Post "IDCC ch.52 part 8 - Freefall" by "Aina Palm"

Vai Russ

AUGHHH this whole situation HURTS 😭💕 Nao is smiling so genuinely here, and earlier he instantly clocked that Souta wasn't feeling good because he knows him so well. And yet Souta's been so avoidant.. Please hun just be honest. Even if it didn't work out (which I mean, WE know that but Souta doesn't), it's obvious that Nao cares so much about Souta that he wouldn't let that get in the way of their friendship.

MrMonochromatic

Not me scrolling a few times to check if Nao had a hand on his shoulder or anything 😂 I know Nao isn't good at being touched, so I had to know how he is with our boy here, literally every one of their interactions.

Raina

The way Nao LIGHTS UP 😭😭 our boy has come so far and he’s actually happy and spending time with friends and I’m so emotional over it ❤️❤️

kerry

aw

marsiano 🦇

because some got it before BC they're tier 5$

Bubble P

How this work though, right now in my reality is February 6th but why are comments on dates earlier on 🕴

Ambroisine Bottarelli

are we not getting part 9 today? new to Patreon so not sure of the schedule

Norin

Yeah, if they don't act on this, and Aina drew all those cute details just to tease us, I'm going on a strike 😅

Sandy Shar

I love that! They are way more significant. Stupid expensive tickets and soccer cleats.

AlexSam

Yknow... he asked him if he found anything he liked, and he replied "Nao". So like kinda a confession😏

ultimate lurker aka Pika

0815 is a German phrase used to describe the most basic/known shit you can imagine So imma have to hold your hands saying this but I don't care about the guitar itself except that it looks like any other basic guitar Hope that helps

The Urge

Yes.

Hannah

I've read that one I think! Are you talking about 'Nao's Boyfriend' by graveyardofmydreams?

Kazemi / かぜみ

Next week is gonna be good I can feel it hehe

Megan Pawlak Arts

As far as I know that would be known as an acoustic guitar. We don’t call them by a number , but if you need to call out a specific size it’s usually by key (A, Bb, F etc.) or by size (soprano, alto, bass etc.)

Megan Pawlak Arts

Funny that… that it looks like yours Nao. Buy it for him and pretend to be surprised later.

So'

Smiling Nao is so cute ... I love how they seem happier when together ! ❤️

PikasGirlfriend (•bruh•)

True! Can’t wait for next week either way hehe

ultimate lurker aka Pika

Egal 🤭 Was für uns 0815 erscheint ist für die zwei ein Grund mehr um aneinander zu denken ✨️

Aina Palm

Hahaha! Don't call me out like that! Hätte ich diese Szene eher geplant, hätte ich Naos Gitarre mehr individuell gestaltet. 🙈

TeddyTeaTime

I can’t wait for next week’s update. I need more Souta x Nao

The Urge

Reminds me of the fanfic where Souta basically asks Nao out while so sick and feverish he forgets he did it and for the next week he’s wondering who the hell Naos new boyfriend is and why he’s never seen him, meanwhile literally everyone else knows it’s Souta.

Iona

I saw too I’m dying to know if the star keychains will be main characters too 🥰

charlie

I KNOW AHHHH 😭😭😭 i wanna see our boys happy!! i love angst and hurt/comfort, but this is so. much. hurt.

Norin

I hope they lost each other in the gift shop and when Souta nervously asks where she is, Nao is just "oh, I didn't notice she was gone...well, whatever"

Hannah

Yes love it, but also consider as a goof, when Shouta asks him what his type is Nao just describes Shouta in detail. And Nao being like 'surely I couldn't be any clearer in saying that you're the one I like without actually saying it' but cue Souta, who is in denial about there being any possibility Nao likes him back, thinking 'wow wonder who that could be, Nao must really like them to be able to describe them so well'. And Nao just pulling his hair out in the background like 'COME ON MAN'. Like Nao 'my type is the person who got me glow in the dark stars as a gift' and Shouta 'dang weird that happened twice for you'.

ultimate lurker aka Pika

find ich ich auch

The Urge

Maybe at some point leading up to the concert Nao might comment that it’s crazy how they both secretly liked guys and ended up being best friend with each other when they could have met anyone else, and its almost like fate or something. Souta says since the subject came up he’s curious as to what kind of guy Nao likes, hoping he meets Naos description of that kind of guy. Nao vaguely says that he just sort of likes when someone can lift his spirits, like Souta and Arashi, and he’d like to find a partner who can do it too. Nao only brought up Arashi to give him plausible deniability so this can be a friendly conversation and not a rejection conversation if Souta doesn’t want to date him, but Souta’s mind is racing now, because he’s just been lumped into the category of his type, but alongside Arashi. He thinks it over a bit, and thinks if Nao was trying to hit on him he should reciprocate the advance but doesn’t want to make things romantic when they’re not, so he tries to describe his type and admits he’s never thought about it and he’d date someone he found attractive and feels good to be around. He then realizes he’ll have to casually mention that Nao is attractive later for him to get anything out of that. Nao brings up Inoue to see if Souta still shows an interest in her and Souta says Inoue likes Nao, and Nao says he knows but he rejected her and she understood, so he could go for her, and Souta says it wasn’t that serious anyway. Nao says she meets both the criteria and Souta admits it has to be more complicated than that then, but he still can’t define it other than he wants what he wants. And then they go to class, worried they said the wrong thing or made it weird.

Myri

0815 ist eh das Beste lol Kenne auch kein englisches Äquivalent 🙈

Kazemi / かぜみ

I think it’s possible he’s trying to close the distance before addressing what’s wrong. If he can comfortably have Souta to himself, they can properly talk about what’s going on!

Norin

This update makes me realize how I've missed seeing Nao happy and the boys interacting (even if Souta is avoidant) 💔 please let them solve the their problems and let the world leave them alone for a bit!

ultimate lurker aka Pika

nah ur right I'm from Germany lol haha I just didn't wanna bother find an english equivalent XD

Myri

Are u german? Or do other people use the 0815 phrase as well ? xD And yeah ur right I thought this too lol

Myri

That was my weekly dose of Serotonin~ Thank you Aina 💕

Norin

And I see keychains with stars, and stars and rockets in the background... Plenty of opportunities for Nao to find something for Souta 🌟 how much more significant than those stupid tickets and soccer cleats

Norin

Please 🙏

ultimate lurker aka Pika

c'mon every 0815 guitar looks like that it's not that deep guys (talking to naota) ig they're just so focused on each other that even that becomes meaningful

ultimate lurker aka Pika

me hoping that they get matching keychains and get them accidentally engraved with each others names so i can call myself a genius (had smth like that in a fic of mine)

Hannah

Your mind is 🤯. This would be adorablely frustrating to read and I absolutely love the concept of them fumbling around sending out hints that they romantically like the other and both of them just so confused 😅 at the very least this would be a really cute fanfic idea.

Yvonne

these chapters are too short 😭😭😭😭

Aina Palm

Awww, you guys ❤️❤️❤️

The Urge

I just had another idea. Imagine if in his defensive arguing Nao says something about how he doesn't even know if he likes girls and Souta shouldn't assume, and Souta apologizes and decides he should reveal he's bisexual since Nao brought up his own thing. Then they agree to go to the concert, and both mutually start wondering if the other returns their feelings because of this new context, but afraid to make things weird, so they spend the whole concert dropping hints at each other or leaving the other space to reciprocate little romanticisms or ignore them, and reacting to each others actions. Until eventually the whole thing is over and they're sort of confused and nervous. Nao assumes that Souta just wanted to go as a friend, or at least didn't intend to act on whatever feelings he had. Meanwhile Souta is looking over the situation in his head wondering why Nao would act kind of romantic but never try to do anything explicitly romantic, then decides that Nao will totally understand if he asks if whether this was a date or not given the situation, and finally blurts it out. Then Nao asks Souta if he wanted it to have been a date, and they awkwardly talk for a bit and realize that yeah, they totally do have mutual feelings for each other and want this to be a date, and kiss before going home.

Milo

He’s totally gonna buy it for souta

Milo

Well to be fair each of these parts are portions of one chapter so op is probably used to the length of a chapter

Milo

Awee

PikasGirlfriend (•bruh•)

🤭🤭🤭

PikasGirlfriend (•bruh•)

I’m kinda conflicted here. On the one hand, I’m glad Nao is trying to close the distance between them, but on the other, it feels like he’s pretending nothing’s wrong like this😭 guess we’ll see in the next one

NeonOstrich

This is hurting my feelings real bad

PikasGirlfriend (•bruh•)

AAAAAAAA

Veiwan

AWEEEWEEE SO CUTE

Hannah

Especially the most recent arcs have been amazing! Soutas expressions have been so well drawn. Aina is doing great, I hope she knows we appreciate all the work she puts into her art!

Hannah

I feel like we are either so close to a confession or a HUGE misunderstanding and I want it to be a confession sooo bad 😭

Hannah

How is 8 panels short??

Kappathefish

I was literally about to say the same thing! Mostly about the art. I'm consistently impressed by Aina's linework, anatomy, and of course, the way she portrays emotion. Sometimes, I'll linger on a panel or two just to appreciate the subtleties of a character's facial expressions. So much is communicated with such few words, it amazes me every time and makes me excited to go draw myself. A lot of Aina's strengths are my weaknesses in my own art, so this comic is a big inspiration to me (in regards to storytelling, as well)

_Faust_

I never complain because it’s short even if I’m sooooo frustrated every week, BUT thanks to everyone : the coments are so entertaining, thank you guys 👌

jen

HES SO HAPPY INTERACTING W SOUTA😭😭

jen

i love nao being so close to souta omlgmlelkflfldld

Hannah

soulmate vibes

Quint James

Please. I beg of you. Please let Nao buy it for Souta so he can think of him when he sees it. Please.

Olitri

Stoooop now this is all i want 😭😭

Carleigh

I want that too, but I worry he'll say something like he didn't notice and it'll hurt Nao's feelings

Ty Waldrop

Ugh I love them so muuchh

Hermione

FORESHADOWINGGG??? Are they going to get split up and they’ll have their little moment (Souta and Nao) because it’s mentioned that there are a lot of people????

Rachel Winters

😍❤️🥰 Nao seeking out Souta makes me so happy.

Ari Yez

Nao sonriendo y por fin hablando con Souta >>>>

The Urge

That was another idea. Like Nao seeing that Souta was going to do a thing with Inoue during the concert and getting jealous and angry that he was blown off in favor of Inoue, and that being a whole thing and maybe they both realize "Wait I'm mad at him for spending time with a girl over me because of my feelings for them, and they're mad at me over a girl also... could they return my feelings?"

shae

such a cute scene when nao snuck up on him <3 i love how he still manages to find souta even when he's getting pulled away by others every scene

Lily

Guys I’m genuinely not sure if I can do this anymore how much more angst is there 😭

lenawithapen

Find anything you like? Yes, my new wallpaper scene. 🥰

Iona

I’m now subscribed to your weekly press review hehe. She is!! Her skills are amazing and she improves so fucking much it surprises me that she still can improve 🤩

Maki na łące

Cute, cute, cuuuute. Enjoying their few seconds alone time 🫶

Caleb

I feel like this happens every time lol. She's just doing great!

Iona

I love the fact that’s you’re writing a journal review about it 🤩

Caleb

Sorry, I know I already made a super long comment but I felt the need to address how much Aina has improved! Not only has the story always been incredibly compelling, but it's also realistic in a way that many romance comics aren't! And the story continues to excite and fill the readers with anticipation. Mostly, though, I've been noticing the difference in art since the beginning. The visuals have always been great but they've become absolutely stunning over the years! Capturing expressions has always been a strong suit of this comic! Everything is so beautiful and I, for one, am incredibly grateful that I have this comic to look forward to every week (even when I'm nervous about what'll happen). We all appreciate the work that you put in, Aina, and thank you for coming up with this amazing tale in the first place.

Iona

(These are my feels and frustration toward the story and in no way my opinion on Aina’s work which I completely respect and love, Aina will do whatever she wanna do and that’s super great)

Hannah

I'm worried that even if Nao does found out about the tickets originally being from Souta, that Nao will misunderstand and be like 'well if Souta is trying to push me and Arashi together he must not like me and I dont have a chance with him' (going on the assumption that Nao is already aware he likes Souta). Then get with Arashi to make Souta and their other friends "happy" because it's what's expected of him. I'm reallllyyy hoping something like that doesn't happen cause 1. It doesn't seem very in-character for Nao to use Arashi like that, 2. Because I hate that trope.

Iona

I mean, you just go with whatever you feel, i reaaaally hope she’s doesn’t just barges in while they’re all lovey dovey… but I fear it too. Tbh, her face is only tolerable to me when she makes funny faces cause she doesn’t get what she wants haha otherwise I definitely cannot bear her presence lol I think if she behaves like you fear I’ll just be even more jaded than I already am about her, which means a lot. She needs to gtf out of here already imvvvho. I’m tired of her taking all the place. Just let us see our booooyyyss !!! Stop interrupting!

The Urge

I have a whole idea for a moment where Nao realizes what happened, Souta tries to play it off like it was a silly mistake he made but Nao doesn't believe it. So he ends up mentioning this to Arashi only for Arashi to realize "Oh shit he lied about the raffle" and then Nao confronts him about the tickets and Souta admits he did it. Nao is kind of mad and Souta says he knows Nao probably likes Arashi and would rather take her instead of him. Nao gets more mad that Souta tried to match-make him with a platonic friend and spent all this money only to give up the thing he wanted to spend it on, and Souta says it's kind of too late when he already gave them to Arashi. Nao says he could get Souta a third ticket and they could all go. Souta says he doesn't want to be a third wheel and Nao insists that he not think of himself that way because he's just as important to him. Souta still feels weird about it so maybe Nao reluctantly admits Souta is his favorite of the two of them, but he didn't want to say that. Souta blushes and says there's nothing wrong with being closer to one person than another person, and Nao teases him for how self-serving it is to say that in this context.

Iona

japan’s amusements parks (source: IDCC webcomic)

Joe Perry

UGHHHH AINA I AM LITERALLY WISHING THE WEEKS AWAY

plinkerz

where can i go to find a bari sax keychain irl

SleetMage

I'm not sure if I should hate her(Arashi) yet, if next chapter shows her seeing them interacting and she notices, she has two choices to make. And depending on her answer, it will show us everything about her.

McKynzee Pivonka

Nao's cute face! I need some Souta/Nao love before I die.

Zarrytan

Nao looks super excited to be with Souta. His smile looks so genuine 🥹 He's going to buy Souta the for sure, I just hope Arashi doesn't interfere somehow.

Iona

Yes he has! On a whim. But like i think he would still check if Souta already bought them or not. But I have no idea! Might also happen out of frames

Jettah Woolf

I love them sooooo much!!!

Dragon Fan

CUTE

Sandy Shar

Nao looking for Souta, being so happy. I need and want more!!!!

Artemis mckee

YALL I SCREAMED AND THERW MY PHONE WHEN I SAW THE NOTIFICATION AND MY FRIENDS LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY!!!! ALSO Awwwwwe souta is thinking about his mannnnn, I’m so happy they’re finally getting some time to talk without arashi butting in and trying to steal nao’s attention.

Iona

Yeah i hope he really got rid of her. Cause like, when he looked at Souta at the very beginning of the chapter he wasn’t at all smiling. All day. Hasn’t been smiling. We haven’t seen him smile since the arcade. Sooooo I’m wondering. What happened in his head all this time. Is it just not being able to spend time with Souta taking a Toll on him? Or was it also Souta telling him he was attracted to inoue? So is he happy now cause he can have a fake date with his future husband or is it because he just realised that Souta and Inoue really haven’t anything romantic going on? Is he realizing Souta lied about it and therefore is already crossing the info? DOES HE HAVE FAITH AGAIN? Or is it just about leaving Arashi to find Souta. I headcanon Nao as a very brainy boy. So I feel like he’s thinking along all I just said, but I have no idea so I need him to confirm 🤣 Oki book on Nao finished

Caleb

Exactly! I've been thinking about the shoes as a gift, considering it seems like (a few updates back) Nao already bought the shoes.

VANNA

Finally!!! They're alone. 🥰 I hope they talk without ANY interruptions.🫠

mixhelle

At this point I think he’s happy that he escaped Arashi and has some alone time with Souta 🥹😂

Iona

YES!! I want this addressed and also if I was Nao I’d address it cause it’s his gift, he has to make sure Souta hasn’t already bought them. So I really hope they talk about it.

mixhelle

Omg imagine Nao buying it for Souta so each of them have one 😭😍

Caleb

I wonder if the "I can't afford any spending money right now" is going to be addressed in an upcoming chapter? I think it'd be really interesting if Nao were to bring up the shoes at some point (like asking if that's why Souta doesn't have money) and Souta has totally forgotten that was his cover story for the concert tickets. Also I just love how happy Nao looks around Souta! I'm so excited for future updates! I want to know if Arashi is going to notice Naota's behavior around each other? And who will end up paired at the illumination (I have my suspicions but we'll have to see)? HOW WILL EVERYTHING BE RESOLVED??? I can't wait! (Also, thank you for the amazing work you put into this comic, Aina. Your love and dedication really shows through your audience responses and I hope you're proud of all you've accomplished!)

T Mcnugget

I might be reaching but notice how we have only seen him smiling when he’s interacting with souta

Iona

We’re traumatized ❤️‍🩹

Iona

YES! AND SOUTA IS OBLIVIOUS

Tink

I love the genuine smile! These two need to spend more uninterrupted time together

SnowWrite

Look at Nao’s smile! 🥰Haven’t seen it at all when he’s with the girl (forgot her name lmao)

Nightsuna

please get matching keychains I need it BADLY

Sophia zielinsky

Omg Lulu I love you (I'm reki bro please recognize me)

Anacota

hahaha the way you said that made me laugh so hard 😂😂

DearNeptune!

Nao, when you buy it for him, tell him it's so he can carry you with him always. 😌

rae of sunshine

nao and arashi are both trying so hard to turn this into a date. and they are simultaneously failing because of the other

SleetMage

I'm going to be honest, when he said "Hey it looks just like mine" I though he was saying "Arashi already got me one",but then I remembered that he was talking about his ACTUAL guitar.

Mo

THIS FUELED MY HEART!!! thank god. this story has been making me so so sad i love this little interaction :’) so thirsty.. so deprived

Anacota

so short 🥲

mixhelle

At this point I think he desperately tries to avoid anyone but Souta 🥹

Iona

And then she understands both are just idiots in love and politely and silently leaves for the sake of gayness 😌

Iona

Im fearing the comfort now 😭 im afraid it’ll be spoiled in less than one update 🤣 And what happened why such mood change Nao?!!? He’s smiling?!!?! Tell me what’s happening in your head young man !!!

Angelina Aleman

THATS RIGHT NAO ACKNOWLEDGE UR HUBBY🥹🙌

mixhelle

✨The Memory of them laughing together✨ ✨Nao trying to get close✨ ✨Nao SMILING because he’s being close to Souta✨ And so many more things in this update 😭 it’s always worth it to miss some sleep when it’s IDCC time 😍

lenawithapen

I know, right?! It feels like we almost never see them together anymore. 💔

Hannah

Wonder if Nao will notice that Souta doesn't have any money but still doesn't have new soccer shoes.

DearNeptune!

I hope she tries to get his attention and sees them staring lovingly at each other.

Iona

I have no idea which makes me suspicious of her menacing to barg in again 🤣

NocturnalHex

Thank you for blessing me

Leta

STICK WITH YOUR MAN NAO, I AM BEGGING 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Kazemi / かぜみ

THAT WAS SO CUTE AWWW now Souta has to buy it with whatever pocket change he has cause Nao noticed him looking at it 🫵🫵🫵

Loverspangled

Me given the slightest interaction between these two: (breathing heavily)

Morgan

Omg souta please let it slip that you picked up the guitar thinking the same thing! It would be so cute to see him all flustered. 🥰

Bean

I love this comic so much, like sooo much, but every week I am devastated that I must now wait an entire week to know more 😭

Kelee Parker

He always smiles so big around Souta 🥰🥰

Goshdarnit

Naota microcosms of crumbs are back 😍😍😍

ALICE

BONDING TIME AT LAST 🩷 (I hope)

DearNeptune!

LOOK AT THAT FACE! HE ONLY SMILES LIKE THAT WHEN THINGS INVOLVE SOUTA!

Mafuyama

PLS LET THEM HAVE SOME ALONE TIME! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! 😭😭😭😭

lulu

Random things reminding Souta about Nao…...DONT PISS ME OFF

Carolyn Tuttle

Ooo does Nao get it for him?!

Abbey

AWWW

DearNeptune!

How did he manage to slip, Arashi?

#FreeSoutaFromArashi

Omg I’ve missed seeing my boys side by side sm

Sophia zielinsky

BUY ITTTTT

Annie10010

Oooh Nao ditched the girl!! (I apparently just refuse to remember her name xD) Please let them have a cute little semi date to make up for the angst. Please Aina I'm begging you 😭

Bushclam

They’re so cute 😭

Tired And bored

Look at Nao he's so cheerful I'm gonna bawl my eyes out 😭

Sora

God they make me pull out my hair sometimes lol in a good way believe it or not. Its one of those things where from the outside it's so obvious they're into each other but in thier povs they probably think the other is straight and likes girls and they don't have a chance in hell. This has been a tough arc lol

DearNeptune!

😭😭😭 Nao just wants to spend time with him!! Tell him you had that exact thought Souta! Tell him you're always thinking of him. Okay, that last one is a stretch, but I can imagine.