There can be a certain level of frustration for romcoms that dance around the two main leads not saying they’re in a relationship when at a certain point in the narrative, it’s so clear that they are, so why keep denying the obvious? You put in the work to display that these two should be together, so at this point no one should be interrupting them or the two should be not denying while flustered that they’re not together. All of this to say, these elements are very much present in Volume 4 of The Dangers in My Heart.
And yet, a deft touch, good art, and a feeling of authenticity can cancel any frustrations about declaring themselves boyfriend/girlfriend. And this volume has so many sweet moments that makes it a delight to read as Kyotaro and Anna continue to recognize their feelings for each other.
Of course, we think back to where Kyotaro was at the beginning of the series — cringy, chuuni, etc — and where he is now, when Anna, who has her own “dark” side, gets along with him. Soon his thoughts swing from disliking the seemingly popular girl to now being unable to go days without the two communicating with each other. It ends up to a point in this volume where, when she usually initiates a text or call, he decides to call her first. We’ve been shown steady progression of his character throughout the series, but it reaches a high water-mark once he accepts that he really likes Anna.
The volume still features general romcom hijinks that are pretty typical. The first couple chapters involves Kyotaro supposedly borrowing a manga from Anna on Christmas Eve, only for the two to check out a café and go shopping. That said shopping trip turns into Kyotaro hiding with Anna in one of the changing stalls so he could avoid his sister, Kana, from seeing them together. A routine family trip to Akita takes a turn when Kyotaro fractures his arm while trying to take pictures of the snow for Anna. When he (foolishly) sends a picture of him to her in that state, Anna video calls him — in her loungewear — to see if he’s all right, which eventually leads to his sister seeing this exchange, and him subsequently panicking.
If some of these elements seem familiar in other romcom series, well, The Dangers in My Heart isn’t attempting to reinvent the wheel. How about another one: a New Year’s encounter gets steamy when Anna meets up with Kyotaro’s family at a local shrine, then later gets invited by Kana to stop by their home, and then later it’s just the two of them at the house once Kana claims she has to meet up with friends. But before said steam, Anna learns about Kyotaro’s cringe books he reads. And you later you get the classic boy accidentally falls on top of girl trope? So much familiarity…
…And I need more. At this point, it’s not about the situations — it’s when and where they occur that make it all work. And I can also say the characters, which includes Kana being a riot as she simultaneously broods and admires the situation with her little brother and Anna, and Moe, who just has some good lines that somehow work with her flirty personality, are a major reason why this series is great. And while Kyotaro and Anna aren’t together “officially,” their actions continue to show they have a level of affection that’s super heartwarming. Can only continue to see how their relationship continues to evolve in future volumes.