I don't think it's supposed to deliver some grand message about life; it's just about a girl who inspired the mangaka to be the artist she is today, and she finally felt ready to tell that story (maybe with some liberties added?). I think she wrote it intentionally in a way to show the naivety and innocence of both A-ko and her younger self, searching for some poetic meaning in life when in actuality it was just a sad, unfortunate situation.

It's time for depressing hours.

This oneshot doesn't deliver any meaningful message of measurable depth whatsoever.
Oneshots are already weak in the developmental side, so this one came out rather bland.
Meh.

"an exhibitionist man in turtle shell bondage saved me"

is my life so boring I have never been approached by a crossdresser only to be saved by a person in bondage? I think I need to reevaluate my life

"A-ko would often say poetic things" yeah right, more like random shitty quotes.

Call me dumb but I didn't quite understand what leatherman was trying to say, or explain.
Is it that A-ko knew where and when to said "No" and doesn't let herself get carried by the flow of things, or that of other people?

3 am’s a good time to be depressed.

Spoiler
I’m gonna go back to sleep.

not specially sad, but depressing... *sigh* 🤒

so a-ko ended up committing suicide herself. The way the author wrote this, it seemed weirdly close to home as if they themselves had some sort of simliar experience.

Nice one shot