[HitokiriShadow]

Rewatch time!

So, when Heartseed first introduces itself as Goto, he says that its fine because Goto is healthy.... but "the problem would be that I lack motivation, tenacity, courage, spirit, and all that other stuff, I guess?" That's an explicit indication that his behavior is affected by his host body.

The first time, I wasn't entirely sure which thing Iori was referring to as the screw up, but now I think its clear she was referring to her remark about using pepper spray on a burglar not being a big deal, as that's what really set Yui off, and then Iori has that "oh fuck, I just stepped on a landmine" face.

... But then there's also that part right afterwards when she tries to touch Yui while in Aoki's body. But while that was also a screwup, it was a minor one and didn't cause any problems, so I'm not sure why Iori would be referring to that.

Hmmmm.... that was an awkward pause, but not quite like I first thought and the only sound effect was right as Iori pointed.

I initially thought Iori's "I screwed up" had to be referring to either letting the others find out about her home life (despite her showing no indication of caring about that when she actually told them) or triggering that reaction from Yui in the same scene. Iori's question for Taichi doesn't connect to either of those. However, it does make sense if its referring to her attempt to act normal with Yui while in Aoki's body, and that's the only situation in which she had both actual control over it (unlike Yui getting a look at her home life, which Iori couldn't do anything about) and definitely had knowledge about Yui for which she could reasonably think she should have acted differently.

I don't think I was reading too much into Yui's behavior. She definitely had some sort of traumatic past experience, the question is just how far the show is willing to go. Rape (attempted or otherwise) seems out of place for a show like this, but that was my first thought last time and it hasn't changed here, though there are certainly other possibilities.

In any case, whatever Yui's issues are, its not at all clear Iori knows Yui enough to know how to avoid the landmine she stepped on earlier, but she clearly knew Yui well enough to know better to do that when she was in Aoki's body. While it wasn't a big deal, that doesn't mean it wouldn't have weighed on Iori's mind. And most importantly, what Iori did there DOES lead directly to the question that she asked Taichi.

So, almost all signs point to me being wrong about Heartseed switching in for that part, and honestly, I'm glad I was. I much prefer that its actually Iori doing that. Playful happy characters like her are typically also.... well, not terribly bright, to put it kindly. There is often no sign of particularly intelligent thought in them. Iori already came across more nuanced than most, but I love that she clearly.... well, actually thinks and contemplates things like a normal human being. She's at least decently smart. She's playful and teasing, but she's not an idiot.

The end stuff with the volunteering and declaration of love is still pretty funny.