March Comes In Like a Lion 2nd Season

A shy shogi prodigy learns that winning on the board means opening his heart to others.

Rei Kiriyama enters his second year of high school still wrestling with the lonely weight of professional shogi. The board becomes a mirror for his inner turmoil, each match a test of whether he can keep his fragile composure while the world around him pushes harder. At the Kansai Shogi Hall, the quirky members of his club—old friends and new rivals—offer both rivalry and refuge, while the three Kawamoto sisters, Akari, Hinata, and Momo, extend a warm, almost familial embrace that begins to chip away at his self‑imposed isolation. Through late‑night games, shared meals, and quiet moments in the park, Rei learns that everyone carries invisible scars, and that true strength often lies in leaning on others as much as in out‑thinking an opponent. The season escalates as Rei climbs the professional ladder, confronting increasingly formidable adversaries and the relentless pressure of title matches. Each victory and defeat forces him to confront why he fell in love with shogi in the first place, and what he hopes to achieve beyond the board. Balancing school, friendships, and the ever‑present ache of his past, Rei slowly discovers that the game’s greatest strategy may be learning to trust the people who care for him. The series weaves his personal growth with the elegant tension of shogi, delivering a poignant portrait of a young man learning that resilience is built through connection as much as through skill.

This season deepens its exploration of depression and found family through a harrowing bullying arc and Rei's ongoing mental health struggles. The emotional weight is significant but handled with care, making it a powerful watch for teens ready for serious themes.