The official website for the upcoming anime adaptation of Shinya Misu’s manga, “You Can’t Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!” (Osananajimi to wa LoveCom ni Naranai), has released a new promotional video. The video highlights the anime’s opening theme song and reaffirms its highly anticipated January 5, 2026, premiere date in Japan.
Fans can now get a taste of the series’ musical direction and a fresh look at the characters ahead of its winter 2026 debut. Crunchyroll has also announced that it will stream the series worldwide, outside of Asia.
Delving into the Opening Theme: “I Love You♡”
The newly released trailer showcases the anime’s vibrant opening theme song, titled “I Love You♡” (あいらびゅ♡, Airabyu). This track is a collaborative effort, performed by HoneyWorks alongside the voice actresses for the main characters: Rin Kusumi (Shio Minamo), Yū Serizawa (Akari Hiodoshi), Sae Hiratsuka (Runa Tsukimi), and Yūki Yamamoto (Haru Hinata). The upbeat song sets the tone for the romantic comedy, promising a blend of sweet and perhaps slightly chaotic high school romance.
January 5, 2026 Premiere Across Japanese Networks
The anime is officially set to begin airing on January 5, 2026, on the TV Tokyo network. It will also be broadcast on AT-X and BS NTV later the same week. For international viewers, Crunchyroll will offer streaming services, ensuring global accessibility to the series.
The Story of a Complicated Love Triangle
“You Can’t Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!” centers on high school student Yonosuke Sakai, who finds himself in a predicament. His two childhood friends, Shio Minamo and Akari Hiodoshi, who attend the same high school, have grown incredibly cute, much to his internal struggle. Yonosuke tries to hide his growing attraction, fearing that revealing his feelings would ruin their long-standing friendship.
However, the plot thickens as Shio and Akari are not as straightforward as they appear, both harboring their own secrets. This creates a “sweet, impatient, and twisted love triangle” that promises to explore the blurred lines between friendship and burgeoning romance. The narrative aims to subvert typical childhood friend romance tropes with surprising twists and heartfelt moments.
Key Cast and Production Team
Tezuka Productions is at the helm of the animation production for the series. Satoshi Kuwabara is directing the anime, with Mitsutaka Hirota handling the series composition and also writing scripts alongside Mayumi Morita. Reina Iwasaki is responsible for character designs.
The main voice cast includes:
- Takehiro Urao as Yonosuke Sakai
- Rin Kusumi as Shio Minamo
- Yū Serizawa as Akari Hiodoshi
- Sae Hiratsuka as Runa Tsukimi
Additionally, the ending theme song, “Amanojaku” (あまのじゃく; lit. ‘Contrarian’), will be performed by Hikari Kodama.
The anime adaptation was initially announced on April 3, 2025, based on Shinya Misu’s manga which began serialization in Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket in March 2022. The manga currently has 17 volumes released in Japan as of September 2025. The series also had a special premiere of its first episode at New York Comic Con in October 2025.
