Yes omg exactly! I expected that after the first time Mafuyu sang he would finally feel released from the weight on his shoulders but he wasn’t and it feels really off putting for Uenoyama to be this “replacement” for Yuki. But i feel like the whole manga’s theme is replacements.
For Mafuyu, it’s Yuki to Uenoyama,
For Kaji, its Ugetsu to Haruki,
& For Hiiragi, its Yuki to Shizusumi.
Mafuyu is still the biggest offender tho, If you watched the anime they basically scream at you that Uenoyama is a replacement for Yuki.
Not really replacement, more like moving on. Like that chapter were Ugetsu remembered Mafuyu and the words were 'it's okay'. Akihiko said too that Mafuyu's songs made him feel like falling in love again. Continuing without someone so important is not easy and Mafuyu is undergoing that not-easy path of moving on.
100% agreed OP.
just sayin, Uenoyama deserves better. Mafuyu is still fighting his issues by himself and never tries to communicate properly with Ue, I do know he has a hard time but imagine your boyfriend comparing you to his late boyfriend every single goddamn time? on the other hand, uenoyama too should talk to him but everything he's doing is for mafuyu's sake. It's time for mafuyu to truly move on like seriosuly, or else it's better for them to end thier relationship. I respect Yuki, but I feel like he's presence in the story at this point is too much, just my opinion tho.