WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS. This is by the same one who wrote/created "Free." If you've seen the movie and probably the FINAL sequel of Free, you'll realize that the author is very good at fujoshi-baiting and seems to hate friends-to-lovers trope because while the story seems to encourage that ship at the start, the preference goes to the rivals-to-lovers shippers. Rin x Haru was solidified in Free's last movie, with the story suggesting that Makoto was romantically attached on his own (one-sided feelings for the protag).

This dynamic might be repeated here- "might" because the writer is known for NOT completely adapting the light novel for the anime.

For Tsurune, the light novel is already finished. There will be solid Minato x Seiya vibes for those shipping them- but don't expect much... since this time, it's not the rival but the coach who might be "slightly" favored.

I'm a Seiya fan... and it's disappointing that in the light novel, it's clear that Seiya has one OTHER "admirer" in their group (the arrogant, red-haired, bad-tempered team mate who is supposedly attached to his more popular cousin)- which the anime season 1 completely deleted- so I'm not sure if they'll insert that dynamic here. If you ship Seiya with Minato, the light novel is a must-read- but again, if the 2nd season intends to follow the light novel the way the 1st season did (more or less), you'll realize that there'll be some slight preference for Minato and their coach/shishou than for Seiya. Still, I don't think that this preference can make things bad for Minato x Seiya the same way Rin wrecked the Haru x Makoto ship of Free- UNLESS the writer simply wants to troll shippers who love to ship childhood best friends.

For non-shippers, enjoy the sport. It's tons more attentive to the technical aspects than Free ever was. And there's more attention to the character development of the protag- with the dialogue and the comedy being slightly more mature and sophisticated than what we've seen in Free's overcrowded male-harem, boys-in-swimsuit overdramatic drama extravaganza that, sadly, gave sports anime a bad reputation. (If you think shippers have ruined MHA or any other anime, nah, shippers can NEVER force you or anyone to adopt their ships or their interpretation. Same as in books, movies, or any fiction, if there's anything that can ruin an anime, it's the STORY and the CHARACTERS, not the ships or the shippers).

thanks for a lot for info. tbh i didnt even know that author of tsurune also wrote free. I still have in plans to watch last two movies so cant say much about it yet, but tbh i think in whole anime rinharu and makoharu was fairly treated - makoharu even with more scenes, because rin got new character to ship with.
As for tsurune do you mind sharing what about shuu x minato? Second season seem to favor them - at least in promos and two first episode (especially this one - with all these stares etc). I heard about minatoxsensei heavy vibes in light novels, but they are a lot toned in anime. What about shuu?

omg yes what about shuu and minato? I love all the ships but rn shuu X minato has a special place in my heart

some how I knew it, Masa and Minato love Kyudo since the Beginning. remember the memory of Minato holding his late mother hand next to High schooler Masa ♥

was the scene of minato holding his late mother's hand next to high schooler masa-san in the 1st season? i humbly ask for what ep and time stamp if u can remember

yes, it was at the end of the las episode on the first season, wait till the end of the credits ok ( sorry English is not my first language) I tried to give you the link, but got delete as spam

last episode (13) - its the last scene

WAIT SENSEI × MINATO IS A SHIP ?! I remeber reading someones comment ab them before But I thought it was a joke, do we even know their ages...?
Also about nikaido- I he gonna be some kind of a antagonist? I rlly hope they can be friends

sensei is 23, minato i guess 16-17. still there are only hints i believe

Eh re free! i dont think makoto x haruka was that discouraged, even in the movie. free! went downhill after s2 anyway and the last movie just repeated rin x haru drama but they did try to put makoto there as if to establish a some sort of threeway.

i wonder why yall into the ship so much, i mean Haru friends with everyone.!? btw i enjoy the sport, and i love comrade relationship and the support shown in anime FREE.. ive always love the sport anime, and free one of them. thats it. hahaha

I'm totally in to the coach, Masa-san, I can't give him to anyone lol 😆. Y'all ship Makoto and Seiya.

...you think he's yours? you don't see the situation girl. kyudo owns him. he will never love anything else. xD

anyway, as long as i can see him do these fantastic shots with this fantastic animation and sounddesign, i'm satisfied *-*

minato x sensei??? isnt that underaged??

....no by the time the evolve, is not happening now I think ( just give the hint)

Natural kindness a really good trait to have

Now I want to meet his hikkikomori onee-san. I wonder if she'll be a big part of his story this season.

rightt! I wonder if it's the person who was in the room that had a "must knock first" sign on their door. Seems interesting!

god i really love this show

It will be hard waiting for the next episode for 10 or 11 more weeks

Good episode.

KYOANI NEVER DISSAPOINTS OH MY GOSH

Such high quality, in everything...from backgrounds to characters...it's like movie quality.

Nikaido: how to go from cool to lame.

It's nice that we have more screentime in this season for Shuu and Ryohei. Seems like they gonna focus on them more in next episodes.
I have started rewatching first season and somehow these first two episode seems bland - Minato and Seiya and maybe all members only talk about shooting and nothing else. In previous season there were more interesting interaction and situations - here i only saw one scene with hugging the dog. I like slow paced anime, but i just hope we wont only watch Minato being obsessed with kyudo . hard to explain,but i hope to see more character development in him or at least other emotions than just being dedicated to shooting. sorry for ranting, besides it kyoto animations as always deliver top tier animation

Nikaido -> (Wears hoodie) Incognito Activatoooooo. Man blending in like assasins creed.

Imouto kawaii! Looks like a love for kyuudo runs in the family, though. XD

Wow the art is reallyyy breath taking! Also the sound design got very much love too it seems :D

22:24 they be mysterious lol

Omg that part where Minato's arrow shot sounds "inspire"/leave Shuu's little sister in awe is just so poetic and beautiful!

He admires the guy and he looks like to be build as an enemy.

Even watching Kyudo in anime makes me nervous lol 😆. Honestly I want to watch in real life, in front of me.

Archer look nice.

This is cool... Kinda want to pick up a bow now and hunt.... But it's a weapon and i don't condone violence against Meowmeowpretty

nothing really, just me enjoying as I watch Shu and Minato getting along here right after I hear banters between Ryu and Atsushi in BSD (seiyuu fans know xDD)

that aside, loving this (i think) budding friendship between ryohei and shu. And that little sis is so adorbs. That house— err, mansion still shook me tho HAHA

uwaaah and here comes tsujimine peeps (of which both character and seiyuus makes me squeal HAHA) >__< and yep 23:22 totally understandable and reasonable.

i really enjoy the good sportsmanship between the different schools. they're not so much competing against one another, as trying to improve themselves... except for Onogi who is out for blood 😂

finally nikaidos group :D they are shooting the same style like in our dojo. so exiting!

Man, Minato sure does know a lot of people 🤔

Nikaido- a new character enter...damn kakkoii...

epic shots

NIKADO IS MUCH MORE SOFT AND CUTE THAN I FIRST EXPECTED HIM TO BE

Ahhh am I the only one who notices that Ka-chan in opening song looks sad??? Then in this episode it focuses on him and his past? Damnnnn!!! I hope nothing bad happens. 😬

man why didn't I wait to binge the whole season T_T