Up until then, Jinshi had only ever referred to Maomao as “the apothecary” and had never called her by name. Perhaps due to his rivalry with Gyokuyō, he suddenly shortened the distance between them. This had viewers erupting with comments like, “Ahhh, he called her by her name!” “He touched her lips!” “I can’t stop grinning!” and “I love this sudden closeness bug!”

"The Apothecary Diaries" is an anime adaptation of the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. It has also been adapted into manga in two monthly magazines, with the series boasting over 40 million copies in circulation. The TV anime aired for two consecutive cours starting in October 2023, gaining major popularity and widespread attention for the mystery stories featuring Maomao, who works as a poison-taster in the inner palace, and for the comedic exchanges between Maomao and Jinshi. The second season of the anime is set to air from January 2025, and the production of a sequel was announced in July. The series' popularity continues to rise, with its first attraction collaboration with Universal Studios Japan and its first online game adaptation being announced as well.

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

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