Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai: Shoko, Explained

gamerant.com:

Many aspects of Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai have perplexed viewers, but the concept of Shoko Makinohara is unquestionably one of them. The stunning Shoko first appears as an older high school student, then as a much younger girl before returning to her senpai role.

Many fans wonder if the 'Shokos' are the same girl, as both young ladies possess identical names and uncannily similar appearances, or if the older one is just a fabrication of Sakuta Azusagawa's mind, as Futaba suggests. Season 1's ending left more questions to unpack than answers, as fans are left to determine for themselves the true nature of Shoko's existence.

Haruhi Suzumiya and the Anime Manic Pixie Dream Girl

The stunning Shoko first appeared to Sakuta on Shichigahara Beach wearing a Minegahara High school uniform, ready to comfort the distraught stranger in his time of need. Sakuta's sister, Kaede, has been hospitalized due to a violent case of Puberty Syndrome, and his world was simply falling apart. For some reason, he opens up to Shoko, revealing the deepest fears in his heart to a complete stranger, and receives the most comforting and encouraging words as a result.

After being calmed down off the edge of despair, Sakuta manages to pull himself together and take charge of the situation by raising his little sister when it becomes apparent that his parents no longer can. During that time, Sakuta had become withdrawn and did not have many friends to support him, but the memory of the dazzlingly beautiful and kind Shoko gets him through his darkest days, and the youngster never lost hope of being reunited with Shoko once again.

Having lost all contact with the young lady, Sakuta decides to enroll at Minegahara High school, seeing that Shoko