If you finished the final episode of the first season and felt a weird mix of relief and massive frustration, you aren't alone. That "breakup" between Jogoro Kobato and Yuki Osanai was brutal. It was quiet. It was cold. It was exactly what you’d expect from two people who treat "being ordinary" like a high-stakes survival mission. But here’s the thing: Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2 isn't just a hopeful rumor. It’s a confirmed reality.
I’ve spent way too much time digging through the original light novels by Honobu Yonezawa. You might know him from Hyouka. If you do, you know the man loves a slow burn. He loves characters who are smarter than they look and probably more miserable than they’ll ever admit. The first season covered the first two books: The Case of the Springtime Strawberry Tart and The Case of the Summertime Tropical Parfait. But the story is far from over.
The Winter of Our Discontent (and Autumn too)
The production team at Lapin Track didn't leave us hanging for no reason. They officially announced that Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2 is scheduled for a April 2025 release. Honestly, that's a pretty quick turnaround for an anime that looks this crisp.
The next big chunk of the story comes from The Case of the Autumn-Exclusive Kuri-Kinton. This is where the "shoshimin" (petty bourgeois/ordinary person) lifestyle really starts to crumble. In the first season, we saw them try to play house. They tried to be the background characters. They failed. In Season 2, the stakes get significantly darker. We aren't just talking about stolen bikes or missing satchel bags anymore.
Kobato and Osanai have this toxic, fascinating "reciprocal relationship." They use each other as shields. Osanai has a "wolf" inside her—this vengeful, calculating streak that she tries to suppress with sugar and silence. Kobato has a "fox" inside him—a compulsive need to solve mysteries and show off his intellect. When they aren't together, they spiral. Season 2 is going to show us exactly what happens when those two impulses are left unchecked.
What actually happens next?
Basically, the "Autumn" arc involves a kidnapping. Yeah, things escalate quickly. Without spoiling the entire plot, Kobato finds himself pulled into a mystery that he can't just walk away from, mostly because it involves Osanai's safety—or perhaps her wrath.
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You’ve got to remember that the ending of Season 1 was a deliberate reset. They "broke up" their partnership because they realized they were enabling each other's worst traits. They wanted to be ordinary, but being together made them extraordinary (in a bad way). Season 2 will likely pick up with them living separate lives, trying desperately to be boring, and failing miserably because the world just won't let them be.
Why the Shoshimin Series Hits Different
A lot of people compare this to Hyouka, and I get it. Same author. Same "low stakes" mystery vibe. But Shoshimin is meaner. It’s more cynical. Oreki from Hyouka was just lazy; Kobato and Osanai are actually trying to hide who they are because they think their true selves are dangerous or social pariahs.
The animation style in Season 1 was a character in itself. Those saturated colors? The way the food looked better than real life? Lapin Track (the studio behind Sarazanmai and Undead Murder Farce) brought a specific aesthetic flair that made the mundane feel cinematic. We expect the same for Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2. The visual contrast between a beautiful autumn day and a cold, calculating mystery is what this series does best.
The Source Material Gap
Honobu Yonezawa is a slow writer. The series started way back in 2004, but the most recent book, The Case of the Wintertime Original Chocolate, only came out recently in Japan (April 2024). This is why the anime took so long to happen in the first place. There finally is enough material to actually tell a complete story.
- Springtime Strawberry Tart (Season 1)
- Summertime Tropical Parfait (Season 1)
- Autumn-Exclusive Kuri-Kinton (Season 2)
- Paris-choux Newspaper (Short stories, maybe OVA?)
- Wintertime Original Chocolate (Likely the end of Season 2)
If the pacing holds, Season 2 will be the "Winter" of their relationship. It’s going to be colder, more analytical, and probably a bit heartbreaking.
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Addressing the Mystery Fatigue
Some critics say nothing happens in this show. I think they're missing the point. The mystery isn't "who stole the tart?" The mystery is "why are these two teenagers so terrified of being themselves?"
In Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2, we are going to see the consequences of their "ordinary" pact. When you spend all your energy trying to fit in, you lose the ability to handle outliers. Kobato's deductive skills are a curse. Osanai's need for vengeance is a literal fire. You can’t put a lid on that forever.
The "Kuri-Kinton" arc is widely considered the best in the series because it forces the characters to stop playing games. It’s less about deductions and more about character deconstruction. If you liked the psychological tension of the "Berliner" episode in Season 1, you are going to love where Season 2 goes.
What you should do while waiting for April 2025
Waiting sucks. I know. But there are a few things you can do to get ready for the next drop.
First, go back and re-watch the "Tropical Parfait" arc. Pay attention to Osanai's face when she's NOT eating sweets. The animators put so much subtle detail into her expressions that hint at the "wolf" underneath. It makes the transition into the Autumn arc much more satisfying.
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Second, check out the manga adaptation if you can find it. While the anime is the definitive version for most, the manga (illustrated by Manjuya Anko) handles some of the internal monologues a bit differently. It gives you a deeper look into Kobato’s self-loathing, which is a big driver for his actions in the upcoming season.
Finally, keep an eye on the official Japanese Twitter (X) account for the series. They’ve been dropping "seasonal" art that usually hints at the color palette and mood of the upcoming episodes. Given the 2025 release window, we can expect a full trailer by late 2024 or early 2025.
Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2 isn't just a sequel; it’s the second half of a very specific, very strange puzzle. It’s about two people who are too smart for their own good trying to navigate a world that demands they be simple. It’s going to be a wild, sugary, slightly terrifying ride.
Next Steps for Fans
- Confirm the Timeline: Mark April 2025 on your calendar. This is the confirmed broadcast window for the Japanese premiere, with international streaming (likely Crunchyroll) expected to follow simultaneously.
- Read the Winter Novel: If you can access a translation of The Case of the Wintertime Original Chocolate, read it. It provides the most recent context for where the characters end up after the events of the upcoming Autumn arc.
- Study the "Hyouka" Connection: Watch or re-watch the "Cultural Festival" arc of Hyouka. It was written by the same author and deals with similar themes of "the talentless vs. the talented," which will be a major focal point in Shoshimin's second season.