Touko's rejection of her suitor in the first chapter. Despite the fact that the boy in question probably doesn't know her very well and has no idea of what kind of person she really is, Touko still makes a point of rejecting him without hurting his feelings. Better still, Yuu doesn't just get the impression that Touko's cool, pretty, or good at her job, but that she's also nice.
Even though Yuu doesn't have any desire for a relationship with the guy who confessed to her in the first chapter, she still tries to find a way to turn him down kindly, and he gracefully accepts her rejection.
In Chapter 5, after Touko confesses that she wants to be seen as special, and doesn't want to go back to the way she was when she was younger, Yuu reassures Touko that she never thought of Touko as special, since she knows about Touko's shortcomings and is fine with them.
Doubling as a Funny Moment is Touko's apologizing to Yuu after having purchased a lesbian romance novel with explicit scenes from Yuu's family's bookstore while Yuu was working the register. While Yuu initially thought that Touko was doing it to Troll her, Touko's apology in the Student Council Room the next time they meet is revealing, as it demonstrates that Touko doesn't want to tease or cajole Yuu about their relationship, and doesn't want to do anything to make her uncomfortable about it. Given how urgently Touko is apologizing, Yuu also has no trouble believing Touko that it wasn't a deliberate act on her part.
In Chapter 9, Touko, having fallen asleep in Yuu's room, wakes up and notices the souvenir she bought for Yuu on Yuu's desk, before giving a faint smile.
In Chapter 12, Sayaka talks to Miyako about her doubts about her feelings for Touko, particularly, how Sayaka fears that not confessing to Touko just so that they can stay friends makes her a coward. Miyako gives Sayaka a cup of coffee on the house and reassures her that just means she's a supportive friend, adding that it isn't easy to suppress one's feelings. Sayaka doesn't usually confide in others about how she feels about Touko, but it's clear that this time, it paid off for her.
In Chapter 19, Touko is upset by her father trying to discourage her from following in her sister's footsteps, until she calls Yuu and talks with her, which cheers Touko up. Meanwhile, Yuu, having talked with Natsuki about how Touko throws her off-balance in ways that no one has done in the past, realizes that it isn't a bad feeling. It's moments like these that show that even if Touko and Yuu aren't quite in a relationship yet, they do make each other happy.
In Chapter 20, while the tension between Yuu and Sayaka hasn't completely abated, they actually appreciate having the other around so that they each can keep themselves in line, something that most wouldn't think possible from two rivals in a Love Triangle.
A subtle moment in Chapter 21, but the fact that Ichigaya still fondly remembers Touko's sister despite the fact that she was apparently lazy enough to push work off onto her fellow student council members seems to be a hint at the friendship they once had. They were apparently close enough that Mio didn't feel the need to appear perfect around him, perhaps making their relationship not unlike Yuu and Touko's.
A subtle one in the fireworks scene. Touko is having trouble keeping her sparkler lit, apparently because she's troubled by what she heard from Ichigaya about her sister. After Sayaka reveals that she's always known about Touko's sister, Touko calms down and manages to keep her newest sparkler going for longer. It's also a small turning point in their relationship, in which Touko starts being willing to show her vulnerable side to Sayaka.
In Chapter 23, Sayaka asks about what kind of person Touko's sister was, and Touko, having heard Ichigaya's perspective on Mio, says it would only be her view of Mio, Sayaka then replies, "The part of your sister that you knew was as real as the rest of her. Tell me who she was to you, Touko." It doesn't cheer Touko up very much, but it does go to show that even if there was more to Mio than Touko thought, Touko wasn't necessarily wrong about her sister.
Also from Chapter 23, Touko, still troubled by what she's learned about her sister, is about to text Yuu, while briefly wondering if it's all right to rely on her. Yuu then invites Touko to go out before Touko even finishes sending her text, a happy coincidence that brightens Touko's mood and perhaps shows that it's all right to count on Yuu.
Chapter 24 features a lighthearted and fun outing between Yuu and Touko, giving the latter a brief reprieve from her inner demons.
Also from Chapter 24, it's revealed why Touko says "I love you" so readily. As far as Touko knew, her sister had never fallen in love, so the part of Touko that can fall in love belongs only to Touko. It's a touching reminder that a part of Touko does value her own individuality.
In Chapter 26, there's the revised ending to the play, which had previously ended with the character choosing to be the person her lover saw her as. The nurse convinces the main character that she doesn't have to be the person any of the other three saw her as, saying that she only knows the girl who woke up in the hospital, and doesn't want to lose that girl. The main character then decides to be herself and start over with her schoolmate, her brother and her lover. While Sayaka, Yuu and Touko's reactions are based on their personal feelings about Touko, everyone else thinks the revised ending works better for the main character's arc and the play as a whole, and it isn't hard to see why.
In Chapter 27, Yuu and Doujima happen upon Akari crying after hearing second-hand that her crush, Oogaki is already taken. Doujima feels at a bit of a loss for what to do, and even considers letting Yuu handle Akari, but when Akari self-deprecatingly suggests that admitting that she liked Oogaki was probably "a pain" for him, Doujima angrily says that "Telling someone how you feel should never be a 'pain' for them!" and threatens to go find Oogaki. Yuu stops him, but Akari admits that he actually ended up making her feel better.
In Chapter 28, Yuu finally gets to tell Touko what's most important- that in spite of all of Touko's self-esteem problems, her friends care for her as an individual, not as a copy of her sister- without telling her to give up on what she's trying to do at the moment.
Yuu: It's okay to want to be like your sister. I'm not telling you you're wrong. But I don't want you to think you have nothing else. I'm the one who thought up the title of that play, "I Only Know You." Your friends, Saeki-senpai and me, none of us knew your sister. We only know you. "I want to be her friend." "I want to help her." "I trust her." Those feelings are directed at you, not your sister. Touko: What everyone thinks is me is really just me acting like my sister... Yuu: But you are the one who's worked so hard to be like her, senpai! All of that belongs to you. I'm not asking you to accept everyone's feelings. You don't need to meet everyone's expectations. But please... acknowledge that all of it is meant for you and you alone.
In the Volume 5 omake, Yuu decides not to put Touko's keychain on her key or cell bag, but instead puts it with some of the other mementos she has of Touko, such as the House Star instruction manual and the student council group picture. She then notes that the drawer is getting full, but doesn't think that's a bad thing.
In Chapter 29, Yuu and Sayaka discuss the play, as well as Sayaka's apparent lack of concern about how it will turn out. Sayaka says that even in the worst-case scenario, if Touko forgot her lines or the play failed, none of Touko's friends would think any less of her. As worried as Touko is about people only seeing her sister in her, there's no denying that Yuu and Sayaka are true friends.
In Chapter 30, during the play, Touko's character asks her younger brother what his birthday is, and he hesitantly tells her, noting that she probably didn't remember before she lost her memory. It turns out that she did remember- it's one of the three most important dates to her that, when added together, makes her password- so perhaps she cared more for him than she let on.
In Chapter 31, the amnesiac protagonist of the play decides to be herself, rather than try to act according to the way the others thought she was before she lost her memories.
Her friend from the student council eagerly accepts, saying that he gets to be friends with her all over again.
In her brother's case, it's heartwarming in a different sense. While her brother would naturally see her change from being an Aloof Big Sister as a good thing, she expresses a desire to become closer with him and her parents, because that's what she feels like doing. Her brother then tells her that their parents are coming, and she eagerly awaits them, indicating that perhaps their family bonds will be stronger now.
Her lover is initially a bit conflicted, but is glad to see the main character asserting herself, and promises to fall in love with her again.
This is all concluded with a final monologue that Touko delivers in a heartfelt manner, perhaps showing that she, too, has accepted this.
The Protagonist:Ever since I woke up, I was terrified of being no one. I thought that because I had nothing, all I could do to become someone was to take someone else's place. But now, I know that I was wrong. The Nurse:I'm so happy that you were able to go home! The Protagonist: Thank you. (lays down her crutches and picks up a flower) Thank you, old me. I'm going to be okay. Because I'm going to become me.
The fact that Touko performs so well in the play is also heartwarming in light of an earlier scene, in which Ichigaya tells Touko that she's having a little trouble with the lines, as if she hasn't accepted her character's decision. The fact that her delivery comes off so naturally is proof that Touko has accepted the revised ending and taken Yuu's words to heart.
After the play ends, Touko's parents leave, promising to tell Touko that she's done a good job, since they, as her father puts it, have "said too little for too long." Touko may not have gotten much support from her parents since her sister died, but that doesn't mean they don't care about her.
In Chapter 33, Yuu asks Rei about how she and Hiro got together, since they'd known each other for a while before they'd started going out, and Rei quickly susses out that Yuu's thinking about Touko. Rei is a bit worried about how their parents will take their daughter going out with another girl, but is confident that "It'll work out somehow." She then concludes, "I'm on your side, Yuu."
In Chapter 36, Miyako tells Sayaka the reason why she'd like to make her café more successful, and possibly expand elsewhere. While Riko enjoys teaching, and is the "breadwinner" of the couple, Miyako knows that teaching is hard work, and would like to support both of them if it gets to be too much for Riko.
In Special 6, we see how Miyako and Riko first met- Miyako befriended Riko after a bad breakup, caused by Riko's ex's controlling behavior. While Miyako once believed that Riko shouldn't have to "settle" for her, Riko insisted that she could make her own decisions and asked to give a relationship a try.
In Chapter 37, Sayaka gives a surprisingly heartfelt and beautiful Love Confession to Touko.
Sayaka: I know all about you. (shows Sayaka kneeling down past Touko to reach out to the "vulnerable Touko" shown hiding behind her, helping her up then taking Touko's hand before doing so in reality) I love you. I want to be your girlfriend. It's true. I did love "perfect Touko" at first. You were better than me, and you were always looking further ahead. I wanted to walk beside you. So when I learned of your hidden weak side, I expected to find myself disillusioned. But... you're truly beautiful. I love you even more than I realized. I love everything about you, Touko.
In Chapter 38, while Touko ultimately has to turn Sayaka down, she does so while expressing how grateful she is to Sayaka, It's quite difficult for her to say it, but Sayaka takes the rejection fairly well, all things considered.
Touko has turned down lots of people, always with a kind smile and words of gratitude. But with Sayaka its different, Touko is crying when she turns down Sayaka really showing how much she cares about her.
Chapter 38 also shows an unexpected consequence of Sayaka's confession to Touko- Touko apparently comes to an epiphany about her feelings for Yuu and then reaches out to Yuu with a text, giving hope of them mending their relationship.
All of Chapter 40, in which Touko makes a truly beautiful Love Confession to Yuu, and Yuu accepts.
The fact that Touko and Sayaka are able to remain friends after the former rejects the latter, and that Sayaka can live with Yuu going out with Touko.
In Chapter 41, after Touko and Yuu's Relationship Upgrade, Yuu finally starts putting Touko's charm on her bag, and taking her up on the offer to start calling her by her first name.
Chapter 42: A small but notable moment is Sayaka taking first place on the exams, finally surpassing Touko, like she's always wanted. As for Touko, while she refuses to simply lie down and let Sayaka take first place(showing that Sayaka earned her win), her disappointment at the loss is largely comedic, showing her getting over the idea that she has to be perfect.
Chapter 44, in which Yuu stays over at Touko's and they have sex for the first time.
A small but noticeable moment at the end of Chapter 44. Yuu, who'd called Touko by the respectful and formal "Nanami-senpai" for almost 90 percent of the series, and only recently switched to "Touko-senpai," finally calls her "Touko", without honorifics, as Touko had asked, proving how close they've become.
Chapter 45, being the conclusion to the series, naturally has its share of heartwarming moments.
Yuu and Touko are still going out years later, and it's implied that Rei actually knows about and approves of the relationship, as opposed to just having her suspicions. The chapter also shows that Maki knows about the relationship, as opposed to merely suspecting, as does Natsuki(which presumably means that Koyomi and Akari also know).
Speaking of continuing things, Toomi East is still doing its play. Mio's tragic death may have played some role in the tradition being abandoned, but returning it to the school has become Touko's legacy as student council president.
After being in one relationship with a girl who didn't believe that love between two girls was real, and being rejected by Touko, Sayaka finally finds a girlfriend, and is apparently still friends with Touko, proving that the Romantic Runner-Up doesn't have to lose.
Miyako's café is significantly busier than before, possibly showing that she's one step closer to realizing her dream of becoming self-sufficient and enabling Riko to retire if she wants.
Regarding Sayaka Saeki
Although Sayaka and Chie's relationship does not end well, it's still nice to see the implications that Sayaka's grandparents know about and support their relationship.
When Sayaka meets Touko at the end of the first volume, it's Love at First Sight, enabling Sayaka to finally come to terms with her sexuality.
Near the end of Volume 3, after Sayaka and Haru start dating, Sayaka not only starts calling Haru by her first name, but also insists that Haru drop the "sempai" from her name, echoing Haru's insistence that Sayaka simply call her by name and showing how close they've become.
While things are awkward between Touko and Sayaka after the former rejected the latter's Love Confession, and Sayaka suspects that they'll never be as close as they one had been, Sayaka is able to come to terms with her feelings for Touko and start speaking with her again.
