Chasing a dream has never been a romantic stroll. Far from it—it’s more like an adventure through thorns, one that sometimes drags us into distractions, leaves us disheartened, and even sparks envy. Yet, no matter how hard we try, pursuing a dream doesn’t guarantee it’ll come true. Along the way, we might unknowingly stumble into things that wound those beautiful aspirations. Still, in moments like these, we choose to stand up and hold fast to that dream.

Why We Persist

Why do we keep chasing it? What keeps us going? Clearly, the pursuit bruises us, wears us thin. So, what’s the true essence of this human drive? I think this film offers each of us a personal answer.

That pursuit changes the world around us, infusing it with color and warmth. It’s what brings two strangers together, turning them from passersby into each other’s anchors. It slows time, letting precious memories settle in. Maybe pursuit isn’t just a path we sketch toward a dream—maybe it gives life meaning, or for some, it’s their very purpose.

The longing to grasp a dream kicks off every chase, but even when we touch it, the pursuit doesn’t end. A dream is both the starting line and the finish—a Möbius strip where one journey’s end births the next. Pursuit is an instinct buried deep in every soul, and through it, we come to cherish the version of ourselves that dares to chase.

The Unanswered Question

Returning to Look Back, the film doesn’t hand us a neat answer or reason for pursuit. That’s because pursuit holds countless answers: it could be for achievement, a refusal to settle, or a desire to spread our wings again after a fall.

We humans tend to seek answers to our questions. But clinging too tightly to one ideal might blind us to other possibilities, unintentionally boxing ourselves in until we drift aimlessly. Through Look Back, though, there’s a deliberate space left for pursuit—a gentle reminder to those chasing a shared passion: creativity is life’s core, and life never fits one mold.

Embracing the Stumbles

So, keep chasing that dream. We might start clumsy, staggering at times, tripping over our own feet—but isn’t that normal? Whether it’s the pursuit of youth, love, or ambition, it’s all beautiful. Let yourself dance under heavy rain, let your feet splash through the mud, and one day, looking back, you’ll see you’ve outgrown the “you” you once imagined.

Yet, no matter how fast you run, no one outpaces “death.” A life fading, a bond unraveling, confidence wavering, thoughts straying—these are the unavoidable thorns of every journey. Life isn’t just “dreams”—it walks hand-in-hand with separation and loss.

Stepping Forward

Even so, we can choose to keep moving. Like Fujino, stepping forward doesn’t need a perfect reason—sometimes it’s just to search and remember. The act of pressing on carries its own strength, shaping a different future.

That’s why the four-panel comic strip taped to Fujino’s window isn’t just their beginning—it’s a symbol of an unbroken bond. As long as Fujino keeps creating, Kyomoto lives on in this world as Fujino Kyo.

Look Back to Remember

Don’t look back aimlessly. If you do, let it be to recall—not to erase or reject the past. After all, Kyomoto’s world only started turning because of Fujino—from a simple pursuit to a wish to stand side by side. For Kyomoto, no parallel world matters; this one has Fujino Kyo, the one she wanted to walk with.

“Don’t look back in anger.”

A Quiet Return

In the film’s final stretch, after a long pause and feeling Kyomoto’s lingering wish, Fujino picks up her pencil again. It pulls her back to her desk, back to her passion. From a kid scribbling four-panel comics with a pencil’s scratch to a pro hunched over a digital tablet, she works alone—no assistant—pouring care into every frame and character, oblivious to time slipping by. We keep watching her, just as Kyomoto once did.

Maybe some of our lives echo what this film conveys: holding onto curiosity, exploring the future, but never forgetting what we’ve been through. Everything carries meaning—don’t dismiss it lightly. When we look back on that journey, we’ll see how far we’ve come.