With exactly three priorities in life — video games, chocolate, and her cat Momohiki — Anzu Hoshino has zero room for romance on the list. Then a self-proclaimed "love cupid" named Riri pops out of a glitchy otome game and announces that Anzu is subject one in a real-life dating sim experiment — supposedly to fix Japan's declining birth rate. To make sure Anzu cooperates, Riri straight-up confiscates her games, her chocolate, and even her cat. Now Anzu keeps getting shoved into meet-cutes with annoyingly attractive guys like the cold but popular Tsukasa Kazuki, and the only way to get her stuff back is to play along with a romance plot she never asked for. What makes this 12-episode ONA work is that Anzu refuses to be a typical romance protagonist. She's loud, stubborn, genre-savvy, and constantly calling out the absurdity of her situation. The whole thing is basically a parody of reverse harem setups, except the lead character is actively fighting against the premise. It's funny in a way that feels natural rather than forced, and there's genuine character depth underneath the comedy — the relationships that develop actually earn their weight. If you liked the meta humor of Kaguya-sama: Love is War or the chaotic energy of Ouran High School Host Club, this hits a similar sweet spot. Fans of Wotakoi will also appreciate a protagonist whose hobbies come first. It's a quick watch and knows exactly what it's doing with every trope it touches.
Anzu Hoshino: Gamer, cat lover, chocolate addict, and reluctant romantic heroine fighting off cliché romance.
Portrayed by Melody Deneen
Riri, a wizard with romantic magic, appears as a girl or boy, only visible to Anzu.
Portrayed by Lin Courtney
Cold and reserved initially, Tsukasa hides a warm heart, traumatized by past stalking, finding solace and love with Anzu.
Portrayed by Griffith Jason
Junta Hayami, Anzu's childhood friend, transformed from shy to athletic baseball star, harboring genuine feelings for her.
Portrayed by Le Aleks
Wealthy, spoiled boy initially trying to buy Anzu's affection, develops a tsundere-like crush.
Portrayed by Goff Kellen
disavania★★★★☆AnimeSebenarnya plot ceritanya menarik, tapi sayang eksekusinya tidak maksimal karena aku merasa ada banyak plot hole di sana. Aku juga kurang suka dengan pendalaman karakter dari Hoshino, terutama penggambaran saat Hoshino dalam adegan humornya yang menurutku kadang dipaksakan untuk lucu. Pace-nya kadang tidak stabil. Kualitas animasinya sedikit kaku tapi masih bisa dinikmati. Intinya, anime ini bisa dinikmati tapi bukan yang bisa membuat penontonnya merasa penasaran.
disavania★★★★☆VerifiedEP 12Episode ini ditutup dengan akhir yang membahagiakan, walaupun belum ada konklusi yang signifikan. Pace-nya bagus, nyaman untuk diikuti. Dan di sini terjadi perkembangan karakter dari Kazuki yang signifikan. Plot ceritanya juga cukup rapi untuk episode terakhir. Pokoknya aku bisa merasakan bahwa eksekusi untuk episode ini dilakukan dengan semaksimal mungkin.
keima★★★★★AnimeThis show is 10/10 crackhead energy. Anzu rejecting every cliché romance scenario is actually spiritual healing. Visual comedy hits really well.
honeyyy★★★★★AnimeAnzu Hoshino is such a relatable and entertaining main character. Her humor and strong personality add real depth to the story, making every situation feel more relatable to the female audience. The presence of the overly obsessed girl in this episode is definitely unsettling. Knowing her backstory as a stalker makes her behaviour feel even more disturbing. The way Anzu steps in to intervene before the situation escalates is kind of scary actually. I wonder what she would do to Anzu because of that. Her bravery is not seen as a romantic moment, but rather an act of courage and empathy. It reflects how deeply Anzu cares about the people around her and how she values their safety and boundaries. What stands out most is how Anzu positively influences those around her. Not only to Tsukasa, but literally everyone around her including Riri. She doesn’t force change, but her sincerity encourages others to become better. The episode also doesn’t feel dull because of the balance in humor and dramatic moments. This keeps viewers emotionally engaged and slightly anxious about the characters’ safety especially towards the end of the episode. Overall, I enjoyed watching it and the emotional turmoil is hooking me up with the series.
