The following contains spoilers for Episode 2 of Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, "Bad Luck and Home Visit," now streaming on HIDIVE.

Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible is a brand-new romantic comedy in the Winter 2023 anime season, right alongside Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro! and Tomo-chan Is a Girl!. Already, all three rom-com anime series are exploring each of their female protagonist's true feelings, and girls like Nagisa Kubo, Tomo Aizawa and Hayase Nagatoro are much more bashful and vulnerable than their outward behavior and dialogue would suggest.

Just as Hayase uses hiyakasudere antics to process her romantic feelings, Kubo uses her carefree, playful persona to get closer to Junta Shiraishi without showing her true feelings too soon. As early as Episode 2, Kubo may be nursing a serious crush already, and when she invites Junta over, it's time to face those feelings for real.

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Nagisa Kubo Makes Her Move in Episode 2

Kubo is waving in tracksuit

In Episode 2 of Kubo, the heroine Nagisa Kubo continues to be the only person who truly sees the "mob" dandere Junta Shiraishi, and her proactive attitude is what drives the story forward. If it weren't for her, Junta would be living the same generic, invisible life as ever, and he'd never have the guts to approach the lovely Kubo and speak to her. That's how the plot got set into motion in Episode 1, with Kubo's generous friendship with Junta being the story's emotional core. That continues in Episode 2, but it's not just Junta who's overwhelmed with positive emotions. Kubo makes her move again, and that means facing her true feelings.

It's too soon in the anime for either Junta or Kubo to make a truly bold move like asking each other on a date or confessing "I love you," but in Episode 2, some groundwork is laid for all that. Kubo is concerned when a car runs through a puddle and soaks Junta to the bone, so she invites him to the Kubo household for a shower and a change of clothes. Kubo is naturally a generous and helpful person as a true deredere, but inviting a boy over also brings out Kubo's hidden dandere side as well. An amusing example is when Junta stumbles upon Kubo's laundry hamper, including a fancy bra, and Kubo immediately hides it all, blushing heavily. She's already getting in over her head, but she must also see this through.

Kubo still feels bashful as Junta takes a shower and Kubo dries his clothes out, and she can't stop blushing the entire time. Similarly, her older sister Akina teases Kubo about how obvious it is that Kubo is already hanging out with a special boy. Kubo gets defensive and bashful about this, mildly annoyed that her sister is teasing her so much. Still, Akina makes it clear that she supports her little sister, even deciding to take her out to find beauty products for her.

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When Rom-Com Girls Act Cool to Hide Their Real Feelings

Kubo resting on the floor

Episode 2 of Kubo balances evenly with Episode 1, since the first episode explored Junta's mindset as an unseen boy with low self-esteem, while Episode 2 shows that for all her outward charms and confidence, Kubo is an insecure and bashful teenager as well. She and Junta aren't so different deep down, and whenever things get real between them, they're practically in the same boat. That helps put the characters on even ground so they can relate to one another, which is promising for their potential romance. Kubo is only dominant on the outside as a popular, cheerful girl who gets things done.

All this also makes Kubo fairly similar to her Winter 2023 peers, Tomo Aizawa the tomboy and Hayase Nagatoro the pest. All three girls are bashful and flustered maidens around a special boy, but they won't dare show it. These girls are confident in who and what they are, and they enjoy their popularity. Nonetheless, they're also still awkward teenagers taking their first tentative steps into the romantic waters, and their outward bravado and humor mean little when things get serious with their love interests. That, more than any karate matches or comic relief scenes, makes Kubo compelling and sympathetic as a rom-com heroine with something to prove.