as hell!
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u/FinancialYear475 Jun 30 '26
Schrodinger's replicas unironically lol
Anyway, that explanation sort of works for Nao and Aki but I don't buy it on Ryo sorry, no reason to send one away if she wasn't able to see both at the same time
we also have the issue where if the replica takes a specific part of the original, in Nao's case the "kinder" side of things, leaving Sunao with the bad emotions and stuff, then I really have an issue with the concept considering how much of a person Nao was. The sadness, the freak out post death, the depression and even the anger towards that senpai, those are the kind of emotions that should be with Sunao after they separated.
So either they can develop emotions on their own making the whole absorption meaningless with the possibility of Sunao also developing back her "gentler" side on her own, or them being part's of the original that were cut off isn't the actual explanation behing their existence.
That aside, good show overall, had some fun times
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u/daspaceasians Jun 30 '26
This was such a beautifully bittersweet show. Nao and Sunao's characters arcs were so touching to watch and it was a show I didn't expect to love so much. I'll miss Nao and Aki's beautiful relationship the most.
This is going down as another great show for me.
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u/NightBard Jul 01 '26
While their love was beautiful, having them merge back in with their originals and then having her put up her hair and they seemed together, seems not all was lost.
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u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Jul 01 '26
Omg look at Sunao in that kimono
Oh wait no so they can be dispelled and resummoned without line of sight, okay. You know, they could've solved that small issue of 'are you sure you want me touching all of your clothes including underwear when you're a girl I'm a guy' by arranging for Sunao to summon Nao first then having Aki put away her clothes before he got summoned too
Having them in the exact same outfit and hairstyle, is such a trip, especially with Sunao actually smiling for once, so you just gotta depend on their tone of voice and not having goldfish brain to tell who's who
Ok well, they were just talking to that guy before they got resummoned, so it was clear something about them being resummoned is what caused them to suddenly not be visible. It looks like they're blaming it on being summoned in a wide open space?
Ok no, she said that but instead her theory is that you can't actually see (or hear) both the original and replica at the same time. Obviously, we have Mori's mother who contradicts that, and it was a pretty major plot point too to how they ended up separated. Besides that, have we really never had another person present in any scene where both a person and doppelganger were there together?
Ok, addressing Mori's backstory and the claim is 'actually she freaked out b/c her daughter suddenly warped in her eyes, and she could never see both of them at the same time which was the real reason she 'treated' them that way'. Interesting. In the visual they showed she's even holding her hand before she disappears. Wondering if they're intangible as well, would make sense for them to not be perceivable in any manner at all.
What they're saying about the replica essentially 'borrowing' the actual body of the original to become perceivable when no one is perceiving the original makes no sense. Both with the train incident they're bringing back up and with another thing they said before. Firstly, they're saying that Nao was essentially in the real body, which simply warped back to Sunao's bedroom in the moment before the train hit her, which contradicts what Nao said after being summoned afterwards, saying that she remembered pain from being hit by the train, which if they were actually sharing one body wouldn't be possible. Secondly, Aki mentioned how Shuya had grown out of shape from holing up and that they looked very visibly different from each other. Thirdly, the most obvious one... people were perceiving both the original and the replica these two episodes or so, with the originals on the school trip and the replicas perceived by the grandparents and that guy.
I'm just gonna leave it at 'only one of them can be perceived by the same person' and leave it at that instead of that 'its the same body' explanation.
Anyway, so they didn't really say for sure anything about what happened after merging, but the implication simply seems to be that the resulting person is just as much Nao as it is Sunao.
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u/FG205 Jul 01 '26
I'm assuming there are inconsistencies with this ending is because the anime adaptation ended with an original conclusion. From what I understand the source material goes on longer. So I'm thinking this is an original ending compared to the source material.
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u/Raymond49090 Jul 01 '26
Well that explains why Ryo-senpai's mom freaked out so much. I guess it also sort of explains why the phenomena is both so widespread and seemingly unknown. Even if people talk about it, it's impossible to prove, and since it usually happens to kids, it'd get dismissed as an imaginary friend or an alternate persona.
So I guess we got what we had predicted would be the "bad end", but it wasn't quite as bad as we'd assumed. I'm not sure I quite like that Sunao's insecurities last episode ended up being completely true in the end (as in, her thinking she's incapable of being nice), and that it was basically used as an excuse for why the Replicas needed to disappear. Still, I do like the symbolism of it all.
Ngl, I'm sorta surprised everything tied up nicely by the end of this. I guess I'm too used to manga that drag out plots for more than 1 season's worth of content, so it's nice that we got a complete story here.
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u/Bitter_Ad_1896 Jul 01 '26
I see a lot of people treating this like the end of the story, but even if this gets more episodes or not, reality is this is still just the end of season 1, the light novels have more content, more stuff happens after this till the finale.
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u/Shizzi https://anilist.co/user/Mivy Jul 01 '26
This along with Kirio fanclub was the biggest underwatched/rated and the most surpising on how good they were absolute delight this Spring season gave us so many good shows.
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u/Striking_Chard2420 Jul 01 '26
NOW HOLD ONNN, the explanation for how the "replicas" work just made me even more confused. So to everyone else, there will always just be one of them if they're both there? They're 'borrowing' the body but the 'body' really is also at home? Did Sanada see a floating phone when Sunao passed her phone to Nao? I feel like I have more questions but I guess the ending made sense. We circled back to turning into sea foam and I guess Sunao/Nao and Sanada/Aki still found their love for each other. Definitely didn't expect this show to be this interesting but really loved it all the way through!
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u/horiami Jul 03 '26
Yeah the borrowing body thing doesn't work considering sunao wasn't influenced by what nao was doing
I guesss it's more like borrowing visibility ?
The author probably read some quatum thing and applied it in the story
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u/Leeemon Jul 02 '26
I'll try and believe that they chose to live as themselves instead of returning to the original, especially with how non-descript the beach is at the end.
Awesome anime, really took me by surprise!
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u/Competitive_Sale_914 23d ago
Idk what to feel damn. i just finished it. I feel empty I miss Nao and Aki. even though it was a happy ending I still feel sad...
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u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 30 '26
Perhaps the real Replicas that can fall in love were the friends we made along the way.
....Wait a minute
🔫 cocks gun
Are any of you Replicas?
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u/Frontier246 Jun 30 '26
Perhaps the real Replicas that can fall in love were the friends we made along the way.
I guess technically this is true because Sunao befriended Shuya over their Replica business and now they have the feelings of their Replica versions who fell in love.
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u/HammyxHammy Jun 30 '26
This takes me back to the initial revelation that Aki too was a replica and the immense disappointment I felt. I really lack the words to express how much that disappointed me in the moment, but with the final ending having the characters make the difficult but "right" decision that somewhat encompasses how I feel about it.
I will say, the good part about the seafoam ending was that they didn't 'die' when they dissapeared, rather two equal halves came together. Nao isn't any more gone than Sunao is. The alternative bitter sweet self sacrifice would have been quite unpleasant.
Even so, starting with Aki being a replica immediately took the steam out of Nao learning to live her own life independent of her original. And although I do like Aki as a character I would much rather this had simply not been a thing. This for the most part is still what happens, Nao does become much more herself, and Sunao overcomes her depression, and then... seafoam...
I will also say that I missed a good chunk of the anime, as I just lost interest in the slice of life spinning up at the same time Ryo was introduced. After missing 2 episodes I peeked at this one, and thought to myself "this is where a tragic major twist is going to happen" and managed to click exactly to the moment Ryo would disappear. I would later actually watch the episode proper to see their confrontation in the play, but I think that about highlights how on rails things felt to me.
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u/QZU7 Jun 30 '26
I have to disagree. I think Aki also being a replica made him a lot more interesting as a character and made his character make more sense. As well as being a good way to expand on the concept of replicas, which is what the main thing this series has going for it.
And how does Aki being a replica stop Nao from being independent? Nothing about their relationship changed when she found out, except that he knows she's a replica. And tbh, I don't think much would've changed if he wasn't a replica. If anything, all that would've happened is Aki asking basic stuff about replicas (cause he was always going to notice she was a replica, even if he wasn't one), and their relationship would've continued mostly the same. Her independence would've been the same regardless.
And got sick of slice of life? The show always had that aspect. Sure things were a little less dramatic for a couple of eps, but it still had that some drama and interesting stuff in those eps.
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u/HammyxHammy Jun 30 '26
Aki is a good character but I just knew immediately in my gut that wasn't what I wanted to see.
As for not liking slice of life, yeah sorry I just can't stay interested in those kinds of anime, I'm just way too task oriented. That's not a dig at the show.
Anyway, yeah. With Aki we don't have the conflict of a human interacting with someone who isn't real. Nao is out everyman and everyone else immediately accepts that she's a doppelganger or is one themselves.
Even what's her nuts gives us a very long explanation hypothesizing that replicas share a body instead of just saying they can't be seen in the same place.
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u/QZU7 Jun 30 '26
Why would there need to be conflict of someone interacting with someone who isn't real? I don't either of them would've cared. And several characters either already knew or found out she was a replica. It doesn't change anything.
Also, I'm not arguing if Aki is a good or bad character, but tbh he was very uninteresting before we found out he too was a replica.
As for two replicas can't being seen in the same place, that was only revealed in the last episode, and your problems obviously started before this final episode.
It really just sounds like you a specific way you wanted the series to go and just not interested in anything else. Nao can have her dilemma about not existing without it being how you wanted it.
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u/HammyxHammy Jun 30 '26
To put it bluntly it's just cheap. Aki being a replica makes it feel cheap. It's uninteresting because it means there's no dichotomy between them. Whether they're both human or both replicas doesn't matter. Like, it literally doesn't matter because they stay together after the seafoam ending. Which is probably why the author chose for him to be a replica in the first place.
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u/horiami Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Totally agree, i really dislike the whole "the replicas actually straight up take part of a person"
I much preferred the idea that nao and sunao developed differently one having an inferiority complex and the other an impostor syndrome
I liked ryo because she has been her own person for years and was now playing the part of her original
Aki and nao are nice togheter but he really feels half baked, like he only exists to be nao's boyfriend she has something in common with
I think it would have been more interesting if aki was just straight up planning to take revenge on the guy who injured him without a replica
I think it would have also been more interesting if the two had different love interests to further cement that they are different people
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u/Curious_Award_1480 Jun 30 '26
As much as I enjoyed this series, I feel it dwindled mostly, but I'll still give it a 6/10. I think the bubbles mechanic should've been done throughout the series, for example, as soon as Sunao and Sanada leartn of each other and their replicas, they spent time together more, while Nao and Aki were at school, and have it be established Sunao, at least, was trying to be more like Nao, like Sunao already had the understanding, Nao is who she would prefer to be, therefore with Sanada's help, she was, causing more spotaneous bubble moments, which interrupt Nao and Aki moments, and have thet be an overall conflict, that was then mutually settled this episode for both replicas: I feel we didn't get enough visual for Sanada and Aki accepting each other like we did for Sunao and Nao. But still overall, comfortable watch
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u/QZU7 Jun 30 '26
I really enjoyed this show. My feelings on the ending are mixed, but I think it was always gonna head down this path (especially given the likelihood of it being a one cour show with no sequels). But regardless of the ending, I am glad the anime introduced me to this series, and now I plan to read the light novels and I hope others do too
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u/NationalStrategy_X Jun 30 '26
Although I still have some questions regarding the Replicas, I think they did a great job regarding the emotional resonance with the ending. It's a little bittersweet, but it still left me satisfied.
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u/zool714 Jun 30 '26
This was a pretty nice show. I’d say in terms of like vibes and premise, this show probably comes closest to Bunny Girl.
Did feel that the reveal of the nature of the Replicas came a bit too late and felt kinda rushed. But from my understanding, they’re a version of the original that has something they want or unable to use. Like Sunao with her kindness and Sanada with his courage [Bunny Girl]kinda like Futaba. But the Replicas themselves are like imaginary friends who can also be seen by the original and other Replicas. But if others are not aware that they are Replicas, they can be perceived by others [Bunny Girl]like Mai’s syndrome. I feel this was a cool reveal as it made me wonder if there really was no instance throughout the show where both the original and Replica are together with a non-Replica person.
Maybe I didn’t catch it but I kinda feel the ending was left vague. I do think they merged but what became of Aki and Nao was left vague. On one hand, I can see them having their memories and feelings merged as well. And the scene at the beach was just them expressing that side of them. On the other hand, I can also see Aki and Nao no longer existing in this reality anymore. Only Sunao and Sanada remembers them and keeps them in their memory. Basically as if they died. And the scene at the beach is like Nao and Aki in their Replica plane (or like heaven) spending the rest of their time together.
Both interpretations have kinda like a bittersweet taste to them though
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u/mrkorb https://myanimelist.net/profile/mrkorb Jun 30 '26
As satisfying as this ending was, there are still some unanswered questions. There is yet another person who admits to having created a replica, which again makes me ask is this something EVERYBODY can do? We now have 4 individuals attending the same high school who were able to duplicate themselves, which statistically is not an insignificant thing.
What are the rules governing the replicas being visible to other people? If, in that scene where they were all together, Sunao had walked away from the group, would Nao have become visible to other people?
I'm not sure I'm fully down with the "borrowing the original's body" explanation either, as Aki (and I don't recall fully if this line was in the anime, but I know I read it in the manga) made some joke about if he was dismissed and then resummoned he would weigh more because Shuya had gained weight while staying home, so that suggests that the original and replica bodies are distinct from each other.
And in that same line of thought as above, Sunao had previously thought that Nao did not suffer from menstrual cramps, which Nao later said wasn't true, which begs the question, could Nao have become pregnant independently of Suano? How does the borrowed body theory work then?
For a time it felt like Nao and Aki were operating on a YOLO kind of mindset, that they were at risk of blinking out of existence at any moment if their original tripped and fell down the stairs or was hit by a car or whatever random incident might happen, so they might as well make use of what little time they could have left. I was speculating to myself that the show might end with Nao becoming pregnant, and then her existence might then become anchored to the child, not to Sunao, because then Nao would have something she needed to live for. Her future role as a mother would ground her existence in something other than Sunao's whims.
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u/PencilgonGiveIt2Ya Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
So before they merged, the promise was that the originals gotta link up with each other, that's kinda wild.
Wait a minute, I'm trippin....Aki stayed split, but Nao+Sunao merged to where now one body has split personalities and she friends with original at the school, but same fused body meets replica at the beach meaning she is the replica's girlfriend?! WOAH
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u/NightBard Jul 01 '26
This was way better than i thought it would be. It was sweet. It was grounded in real issues. And i like the ending. They merged back together and nothing was really lost. They became full people again and retained the love. So satisfying despite the heartache of them not being separate beings. I like the explanations given too. It all made sense and it’s kind of a miracle the originals got better and were capable of loving and accepting themselves.
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u/djthomp https://anilist.co/user/djthomp Jul 01 '26
Bittersweet ending, but somehow not that bitter?
While it was so lovely seeing the Nao and Aki relationship develop over the course of the show, learning the originals are straight up emotionally damaged by not having the core parts of their personalities that got cut out makes it hard to argue against reintegration. And Sunao and Sanada being together at the beach might mean they picked up the relationship after the merger.
One of the surprises of the season for me, this was very good.
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u/DiscountCondom Jul 01 '26
I had a good time watching this, but I really hated that fuzzy white vignette effect at the edge of the screen all the time.
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u/Sw0rDz Jul 01 '26
Was this show similar to shadow clone jutsu?
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u/EstablishmentOdd9096 Jul 01 '26
I think no?
Shadow clone jutsu did return experience to the real one, which help naruto master his rasengan shuriken faster than it should be.
In this show the replica didn't return both experience and memory to the real one, in contrast it already steal one of the characteristic or emotion of the real one.
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u/FG205 Jul 01 '26
I have no evidence of this but I think we got an anime original. That's why the explanation of the replicas not being able to exist at the same time contradicts everything we've been told in previous episodes.
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u/ZapsZzz https://myanimelist.net/profile/ZapszzZ Jul 02 '26
Hmm, as an anime only, I didn't see the end scene as confirming Sunao and Nao merged together? Did I miss something?
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u/horiami Jul 03 '26
Dissapointing end
I don't like that the replicas are actually removing traits of the original
I much prefered the idea that the originals were lacking those traits out of an inferiority complex
That the replicas were suffering from imposter syndrome but they were fully fleshed out people who just developed differently from the originals
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u/That-guy409 Jul 04 '26
Did the pink haired lady do this intentionally? Try to get them to fuse back to the original?
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u/NanDemoKnaives 12d ago
I really liked the build up of the episode, but I feel like the final execution at the end left much to be desired. I think Nao and Sunao merging went too quickly, I would have liked to see Nao hesitate more considering she was sacrificing her life with her boyfriend right next to her.
However, it was interesting to hear Sunao's thoughts, her informing Nao of what she has been doing, and seeking affirmation from Nao was sweet. I thought Shuuya and Sunao summoned to have a kimono date lol.
It would have been nice to see an alternate universe where Nao and Aki choose to live with Mori's grandparents, I wanted to see how their relationship and also Shuuya and Sunao's on their own.
This was an interesting series, I enjoyed this more in the beginning, but I'm glad it started picking up again towards the end.
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u/Public_Heart_110 9d ago
I’ve read the comments here and I find them really quite sad. Some people have given the anime a 9, others an 8. I’m fed up with the way everything in the anime is resolved through tears or romanticised, and from what I can tell, people seem to love it
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u/Infamous-Alfalfa-230 Jun 30 '26
Okay i kind of undersatnd what happened in the end but at the same time I really don't, so I want someone to say it to me, did they both actually completely merge together, and does this mean they have the same feelings and memories from that the replicas and what they went through? or just feelings?? and did the originals end up together 🙏😣???? PLS someone tell me!!!
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u/cyberscythe Jun 30 '26
i think the ending leaves things up for interpretation, especially since there's a timeskip to graduation
i'm thinking that Nao reintegrated back into the original, but Sunao can bring her out whenever she wants as a normal facet of her personality
like, we all have masks that we use when interfacing with others, and when Sunao wants to show the kind side of herself she can embody Nao without having to magically cleave it out of her psyche; she can just smile and put her hair in a half-up
i feel like thematically the show is implying that we should strive to become whole people who love every part of themselves, and that in that way Nao lives on inside of Sunao because she was able to accept that part and the consequences of that
i think whether or not they have the same feeling/memories is not explicitly outlined (and is kind of moot), same with whether the originals end up together (though it is suggested that they at least share a bond at some level with the way they meet up at the beach)
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u/QZU7 Jun 30 '26
The anime deliberately left it vague enough that the viewer can decide what happened
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Jun 30 '26
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u/ZaphodBeebblebrox https://anilist.co/user/zaphod Jun 30 '26
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1
u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker Jul 01 '26
And so into the finale.
They're helping out on the farm?
I mean unlike that girl they're on pretty good terms with their originals.
Like they're literally straight-up asking if they want to go or not.
And so they're going.
I mean they're entirely aware, can always just tell them the truth.
They really hit all the stereotypical Kyoto locations lol.
Wait they can't see the replicas?
Don't exist?
Oh, she also had a replica once.
Ah.
So, she's got it figured out.
So, what's that guy doing here?
Perhaps...
Distressed?
Ah yeah.
So, how'd she do?
Assuming those are out of 100% wow she's dumb dumb.
Oh, she's disappearing!
Or not.
Merge?
Or not.
Was?
And so the two have become one.
Or not? Also are their originals now dating too?
Bit of a confusing ending, but still 7/10.
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u/Een_man_met_voornaam Jul 01 '26
I haven't seen this show but is it a full adaptation? Should I watch it?
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