Reincarnated into an otome game is a burgeoning genre, but Obsessions of an Otome Gamer is a bit different on two fronts: the existence of two heroines and alternative endings. Instead of just a normal third volume, this series will have books for each of the two male love interests. Fans can even vote on which one Cross Infinite World will release first.
But first, middle school. An often awkward time in a person’s life, even when you’ve already lived through it once.
Having graduated from elementary school, things are both very much the same and very different at the same time. Mashiro is still piano-obsessed, Kou and Sou can’t stop longing for her, and Kon has her own issues with her game path. But the crushes and attractions are more natural here than before. The guys are now more emotionally mature to deal with their feelings, and it’s less uncomfortable to not have Mashiro think of elementary boys her (physical) age are sexy. However, Mashiro has put the two game heroes in the friendzone. Instead, she develops a crush on a much older individual: her sister’s friend (and current teacher) Tomoi.
While you may be thinking this second volume will have a lot of Kou and Sou jealousy (despite the latter being thousands of miles away), Mashiro’s crush shines more light on this game world that Mashiro and Kon have found themselves in. While much hasn’t been kept hidden from readers — after all, there’s all those “event cleared” notes — I have to admit the truth was not quite what I was expecting. That’s a good thing when the isekai genre is so crowded. And even though much of the puzzle is solved, it’s possible now that what we know will be seen in different lights in the Sou and Kou volumes, as truths are not always the same in each route in visual novels.
Speaking of the boys, the light novel checks in with them (and Kon) on occasion. Obsessions mostly has Mashiro narrating her life and fangirling over classical music as she prepares for a music competition in hopes of entering her dream school. But the sections featuring Kou, Sou, and Kon show how much they love her. Sou’s is especially important since he and Mashiro only communicate with letters. Personally, I thought he got the better illustrations to make up for their long-distance relationship.
Not that kind of relationship, of course. Middle School Years has Mashiro pretty stuck in the belief that Sou only gravitated toward her as a mother-like figure while Kou is just messing with her. Mashiro’s stubbornness (especially when you factor in her true age) may irritate readers. I’m not sure I’m going to buy her suddenly having an epiphany about her being in love with one of them. Hopefully the Kou/Sou volumes will have her think deeply about her feelings.
Not the whole book, of course, but maybe it will replace some of this volume’s duller parts involving Mashiro’s schoolfriends. These sections are likely meant to show Mashiro enjoying her life in this world, but the Kou/Sou and real world/otome world conflicts are far more intriguing. The arrival of Sou’s fiancée was a better use of page time, as she’s both trying to irritate Sou and pair him up with Mashiro. She’s a great reversal on most fiancée characters in otome games.
So while I am interested in seeing how Mashiro winds up with one of her suitors, the mystery of the Hear My Heart world and Kon’s struggle with her past life is what solidifies Obsessions of an Otome Gamer as a good read.