The keyword’s core phrase — shounen ga otona ni natta — is the entire point. Episode 6 meticulously deconstructs what “becoming an adult” means in modern Japan.
: The series is praised for its "bittersweet nature of change" and intricate storytelling regarding the complexities of growing up.
The protagonist realizes that "doing what you want" is being replaced by "doing what is required." This episode beautifully illustrates the internal mourning for a simpler self. The Illusion of Time