Episode 3 – SHOSHIMIN: How Do You Turn into Strange?

The cracks are beginning to present. We had a fairly good concept final week—and even within the first episode, if you happen to watch intently sufficient—that Kobato’s dedication to being “regular” was based mostly on how annoying folks discovered him in highschool. This week, he confirms that he was, the truth is, an unpopular Encyclopedia Brown with a facet of the asshole, and the implication is that he desires to be regular so he doesn’t find yourself in that place once more. His buddy Kengo has emotions about this resolution, nevertheless it is smart, even when Kobato is discovering it tougher to cease being mysterious than he anticipated.

However what about Osanai? Earlier than this week, we knew she had a candy tooth and needed to be “regular,” however that was about it. She appeared upset that her bike was stolen in episode one and that she was known as to the college counselor for being noticed on the scene of a criminal offense, however she didn’t appear to react that strongly; delicate annoyance gave the impression to be her default emotion. This week, nevertheless, issues modified. Not solely will we be taught that she not solely likes sweets, however she additionally eats cake when she’s indignant, however she additionally quite a lot of greater than “mildly” upset concerning the theft of her bike and the accompanying summons to the workplace. The expression on her face as she watches the thief experience previous on her bike is subtly, but startlingly, indignant, particularly given her lack of emotion so far. She would not simply need her bike again, she appears obsessive about the thought. Sure, she purchased a brand new one, however she nonetheless feels the ache of dropping the primary one, and when she’s summoned to the workplace once more after her deserted bike is run over, she’s livid. Even Kobato appears shocked by Osanai’s reactions, and the picture of her standing on a bridge in opposition to a blood-red sundown, smiling blissfully whereas primarily vowing to make the thief pay, made me rethink what made Osanai unjust within the first place.

We all know she might be onerous on herself generally—simply take a look at her response to lacking a query on her biology examination. We all know she desires what she desires—her dedication to get two strawberry shortcakes and her fixation on Kobato that made it doable made that clear. So what does this vengeful second inform us? Does Osanai have a imply streak? Is she a secret serial killer? Is she simply egocentric and never good at sharing? She appeared to eat Kobato’s mont blanc when he left to get his telephone from college, and appeared disproportionately indignant that he wasn’t returning her texts. I am unsure at this level, however I am positively beginning to fear. Kobato additionally appears to be within the discovery section of Osanai’s true self, and there are moments on this episode that make me assume he is slightly frightened of what he’ll uncover.

It appears virtually sure that he shall discover out, although. The mysteries he solves this week are small, however the clues do require some detective work. The extra attention-grabbing of the 2 is what prompted a vase in a locker to interrupt throughout exams in Osanai’s classroom. That one was fairly intelligent. The ice melting trick is a global basic (Homicide within the crooked home by Soji Shimada, printed in English by Pushkin Vertigo, is an efficient Japanese instance), and the way in which it’s used to bypass classroom instruction to maintain your eyes on the examination is smart. The driving college query is rather less thrilling, although it does set up that it’s essential take note of all of the textual content on the display screen.

I’m not solely offered on this sequence but, nevertheless it’s drawing me in additional with every episode. No matter Osanai is hiding might not profit from being pulled into the sunshine, however at this level I’m curious sufficient that I’d need to see episode 4 even when I weren’t writing about it.

Judgement:

SHOSHIMIN: How do you turn into regular? is at present streaming on Crunchyroll.