A new teaser trailer has been released for the upcoming anime sequel, There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless… ~Next Shine~, offering a glimpse into protagonist Renako Amaori’s evolving journey and prominently featuring the character Kaho Koyanagi. The sequel, a special five-episode compilation (episodes 13-17) adapting the fourth volume of the original light novel, is set to premiere with limited theatrical screenings in Japan on November 21, 2025.
Kaho Koyanagi Takes Center Stage in New Teaser
The latest teaser trailer focuses on Kaho Koyanagi, voiced by Takako Tanaka, as she guides Renako Amaori (voiced by Kanna Nakamura) into a cosplay costume room. This scene hints at a significant arc for Kaho, a lively moodmaker in Renako’s high school clique “Quintet” and a well-known online cosplayer. The teaser suggests that Kaho’s passion for cosplay will play a crucial role in stirring change within Renako, who is still grappling with her feelings for Mai Oduka and Ajisai Sena.
Kaho’s Background and Connection to Renako
Kaho Koyanagi, previously known as Kaho Minaguchi, is not just a popular figure but also an introverted girl Renako knew in middle school. Both Kaho and Renako reinvented themselves for high school, making Kaho a relatable and understanding confidante for the protagonist. Her involvement in a cosplay event provides Renako with an excuse to delay answering the confessions she received, but ultimately serves as a catalyst for Renako’s self-discovery.
The Continuation of the ‘WataNare’ Story
The sequel, often shortened to WataNare, picks up directly after the events of the first season’s twelfth and final episode, which aired on September 23, 2025. It will delve into the narrative of the original light novel’s fourth volume, focusing on what is sometimes referred to as “Kaho’s arc.”
Plot Overview of ‘There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless… ~Next Shine~’
The story continues to follow Renako Amaori, a formerly gloomy and socially awkward girl who successfully transformed her image in high school. After joining the top-tier popular group, Renako finds herself in a dilemma, having received confessions from both the school’s “prince,” Mai Oduka, and the “angel” of the campus, Ajisai Sena. As Renako struggles to respond, her agreement to help Kaho with a cosplay event becomes a pivotal moment, forcing her to confront her true desires and questions about love and self-acceptance.
Production and Release Details
The There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless… ~Next Shine~ anime is produced by Studio MOTHER, with Natsumi Uchinuma directing. Naruhisa Arakawa is handling series composition and scripts, kojikoji is responsible for character designs, and Yoshiaki Fujisawa is composing the music. While the limited theatrical release in Japan is set for November 21, 2025, broadcast details for the five-episode TV version are yet to be announced. The original light novel series, written by Teren Mikami and illustrated by Eku Takeshima, along with its manga adaptation by Musshu, are both licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.
