Kokoro Connect - Episode 11

Too moe for words

Why? Why is each and every episode of Kokoro Connect so good? It certainly pains me to have to wait one full week before a new episode. Positive complaints aside, I have to say that this arc might turn out to be my favourite so far—and that's saying a lot. While both Hito Random and Kizu Random were extremely well-told stories with excellent character development, Kako Random looks to dig even deeper that its predecessors by using the past to affect the future. The effects of the new "time regression" phenomenon can already be seen in the members involved—Iori's curiosity regarding the past in which she put on many masks to please others, Aoki's love prior to Yui and how it relates to her, Yui's former involvement with karate, and Himeko's constant fear—as they struggle to come to terms with the demons of their past. It sure won't be easy, but as the designated "knight" of the five, I know Taichi will end up helping them through all of this. After all, his reputation of being a "selfless freak" is on the line.

Speaking of which, the appearance of Heartseed #2 was definitely a surprise. While some may suspect it to just be Heartseed trolling even more, something tells me this is actually a separate entity given that there'd be no motive for Heartseed to pretend to be someone else. That said, I'm curious to see how this second troll differs from the first. From the threatening warning he gave to Taichi alone, I'm willing to bet he isn't as kind-hearted as the original; the Heartseed of the first two arcs never made any threats after all. Thus, the potential for some intense drama is high. And while I'd obviously like to see the five get through this with ease, on the other hand, nothing screams entertainment like skillfully-executed drama.

Picking up from the last arc in terms of relationships, it looks like the Taichi x Himeko pairing is being shipped right now. Of all the female characters' time regressed forms, mini-Himeko is by far the cutest. Furthermore, she seems to be more explicit now in displaying her affection towards Taichi, giving her an advantage over Iori who's more passive about this kind of thing. Right now, I'm giving Himeko 75% of my support—and this percentage will probably increase—so I'm hoping for a Taichi x Himeko ending.