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A Spotlight Preview by AJtheFourth

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Kobato falls from the sky, and right into our hearts.

We all have a place we wish to be, whether it be a figurative position in life like becoming a world-class artist, or a literal location like Kyoto, Japan. All too often these dreams are put off for ‘when the time is right,’ because we don’t have the means to do so, or simply because we just don’t think it’s possible.

Kobato Hanato

and her grumpy sidekick, Ioryogi.

Kobato Hanato, like all of us, has a place that she desires to be more than anywhere else. In order to get there she has been given instruction to heal as many human hearts as possible. Her efforts are measured by how many broken hearts, which are physically manifested as konpeito (sugar candy), she is able to fill a small glass phial with. This sets up a basic magical girl storyline, where Kobato tries to heal at least one heart per episode.

"You'll have to try harder to fill that whole phial!"

"I'm so excited that I healed someone's heart!"

The only problem is that Kobato herself is not a magical girl. She's actually a very dense girl with absolutely no street sense, who usually muddles things up before she is able to fix them. This is countered by the fact that she is very pure of heart, cares deeply about others regardless of her ulterior motive to go to the place she wants to be, and pours all of her effort into completing the task at hand. In fact, Kobato often forgets about her mission to collect broken hearts and, instead, goes charging into other people's business haphazardly with the fervent desire to help. Fortunately, it's this compassion she has for others that ultimately makes her successful at healing broken hearts.

"I'll do my best!"

"Even if I have no idea
what I am doing!"

This is to the dismay of her gruff sidekick Ioryogi, who is made to resemble a stuffed toy dog. (Think Kero-chan from Cardcaptor Sakura only angrier and more dedicated to his job) He constantly berates her on her clumsiness, senselessness, and overall lack of self-preservation. It's obvious that underneath his tough exterior, he really does care about Kobato, but this caring is quickly forgotten when she accidentally dumps him in a mud puddle, or drops him in the middle of the street. It is Ioryogi that first reveals Kobato's mission to the viewer as he debriefs her, much like a little stuffed military captain, in the first episode. It's also through Ioryogi that we learn a bit more about Kobato and her purpose.

At the end of the day, Ioryogi scores Kobato
on her ability to heal hearts.

She must have done something terrible
to get a negative 100!

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