Kokoro Connect – 04

Inaba turns out to have only suffered a dizzy spell, as she’s been under the weather. When they escort her home, she tells Taichi to help Iori with her trauma, like he did with Yui, even though she promised Iori not to talk about it. Iori tells Taichi that even before the swapping, she didn’t have a good grip on who she was, and had no idea how to live her own life. Taichi promises no matter who she becomes down the road, he’ll still recognize her.

After Taichi and Inaba swap, then swap back, he presses her on what’s bothering her. She tells him she has no trauma; only that she doesn’t feel she can trust anyone – especially him and the others with her body. He tells her it’s okay, that she’s fine the way she is, and she should accept it and make it known to the others. They both exchange intimate secrets to help get the weight off her shoulders. When she confesses to the others, they’re fine with it too.

We were trying not to like this show (as one among many club-based school dramas), but if it’s going to pump out episodes like this, we’re not going to bother. Taichi, the “selfless freak”, builds upon his success with Yui last week and gets to know the other two ladies this week, offering them advice so they can move forward without fear or doubt. Iori had been acting a little odd since the swapping started, and now we know why: she is and always has been a chameleon, and now she’s deathly afraid of “fading away” altogether. Taichi assures her that won’t happen, but doesn’t tell her the real reason; he loves her. The question is, was that something he was just thinking of saying in that situation, or is he truly in love with her?

Before we can contemplate the answer, he’s moved on to Inaba, who is exhibiting worrying physical ailments. It turns out she’s just a worrywart, and her girlfriends can relate. But Taichi’s perseverance in getting to her deep-seated troubles was a very well-done scene, full of complex emotions. Their brave exchange of ‘lethal’ secrets (that they’ve both masturbated to one another) definitely deepens their relationship. This isn’t an ecchi series, but these are high schoolers, and they’re horny. With all the intimate exchanges and shared experiences that come with body-swapping, it’s inevitable that they’e going to start falling for each other…and perhaps not for who they thought.

Rating: 8 (Great)