SHOSHIMIN Season 2 - Winter Special Episode Release Date

Fans of SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary have something exciting to look forward to this week! The anime is finally diving into the next big arc from the series — Winter Special: The Bonbon Chocolate Case. This storyline officially begins with Episode 18 (Season 2, Episode 8), airing on May 24, 2025.

SHOSHIMIN Winter Special Plot

In this emotional and mysterious new chapter, we pick up in December, just as Kobato and Osanai are preparing for their upcoming university entrance exams. But their plans for an uneventful winter take a dark turn when Kobato is suddenly the victim of a hit-and-run incident while walking with Osanai. He’s rushed to the hospital, setting off a fresh wave of mystery and drama that promises to keep viewers hooked.

The Winter Special arc is adapted directly from Honobu Yonezawa’s novel The Bonbon Chocolat Case, part of the beloved Shoshimin Series. The anime’s ability to blend quiet character moments with shocking events is one of the reasons fans continue to praise its storytelling style and direction.

Release Date

Winter Special begins May 24. And if past episodes are any indication, it’s going to be visually stunning, emotionally rich, and full of thoughtful twists.

New Trailer 

The trailer is already out, and you can catch a glimpse of what’s to come in the official trailer:

Where to Watch

SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. If you're into high-school mystery dramas with a sharp psychological edge, this one deserves a spot on your watchlist.

 Season 2 Focus

Season 2 continues adapting stories from Honobu Yonezawa’s Shoshimin Series, focusing on:

• Autumn Special – The Candied Chestnut Case

• Winter Special – The Bonbon Chocolate Case

Main Cast

• Director: Mamoru Kanbe (Elfen Lied, The Promised Neverland)

• Series Composition: Toshiya Ono (The Promised Neverland, Blue Exorcist)

• Character Design: Atsushi Saito (Love of Kill)

• Music: Takahiro Obata

• Animation Studio: Lapin Track

 What’s SHOSHIMIN About?

Based on the novels by Honobu Yonezawa—best known for the beloved mystery anime Hyouka—the show follows two high school students, Kobato and Osanai, who want nothing more than to live quiet, ordinary lives. After enduring what they call “wisdom work,” the pair forms a pact to avoid trouble. However, life has other plans, and that's when the show gets really interesting.

Every time they try to stay out of the spotlight, strange events and mysteries seem to find them. Whether it’s accidents, misunderstandings, or full-blown criminal cases, the two are constantly drawn back into the chaos they’re trying to avoid.

Writer’s Thoughts

The production quality of Shoshimin is absolutely next level. The animation is fluid, with rich color palettes, stellar sound design, and creative camera work that elevates even the calmest dialogue scenes. The way it transitions between scenes to reflect character emotions or internal thoughts? Honestly, genius. It's rare to see direction this thoughtful, especially with such low-key protagonists.

Studio Lapin Track is killing it. If you’re new to their work, I highly recommend checking out Undead Murder Farce, their project just before Shoshimin. It's another mystery anime, and while it has a different director, there's overlap in the creative team—and it shows. The deduction scenes in that series are just as well-produced and captivating.

Also, if you loved how Shoshimin incorporated real-world visuals into its ED and second OP, give Sarazanmai a watch—especially the ending theme. It's a great example of Lapin Track’s experimental visual style, and you can definitely feel the creative connection between the two.