I appreciate this series for trying to demonstrate answers to these questions. ^ Keep in mind that I originally gave this series a 9/10, but then it went down to a 7/10, which I hope I'll make clear as to why below.
Story (8/10): This series had an intriguing setup. Should there ever be a point when you should give up in pursuing someone, because you know they're still grieving over their dead spouse, and if -strangely- you could see their dead husband's ghost? What kind of love are you looking to have with them, when you are aware that they love their spouse so deeply and haven't moved on? What about the dead husband? This series focused a lot more on Atsushi and Rokka's relationship than any interaction between Rokka and Hazuki. I would even say that love is a theme, not the entirety of the series. This anime challenges the complex topics of life and death themselves, including love after death and life after death.
Characters (Atsushi: 9/10, Rokka: 6.5/10, Hazuki: 4/10):
Atsushi was the character who grabbed my heart. The dead are supposed to rest in peace, but why did Atsushi become a ghost? What would be the point of that when Rokka can't even see him? Atsushi may appear childish and even possessive for watching over his wife, and even trying to stop Hazuki from his advances initially. However, none of that is foolish - Atsushi has a very deep and unconditional love for Rokka. Maybe Atsushi is 'crazy in love,' although it's understandable because Atsushi and Rokka are very, VERY compatible. The two shared the same interests and wanted to have a future together, but Atsushi unfortunately passed away, leaving Rokka as a young widow. If not for Atsushi's early death, the two would have lived many longer and happier years together. Maybe Atsushi's devotion to Rokka is viewed as sheer stubbornness, but it was touching to me because he cared for her well-being and wished he didn't die so early, because he wanted to stay by her side and take care of her. We receive monologues from Atsushi's perspective where he mourns over what little he could do for her, such as not even being able to put a blanket over her when she's asleep. Atsushi was stuck in his own way.
Rokka's conflicting emotions made sense in the story. She shared such a deep love with Atsushi, he was her soulmate, so of course she couldn't forget about him easily. When you continue to run the flower shop the two of you opened together and live in the same place, there will be many things that will remind you of your dead husband... Do you have the heart to throw ALL his belongings away? That's difficult. So, I appreciate that Rokka didn't force herself in that sense. She tried to move on by continuing to live and she acknowledged when she struggled. Atsushi was very much a part of her life and influenced her growth after all. However, I was unsatisfied with the way she handled her situation with Hazuki, beginning around the middle of the series… x.x There were moments when Rokka made selfish requests or said what was on her mind without considering the other party’s feelings, which bothered me. I wish Rokka had considered the other party’s position, so both Atsushi and Hazuki wouldn’t have suffered in their own ways to the same extent…
Hazuki... The series never demonstrated why Hazuki was so determined to pursue Rokka. Yes, we saw Hazuki recalling the moments he spent with Rokka, but those were surface-level or emotions you would have for your crush. So, I found any relationship focus on Rokka and Hazuki lacking because the two were initially seller and customer, and then boss and employee. I'm not denying Rokka's feelings for Hazuki, but I couldn't pinpoint when exactly her feelings changed, because she friend-zoned him initially, and there were moments when she and Hazuki were together where she would grieve as she thought of her husband... :/ It's one thing to give someone a chance (or expose yourself to a possibility of something new), but genuinely falling in love with their character and being compatible is completely different.
Hazuki's character was intended for Rokka to move on from Atsushi. I think Rokka needed to move on in general, but it didn't need to come in the form of someone having a crush on her or a new potential relationship.
So, I found Atsushi nicely developed. We saw his perspective as someone who grew up sick, understood his love and undying care for Rokka (literally)... Hazuki came out flat, and certainly should have been more developed beyond being the-boy-who-had-a-crush-on-Rokka. Rokka was going through a complicated time after Atsushi passed away, but that meant she needed to form her own life outside of Atsushi, not that she needed someone to have a crush on her and consider being with them to move on.
Enjoyment: I enjoyed the beginning because it dealt with grieving and angst so beautifully. I felt the frustration Atsushi did at his helplessness. I felt so sad for Atsushi because he never wanted to die so early and leave Rokka as a widow. If Atsushi was given the choice, he would have lived many years with Rokka as the two could have traveled together, and even have their own children. We saw not only Rokka's struggle with moving on, but Atsushi's struggle as well. Atsushi couldn't understand why he became a ghost either, but he eventually knew he had to come to terms with that too. The living move on, including their outlooks and feelings changing, while the dead are the ones who look at the past. Atsushi only desired for Rokka to be happy :( (8/10)
However, my enjoyment began to fade and fade starting from episode 6... Due to what I've mentioned above, including Hazuki's flat characterization and Rokka and Hazuki not being very developed, it's easy to question what the aim of the story is. Should Hazuki continue pursuing Rokka? But how would anyone be okay with knowing they'll be entering a 3-people relationship, since Rokka could never forget Atsushi and Atsushi is such a significant part of her identity and life?? What is Atsushi's purpose? What difference would it make if Atsushi had the ability to talk with his wife or not? And what about Rokka? Does she consider Hazuki because she's lonely and wants to believe she loves Hazuki? (2.5/10)
I felt like half-way into the series, the story or the author herself must have given up... :/
If you're the type of person who gets drawn easily by the sound (e.g. voice actors like I do; LOL I literally paused episode 1 after 4 seconds because I recognized Nakamura's voice as Hazuki) or by the visual art, I think you could enjoy the series. One significant reason why I was so sympathetic and saw from Atsushi's perspective was because of Jun Fukuyama. Fukuyama EMBODIED Atsushi; Atsushi's pain at seeing Rokka grieve over him and wanting to protect her but realizing there was NOTHING he could do :’( ... Atsushi received the short-end of the stick LOL. But anyway, that's one example. The other voice actors played their parts nicely. Meanwhile, the art is pleasant, including the vibrant colours of the flowers Atsushi chose and the dull and simplistic hospital scenes. (7.5/10)
Overall (6.5/10): I have mixed emotions. Some parts were portrayed beautifully, including the anguish that death brings to us, both for the dead and those who continue living... What does it mean to move on from someone? Erasing them from your life completely seems impossible, because there will always be a part of them that carries on with you, including your memories. So, that's something your next partner would need to accept. But is that fair to your next partner? What is love, for it to make us struggle but be so thankful to have experienced it? What is love, for us to accept it if our partner still holds someone else so dearly in their heart, and we have no right to ask them to forget about that person from their past? Maybe the answer is that we all have an undeniable tendency to be attached to what was once so important to us, that we never want to let go of it, no matter how much time passes...
Maybe for some of us, there is no such thing as completely moving on from someone we cherish. So, we will always remember them and have reminders of their presence and the history you shared together, through your usage of their belongings or keeping your home arrangements the same. It could be strange to see people's insistence to keep parts of the dead alive, even if we continue living and develop aspects of our lives separate from them. Does that come from stubbornness, selfishness, or the love you have for the dead? Maybe that choice is a mixture of all three. Perhaps, this anime's message is simply acceptance. To accept it when someone has passed away and to accept it if you still long for them. Moving on does not mean forgetting someone and you could have your own ways of continuing your relationship with the deceased, whether it's through materials, habits, or memories alone... There is no perfect answer.
