Manga Review: Changes of Heart Volume 2
I drug my feet a bit on starting the next volume of this series. Not because the first volume was bad per se, just that it didn’t grip me enough to immediately rush out and read the next volume. With it being digital only, I was waiting to accrue some points on my account to bring the $10.99 price tag down to something considered more appropriate.
Official Summary
After being dumped by her boyfriend, Koyori went to her longtime friend Hijiri's house to drink away her sorrow...and ended up spending the night with him! Not only that, he tells her he loves her—and she's not sure how to reconcile the new development with someone she's known since they were kids. After all, the stakes are high—if things don't work out, she'll hurt one of her closest friends. And to make matters worse, her ex wants to patch things up...? Koyori needs to figure out what she wants, before she loses it all.
Quick Information
Story and Art: KUJIRA
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Published: June 7, 2022
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, Drama
Rating: 18+
Series Status: Ongoing
Review
Price tag aside, this volume did a better job showing both Koyori and Hijiri interacting with one another. Their relationship feels more like they are dating. They both decide to spend an overnight trip together and Hijiri wants to surprise Koyori by handling all the details to surprise her.
Things don’t exactly go as planned. While Hijiri is very excited about the trip and stopping at all the places he planned to visit, Koyori puts on a brave face and pretends she's fine when she's actually feeling sick.
Eventually they both communicate, and once again I think this is the strongest part of the series: how these two characters can just talk about the situation they are in and how they are feeling. Communication is so important and usually series want to stretch out the lack of it for added drama. Change of Heart doesn’t let these hiccups drag on too long and it makes it feel believable. Both Hijiri and Koyori have been friends for so long they should be able to talk to one another. At least at some point. It's nice to see them working through their problems no matter how big or small.
Of course this series is a drama, and this volume does throw the whole “boyfriend’s ex” trope in the mix during their class reunion. But Hijiri being the good boy that he is doesn’t hesitate at all to explain to everyone just who he is dating and makes his stance very clear. It is refreshing to see a male lead open about his affection and dedication toward the female lead, instead of always having the female lead second-guessing herself and asking, “Is he really into me?”
The end of this volume tries to stir up more drama with both Koyori and Hijiri’s exes trying to get back with them. The exes come off like mustache twirling villains to me. I’ll probably still pick up the next volume and to see if the series picks up or if it's more of the same.
This volume improves upon Koyori and Hijiri’s relationship in healthy and supportive ways. Communication is always big for me and it was nice to see them talk and discuss things without needing extra drama hiding things from a partner usually drums up.