"He is much more important to me than any boyfriend could ever be."
Shinozaki is often referred to as the anime version of Asanuma. He appears in SailormoonR when a lion daemon attacks Makoto. He risks his life by pushing her out of the way, severely injuring himself in the process. At the hospital, Makoto insists on donating her blood to help with Shinozaki's injuries even though it is critical for her to do so. When Usagi and Ami visit Makoto in the hospital and begin questioning her on her relationship with Shinozaki, Makoto tells them that he is her best friend.

"He's a very important person," she says. "When I looked around, he was there." It is then that she flashes back to the day when her senpai left her standing alone in the pouring rain. She chases after the black-haired boy, standing frozen in the melancholy down-pour, tears welling in her eyes. When she is about to fall apart, Shinozaki appears with an umbrella, ready to comfort an aching Makoto. "Maybe he's much more important than a boyfriend could be," she closes.

It is suggested that Makoto's relationship with Shinozaki lasts for a long time afterwards; however, any knowledge of this is unknown. Unfortunately, he is not mentioned further in any of the series. It seems ironic that Makoto's words as Shinozaki is leaving the hospital are, "Now it is my turn to watch over him," since he is never mentioned again.

Deep in the Heart | Makoto Files | DataCentral