The returning rom-com anime Science Fell in Love continues to up the ante in Season 2, early in the Spring 2022 season. Episode 1 saw Ayame and Shinya meet their match against the lovestruck scientist couple Chris and Suiu, who easily outclassed the co-protagonists’ oxytocin levels during their experiments together.
Now in Episode 2, the stubborn kuudere Yukimura Shinya prepares himself for round two against this seemingly perfect scientist couple — but no matter what he does, he simply cannot match Chris and Suiu’s oxytocin levels. Like a true shonen hero, Shinya must get creative and find a solution as the series’ underdog.
Despite his clear disadvantage against Chris and Suiu, Shinya insists on more oxytocin tests, and everyone obliges. The young scientists even try different combinations of partners, but problems arise when Suiu comes on to Shinya too strongly — and Ayame becomes jealous of how Shinya keeps ogling her. This creates tension between them, and sure enough, that lowers their oxytocin levels even more. Ayame was even paired up with her platonic friend Kanade, who still had higher oxytocin levels with her than Shinya did.
Shinya suffers total defeat not just from the lab results, but also from Chris harshly calling him a fool who cannot recognize true love. Shinya feels outraged, but there is nothing he can say or do to defend himself in that argument — even when the generous Ayame steps in to shield him. Everyone calms down soon enough but Shinya, still panicking and embarrassed, insists on burning the midnight oil in the lab to find a solution to all this. He channels his shonen side like never before, and it’s exactly what he and Ayame need right now. His fortunes are soon reversed thanks to his hard work.
In true shonen fashion, Shinya confronts Chris and Suiu yet again — but this time he has a secret technique to win the battle, scientist-style. He and Ayame admit their oxytocin levels are inferior, but fortunately for them this is excusable. Shinya cites a study from Helen Fisher and others, stating that a typical romantic relationship has an initial phase defined by strong but unstable and often aggressive feelings, including yandere-style jealousy and temper tantrums.
After about three years the relationship will cool down and stabilize, and the two partners will have higher oxytocin levels when they are together. Shinya and Ayame are in that initial stage while Chris and Suiu are in the second, proving that it’s unfair to compare their oxytocin levels.
That, combined with the fact that there are other relevant hormones to study, allows Shinya and Ayame to finally land an intellectual blow on Chris and Suiu and keep them in the running as a potential romantic couple after all. Chris and Suiu, feeling equally surprised and impressed, both voice their support for the developing couple. In light of that, Science Fell in Love might soon revert back to its Kaguya-sama themed battle of wits narrative, unless another perfect couple or skeptic comes along to challenge Shinya’s and Ayame’s love once again. Shinya must be ready for anything and stay on his toes, just in case. He’s won his latest battle, but the war goes on.