Koi ni mo Naranai.
So in the story, Yuuya has "unrequited love" with his brother. But he realizes that it may not really romantic but rather attachment since he is indeed his brother who's about to get taken away from him. Interesting take compared to the cliche stories where they really flat-out say it's romantic. I love how the goldfish symbolized his love and the aquarium his heart. He wanted to throw his heart/aquarium away but couldn't because he could still see a spark somewhere else. And alas, the goldfish Souta gave him was a keychain/(fake) never-dying goldfish ^_^ <3
Mahoroba No Hibi
First story is about *spoilers* a cat who died and kept lingering around his owner which ends with him finding peace now that he knows that his owner has good friends who will stay by his side for better or for worse, and will stand up to those who'll be against him. Much love for friends like that~ While it kinda bothered me with the "even if it's a different type of love" (i mean, wth does that mean?) I found it sweet and sad. I miss my dead cats :( The next story is a one-shot about a couple breaking up where the "receiver" (of the break-up message) didn't bother talking it out with his partner due to frustration. A stranger, a seemingly schoolmate/classmate, then talks to him and convinces him to talk it out in order to have no regrets. This stranger is revealed to be the spirit of the cat, still lingering around his owner who is now a teacher. He still can't see him though - and just dismisses the feeling that the cat is still with him which is nice but sad? idk why I even think of it as nice. The third story shows the pure love between a man and a tree spirit. Nothing sexual or anything, just pure love of wanting to stay together. The fourth story is about the man's nephew trying to discover who/what his uncle is in love with, and him accepting that he has lost against the tree spirit - who is so freaking nice to show him their precious memory of promising to be together.
Honto Yajuu