True Tears Episode 13 Discussion

Idk man, I couldn't feel sympathy for Hiromi as for Noe. But, it's OK ending.

The hard point here is that you have to make a decision and choose one person means lost the other. This is life.

7/10

There is a fair amount of criticism regarding the ending of true tears, particularly about Noe not being chosen. However, I believe this work is highly well-structured as a love triangle story, and its conclusion is a reasonable one. So, I'd like to share my interpretation.

In narratives that involve a love triangle, it is inevitable that one of the heroines will experience heartbreak. Therefore, the focus of the story lies in how that defeat is portrayed and whether it convinces the audience. This work skillfully employs a paradoxical structure in which Noe’s heartbreak itself leads to her growth and salvation, transforming what might seem like mere tragedy into something with profound narrative significance.

As stated within the story, Noe lost the ability to cry after experiencing the death of her grandmother in her childhood. This is not merely a physiological phenomenon but rather a psychological defense mechanism—her way of distancing herself from reality in order to protect her heart from the shock of loss. Even if one recognizes reality in their mind, it's only natural that they wouldn't shed tears unless they truly accept it in their heart. This is the meaning of losing one's tears. Unconsciously, she had continued to escape from the reality. This condition is clearly reflected in her behavior, as she frequently makes fantastical remarks and remains somewhat detached from those around her.

For Noe to regain a mentally healthy state, she needed to confront the reality of loss once again and overcome it. Had she ended up with Shinichiro, she would have missed the opportunity to address this crucial issue, preventing her from achieving emotional growth. Worse still, she might have withdrawn even further into her fantasy world. Therefore, experiencing and overcoming heartbreak and its pain was an essential process for Noe in this story.

Moreover, the structure of this work is sophisticated, with this conclusion being foreshadowed as early as the first episode. In the scene of first contact between Noe and Shinichiro, Noe climbs a tree and becomes unable to descend on her own. The ground is a metaphor for reality and this symbolizes her emotional detachment from reality following the loss of her grandmother and her resulting isolation. Shinichiro then helps her return to the ground, but rather than assisting her gently, he lets her fall, forcing her to land roughly. This scene serves as a metaphor for the entire story, indicating that the process in bringing Noe back to reality would be painful rather than gentle. In the final episode, Noe’s failure to have a romantic relationship with Shinichiro ultimately represents her "descent to the ground"—a confrontation with reality. As a side note, it is also important that in this scene from episode 1, Shinichiro, who acted as a cushion for Noe’s descent, ended up being hurt even more than Noe.

Thus, throughout the entire narrative, this work maintains a consistent theme and structure, depicting Noe’s heartbreak not simply as a tragedy but as a process of salvation and emotional growth. She overcame her ordeal without running away, and it is only after successfully accepting reality as it truly is that she is finally able to shed tears in the final scene—proof that she has recovered emotionally. This signifies the beginning of her journey toward maturity as a woman. How could we not celebrate this? While, on the surface, not ending up with Shinichiro may appear to be a "defeat," from the fundamental perspective of the story, it is a significant form of salvation and an opportunity for growth. In contrast, a scenario where she ends up with Shinichiro would have hindered her emotional recovery and might have ultimately resulted in the "true bad ending".

From this perspective, the ending of true tears is not merely a matter of chance or personal preference, but a compelling conclusion based on the paradoxical logic of 'being saved through heartbreak,' which, in my opinion, makes the story even more intriguing. At the same time, it can also be considered an exceptionally well-crafted love triangle narrative.