Haruo and Akira are the iconic duo and poster characters of this sensational rom-com. I call this a romantic comedy because this season has been a roller-coaster of plot about their relationship. Beyond the game competitions, the two face personal obstacles. But at the same time, Hi Score Girl still flirts with their relationship. With just 9 episodes, it had to make room for us to get invested into what it’s trying to sell.
Luckily, it managed to do just that.
If you remember the previous season and the extra episodes, Hi Score Girl had established Haruo as an avid gamer while Akira Oono is the silent game prodigy. Existing as polar opposites, the show bonds them together through their mutual passion of video games. Regardless how you think about them, it’s undeniable that the two share a close chemistry that began as video gamers but begins to transform into a genuine relationship. This type of bond isn’t uncommon in our world either considering how gamers become friends from the Internet to real life. In fact, Haru himself has made real friends because of his love of video gaming. On a realistic level, Hi Score Girl connects its themes together to formulate the video game culture and tell its story. It does add rom-com elements because of the core relationship between the two main characters. But if you’ve been following this anime closely, it’s where the show really shines.
Somewhere in the middle, there’s also Koharu Hidaka, a classmate of Haruo. Unlike either character, she is more outgoing and in general more sociable as a main character. There’s a love triangle between her, Haruo, and Koharu and the series doesn’t waste much time showing that. Similar to the previous season, Koharu adds a breath of fresh air as it gives a chance for Haru to be more of himself. In respect, Koharu’s love for video games are amplified when she’s near Haru. She always wants to impress him and prove herself, especially when it comes to fighting games. It’s a genre that has been a mainstay of the show and this season raises the stakes. I’m not just talking about prize money either. It’s more about who can show how much they’ve changed or improved as a person. When you have a show a devoted to characters telling their story, it makes it that much more fascinating about the characters themselves. From a storytelling perspective, there’s drama, light comedy, emotions, and most of all, development. Without a shadow of a doubt, Haruo and Akira’s relationship is a key component that holds this season together.
But if that wasn’t enough, this sequel does also add in an adequate amount of popcorn entertainment content. Thanks to additions such as Makoto Ono (Akira’s older sister) and Haruo’s friends, they make room for moments of sarcastic humor. Hi Score Girl has been a lighthearted show despite some of its heavy drama. I confess that I probably laughed more unintentionally than I should have thanks to the personality of the characters. In particular, Makoto exist as an almost complete opposite of her sister. With a rebellious attitude and sociable personality, she’s more of an outdoors girl. When interacting with Haruo, she displays a commanding presence that puts him to shame. On the other hand, Haruo’s friends are goofballs who gets made fun like nerds at school. The show uses its sarcastic humor and pokes fun of the game culture through these characters. In later episodes, there are also creative imaginations told through video game narratives. But yet, this humor never runs dry on its course. It uses just enough time to entertain us but not overextend itself.
Hi Score Girl II is more than just a sequel. From this rom-com exists a character pair that made us see how important gaming is by bringing two people together. Gaming in modern years has been ubiquitous with battle royales, gacha, and long running sequels. Fighting games has been a niche field that spells nostalgia and this sequel brings that sensation back. With Haruo and Akira back for another season, it’s time to experience it one more time.
