Hyouka - Episode 2

Eru in casual attire <3

Looking at the first two episodes of this series, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that the story is just about the four friends solving little mysteries together. To those who enjoy anime that focus primarily on the story, this may be a bit of a letdown. However, I speculate that these seemingly simple and childish mysteries serve a few purposes and will end up being a basis for what is to come in the remaining episodes.

Despite the simplicity of the "book mystery" in this episode, it was helpful in showing that Eru had realized something about Hōtarō. On the surface, the only use for the mystery was to introduce the new character, Ibara Mayaka, since it had to do with books in the school library where she volunteers at. In a way, her introduction sealed the deal between the two pairings in this episode - Hōtarō x Eru and Satoshi x Mayaka - which is usually not done in most anime until later on in the series. With that being said, this is most likely a sign that romance will not be a big element in the story.

Going back to what Eru's unknown thoughts regarding Hōtarō, the seriousness of her face during their meeting at the cafe definitely means that what she's about to "confess" should not be taken lightly. Eru's normally cheerful personality accentuates the importance of the issue that is at hand. There weren't any clues that I could see which would provide a hint as to what Eru has on her mind right now. The placement of this cliffhanger works well in the sense that it makes viewers think about what Eru is going to say; anything from an anti-climatic to plot-twist-worthy statement is possible.

Putting all that aside, Eru was absolutely adorable once again. There were so many times where I just wished I could've been in Hōtarō's shoes while watching this episode. Mayaka's character further defines Eru's cuteness as the two girls have contrasting personalities. Both the casual attire at the cafe, as well as the maid outfit in Hōtarō's imagination, showed off her physical beauty wonderfully, with the former being my preference.

Lastly, the ED made its debut in this episode.
ED: It was enjoyable to listen to. The vocals were soft enough (not in terms of volume, but the strength put into each syllable) to match the overall feel of the visuals. From the two girls' point of view, the lyrics were very meaningful. It's not hard to imagine myself listening to the full version of this when it comes out.