I like that the end is mellow and bitter sweet instead of Tatsuhiro improving a lot or completely going down the drain. He gets a shitty job but apart from that has a similar lifestyle. Misaki was always manipulative with a cold exterior but I hoped their relation would warm up after the last suicide attempts and that they could be at least be friends without a contract. While Tatsuhiro’s condition has improved (not a hikki neet anymore), I don’t think Misaki’s condition has improved as she clearly has the same abandonment issues: she still needs Tatsuhiro secured by contract to not leave her. But on the other hand, when I think about it, marriage is also mostly a contract to stay together with a penalty to paid upon failure. Makes you think.

Depressingly, Tatsuhiro is presented as a bottom of the barrel character yet he seems way more accomplished than I am at his younger age. He manages to live by himself at age 22 (and younger). Maybe it’s just fictional bullshit or 2006 Japan is build different, but paying rent by yourself with a seemingly minimum wage job is wild. Still, he has his own place which he pays for himself by age 23. Convincing your parents to pay your living costs for years while being a NEET is kinda impressive as well. Dude has talent to be a diplomat or something. Multiple girls are interested in him which is no small feat either. His biggest problem was being a hikki neet but he escaped that by the end. All in all he doesn’t seem that much of a failure to me.