by The Apothecary Diaries has once again sent fans into a frenzy, and this time, it is not because of a new mystery or shocking plot twist.
Instead, fans are talking about a newly drawn Maomao and Jinshi collaboration illustration that has sparked hilarious speculation about the pair’s relationship.
The official The Apothecary Diaries social media account recently announced a collaboration with Matsukiyo Cocokara, one of Japan’s major drugstore chains, and revealed two new illustrations featuring Maomao (Aoi Yuki) and Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka).
The artwork immediately caught fans’ attention—not only because of the beautiful character designs, but because of how naturally Maomao and Jinshi appear together.
One illustration in particular caused confusion among viewers. Maomao can be seen carrying a large package while walking beside Jinshi, leading some fans to jokingly say that, at first glance, they thought she was carrying babies.
Others went even further, saying that the two looked like a married couple enjoying a private outing.
With comments along the lines of “I thought they were holding a baby,” “Maomao and Jinshi finally had a child!” and “They look like a married couple,” the collaboration quickly became another example of why the Maomao-Jinshi relationship remains one of the most discussed parts of the series.
The New Maomao and Jinshi Visuals Have Fans Looking Twice
The new collaboration features two newly illustrated scenes centered on Maomao and Jinshi.
In the illustration on the left, the pair appear dressed in elegant outfits. Jinshi holds a flower while standing beside Maomao, creating an especially refined and romantic-looking composition.
The second illustration shows the two walking together through a city. Maomao is carrying a large package in her arms, while Jinshi walks alongside her.
It sounds innocent enough.
However, the unusual shape and size of the package immediately became a source of jokes among fans.
Some viewers said that they initially interpreted the object as two small children rather than merchandise or goods, resulting in comments joking about Maomao and Jinshi suddenly becoming parents.
That interpretation obviously does not mean the illustration confirms anything about the couple’s future. It is simply a humorous reaction to the way the image was composed.
But for a fandom that has spent years analyzing every glance, expression, and interaction between Maomao and Jinshi, it was more than enough to start another round of discussion.
“They Look Like a Married Couple”
The biggest reaction centered on the chemistry between the two characters.
Fans have long enjoyed the contrast between Maomao and Jinshi.
Jinshi is beautiful, charismatic, socially powerful, and extremely aware of how other people react to him. Maomao, meanwhile, is much more interested in medicine, poisons, strange symptoms, and solving mysteries than she is in Jinshi’s appearance.
That difference is one of the main reasons their interactions are so entertaining.
Whenever Jinshi tries to get closer to Maomao, she often responds with an expression that suggests she would rather be investigating a poisonous plant.
The new collaboration illustration reverses that feeling slightly.
Rather than looking like two characters caught in the middle of a mystery, Maomao and Jinshi look surprisingly comfortable together.
That is what prompted fans to joke that they looked like a married couple returning home after a shopping trip.
Some reactions praised the natural chemistry between them, while others jokingly imagined an entire future family for the characters based on a single illustration.
Again, these are fan jokes and interpretations, not confirmation of a romantic development in the anime.
Why Maomao and Jinshi Are So Popular Together
For newcomers, the relationship between Maomao and Jinshi is one of the central attractions of The Apothecary Diaries.
Maomao is a highly knowledgeable young woman who understands medicine, herbs, poisons, and human symptoms thanks to her upbringing and experience as an apothecary.
After being brought into the imperial palace, her knowledge becomes extremely valuable.
Jinshi, meanwhile, is a powerful and mysterious figure within the imperial court. He quickly becomes interested in Maomao because of her intelligence, unusual personality, and ability to notice things that other people overlook.
Their relationship develops alongside the series’ mysteries.
Maomao often gets dragged into strange incidents because she notices details that everyone else misses. Jinshi frequently becomes involved because of his position and his interest in Maomao.
The result is a relationship that combines mystery, comedy, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance.
That combination has made their interactions particularly popular with anime viewers.
The Apothecary Diaries Is Much More Than a Romance
Although Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship receives enormous attention from fans, The Apothecary Diaries is fundamentally a mystery and historical-fiction story.
The series takes place in a fictional world inspired by imperial China, particularly the atmosphere of the imperial court.
Maomao works as a kind of poison taster and medical investigator, using her knowledge of medicine and chemistry to solve unusual incidents.
Many of the show’s mysteries begin with seemingly harmless problems.
Someone becomes sick.
A strange smell appears.
A noble family encounters an unexplained illness.
A person dies under suspicious circumstances.
Instead of relying on supernatural powers, Maomao uses observation, medical knowledge, experimentation, and deduction.
This is one of the main reasons the series stands out from conventional fantasy anime.
Maomao is not powerful because she can cast enormous spells. She is powerful because she knows things other people don’t.
The Series Is Entering a Major New Era
The timing of this collaboration is particularly interesting because The Apothecary Diaries is approaching one of its biggest periods yet.
The official anime website has confirmed that Season 3 begins on October 2, 2026, airing on Friday nights in Japan.
The third season is planned as a split two-cour season, with the first part beginning in October 2026 and the second part scheduled for April 2027.
The new season will also move the story beyond the familiar confines of the rear palace.
According to the official introduction, Maomao and Jinshi will face new mysteries connected to possible disasters threatening the country, a mysterious shrine maiden, and Jinshi’s responsibilities as an imperial prince. The story will also expand into the wider world outside the rear palace.
That means fans will have plenty of new material to discuss once Season 3 begins.
And considering how much attention a simple promotional illustration is already receiving, every new Maomao-Jinshi interaction is likely to attract considerable attention.
The First Apothecary Diaries Movie Is Also Coming
The franchise is not stopping with Season 3.
The series’ first theatrical movie, The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret Treasure of the Dead Empress, is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026.
The movie features an original story developed with the involvement of original author Natsu Hyuga, rather than simply retelling an existing anime season.
The story follows Maomao and Jinshi as they travel to a southern region to return the remains of a consort who died five years earlier.
Their journey takes them to the lively water-city of Min Nan Province, where Maomao becomes excited by unfamiliar medicines and plants.
However, the trip soon becomes much more complicated.
The official movie synopsis teases a major mystery involving the dead consort’s remains, dangerous water bandits, hidden treasure, and a mysterious boy who appears to hold an important key to the story.
New character designs for both returning and original characters have already been revealed, giving fans an early look at the movie’s expanded cast.
More Maomao and Jinshi Collaborations Are Arriving
The Matsukiyo Cocokara collaboration is actually only one of several The Apothecary Diaries campaigns taking place in September 2026.
The official anime website announced that the Matsukiyo Cocokara collaboration campaign begins September 16 and runs through November 15, 2026, at participating stores across Japan.
The campaign uses newly drawn The Apothecary Diaries artwork and includes opportunities to receive, win, or purchase limited collaboration goods.
The campaign also includes a purchase-based lottery system. Customers who purchase at least ¥1,000 in eligible products can submit receipts, with additional opportunities available through quizzes for members of the participating apps.
For fans who liked the newly revealed Maomao and Jinshi artwork, this means the illustrations are not simply promotional images—they are being used as part of a broader merchandise and campaign rollout.
Maomao and Jinshi Are Also Appearing in Other September Collaborations
The franchise has been particularly busy ahead of Season 3.
Another recent collaboration pairs The Apothecary Diaries with YOHADA, a Kracie body-wash brand.
The campaign features Maomao and Jinshi in a series of short promotional videos, with Maomao investigating the “mystery” surrounding the company’s renewed body wash. A limited-edition pump-and-refill pair set featuring Maomao and Jinshi was also scheduled to launch on September 11.
There is also a collaboration with VASARA kimono rental and Kabuki-za, running from September 15 through October 31.
For that campaign, Maomao, Jinshi, Xiaolan, and Shisui receive new kimono-themed illustrations created specifically for the collaboration. The campaign includes limited rental bonuses, original merchandise, character displays, and special decorations at Kabuki-za.
The sheer number of collaborations shows just how commercially important The Apothecary Diaries has become.
The Franchise Has Even Announced Its First Console Game
There is another major update that fans may have missed.
On September 10, 2026, the official anime portal announced the franchise’s first console game, titled The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Prince.
The game is scheduled for release in early 2027 and will feature a completely original mystery-adventure story based on an original concept by Natsu Hyuga.
The game takes place after Maomao begins working as a palace servant. A series of strange incidents known as the “Five Mysteries” begins occurring in the rear palace.
Among the mysteries are a faceless eunuch, a warehouse that seems to cry every night, and clothing that mysteriously turns red overnight.
Naturally, Maomao becomes involved.
Players will follow her as she investigates the incidents, gathers evidence, uses her medical knowledge, and attempts to uncover the truth.
This makes 2027 an especially important year for the franchise, with Season 3’s second cour and the new console game both scheduled around the same period.
Why This Collaboration Has Fans So Excited
The popularity of the Matsukiyo Cocokara artwork is not simply about attractive character designs.
For many fans, it is the combination of Maomao and Jinshi appearing in an unusually domestic-looking situation that makes the illustration so entertaining.
The pair are normally surrounded by palace politics, suspicious illnesses, dangerous secrets, and complicated social relationships.
Seeing them simply walking together while carrying something looks almost ordinary.
And because Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship is usually anything but ordinary, that normality becomes funny.
The fact that Maomao appears to be carrying an enormous package only adds to the joke.
One fan reaction essentially imagined that Maomao and Jinshi had already reached the “married couple” stage, while another jokingly wondered whether the object she was carrying was actually a pair of babies.
Other fans focused less on the joke and simply praised the quality of the new artwork, with comments celebrating the number of new illustrations being released ahead of Season 3.
Fans Say There Is “Too Much Information” in One Picture
Perhaps the funniest reaction to the campaign is the feeling that the illustration contains “too much information.”
That phrase is particularly appropriate for The Apothecary Diaries.
The series has trained its audience to examine small details.
A flower can have meaning.
A medicine can become a clue.
A seemingly harmless object can become evidence.
A character’s expression can reveal something important.
So when the official account releases a new illustration of Maomao and Jinshi, fans naturally begin examining everything.
In this case, however, the biggest “mystery” may simply be what Maomao is carrying.
The fandom has already supplied several humorous answers.
What Comes Next for The Apothecary Diaries?
For fans of the anime, the next few months are packed with new content.
Season 3 begins October 2, 2026, bringing Maomao and Jinshi into a new stage of their story.
Then, on December 11, 2026, the franchise will receive its first theatrical movie, The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret Treasure of the Dead Empress.
The second part of Season 3 is scheduled for April 2027, while the first console game is planned for early 2027.
Meanwhile, collaborations with drugstores, food brands, fashion companies, entertainment venues, and other businesses are giving fans plenty of opportunities to collect new artwork.
So if the reaction to the Matsukiyo Cocokara visual is any indication, fans should probably prepare themselves for even more Maomao-and-Jinshi chaos.
