Kokoro Connect – Covering Sorrow With Moe

Kokoro Connect’s latest endeavor is a tightening around the current critical situation – the characters all feel pressure as result of the position they’re in, however, Inaban in particular seems to be silently collapsing.

Before getting started with this episode, do momentarily recall that the previous exhibited both Iori, as well as Inaban, to be in quite dire, albeit self-contained states – they had much melancholy seemingly twirling within them, yet they still put forth an exterior quite contrary to their true feelings. Also note, the other characters also have their own worries as well – and this chapter exquisitely manages to present those troubles, as well as the greater few which wrap around them, such as that of Inaban.

Arriving at school fairly late, our protagonist is met with something rather troubling – it seems that his interest in romance, Iori, has been caught in a less than fortunate spot. Yet before we learn of that, Inaban aides in squeezing out the truth as to why our protagonist has come late to class today – apparently, his horrible desire has been unleashed, and he’s slept longer than he should. Indeed, his desire was to snooze – and while that may sound silly, it is definitely a rather significant issue as he’s essentially in a coma if he somehow gets entrapped in slumber indefinitely.

Yet thankfully, he managed to awaken – and of course, now he’s at school, questioning what the matter is with his friend and lover, Iori. She fallen to her desires as well – however, embarrassing as it may be, it’s actually a harmless incident, quite fitting of her personality, and nothing needing much concern. Given her person, it’s no surprise that she would have an urge to intercede in the solitude of a tense predicament and lighten things up – yet she had such a desire during a test, and as result, she interrupted an exam with a glorious yell of “YAHOO!”.

Now after establishing a hearty mood – the series then turns to an inevitably darker page, Kiriyama did not come to school today, nor has she for the last several days prior. Ever since becoming incarcerated for assaulting some infidels, she’s been containing herself within her room – unwilling to see anyone, afraid of what she herself may do as result of her desires now capable of becoming unrestricted against her will.

However, that certainly does not stop her friends from visiting her – although the problem is sadly not one to be solved so easily. Words alone are not enough to ease Kiriyama – and in fact, she’s only further sent down a chasm of depression as Inaban seemingly explodes for a second, taking out her anger upon her friend, Kiriyama. Inaban furiously insists that Kiriyama is being narrow in hiding within her room – stating that as whilst Kiriyama does this, it will merely inspire Heartseed to take potentially life-threatening action amongst them if it means his own entertainment.

As a side-note, perhaps Inaban specifically had Taichi in mind when she said this – it’s been understood for a while that she has feelings of romance for him, and she earlier did bring up that Taichi is possibly at the greatest risk of harm this time around, making it simple to see how Inaban could find herself in a vehement state.

Inaban’s point on how Taichi is in jeopardy for this round of the supernatural was that whilst the fellow wasn’t afflicted by anything whatsoever, he was willing to face death for Iori – that being the case, it’s anyone’s guess what he could do whilst empowered by desire.

There’s much to be distressed over, and for everyone’s sake, yet it’s very much apparent that Inaban above all has far more bubbling in her mind than she’s willing to share – however, she needn’t even express her woes for their presence to be as evident as the sun in a brilliant summer sky.

Of course the specifics are not yet certain – however, that which is solid and ascertained is that Inaban is thinking less of herself for whatever reason. Whilst she likes to playfully ridicule Taichi over his selflessness, she’s been putting herself last this entire time – disregarding her own sentiments as she’s preventing herself from expressing them, likely being frightened over the outcome much like how she was with the lack of trust ordeal.

A major point of danger currently stirring within Kokoro Connect is that Taichi, the valiant hero in all this, is oblivious to Inaban’s inner-suffering – and if he cannot heal her anxiety, then the future is certainly not a favorable one at all. And likewise, as with Kiriyama, the desolation will merely somehow find a way to spread from one character to another till encompassing everyone involved, a grand-scale tragedy.

One would like to hope that nothing too brutal towards our characters transpires before this arc meets an end and moves on – yet there’s bound to be more than a few spikes in the pathway prior to a finale, especially since such will likely be necessary to find respite. It’s most critical that Inaban’s stress is explored and met with a solution, then subsequently, Iori is brought to ease, followed by the two blondes – and lastly, our protagonist who may actually prove to have a greater element of sorrow deep inside than even he himself might be aware of.

Business as usual, now we’re left with another seven day span of suspense for the next episode.

• 
  Kokoro Connect – “My Enemy Is My Friend”
• 
  Kokoro Connect – The Solution Is The Problem
• 
  Kokoro Connect – Motivated By Megane
• 
  Kokoro Connect – “I Masturbate To You”