Kokoro Connect Episode 5

is the fifth episode of the anime series.

Synopsis
As Taichi, Iori and Himeko watches from afar in the bushes. Yoshifumi once again gives his love confession to Yui behind the school; however he was rejected again by her. Himeko brought Taichi and Iori to observe from the bushes, and knew about this meeting when she accidently read Yoshifumi’s text message on Yui’s phone when she was in her body.

After rejecting Yoshifumi, Yui ask him “why her?” and Yoshifumi answered that from the moment he saw her, he fell in love with her, and no matter how much time have past he is still in love with her. When Yoshifumi ask how she felt about Taichi, Yui answer that she like him only as a friend. When Yoshifumi ask about himself, Yui claims that she likes him a lot less to Taichi and that she's not yet ready to go out with anyone. Despite hearing her responses, all Yoshifumi understood was that he still has a chance with Yui. Yui and Yoshifumi then return back to class to have their lunch. As the other three watch them walk away, Himeko left Taichi and Iori behind, asking them to think about their relationship.

While Taichi was at the clubroom after school, Iori walks in to the room and claim that she is Himeko. Taichi was then asked about his feelings her Iori and he answers that he has strong feelings for her; however he rather enjoys their current relationship. Suddenly, Himeko walks into the clubroom and Taichi realizes that he was actually talking to Iori. When he looks back at her, he finds Iori crying and she ran out of the clubroom. As Taichi was contemplating about what Iori last said to him, he realizes that he just fail to keep his promise to always recognize her. After getting punch by Himeko, she make Taichi go after Iori.

Taichi ran outside the school and encounters Fujishima; she saw Iori run past by but couldn’t do anything to help, so instead she let Taichi borrow her bike to catch up to her. Soon later, Taichi finds Iori standing at the bridge, staring at the sunset, and apologizes to her for not being able keep his promise. As Iori question Taichi how people usually views another person by their appearance, and only ask about their inside when they notices something odd. Iori comment how she constantly wear a different mask to suit her surrounding, and Taichi answers her that it is normal behaviour for someone to adapt themselves in any situation. Taichi announces to her that he will always see Iori as she is, and how each persona she makes is still a part of her. As Taichi carry on about how he will accept Iori, no matter what persona she takes, he then confesses his love to her.

Suddenly as Iori felt Taichi’s love, Heartseed took over her body. He announces to Taichi that he was getting bored of their event. So after handing Iori’s phone to Taichi, Heartseed first apologizes to Taichi before climbing onto the bridge rails, despite Taichi’s action, Heartseed plunge Iori’s body over the bridge and into the water far below.

Later that night, Iori is put in intensive care; her condition was getting worse and she could die any moment. The school contacted Iori’s mother about her condition and was on her way. As the group was waiting at the main reception of the hospital, Heartseed {in- Gotō’s body} appears in front of them and informs that Iori will die in thirty minutes. In this event, Heartseed tells them to pick a soul to die with Iori’s body and allows them the momentarily ability to swap-bodies amongst themselves by verbal request before her death. Heartseed soon left the group to make the sacrificial decision,

Accepting the death fate, Taichi volunteers to take Iori’s place to die. After hearing Taichi’s request, Himeko shouted at Taichi, telling him how devastated Iori will be if Taichi were to die in her place. Even though Taichi knows this, he cries out that still rather endure the pain instead of watching someone else suffer. Himeko soon realizes that Taichi also bears a burden and his ‘selfless’ trait was an extension of that pain. Himeko then calls him a fitting name: ‘Selfish freak’ which Taichi accepts; as he was only thinking about himself.

Afterwards, Yoshifumi state what he and the other girls were thinking. Even though it pains him so, the one to die in Iori’s body should be Iori herself. Taichi was reluctant, but every else agrees. Yoshifumi then swap bodies with Iori to allow her to understand what’s happening. When Iori {in-Yoshifumi’s body} heard about her condition from Himeko, she accepts her dying fate and agrees that her soul should be the one to die in her body. While Iori was swapping bodies to say her last words to each one individually. Iori {in-Himeko’s body} finally got to speak with Taichi; she was amazed that Taichi was still himself when everyone else was crying. Taichi tells her his reason was to allow her to cry as she cannot if someone else does so in front of her. In front of Taichi, she let out her tears in their last moments; she uses this time to confess her true feelings for Taichi, but cannot let herself to become his girlfriend that would die soon. As her last wish, believing that Himeko will forgive her for what she is about to do, Taichi gave her a very memorable kiss.

As it was nearly time, Heartseed awaits everyone decision for whom to die. The group decided that Iori will die in her body, Heartseed accept their decision before disappearing and Himeko returns to her body. The groups then waited to hear the doctor that came out of Iori’s room, while prepared to hear the worse; the doctor went against their expectation and announces that Iori has pulled through and will survive. Heartseed reappears and tell them that the whole thing was planned from the beginning, as well as stating there was no desire to hurt them, then Heartseed left in Gotō’s body to meet again at another time.

Later on, Iori finally recovers from her injuries and return to school. During Iori’s hospitalisation, the body-swapping phenomenon seems to have stopped. When Iori arrives at the clubroom, everyone threw her a welcome back party and while preparing the table, Himeko told Taichi that she heard about the kiss he shared with Iori, while in Himeko’s body. As Taichi feebly hide behind a paper plate, Himeko demand revenge for taking away her first kiss.