Relationships are never perfect.
Each of us has a part of ourselves we don’t want others to see. A part of ourselves that we hide away, even from our closest friends and relatives. A part of ourselves we tuck away into the deepest, darkest recesses of our hearts.
Kokoro Connect reminds us of the parts of ourselves that we hide. It reminds us that when the darkness in our hearts is uncovered, people are hurt, the closest to us hurt most of all. We see that we, too, hold the potential to hurt and the potential to be hurt, and we fear it. We feel the fear and pain in the characters’ chests as though it were our own.
We, the viewers, subject ourselves to this fear and pain voluntarily. Why do we do this? Apart from our own masochistic tendencies, it is because we wish to see how such a situation can be resolved. We seek to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the ray of hope, which we hope to see in our own lives.
Kokoro Connect reminds us that there is hope. That, when all is said and done, we can accept the darkness in our own and others’ hearts.
It inspires us to go and uncover our secrets. It inspires us to connect our hearts with others’.
But really, what sold me on this series was imagining the pain of getting punched in the chest by Inaba. That was the main source of pain in my chest while watching it. Oh, and imagining getting kicked in the balls by Yui. Oh god, I want Yui to kick me in the balls.
Maybe it’s more about our masochistic tendencies than wanting to feel hope.
Anyway, I hope this series inspired you to connect your heart with others’ hearts as we enter the new year!
