I decided to give the second episode of this series a try, in spite of my misgivings from the first episode. I'm just not sure what audience this is intended for, but the writing quality seemed good in the first episode, so I couldn't help but think it deserved another chance.

Summary:
To Heart 2 - Old Friend

Taka (short of Takaaki, since I'm sure I'm butchering that) is over at a friend (Yuuji)'s because its raining; at least that's what Yuuji leads us to believe. At the sound of a seemingly innoculous bell, Yuuji seems to get nervous and says he has chores to do, but insists
that Taka not try to go home in the rain.

In the hallway, Yuuji passes a redhaired girl who had the bell. She comes in, looking at Taka oddly and offers him a hot drink. She seems oddly familiar to Takaaki, but he can't recall from where or even her name. She seems to be convinced he will remember, not filling in any details. Taka stammers his way through the conversation. After a bit, she asks him if he's hungry, but as he insists he is not, his stomach gives him away. She leaves, amused at his efforts to remember

As she is preparing food, we learn that her name is Tamaki (Aneki), and as she cooks, we get a little background on her. She's a student who finished her most recent 3 year course at the girls' school in 2 years. She's been at girls' school for 7-8 years in total, and is a member of the Kosaka family.

As she tastes the food, she hears a noise and goes to check on Taka. As she listens at the door, she hears Yuuji trying to get Taka to hide, and she cryptically smiles and says "As expected". Coming in, she discovers them hiding and Taka has apparently remembered who she is.

From there, we get a flashback - they apparently knew each other as children, and she obviously had some sort of attachment to him. As we return to the present, she tries to hug him and he tries to get away. Just then Konomi arrives. As Taka tries to convince her to help get Tama off him, she recognizes Tama and jumps on top of the dogpile, then they go to eat.

The next day, Taka is awoken in his bed by... Tama! She tells him he shouldn't leave the keys in the same place as when they were kids She seems to know all his little peccadillos, and she tells him they're going shopping. Taka protests, but he really has nothing better to do. At some point, they meet up with Konomi and Yuuji. Tama says she'll buy both Konomi and Taka whatever they want as a
gift, but Taka doesn't know. As they walk by a lingerie store, Tama suggests that since Konomi is a high school student, she'll have to wear some nice underwear. Konomi is embarrassed, but Tama insists. Tama asks Taka for his opinion on what Konomi should get. As Taka evades questioning, Tama shows Konomi some sheer clothing. When Konomi gets embarrassed again, Tama asks Taka if it looks good on her instead. Tama evades again, and as they leave the store, Yuuji observes "Taka is so confused right now."

Another day comes and goes, and one morning, Tama can't find Yuuji. While out, she runs into Konomi, and says that Yuuji is missing but its no big deal since they have Taka around. They ring his doorbell, but no one is answering. Just then, they hear a muffled shout. Around the side, Yuuji and Taka are sneaking out, but they are discovered. They run, but Tama says she enjoys the challenge of chasing them down. Konomi can't keep up, so Tama says to wait, she'll be back.

No matter where they go, Tama is faster. She knows all their old hiding spots, and when she arrives at an old temple, she has a flashback to a similar situation at the same place when they were kids. Of course, their hiding spot is the same as back then, and Tama catches Taka. As they leave, we find out Tama is a third year. She comments to him how girls always grow up faster than boys. Apparently, when they were children, she tried to make a pinky promise with him so that he'd wait for her in 8 years when she came back (I'm not entirely clear what type of school this is, but I'll go with it for now). Tama says the promise has been fulfilled, since they're both here.

Konomi has caught Yuuji in the meantime, and the four head out on the town. We flash to the first day of school, where three are waiting on Tama. That's where Yuuji seems nervous when they say she's at girl's school... apparently, she's actually transferring to THEIR school.

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Unlike the first, this second episode helped me to feel better about the series in general. It's fairly obvious that the plot for this must have been taken from some sort of dating sim or the like, but at least they're not glossing over the personalities of the characters so far.

I'm still somewhat disturbed by how young Konomi seems, but I guess its okay for a first year high school student. It just seems off when you consider that Tama is only suppossed to be two years older than Konomi, yet she seems much older.

In the end, I've decided to give this series more of a chance, and see if it can stay out of the dating sim trap. I'm still skeptical, but the characters are proving interesting enough in general to stick around for another episode. I really do need to move away from some of these dating animes and move to something else. A dramatic space feature or something would do the job nicely.

Other than that, there's not much else to say... again, nothing untoward happens, you pervs.