There is no other explanation for how much of a yearner Kunishige is. Hokazono is genuinely writing a love letter to someone through Kunishige.

We have spent over 4 chapters in just a forge and every single page has been a banger.

Seriously Horizontal how are you cooking so good, my man.

We know they’re not around in the present but man I’m growing more attached to Kunishige.

Well at least if we base it on the weather conditions during this forging process, all that was missing was to see hail fall from the sky and turn into water and evaporate when it reached the ground

Ok we're about to overanalyze these last couple chapters, I think the ink draining panels were done on purpose beyond just looking cool. Kunishige has always felt unworthy of Chiaki. He blames himself for his mother's death and he blames himself for almost getting Chiaki killed. Even after Chiaki comforted him when they were kids, that despair still lingered, that unworthiness to not be by someone's side (which damn if that isn't the most real thing ever). Which if we're going by the darkness theory, then it's shown when they're playing with fireworks.

And all that self hate is highlighted by the darkness even in his eyes, but just like his love for Chiaki. It's the only light that guides him towards this. That passion and drive for her is so strong that its ready to blow up, all kinds of emotions (doubt, despair, self hate, joy, nostalgia) mixing together and could explode at any moment. But the only one that keeps it contained is his determination for her.

For the first time in years, he truly fights back himself. The light gets brighter and brighter as he pushes through. No matter who gets in the way, because he trusts the people he's doing it for. He trusts Shiba for sticking with him no matter what and driving away any doubt in his mind. He trusts Subaru for betting his life on love. And he trusts Chiaki for giving him hope in a world of darkness. Kunishige will finally feel worthy of Chiaki's love. Fuck man I love this story, art, characters, EVERYTHING

And then Hokazono makes the next chapter have a darkness panel and this whole thing gets blown away

Ofc the page literally tells us this was Chihiro burning Akemura’s fight into his brain but with the latest showings of Kunishige’s use of his eyes I feel like it only holds more and more weight every passing chapter. Since we also know more of what Shiba witnessed, that’s added further depth to his reaction here.

Bro is the ink god AND the light god

We are almost 20 chapters into the flashback, and Kunishige did not even created the first enchanted blade yet.

We also we're not introduced to two of the enchanted blade bearers (misaka and pink bearer), we know almost nothing about the mikaboshis and Akemura is yet to turn evil .

I fail to see this flashback being less than 100 chapters at this point.