Kizu Random fixed a lot of the issues I had with Hito Random. The supernatural incidents are shown rather than just discussed, the stress on the characters is more evident, we read parts from another character’s point of view, and it feels like there’s a little more of a gap between solving each character’s problem.
In short, I enjoyed this second volume a lot more than the first.
Taichi and the others have gotten back to a normal routine, but Heartseed once again has appeared on the scene. This time, instead of randomly switching bodies, Taichi and his fellow club members will occasionally unleash their current desire. And as they learn, this could mean blurting out whatever’s on their mind or physically acting on their thoughts. Inaba, for instance, suddenly finds herself stripping and straddling Taichi. (Bow chika wow wow.)
Speaking of Inaba, she takes an even larger role in this series. She was a driving force in Hito Random, but I wonder if her popularity led to her being cemented as the secondary protagonist. Of course, as you might expect, this also means that a love triangle starts to come into clear focus, and I’m sure Nagase fans won’t welcome this development. It may seem a little rushed, but this series doesn’t take things slow. Plus, these are teenagers after all; high school is full of crushes and relationships that may or may not work out. This doesn’t seem like it’s going to be full of backstabbing drama or be a netorare series, and I’d appreciate it if it stayed that way.
But back to the actual crisis. I’d argue that acting on instinct is worse than switching places with a close friend, and Kokoro Connect certainly feels more dramatic than the first (minus the ending). Anda has shown a lot of growth as a writer in one volume, and I have to wonder if Japanese readers made some of the same comments I did.
I still would like to see some parts shift to the other members of the CRC (Aoki, Nagase, Kiriyama), but at least we see them lose control. I don’t think seeing everything on-screen is necessary — there’s a major event that Taichi and his friends find out after the fact, and it makes more sense not to see it — but generally showing is better than telling. This is especially true when characters are trying hard not to lose control; it’s not as interesting to find out after than to watch the chaos unfold along with everyone else.
All in all, I stand by my earlier statement: this second volume of Kokoro Connect is an improvement in almost every aspect. If Anda can change so much in a single volume, I’m looking forward to see where the story and characters will be in the next one and beyond.