REVIEW: ‘Horimiya: The Missing Pieces’ Episode 2 — “Cooking Class”

Horimiya: The Missing Pieces Episode 2 picks up almost directly where the season started off, assuaging some concerns about storylines lacking narrative coherence. This time, Miyamura and Sengoku are agonizing over the upcoming sports days, arriving so soon after they managed to dodge having to take part in a gym class where they had to swim in the school’s pool. By linking the two episodes and the two characters shared despair over their rotten luck, “Cooking Class” instantly captures that energized humor that made the premiere such a comedic standout.

Despite the setup for the sports day, a major part of the episode contends with reintroducing the ensemble cast. Sakura is given the spotlight this week, as she is stuck with having to wrangle Sengoku and Remi in their cooking class, the latter two both disasters when it comes to all things culinary. From slicing vegetables to heating up curry, the two can’t figure it out, and the result is another densely joke-packed sequence. The character facial expressions in particular soar, their simplified faces in reaction to failure, proving to be a strong contrast against the series standard animation which prefers soft lines and softer lighting.

But perhaps the greatest line is when Sakura, facing the dejected Sengoku and Remi, promises that she’ll marry both of them if they aren’t able to find partners due to their abysmal cooking. They’re touched, and Sakura is dubbed “boyfriend material.” It’s a little thing but adds to an ever-present charm of the series which has no room for standard gender roles in their main characters and their relationships. From Hori’s more assertive attitude to Miyamura being labeled pretty by nearly every character he runs into, his declaration last week of being on his period, and more, the series isn’t so much challenging the norms as it is embracing that their characters don’t fit them in the typical (re: traditional) sense.

The assertive versus passive nature between Hori and Miyamura is expressed throughout the episode. It’s first seen in her encouragement for him to take part in the sports day, despite them being on different teams. Later, her strong personality shines through when she grows jealous, much to her chagrin, when she notices Miyamura sharing a textbook with another female student. By never forgetting the ages of the characters and allowing the main couple’s growth to happen without ever really threatening their relationship, moments like these play better because jealousy doesn’t cause a rift.

What’s amazing is that the moment not only allows for one of the funnier beats of the episode when she tells her friend she wasn’t jealous but murderous, but it also allows for one of the sweeter moments too. The writing in Horimiya: The Missing Pieces (but really the whole show) is so acutely aware of the differences of its main couple while also constantly showing their bond and demonstrating why they’re drawn to one another. Miyamura finds his own moment of jealousy, finding Hori with the blazer of another boy on her lap to keep her warm. With swift assuredness, he gives her his own sweater instead. The episode flips expectations, however, when Miyamura instantly puts on the blazer himself, so that the boy who leant it to her won’t feel awkward at the idea of her having not appreciated the gesture.

The pairing is wonderful and Hori has plenty of moments that stand out and exemplify why she’s such an extraordinary protagonist, but Miyamura is one of the most charming anime leads in ages. His general charisma is summed up in the first season when we first see all of his piercings and tattoos after having tried to go unnoticed at school. All conflicting soft lines with hard edges, the latter of which is more a defensive mechanism than anything else.

Horimiya: The Missing Pieces Episode 2 continues to deliver an abundance of heart and humor as we grow re-acquainted with these characters. The magnetism of the first season remains, and the humor has been doubled. From the continued, gorgeous animation from CloverWorks to the writing that allows these characters individual flourishes while bringing them together for a strong ensemble, “Cooking Class” is pure charm and a solid reminder of why we fell in love with this ragtag group in the first place.

Horimiya: The Missing Pieces is available now on Crunchyroll.