
Artist's commentary
Dashing Through Summer
Summer is melting into the sunset. I didn't want that to happen, so we hit the road to chase the setting sun.
"See? If we chase it down, this moment—and summer—will last forever!"
But then the sun finally sinks below the horizon, we both look at each other and laugh at the inevitable. This moment, though, is exactly what makes this time so precious. One day, summer will end. That's why it's important to really enjoy every moment of it. You don't try to stop it from ending; you enjoy it because you know eventually it will. Once we have both agreed and acknowledged that immutable fact, we go full throttle and slice through the waves.
"Did you give it your all? No regrets? Good for you! Suuuper jelly! Spending your summer like that is the best part of your youth! You couldn't do everything because there was too much you wanted to do? But you gave it your all, right? Then that's okay. Those memories are priceless summer treasures! Got it!?"
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As the rain stops, Suzuka thinks back as she stands in the moonlit garden with cherry blossoms dancing in the air.
"You don't do it to prevent it from ending, but because eventually it has to."
That's what it means to live. She acknowledges it, and then takes her love's hand.
That's why she dashes through the present.