Song Meaning
The narrator declares an end to living for a loved one, a stark pivot from a past defined by that devotion. The initial memory is vivid: a genuine smile seen in a mirror, black Converse sneakers, a moment of longing and sadness that felt like a dream. This scene, with the beloved's profile shimmering on a windowpane, sets the stage for a profound internal struggle.
The core tension lies in the simple act of breathing versus the overwhelming pain of love and loss. The lyrics question why existence itself becomes agonizing when the sky, with its smiling sun, seems indifferent or even reminiscent of the lost smile. This contrast highlights the narrator's internal turmoil against the backdrop of an unchanging world.
A striking element is the cyclical nature of pain and affection. The narrator admits to hurting and being hurt, yet this process is what allowed them to cherish the person. The repeated question, "Why do people love?" underscores a deep confusion about the very nature of affection, especially when the memory of the beloved's smile, once cherished, is now something they wish to forget.
This song resonates because it captures the raw, disorienting aftermath of a love that has ended but not faded. The shift from the bright, remembered smile to the "familiar Tokyo cloudy sky" and "building wind" signifies a move towards a solitary, yet perhaps accepting, future. The final assertion of gaining "wings to just fly" suggests a hard-won independence, a commitment to remembering how to love, even if the specific object of that love is gone.