Ano Ko No Kwari Ni — Suki Na Dake 'link'

It’s the verbal equivalent of a bandage on a wound that needs stitches. The speaker isn’t saying, "I’ve moved on." They’re saying, "You’re the next best thing."

Yuto compared her to Saki constantly—but not in the early "you're better" way. Now it was: ano ko no kwari ni suki na dake

She thought: That poor girl. She doesn’t know the phrase yet. It’s the verbal equivalent of a bandage on

Mika tried. She dyed her hair lighter. She practiced laughing louder. She stopped finishing people’s sentences and started interrupting—because that’s what Saki did. "I’ve moved on." They’re saying

"I just like you instead of her."

"Mika… I like you. I do. But you knew. You always knew. Ano ko no kwari ni suki na dake."