Kokoro Connect

Club members experience mysterious body swaps involving the class president

Taichi Yaegashi, Iori Nagase, Himeko Inaba, Yoshifumi Aoki, and Yui Kiriyama belong to the Cultural Research Club. Yoshifumi and Yui report a body swap from the previous night, which the group initially doubts. The claim gains credibility when Taichi swaps with Iori and is approached by class president Maiko Fujishima. The group spends the afternoon convincing Himeko of the phenomenon's reality. Eventually, all involved return to their original bodies after the events of the day conclude.

Heartseed Reveals Himself as the Body Swapping Culprit

Himeko, Yoshifumi, and Yui experience a collective body swap before returning to their original forms. The group fabricates excuses for their teacher, Mr. Goto, after Taichi briefly exchanges places with Yui and faces interrogation from Iori regarding his actions. A figure known as Heartseed, who had swapped with Mr. Goto, reveals himself as the cause of the phenomenon and departs after a vague explanation. The friends then strategize on managing the situation discreetly. A week later, Iori swaps with Yoshifumi and discusses the impact on individuality with Taichi. The following day, Taichi and Himeko switch bodies, forcing them to perform class duty with Maiko. During this time, Himeko, inhabiting Taichi’s body, seeks revenge by declaring to Maiko that Iori belongs to her.

Taichi helps Yui overcome her trauma while Himeko worries about their bond

Taichi confronts Himeko regarding her comments to Maiko, leading her to suggest he has feelings for Iori and expressing concern that body swapping might damage their relationships. Taichi and Yoshifumi discover Yui’s fear of men, which she explains stems from a middle school assault attempt where she felt unable to fight back. To help her overcome this trauma, Taichi instructs Yui on targeting the groin, a universal male weakness. Empowered by this knowledge, Yui regains confidence and resumes martial arts training. However, the episode concludes with Himeko suddenly collapsing in front of Taichi, leaving the situation unresolved.

Taichi reveals secrets to Himeko while Iori shares her past struggles

Taichi and Iori escort Himeko home, prompting the girls to question Taichi about his history with Yui, which shocks Iori due to her ignorance of Yui's androphobia. Iori then confides in Taichi about her mother’s frequent remarriages, explaining how she altered her personality to please others and lost her original self. The following day, Taichi confronts Himeko, who admits she distrusts the group regarding body usage and hates these feelings. Taichi reassures her that she need not change for acceptance and confesses he views her and the other girls sexually. Himeko is moved by this honesty, decides to share her issues with the group, and finds their acceptance.

Confession and Death: Heartseed's Body Swap Ultimatum

Yoshifumi confesses to Yui, who declines due to being unready. Iori, disguised as Himeko, asks Taichi about his feelings, but Himeko exposes the ruse. Taichi chases Iori to a bridge, confessing his love before Heartseed possesses her, forcing her to jump into the river. In intensive care, Heartseed, inhabiting Goto's body, informs the group that Iori will die soon. They have thirty minutes to choose whose soul will perish to save her, granting them the power to swap bodies verbally. Iori, having swapped with Yoshifumi, offers to sacrifice herself. Before the decision, she confesses her love to Taichi and requests a kiss while in Himeko's body. Heartseed reveals the event was a plan, and Iori survives. Upon returning to school, the group assumes the swapping has ceased, while Himeko seeks revenge on Taichi for stealing her first kiss.

Taichi and Iori navigate unconscious impulses and police custody after a clubroom incident

Three weeks after the body swap, Taichi and Iori struggle to talk alone while the club works on a paper. During a solo meeting, Himeko makes advances on Taichi until Yui interrupts by smashing a table. That night, Taichi and Iori act unconsciously, allowing them to discuss their confession. The group later learns Yui and Yoshifumi are in police custody for assaulting men who harassed women. Heartseed reappears to explain that the group is experiencing a phenomenon where their bodies impulsively act on their deepest desires. As they discuss the need to avoid involving innocent people, Himeko conceals her doubts. Finally, Iori contacts Taichi to suggest postponing their relationship until the strange phenomenon ends.

Concerns arise as Yui stays home and Himeko warns Taichi about unleashed desires.

Friends worry about Yui’s absence since the incident. Himeko warns Taichi that helping others could be dangerous. The group visits Yui, who fears hurting people again. Himeko then unleashes her desire to scold Yui, claiming everyone is at risk if they do not satisfy Heartseed’s need for entertainment. Taichi argues with Himeko, calling her a coward for avoiding situations. His desires drive him to reprimand her for her cowardice. The episode focuses on the tension between Yui’s fears, Himeko’s harsh warnings, and Taichi’s confrontational approach to their shared predicament involving Heartseed.

Taichi injures Iori during an argument with Yoshifumi while Himeko grows distant.

Himeko increasingly distances herself from the group, prompting concerns about Yui that lead Taichi and Yoshifumi to argue. When Iori attempts to intervene, Taichi’s desires cause him to accidentally injure her. As the class organizes a field trip, Iori feels isolated due to the growing distance from both Himeko and Taichi. Meanwhile, Mr. Goto asks Taichi to assist with carrying school equipment. During this time, he is advised to seek guidance from his friends, while Maiko suggests he reflect on what matters most to him.

Taichi reconciles with friends while Heartseed exposes Himeko's hidden fears

Taichi apologizes to Iori, choosing to remain with his friends despite potential conflict. Following this reconciliation, he also resolves his differences with Yoshifumi, though Himeko continues to avoid them. Remembering how body-swapping helped Yui overcome her androphobia, Taichi and Yoshifumi encourage her to return to school by asserting that desires can be managed through willpower. Meanwhile, Heartseed visits Himeko's home, revealing her suppressed emotions that she believes could destroy the group if they were ever made public.

Himeko confronts her insecurities and confesses to Taichi after a field trip scare.

During a school field trip to the mountains, Himeko worries about Heartseed’s previous warnings. Iori notices Himeko’s romantic feelings for Taichi and confronts her. Himeko admits she suppressed her emotions to keep the group together, believing she was too weak to be loved. Iori encourages her to stop self-deprecating and reaffirms their friendship. Suddenly, Heartseed possesses Iori, falsely claiming Taichi fell off a cliff. Panicked, Himeko rushes to find him, only to discover he merely fell from a tree while saving a kitten. Relieved, Himeko cries. With the desire unleashing phenomenon over, she decides to confess to Taichi. Although rejected, she remains confident she might win him over someday and kisses him.

Yui and Iori revert to younger ages before Heartseed tasks Taichi with secrecy

On the eve of winter break, Yui and Iori temporarily revert to a younger age between 12pm and 5pm. They lose memory of the event but retain feelings from that time. That night, a second Heartseed appears through Taichi’s sister, instructing him to watch over the group and keep its existence secret. The following day, Taichi finds Yui arguing with old karate rival Chinatsu Mihashi over a forgotten promise. Later, Himeko and Yoshifumi shrink at an abandoned building. Ten-year-old Yoshifumi compares Yui to Nana Nishio, a former date, causing internal conflict regarding his feelings for both girls. After reverting to normal age, Yoshifumi explains Nana moved away. The next day, Taichi and Himeko watch over a 14-year-old Iori while Himeko expresses her concerns about the situation.

Yui confronts her past trauma and androphobia while Yoshifumi clarifies his feelings.

The group cares for baby Iori while Yui loses a karate match to Chinatsu. Yoshifumi questions if his affection stems from Yui resembling Nana. On the second New Year day, Yui reverts to her assault timeline and recalls that age vividly. Yoshifumi urges her to stop avoiding issues. Yui explains to Taichi that her androphobia prevented her from keeping a promise to meet Chinatsu at the national karate tournament. She laments her current weakness. Yoshifumi visits Nana to confess his love for Yui, then reaffirms his feelings to Yui directly. This support helps Yui overcome her androphobia and embrace him. Himeko later suspects Taichi is hiding secrets from the group.

The Five Together Face Age Reversion and Iori's Past Choices

Taichi confesses his secrets while Heartseed causes random age regression, affecting him and others. The group stays hidden in a building to avoid detection. Iori worries about her mother, who faces threats from her violent ex-husband. After briefly reverting and recovering memories, Iori attempts to leave alone but is stopped by her friends. Taichi, Iori, and Himeko approach the house but retreat when Iori turns into a baby. The first Heartseed appears, ending the regression and offering Iori a chance to change her past. Encouraged by Taichi and Himeko, Iori refuses, accepting her history. The group visits Iori’s mother, leading to mutual understanding and her rejecting her ex-husband. Iori thanks her friends, and Yui apologizes to Chinatsu. As winter vacation ends, Iori questions her feelings for Taichi.

#14

#15

#16

#17