>>149869041
>>149869517
EF is especially bizarre and infuriating in context, because the preceding chapters undermine it and the later chapters ignore it. It's just a surreal, nonsensical intermission that damages every part of the story, then ends up back at the status quo; one could easily simply skip it and it's immediate aftermath entirely and the comic would only be better for it.
Both before and after, Sandy calls and texts Mike and he seems pretty happy about it, but is still kind of depressed and moody in general. Sandy putting more effort in, only for Mike to feel disillusioned with his LDR and realize he's sunk-costing something that doesn't really make him happy, doesn't need Sandy to have cheated on him.
Both before and after, Mike feels guilty and resentful towards/about Lucy, and worries she'll spiral; while Lucy feels guilty and resentful towards/about Mike, and might be spiraling. Their dynamic shifting from anger and lashing out at their friends, towards guilt/depression/loneliness, doesn't need them to have made out in the snow.
Both before and after, Mike and Paulo are simultaneously supportive friends who want the best for each other and are worried when the other is stressed or lonely, AND jealous and backstabby rivals clashing over their drastically different attitudes towards girls. That's always been their dynamic, and it definitely doesn't need them yelling at each other over Sandy AGAIN.
