WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Adachi & Shimamura Episode 11, "The Moon and Determination, Determination and Friends," now streaming on Funimation.
Despite a year's worth of memorable experiences with Shimamura, Adachi's second year of high school is off to a rough start. While she was thought to be skipping school, it turns out Adachi was really hiding up in the gym loft where she and Shimamura first met. She's heartbroken at seeing Shimamura spending time with other classmates and lacks the courage to say what she's really feeling inside.
After school Adachi drifts through town to reflect on her past, present and future. Her travels take her to a pet adoption store where she has a shocking moment of clarity. Then a surprise run-in with an illegal fortune teller provides the motivation she needs to move forward. She's feeling alone and fears being left behind, but uses her newfound resolve to be bold -- leaving Shimamura in no doubt about Adachi's feelings for her.
As Adachi's feelings continue to grow, so too does the pressure and desire to tell Shimamura how she really feels. Seeing her smiling and having fun with other people, Adachi fears all their adventures over the past year were less meaningful to Shimamura than to her. She misinterprets Shimamura's expressions, however, as the previous episode's internal monologue makes clear her friendship with the other girls means little compared to her bond with Adachi. While Shimamura is surrounded by plenty of family and friends, Adachi has little else in her life. Shimamura is her world and she fears the end of that world.
Adachi's after-school travels take her to a pet store. One of the dogs reminds her of herself: shy but kind, strongly desiring someone who loves her, but ultimately a stray, alone and feeling passed by. Overwhelmed with emotion, she runs out of the store only to come across a mysterious fortune teller with a cracked crystal ball. The woman quickly intuits the source of Adachi's emotional troubles and, after receiving payment, offers a simple solution: be bold and honest with the object of your affections. No good comes from hiding or waiting. She even advises Adachi to scream her intentions to the crowd nearby to get fired up. To her surprise, Adachi actually does it -- just before the police show up to arrest the apparently illegal operator!
The next day at school, Adachi returns to the gym loft. She'd been running from her troubles and using the loft as a safe haven to hide in. Now she understands that, while it holds many fond memories, it also represents the past. While Adachi was hiding here, Shimamura continued going to class and meeting new people. If Adachi wants to keep their bond growing, she's grown personally as well. For her, that starts with leaving the gym loft behind and having the courage to tell Shimamura her true feelings.
She walks up to Shimamura and the other girls during lunch to ask if she can sit with them, then proceeds to sit in Shimamura's chair with her and shares some bread with everyone. After school, they hold hands while walking on campus as Adachi admits she'd been feeling jealous. She then takes Shimamura to a more private area under a cherry blossom, where Adachi runs into her arms for a hug. A surprised Shimamura figures it's just another one of Adachi's puppy-like whims, but Adachi hugs her even harder. It's an incredibly passionate and heartwarming moment that silently sends a strong message to Shimamura.
In Shimamura's teasing-but-true words, Adachi is growing more possessive. There are several reasons for this, not least Adachi's fragile self-confidence and the fact that Shimamura is the only person she's truly close with. It's fitting that Yashiro appears in this episode because Shimamura is like her in multiple ways. They both tend to go with the flow without growing overly attached, constantly feeling like they could disappear at any moment. Adachi craves the security of knowing Shimamura will remain beside her, and she's trying very hard to communicate that message to her.
After making up for lost time inside and outside of class, Adachi insists on a phone chat later that evening. It's becoming clearer to Shimamura how strong Adachi's feelings are. On the phone, she admits she's flattered to have someone who cares so much about her. Having her deepest feelings validated and accepted causes Adachi to break down in tears. Shimamura finally understands that Adachi is devoted to her and her alone. The only question remaining is how Shimamura feels in return.
