The upcoming anime adaptation of Shinya Misu’s popular manga, Osananajimi to wa LoveCom ni Naranai (also known as I’ll Never Have a Romantic Comedy with My Childhood Friend), has announced an additional cast member and confirmed its premiere for January. The series, animated by Tezuka Productions, is gearing up for its debut, promising a charming romantic comedy to kick off the new year.
New Cast Member Joins the Ensemble
Adding to its growing roster of talented voice actors, Yūki Yamamoto has been cast in the role of Haru Hinata. Haru is described as an athletic character, and Yamamoto’s involvement is expected to bring a dynamic presence to the series. This announcement builds anticipation for the diverse personalities that will populate the romantic comedy.
A Look at the Previously Announced Main Cast
Before this latest revelation, the production team had already unveiled several key voice actors for the central characters, who are integral to the series’ love triangle premise.
Rin Kusumi as Shio Minamo
Rin Kusumi will lend her voice to Shio Minamo, one of protagonist Eiyuu’s childhood friends. Shio is characterized as a carefree and popular girl at school. Her attempts to make Eiyuu see her romantically add a delightful layer to the story.
Yū Serizawa as Akari Hiodoshi
The role of Akari Hiodoshi, another of Eiyuu’s childhood friends, will be voiced by Yū Serizawa. Akari is depicted as a tsundere and gyaru (gal) who previously had a quiet personality, offering a compelling contrast to Shio.
Sae Hiratsuka as Runa Tsukimi
Sae Hiratsuka is cast as Runa Tsukimi. This marks Hiratsuka’s first role in a traditional romantic comedy, making her performance a notable aspect to watch for fans.
Plot Overview: A Childhood Friends’ Love Triangle
The Osananajimi to wa LoveCom ni Naranai anime is based on Shinya Misu’s manga, which began serialization on Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket website in March 2022. The story centers on Eiyuu, a high school boy who finds himself in a romantic dilemma. His two childhood friends, Shio and Akari, attend the same high school and have grown “almost too cute.” Eiyuu begins to view them with romantic interest, despite believing they hold no such feelings for him, leading to considerable worry and internal conflict. Unbeknownst to him, however, both Shio and Akari harbor their own secrets and possibly their own romantic feelings towards him. The series is set to explore a slow-burning love triangle, characterized by the frustrating yet irresistible dynamics of childhood friends.
Production Details and Anticipated Premiere
Tezuka Productions is handling the animation for the television anime adaptation. While previous reports indicated a general 2026 premiere, the latest updates confirm a specific January debut, bringing the highly anticipated romantic comedy to screens sooner than a broad 2026 window might suggest. Fans can look forward to seeing the intricate relationships and comedic misunderstandings of Eiyuu, Shio, and Akari unfold early next year.
