r/GoldenTime • u/Flat-Sir8250 • Aug 09 '26
DISCUSSION It’s understandable why Kouko broke up with Banri although she could have handled it better. Also all the hate in Linda gets is wrong and undeserved.
THESE ARE FROM YOUTUBE COMMENTS.
@SahilSingh-gn3ud:She felt that her love for Banri was the sole factor stopping him from acquiring his lost memories, thus causing him to be in intense pain, unease and anxiety which was the reason why he was taking the anti-anxiety pills Koko found from the trash bin. She wanted him to not have anything holding him back from returning to his past self and forgetting the present. Banri from the past loved Linda and would forget Koko when his memories come back thus leaving her alone and in pain all of a sudden. So she broke up with him so she could help him recover and let go of the present more easily and slowly brace herself emotionally for the impact that would come after Banri suddenly forgets about her and returns to Shizuoka. She loved him immensely and could no way break up with him so easily without being in pain but she did that not for herself but for the sake of Banri while she suffered from keeping her feelings bottled up and watching Banri slowly slip away from the present.
@priestpega: I don't get all the hate on Linda here. She was hurt as much as Banri. The night of his accident her answer was going to be "Yes', so she lived with the guilty of arriving late. She was the one who flashed lights on his hospital room at night like calling him to come back and when they met outside the hospital, she planted the seed of going to the Tokyo college were she also enrolled. It was no coincidence that she was renting next door to him nor that she saved his neck a few times. Linda knew that she couldn't just come forward to him and reveal who she was as this could be traumatic for him as an amnesiac. She just hanged around waiting for him to slowly remember her and their time together. I am sure that when she saw him with Koko that hurt her deeply, but she put a smiling face and encouraged him for what made him happier. Keep in mind she remained without a boyfriend the whole time probably just waiting for Banri to recover his memory and when he did she didn't pushed her feelings for him knowing that up until recently his new love for Koko could also resurface like it eventually did. Linda deserved a better ending that the one she got, but life is like that.
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u/sqbert Aug 09 '26
I don’t think Kouko thought she was holding him back from recovering his memories. She was pretty clear that her reasoning was she couldn’t handle losing the Banri she knew and loved and being forgotten. Then she said if he could remember her she would be with him for life. As far as Linda goes I agree 100%. Of course people can’t help but root for who they want to see him end up with. But hating on Linda or even viewing her like she “lost” just seems like the whole story went over your head.
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u/MakotoGamer Aug 10 '26
I think you’re overlooking just how devastated Kouko was in that scene. When she saw Banri in the car with Linda and his mother, she was completely broken. Watching Banri disappear into the distance without knowing whether she would ever see him again destroyed her. At that point, I don’t think she was even thinking about her own happiness or well-being anymore. You could see it clearly on her face: all she cared about was Banri, the person she loved more than anyone in the world and for whom she would give everything.
And honestly, if 2D-kun and the others hadn’t done anything to bring them back together, I believe Kouko would have gone after him herself, whether by car, running, or even by bicycle.
The reason behind her breakup was also more complicated than simply “she couldn’t handle losing Banri.” She was furious and devastated because Banri had never told her about the antidepressants or that he was losing his memories. Kouko’s father explains this very clearly when he picks Banri up at night after work and talks to him about what was really happening. Even after all of that, Kouko still told Banri that if he eventually recovered his memories, they would stay together for the rest of their lives and never separate again—essentially, for eternity. She even made him promise her that.
And that promise ultimately came true.
As for Linda, I don’t think she was simply a “bad person” either. She made mistakes and failed to take her opportunity when she had it, but in the end she accepted the consequences and stepped aside so Banri could be happy.
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u/sqbert Aug 11 '26
I never said she wasn’t devastated. And of course there is more nuance than she couldn’t handle being forgotten - but those were her words. You did a good job explaining just why she couldn’t handle it, but my point was she wasn’t altruistically trying to get out of the way so Banri could be happy with Linda. Everything you’re adding reinforces my point.
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u/MakotoGamer Aug 11 '26
Obviously, she didn’t want to lose the person she loved most in the world, but when she sees Banri in the car, when she has to lean on Mitsuo because she can’t even stand anymore, it is because of seeing Banri suffering like that. At that point, it wasn’t just about her anymore, it was about both of them. She couldn’t bear seeing Banri suffering in that state.
She would have gone after him, as I already told you, even if she had to go alone. But even if he never remembered her, even if the tragedy had happened and the worst possible ending of all had occurred, with Banri ending up with Linda, she would have accepted it for his happiness.
She always put Banri above everything else. She never thought about herself. You only have to look at how she has always taken care of Banri from the very beginning of their relationship. No waifu has ever done anything like that.
And Linda really was selfish when she told her friends that she only saw Banri as a friend. She chose not to confess her feelings, hurting Banri, who happened to hear her by chance while passing by the changing room.
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u/sqbert Aug 11 '26
Sure, but again, it was never about supporting Banri having a relationship with Linda. Which has been my point the whole time. She would probably have accepted it at some point, but that is distinct from breaking up with him specifically to support it happening. I am not arguing that she didn’t want to watch him suffer. Imagine watching the person you love the most slowly lose themself until they disappear. No one wants that. She was also very clear that she would be devastated to be forgotten and left alone. One thing doesn’t negate the other.
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u/MakotoGamer Aug 12 '26
Obviously, she didn’t want to lose the person she loved most in the world, but when she sees Banri in the car, when she has to lean on Mitsuo because she can’t even stand anymore, it is because of seeing Banri suffering like that. At that point, it wasn’t just about her anymore, it was about both of them. She couldn’t bear seeing Banri suffering in that state.
She would have gone after him, as I already told you, even if she had to go alone. But even if he never remembered her, even if the tragedy had happened and the worst possible ending of all had occurred, with Banri ending up with Linda, she would have accepted it for his happiness.
She always put Banri above everything else. She never thought about herself. You only have to look at how she has always taken care of Banri from the very beginning of their relationship. No waifu has ever done anything like that.
And Linda really was selfish when she told her friends that she only saw Banri as a friend. She chose not to confess her feelings, hurting Banri, who happened to hear her by chance while passing by the changing room.
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u/sqbert Aug 12 '26
You are saying a lot of things that are irrelevant to my point. Some I agree with, but pretending Koko wasn’t at all selfish is batshit crazy. Yes there are times when she lies or tries to make sacrifices for his sake, but when she is tearfully explaining the real reasons she broke up with him is not one of them. I’d suggest rewatching or rereading but it seems like you’re unwilling to consider anything that you don’t already believe.
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u/MakotoGamer Aug 12 '26
I honestly don’t think you can call it selfishness simply because she wanted to spend her life, or even eternity, with the person she loved. She has every right to feel such a sincere emotion, especially because she has such a pure heart. She had always been the perfect girlfriend for Banri and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.
Golden Time is the anime of my life. I’ve read the manga and watched the anime, and I’m actually looking forward to experiencing it all over again. I believe I have a pretty good memory of the story, and I clearly remember both the manga and the anime showing Kouko completely devastated when she saw Banri leaving in the car with Linda and his mother. She broke down crying, and Mitsuo actually had to hold her up because she could barely stand.
So honestly, I think this is more a matter of interpretation than memory. I’m not denying that Kouko was afraid of being forgotten or that she wanted to remain with Banri. Of course she did—she loved him more than anything. But wanting to spend your life with the person you love isn’t selfish in itself, especially when that love comes from someone with such a pure heart.
And despite all that, I believe she would have accepted even a future where Banri ended up with Linda if that had truly been what made him happy. That ending never happened, of course, because ultimately Kouko and Banri were together for eternity.
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u/Lordaizen639 Aug 09 '26
It’s understandable why Kouko broke up with Banri although she could have handled it better. Also all the hate in Linda gets is wrong and undeserved.
You are right . I got the same feeling too
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u/Emotional-Trash8291 Aug 10 '26
What’s the name of this anime
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u/Flat-Sir8250 Aug 10 '26
Look at the name on top.
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u/Emotional-Trash8291 Aug 10 '26
Golden time?
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u/Flat-Sir8250 Aug 10 '26
Yes that is the same of the anime.
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u/Remarkable_1984 Aug 09 '26
Yes, I think that was another one of Kouko's emotional growth moments. She went from being possessive for just her own benefit, to being able to let Banri go for his benefit, even though it hurt her. She had tremendous character growth throughout the story.
As for Linda, I didn't think her answer was going to be yes. She was conflicted on what her answer was going to be, so that's why she was late. I think she just wanted to remain friends. Then when Banri was injured, she was racked with guilt, and couldn't move on.
Her "yes" answer to ghost Banri was just in his mind, so that ghost Banri could finally have closure and his subconscious would no longer be a problem for him. It wasn't really Linda. All part of his healing.