Blue box episode 2: Taiki sets his eyes on the nationals as he starts living with Chinatsu

In Blue Box episode 2 that released on October 10, 2024, Taiki's life takes a dramatic turn when Chinatsu, the girl he secretly admires, moves into his house.

This sudden change creates an awkward yet exciting dynamic for Taiki, who struggles to balance his feelings for Chinatsu with his personal goals.

As he navigates the complexities of living with his crush, Taiki sets a new challenge for himself, that is qualifying for the national badminton tournament. Through misunderstandings, budding emotions, and intense training sessions, the episode explores Taiki’s determination to excel in both his sport and his growing relationship with Chinatsu.

Blue Box episode 2: Chinatsu starts living at Taiki's house, which makes it awkward for the latter

Chinatsu Kano as shown in the Blue Box anime series (Image via TMS Entertainment)

In Blue Box episode 2, Taiki's world turns upside down when Chinatsu moves into his home, causing him to grapple with the surreal reality of living with his crush. This setup leads to a mix of awkward moments and internal struggles, as Taiki finds himself overly conscious of every little thing Chinatsu does.

When she tells him the bathroom is free, she notices his Shonen Jump, which he nervously lends her. Chinatsu admits she's relieved to have a familiar face, as living with strangers is stressful. Taiki, excited by her presence, feels guilty for focusing on living with a pretty girl instead of understanding her feelings.

Inumata Taiki Hina as shown in the Blue Box anime series (Image via TMS Entertainment)

During badminton practice, Taiki's energy is through the roof, which doesn’t go unnoticed by his friend Kyo. While Kyo congratulates Taiki on his unique living situation, he also warns him to keep it secret. Chinatsu has many admirers, and revealing that they live together could stir up jealousy and create problems for Taiki.

Though Kyo jokes that living with his crush should increase his chances of dating her, Taiki remains focused. He understands that Chinatsu left her family to pursue basketball, and he doesn’t want to distract her from her goals by asking her out. Inspired by her determination, Taiki sets his own lofty goal, to make it to nationals in the summer, despite knowing how difficult it will be as a first-year player.

Chinatsu ties her ribbon on Taiki's ankle (Image via TMS Entertainment)

At home, Taiki is shown working out while watching a video of his badminton performance. Chinatsu enters and shows interest in the video, surprising him with how casually she mentions watching him play at the gym. Flustered by this revelation, Taiki lets her view the video, and she compliments his performance.

Chinatsu, intrigued by his drive to improve, gifts Taiki a wish ribbon, a symbolic token she made as a reminder to herself to reach nationals. Touched by the gesture, Taiki accepts the ribbon, and Chinatsu helps him tie it on, noting how they now both share a goal. After she leaves, Taiki finds himself falling for her even more.

Blue Box episode 2: Taiki further complicates things, causing Chinatsu to act oddly

Hina as shown in the Blue Box anime series (Image via TMS Entertainment)

The next morning, as Taiki prepares to leave for practice during spring break, Chinatsu comments on his early departure. Taiki explains that as the lowest-ranking player on the badminton team, he has a lot of work to do, and he heads out, determined to keep improving.

At practice, Hina, noticing Taiki's unusual determination, questions him about any recent developments, but Taiki evades the topic, fearing that if Hina discovers his living situation with Chinatsu, word will spread, and his schoolmates might react badly.

A snapshot from the Blue Box anime series (Image via TMS Entertainment)

Later, Taiki has an awkward encounter with Chinatsu when she returns his wallet at school. He acts oddly, further complicating their relationship. Kyo advises Taiki to clarify things with Chinatsu before she feels ashamed about living together, but Taiki’s embarrassment holds him back.

In a chance moment when both Taiki and Chinatsu are filling their water bottles, they finally clear the air. Taiki admits that his avoidance stemmed from the fear of gossip, not because he was ashamed of her. Chinatsu, relieved, admits she thought he had a crush on Hina. Their misunderstanding resolved, the two share a light-hearted moment, but their interactions do not go unnoticed, as Hina spots them together.

Blue Box episode 2: Taiki is surprised to see Haryu walking with Chinatsu

Hina declares her support for Taiki (Image via TMS Entertainment)

As the badminton coach announces the internal matches to decide who will represent the team at nationals, the stakes rise for Taiki. He is determined, despite knowing that to make it, he will need to defeat his senior, Haryu, a skilled player who ranked third in the prefecture last year. The episode ends with a cliffhanger, as Taiki, while walking home with Hina, sees Haryu and Chinatsu together, leaving him startled and uncertain about what lies ahead.

Final thoughts

Haryu and Chinatsu as shown in the Blue Box anime (Image via TMS Entertainment)

This episode showcases Taiki’s internal growth as he balances his budding feelings for Chinatsu with his personal athletic ambitions, all while navigating the complex social dynamics of living under the same roof with his crush. The next episode, that is set to release on October 17, 2024 can tell what happens next in the story of Inumata Taiki and Chinatsu Kano.