WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Episode 7 of Horimiya, "You're Here, I'm Here" now streaming on Funimation.
Horimiya's Miyamura and Hori took an enormous step in their relationship as they realized how much they couldn't stand being apart from each other in Episode 7. While that is a significant moment, the subtle changes to the opening theme of Horimiya are just as substantial. Most of the changes happen in the latter portion of the opening theme and show a crucial emotional shift in Miyamura.
The small changes in the opening highlight Miyamura's growth and him finally accepting someone into his heart. Although Miyamura and Hori had started dating a few episodes prior -- and Miyamura cut his hair in Episode 6 -- the OP changes make sense at this point in the story. Beyond the physical aspects, these shifts signify a turning point for Miyamura.
One of the first shots in the original opening is a single desk and chair with a clock without any hands on top. The second version opens similarly, but with one difference: there are hands now, and it's ticking forward. Before, Miyamura had felt entirely lost and stuck in his life, with time having no meaning anymore. Now that he's met Hori, Yuki and Ishikawa, things are finally moving forward, and, importantly, he's now looking forward to living his life.
Miyamura's depression was represented by a box he felt stuck in and couldn't get out of. He's shown carrying the box, keeping it close to his chest as an act of self-preservation. In the new opening, he's reaching out for the box, but surprisingly another hand reaches out at the same time -- most likely Hori -- showing that this isn't a weight that's his alone to carry. He wasn't anticipating anyone to help him, so Hori offering her hand is what gives him the strength to break himself out of the box.
At this point, the opening begins to shift with much brighter colors now, showing that Miyamura isn't in the darkness anymore. The last shot remains the same, showing Miyamura standing in front of a mirror, but there is a subtle change where he is now smiling instead of turning away. Again, these slight changes speak to Miyamura's happier outlook.
Despite Miyamura befriending Hori, and later Ishikawa and Yuki, fairly early on in the series, he doesn't instantly accept them into his life. That distance was highlighted in the initial version of the opening as the friends were all separated by windows. Miyamura even walks past and ignores Hori -- similar to how he brushed off Ishikawa insisting that Hori was in love with him.
Gone are those barriers in the newest version, as the four of them are together on the beach, playing with sparklers and laughing together. Gloomy shadows were cast on Hori before, but a warmth around her face replaces that darkness. Also, Ishikawa and Yuki were apart from each other, but now the two are laughing together as the four play on the beach.
In a beautifully animated sequence in Episode 7, Miyamura and Hori become much more emotionally vulnerable with each other. The touching scene is set with rain falling, and only the two of them sequestered in Hori's room, truly making it feel like only the two of them exist.
The scene has particular significance in the context of the opening theme and why the changes came in the seventh episode. Miyamura's isolation is focused on in the previous version, but this change is motivated by the scene where he and Hori take turns listening to each other's hearts. While they were only away from each other for five days, they hadn't realized how intrinsic they are in each other's lives. The weight of this poignant scene and powerfully intimate moment shows how much they trust each other, which is massive for both of them.
Although we've seen Miyamura undergo some significant changes -- like having friends, dating Hori and cutting his hair -- the OP change wouldn't have made sense until Episode 7. In a story where Hori and Miyamura were afraid to show their real selves, this opening theme change was symbolic of them choosing to be vulnerable to each other -- opening the door for love and to the potential of being hurt.
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