>>280464696
I think Sighs is great, but

>>280465151
>I think it’s an especially bad fit for the second volume

is right. It's meant to be frustrating in some ways. It's a "relapse" arc. It has tons of friction between the characters. It says a lot about them and the ending is a simple but practical and fitting solution. Of course I can't really speak for the LN since I haven't read this one, but in the anime I think it's really solid save for a slow startup, since it comes after season 1 + bamboo leaf rhapsody + endless eight rather than being immediately after Melancholy.

>>280468235
>it is much better IMO for Endless Eight to serve as her relapse period after her behavior in Sigh
I don't know about that since Haruhi's behavior during Endless Eight isn't meant to be particularly bad escapism. It had some heavy consequences on Nagato but that's more of an accident than Haruhi losing her way like she would do during Sighs or Melancholy: in Endless Eight, Haruhi had some noble intentions, mostly for Kyon to be his own man and not just a follower.

>the jarringness of having her act so selflessly in Live Alive right after her behavior in Sigh
Understandable. Sighs really is her worst relapse. On the other hand, I really like seeing Live Alive as an apology of sort. If you look at the lyrics of God Knows, they directly reference Melancholy 6, for which Haruhi seemingly "apologizes" to Kyon and declares her trust in him. Looking at this like that it wouldn't be too jarring to see that happen right after Sighs where she had her biggest fight with him.