There are times when we become so immersed in our ideals that we fail to face reality and instead look away. But it is only when we stop turning away and confront that reality that we can truly grow. Even if the process is unfamiliar and painful, it is a path we must eventually take. Even if one's world is shattered, I wanted to depict that moment positively—as a step toward a broader world. The lotus flower symbolizes growth. As the protagonist clings to their ideals, the petals fall away, but when they are ready to accept reality and step into a new world, the bud is shown to bloom fully. The coughing sound is what keeps drawing the protagonist back to the pond. While they feel a sense of thirst when among friends (reality), they can breathe comfortably in the pond (ideal), which makes them want to stay there even more. The protagonist's face is wrapped in a vinyl texture to visually represent how they are still trapped within their ideals and struggle to breathe normally. The reason the faces of the friends appeared as fish is because the protagonist, trapped in their ideals, had not recognized those around them as equals or true friends.