Faced with Maomao, who usually looks at him as if he were a caterpillar, now smiling, Jinshi is left utterly speechless. For several seconds, it seems as if time has stopped and he is unable to move, before suddenly he begins banging his head against a pillar over and over.

Maomao’s irresistibly cute behavior and words had viewers swooning, with comments such as, “I didn’t know Maomao could smile like that. Who wouldn’t fall for her now?!,” “That’s burned into my retinas,” and “Honey-cute maid Maomao.” As for Jinshi, who is visibly shaken, the internet buzzed with reactions like, “His brain is clearly broken, lol,” “Jinshi-sama’s emotions are just all over the place, this is hilarious,” and “His reactions are adorable every single time.”

Currently streaming in one go, the anime "The Apothecary Diaries" is based on the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. The story has also been adapted into manga in two monthly magazines, and the series’ total print circulation has surpassed 40 million copies. The TV anime aired for two consecutive cours from October 2023 and became a huge hit for its mystery narrative involving Maomao working as a “food taster” in the rear palace, along with the comedic interactions between Maomao and Jinshi. The second season of the anime is set to air from January 2025.

(C)Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/"The Apothecary Diaries"Project

English