Overview (Spoilers Below):
A new school year begins for Raido and Aharen, and they’re joined by a new classmate.
Our Take:
It has been three years since I experienced Aharen-san for the first time, which I thought would be a one-and-done type of anime. But it proved me otherwise with the release of its second season, which has been a long time coming for the source material’s fans. Initially, a high-school rom-com involving two emotionless students wouldn’t have worked out well regarding its concept. However, I admired its visual humor and charming aesthetics well enough to consider it a satisfyingly surprising addition to one of anime’s most popular genres. This left me confident enough to revisit these deadpan lovebirds via the show’s long-awaited second season, leaving me wondering what other mishaps they’ll encounter.
For starters, Aharen and Raido are officially dating as they enter their second year at school together. While it may indicate some room for potential character growth, the first episode of season two showcases that some things haven’t exactly changed since we last saw these characters. However, it does have some minor changes that’ll test their bond and our funny bones. One of which is that Ms. Tobaru, the literature teacher, is now Raido and Aharen’s homeroom teacher for their second year, and yes, she still gets nosebleeds whenever she sees them together. The other topic of this episode is a gyaru transfer student named Riku Tamanaha, a socially shy yet ecstatic introvert who knew Aharen from elementary school. Riku intended to form long-lasting friendships, especially with Aharen, but her timidness tends to overwhelm her. But, at the very least, Riku did put in the effort to come out of her shell despite a few misunderstandings.
“A Transfer Student, Huh?” didn’t take more than a minute to remember how much I enjoyed Aharen-san for its humor and heart. For the latter, we see two former childhood friends, Aharen and Riku, making amends for their misunderstandings, with Aharen believing that her “aloofness“ drove people away from her. At the same time, Riku believed that her over-friendliness drove them apart. In a way, the “transfer student“ plot isn’t as random as Aharen’s fatigue and Tobaru’s nosebleeds. Instead, it progresses Aharen’s coming-of-age journey of being more open towards other people while being promoted as Raido’s girlfriend. Accompanied by its charismatic high school comedy and vibrant chibi-type animation, the episode is a welcoming start to the characters’ second year, which offers more of the same as the show’s first season. Considering my enjoyment of the previous season, it’s all the better for it.