The following contains spoilers for Episode 5 of Komi Can’t Communicate Season 2, “It's Just A Snowman,” now streaming on Netflix.
Without a schoolbook in sight, Shouko Komi and the gang are still enjoying their winter break, and a thick layer of snow now covers the landscape in Komi Can't Communicate. However, the cold weather does not keep them indoors, and Komi ventures into the 'great outdoors' to embrace the winter fun to the fullest.
Osana Najimi starts a war that ends in an epic showdown, and the Class Goddess earns herself even more admirers in the process. With New Year approaching, the Komi family makes their yearly visit to Grandma's house, and the old lady's deceptive ways are quickly revealed as Komi and her cousin team up to take her down.
"It's Just a Snowman"
It is the crack of dawn, and somehow, Komi already has visitors (not-so) patiently waiting outside her window, eager to drag her out into the snowy setting. Najimi has been up since the wee hours of the morning, thrilled at the sight of snowfall and taking the first opportunity to get Hitohito Tadano in on the action. Whilst still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Tadano absentmindedly makes a miniature snowman, and Najimi is inspired to construct a super-sized version. The trio makes memories with their new snowy friend, and Komi sneaks in another tiny companion for Tadano's little snowman, to keep him company atop the wall.
"It's Just a Snowball Fight"
Najimi, ever the instigator, decides to start a war, and a supposedly innocent snowball fight takes a dramatic turn as the teams take their mission all-too-seriously. Najimi causes further chaos by transferring Komi onto the elementary school's team, alienating her among complete strangers, whose enthusiasm is quite overwhelming for the anxious girl. The high schoolers take advantage of their advanced size, skills, and wit, and quickly eliminate the younger kids from the running, in arguable the most theatrical snowball fight in the history of Anime, and Komi is left as the last one standing.
Determined to make her team proud, Komi advances on her friends, snowball at the ready, but is still conflicted as to whether it is socially acceptable to throw her frozen missile at her friends. In an act of defiance, Ren Yamai aggressively takes her own teammates down, moments before they could insult the Class Goddess with their final attack. In a surprising twist, Komi makes use of the opportunity to politely launch a snowball at her savior, eliminating Ren from the running and winning the battle for her youthful team. The young Komi fan club shows their appreciation in an adorable bonus clip whereby Komi tries (and fails) to act suave and blase. Nonetheless, more friends are added to the list, which now sits at a total of 19.
"It's Just the End of the Year"
The Komi family takes a break from the city to visit Grandma Yuiko, and as usual, Komi and her cousin, Akira, are awkward around each other at first. Akira suggests that they play Hanafuda (elegant Japanese playing cards) in a game of Koi-Koi, thrilled at the prospect of having someone around her own age to play with. Grandma overhears them and inserts herself into the competition, making things more interesting by putting money on the line. For each point earned or lost in Koi-Koi, one hundred yen would be added or removed from the girls' New Year's presents.
Akira gains a sudden boost of confidence as greed takes over, and her over-zealous enthusiasm ends up losing her the game, and she now owes her grandmother a pretty penny. It is up to Komi to save the day, as Yuiko announces that a win for the newbie Komi could override her cousin's losses. In a typical Komi fashion, her impeccable winning streak continues as she takes full advantage of her beginners' luck, unwittingly winning with an outstanding hand to boot.
Komi and Inaka
The family heads out to the shrine, but it seems that the souvenir shop is gravely understaffed, so Grandma Yuiko nominates a reluctant Komi to stand in for the day. Inaka Nokoko is manning the window with her country twang back in full swing before she realizes that Komi is assisting her and immediately panics about her "cover" being blown. Inaka is under the false allusion that nobody knows she is actually a bumpkin and attempts to avoid Komi in the hopes of not being recognized. However, it is evident that Komi is overwhelmed by interacting with the customers, and the sweet Inaka finally jumps in to offer support. Only once the day is done does Komi acknowledge their connection, reassuring Inaka that she is still a treasured friend.
The Komi Can't Communicate creators went all out with their Kimono fanservice in Season 2, Episode 5, as all the ladies dress up to the nines before heading out to the temple. Even in a borrowed hand-me-down, Komi is a picturesque representation of classical Japanese beauty, in an elaborately-patterned red kimono with her hair tied up in a traditional nihongami style.
As to be expected, Komi's beauty is so extreme that the crowd simply parts before her, and Yuiko humorously mentions that Komi can be quite useful to have around. Akira shows off her spoilt side in a brand new pink gown purchased for her by her father, along with an appropriately cute bow for her hair, emphasizing her innocence and youthfulness. True to form, Komi displays admiration for her cousin, without a jealous notion in sight (not having a kimono to call her own).