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I teared up when Kiuchi confessed his dream. I've also been depressed and directionless for years. But unlike Kiuchi, I never had something I was really good at, successful at, and then lost. I've often wished I had that, but now I think it's a small mercy. It must be more painful.
The fact that the mangaka experienced depression herself is evident, because the portrayal of a depressed person is so realistic.At first, I couldn't connect with Kiuchi because he always smiles but remains very detached. But now I think it's good writing that his inner thoughts weren't shown. That's exactly how it feels to observe a fellow depressed person.
I like Nakajou's line, where he says he hopes Kiuchi meets someone other than him, because he can never find the right words to cheer him up when he's feeling down. Because the thing with depression is that meds and therapy may help, but the only person who can get you out of it is yourself.
Sometimes good advice, coddling, or scolding won't help, but what always helps is knowing that someone stays by your side, knowing you are unwell but treating you normally and waiting for you to emerge from that darkness on your own. It's been hard. Let's all hang in there.