Watashi no Astilbe

Aoi Nagawa has always struggled with relationships in general, let alone getting a boyfriend. All her life, she has tried desperately to understand what it means to fall in love, to no avail. Fearing that she is just weird, Aoi lives with these inadequacies until she has a chance encounter with a perceptive woman named Kanade. As soon as Aoi confides in Kanade, she is offered an explanation: Aoi could be an aromantic asexual—a person who does not experience romantic or sexual attraction to anyone.

Though initially hesitant to accept that identity, Aoi feels a weight being lifted off her chest when she learns that such a thing exists and that she is not alone. Aoi's life brightens up as she lets go of her obsession with the significance of love and embraces life fully. But just as acceptance settles in, a friendship with one of her coworkers begins to blossom into something more, forcing Aoi to confront complicated feelings once again.