Every sequel announcement engenders different feelings (and I’m not even factoring all the ones with varying degrees of indifference).  With Mairimashita! Iruma-kun, it was mainly relief – I literally said “thank goodness” when I heard the news.  I had hoped to go into the finale unspoiled about that so I could enjoy the uncertainty and eventual elation (which I’d never do unless I was pretty confident).  But sadly in this age of social media that’s impossible unless you totally black yourself out for the day.

Indeed, I was very bullish – certainly better than 50-50 – but the relief comes from the fact that it would have been so deflating if this hadn’t happened.  The manga is very popular – more so now than ever, ranking #7 in volume sales for August – and the anime has been quite well-received.  Then there’s the fact that NHK shows systemically have a better chance of multiple seasons than most anime.  All signs were pointing to yes, even if there’s never any certainty (unless you’re talking about something like Kimetsu, JJK, Tokyo Revengers or one of the big isekai LNs) until you see the official announcement.

But damn – it still feels good.

With that question settled, it was just a matter of enjoying the season finale.  Which was great but you know, there was even less doubt of that.  It’s very clear this ending was written in full knowledge that the story would continue (indeed that was probably decided before this season even started), as it was basically a setup episode.  And what a setup it was.  Manga fans seem to generally believe that the next major arcs to come are some of the series’ best, and I can definitely see that.  And as good as this season was, that’s an exciting prospect to say the least.

For starters we harken back to that seemingly forgotten bet (and I don’t mean the demon rank) – which group would have the most (and least) fun at Walter Park?  Sullivan thinks he’s put one over on Kallego-sensei by calling it a tie and treating a busload of hungry teenagers to a fancy dinner – on Kallego’s tab.  But Kallego has the last laugh – if everyone was tied for first, that also means everyone tied for last.  And that means he can cash in his “winnings” – double homework for everyone.  Malicious, indeed!

Then it’s a shopping trip, with Iruma-kun in the identity-protection glasses to protect him from his newfound celebrity status.  This is really just an excuse for Sullivan to spoil Iruma (and dress him up in a spectacularly affected outfit) but that’s fine.  Sullivan’s smothering love for Iruma really should be kind of creepy, but somehow it isn’t.  In much the same way Alice gives Bocchan exactly the push he needs in Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid, Grandpa gives Iruma enough affection to make up for all that he craved about being deprived of it in childhood.

Among the largesse that Sullivan procures for Iruma are a bunch of books on magic, which he gently reminds Iruma is something he really needs to get stronger at, and – tellingly – a scroll called “The Prophecy of the Demon King For Dummies”.  After overhearing a conversation among admiring onlookers after Sullivan catches a shoplifter (using “Fractal”) he asks Grandpa a shocking question – what does one have to do to become the maou-sama?  I would have taken it just as Sullivan did, even if the lad meant it in terms of Sullivan assuming the role (or so he claims).

The memory this triggers in Sullivan is intriguing to say the least.  I could listen to Miki Shin’ichirou all week and twice on Sunday – he could play every role in the series convincingly if he wanted.  But it can’t possibly be a coincidence – it can’t – that he’s playing Derkila, the last demon lord.  I’m not prepared to make any assumptions regarding what that says about Ali-san (Solo-mon?) – and I don’t want to be spoiled on the matter either way, so stick a fork in it – but that it says something I’m pretty convinced.  Ali-san may be connected to Derkila and not even know it himself – that’s a distinct possibility, though their personalities seem similar.  There’s also the fact that during the Evil Iruma arc the hints about Iruma and the demon kingship were dropping like anvils.

That feels very much like a series-ending arc, though, and it seems like the next one is going to focus on the gauntlet that was thrown down to the Abnormal Class.  That is, if they don’t make Dalet rank (unusual for first years) by the end of term, they can’t become second-years and they’re kicked out of the Royal One.  It wasn’t made expressly clear whether the condition was that everyone in the misfits had to make it or no one could advance – but I rather hope that’s the case, because I think that has limitless potential for interesting plot and character advancement.

And thus ends what was a truly outstanding second season – altogether stronger than the first in my opinion, as much as I grew to love that season.  Mairmimashita! Iruma-kun is the stealth bomber of shounen – one that never gets talked about with the big boys, but can punch with any of them.  And it puts even the best of the current breed to shame in a couple of pretty important areas, namely consistency (has this show ever had a bad episode?) and in having an astonishing stylistic range.  Plus, it’s just so damn loveable – just like its hero, one of anime’s all-time good boys.  It’s going to suck not spending my Saturday nights with these goofballs for a while, but that absence will only make the heart grow fonder – as high a bar as that is.