While the main story was covered in Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky volume. This volume plays itself closer to as an epilogue volume that expands on things from the first volume. As the first volume was drama romance this volume is much closer to SoL romance. Though it touches on some serious topics regarding Koharu like the previous volume.
The big difference here is that this volume is mostly from the perspective of Koharu which is an outstanding decision. As we have a good idea of how Kakeru sees Koharu, but we don’t get much from the perspective of her. There are many things that get touched upon.
One is in response to Koharu about how she can repay Koharu for his love. Of course we know how dear Kakeru thinks of Koharu. The volume does a good job of showcasing how grateful Koharu is for Kakeru. As with blind people how they view their relationship? As Koharu struggles to feel she can do for Kakeru as much as he does for her since she recovered in Hokkaido. It’s easy to relate to Koharu here because many people want to be able to match the love of their partner. Then you consider Koharu’s disability; you can understand the fear of what she can do.
This moves to her desire to be more independent. The novel handles this well because blind people are also people. Of course things aren’t easy for Koharu, but with the support of her mom the push to be more independent becomes a reality with Koharu. Obviously within limits because Koharu is disabled. One consistent thing is that Koharu makes the most of what she can do with a smile. It is that smile that is what saved Kakeru in which pushed him not to give up on Koharu.
With that being said the chapter regarding the funeral of Koharu’s grandmother is critical because it ties to Koharu’s anxieties. There are times when Koharu can just be so helpless and is left wondering how Koharu must feel. It really shows Koharu’s strength that even with that she takes the words her grandmother said to her and pushes forward with a smile. It just shows Koharu’s mental strength.
This volume really did a good job with the two moms Kyoko and Haruka. We’ve seen how much Haruka has been there for Koharu. No doubt she loved Koharu to death. But her guilt about giving birth to Koharu is something we can understand because any parent wants to have a healthy child. You can only imagine everything that Koharu went through and what Haruka thought. But no doubt the words that Koharu wanted to be independent, but also to be the mother that Haruka was to her is very touching. It really shows how much Koharu loves her mother.
Kyoko doesn’t get as much focus as Haruka. She feels powerless as a parent differently than Haruka. Haruka felt powerless in how she could help Koharu with her illness. Kyoko’s divorce did a number on Kakeru. While Kakeru was not ill he wasn’t in the state of mind and at a point he wanted to live on his own to not be a burden. Sadly for Kyoko the only thing she could do was send her son money because he pushed her away. You can only imagine the pain she felt thinking if only I could do more.
Then to see the effect Koharu had on Kakeru. Obviously her thoughts on her being blind make you wonder how he fell in love with a blind girl. But seeing the change in Kakeru made it clear as she called Koharu a gem. That hardship that Koharu went through is what made her strong and it was that strength that saved Kakeru. No doubt Koharu being blind didn’t cross her mind in seeing her son happy.
The end of the volume gives a bit of insight on what was going on in Koharu’s mind before her passing. As it is a reflection of also the final chapter of the previous volume. This volume did a fantastic job of expanding the characters beyond the drama of the main story. As there was a notable gap between when Koharu was committed to going to Hokkaido to get cured and then the timeskip when Kakeru listened to the recording by Koharu for the first time.