region2 DVD: pub: Revelation Films. FUN72402. 1 DVD 120 minutes 5 episodes plus extras. Price: £15.99 (UK).

check out website: www.revfilms.com and www.rumblinghearts.com

Haruka has woken up from her coma but life isn't simplified. Due to the neurological trauma, her doctor advise all visiting to not tell her three years have passed and to carry on pretending life is the same as it was before the accident. This leaves Akane, Takayuki and Mitsuki almost in a state of high school limbo when seeing Haruka in the hospital. This in turn makes interactions out of the sight of Haruka slightly more volatile and adds to the overall dilemmas they all face.

This artificial time stasis is almost a reality for both Akane and her parents as there lives revolve around Haruka. For Takayuki, his life has moved on to some degree, no longer inhabiting an emotional pit of despair having almost totally given up after Haruka's accident. Thanks to Mitsuki's love for him, he now functions on some sort of normal level. Takayuki is keen to help in Haruka's rehabilitation. Her parents ask for his help, but he is hesitant to reform the relationship that he once had or reveal the relationships he has now with Mitsuki. Each visit presents an awkwardness not only to maintain the illusion that things haven't moved on but Haruka's need for emotional and physical closeness from him. Akane herself becomes increasing hostile toward Mitsuki who she sees as the person who is trying to take Takayuki away from Haruka.

Things start to get strained as Mitsuki tries to talk to Takayuki about the situation. All her efforts seem to cause more problems with the relationship. Her suspicions grow and, in her sorrowful state, has a night out on the town. Things are said and the situation and their relationship worsen. Both you as a viewer and Mitsuki start to question whether Takayuki again has feelings for Haruka. This is almost reaffirmed when Mitsuki visits Haruka and finds all that Haruka talks about is Takayuki. You also start to get the feeling that their mutual friend Shinji has some feelings toward Misuki although he always says that she should persevere Takayuki.

Mitsuki gives Takayuki an ultimatum and he stops visiting Haruka which only serves to make the relationship deprecate further. For Mitsuki, ironically, time seems to have stopped for her. The relationship she craves for seems to be slipping away. Takayuki is torn between the two women. His life to is in limbo. Akane, though, is running up to breaking point with all the lies and pretending that time has stood still. At some point, the pressure must be released.

At times, this series has truly heart-breaking moments. You just yearn for the characters to have some happiness. Haruka starts to ask more and more questions and seems unsure of Takayuki's feelings towards her, even with his reassurances. There is so much that is held back by each of the characters as they try and fail to hold it together.

There are no filler episodes here, although the series does take its time so don't expect anything to happen quickly. The episodes weave with both your emotions and that of the characters. The painfully emotional scenes are not resolved and problems become layered rather that solved. The writing is superb with very believable interactions. The only real downside is a lack of extras with textless opening and closing songs. Otherwise, an excellent continuation of the series.

Phil Jones