Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary – Season 1 Episode 10 Recap, Review & Ending Explained

Episode 10 of Shoshimin: How To Become Ordinary begins with Yuki promising Kobato that no one will discover the truth about what she did. 

What new details does Yuki unveil about her previous plan?

Yuki says Sanae helped her spread a rumor that Isawa and her accomplices would be paid if they kidnapped Yuki. She explains she enticed Sanae to bring the voice modulator. Yuki claims Isawa and the others tampered with the device. She tells Kobato that she convinced Sanae that this was all Sanae’s idea. 

Then, Yuki holds up the voice recorder device. She argues it will serve as evidence that Sanae threatened her. Yuki hopes this will prevent her from feeling like the true mastermind. 

Why is Kobato upset with Yuki’s plan? How does Yuki respond to Kobato?

Kobato tells Yuki why she shouldn’t lie and frame people for crimes they didn’t commit. Yuki’s baffled by Kobato’s comments. While Yuki realizes she broke her promise to experience life as an ordinary person, she argues Kobato did too. Yuki brings up Kobato’s love for solving mysteries as an example. 

She says she did what she did out of fear of what Isawa would do to her. Yuki says if pursuing ordinary lives is a lie, then they’re nothing more than arrogant teenagers. 

Do Yuki and Kobato terminate their relationship?

Eventually, Yuki tells Kobato they shouldn’t be together anymore. Kobato reflects on the past “ordinary” deal he made with Yuki. The deal insisted that Kobato and Yuki wouldn’t get caught up in people’s dilemmas. Also, Kobato and Yuki must protect each other so no one would point fingers at them. 

Yuki reflects on her and Kobato’s goals and says things won’t change if they stick together. Although Kobato understands, he argues they should remain a pair. Yuki expected Kobato to respond to her that way. She wanted to wait until they resolved the Isawa ordeal before she ended things with Kobato. 

Kobato tells Yuki he’s in no position to hate her for the things she pulled. Yuki brings up their inability to quarrel properly as an example. Kobato understands and agrees they should go their separate ways. 

Do Kobato and Nakamaru become a couple? What happens between Kengo and Urino?

Some time passes. We see Kobato reading a book in his school’s library. Kobato pulls out a note from Nakamaru. Nakamaru wants Kobato to come to a specific classroom at 5:30 pm. Kobato visits the classroom and chats with Nakamaru. Nakamaru explains how she uncovered the truth about Kobato and Yuki’s break-up. 

She persuades Kobato to go out with her. Meanwhile, one of Kengo’s club members, Urino, confronts Kengo. Urino wants to publish an article about the recent abduction incident in their school’s newspaper. Kengo argues why that wouldn’t be a good idea. He suggests that Urino publish his story anonymously. 

After Urino presents Kengo with reasons to publish this story in their newspaper, Kengo agrees to hold a vote on it. Urino complies. 

How does Shoshimin: How To Become Ordinary Season 1 end?

Urino and Hiya discuss their club’s policies in a random classroom. The former admits he doesn’t want to relive his middle school years. Hiya understands and we learn Urino joined the newspaper club to prevent that. The former promises to root for the latter. Urino heads to the library and spots Yuki. 

The two have an awkward conversation. Urino asks Yuki if they could chat sometime because she caught his eye. Yuki complies because she likes straightforward boys. She suggests they visit a shop that sells delicious cakes. Shoshimin: How To Become Ordinary Season 1 ends with a car exploding in a field.

The Episode Review

Shoshimin: How To Become Ordinary Season 1 (Shoshimin) ended today. Yet, the season itself isn’t the only thing that concluded. Seeing Kobato and Yuki go their separate ways is saddening to a degree. While these characters weren’t as rounded and explored as one would like, it’s heartbreaking to see two people drift apart. 

Fortunately, Kobato and Yuki may have found people to fill that void. Based on how Nakamaru and Urino were treated in this chapter, it made sense for the studio to announce a second season. Episode 10’s cliffhanger also leaves fans with something to speculate on until that season arrives. 

Hopefully, it brings fans more favorable mysteries to solve than the ones season 1 kicked matters off with. Only time will tell on that front. Storytelling aside, this chapter’s soundtrack and visuals were appealing. The montage depicting Kobato and Yuki’s separate quests backs up this claim. 

But all in all, this was an okay way to end Shoshimin Season 1. We’ll see if season 2 can deliver the goods and improve upon the first season’s weaker aspects.