Anime Like Osamake: Romcom Where the Childhood Friend Won't Lose

At the elite Shuchiin Academy, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya serve as the student body's most distinguished leaders. Miyuki, hailed as the nation's top scholar and respected by both students and staff, holds the title of student council president. His counterpart, Vice President Kaguya, the eldest daughter of the powerful Shinomiya family, matches him in every achievement. Revered across the campus, they are frequently viewed as the perfect couple. Despite mutual romantic feelings, neither Miyuki nor Kaguya is willing to make the first move. Admitting love first would mean losing prestige and appearing inferior. Consequently, fueled by pride and determination, they launch a strategic battle to make the other confess without ever surrendering the advantage.

In My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Hachiman Hikigaya is a cynical high schooler who views a blissful youth as a mere fantasy, believing that anyone claiming to enjoy their teenage years is merely self-deluded. After submitting an essay that ridicules contemporary social conventions, his teacher assigns him a peculiar penalty: joining the Volunteer Service Club, a group tasked with helping students achieve their objectives. The club's sole other member is Yukino Yukinoshita, a frigid and aloof girl. Hachiman soon finds himself unexpectedly tackling the troubles of others. As the pair leverage their intellect to resolve various student dilemmas, it remains uncertain whether Hachiman's pessimistic worldview will prove an asset or a hindrance in his new duties.

In High School DxD, Issei Hyoudou leads the ordinary life of a perverted high school student, constantly dreaming of a harem and sneaking peeks at girls. His reality shatters when a beautiful girl asks him out, only to reveal herself as a fallen angel and slay him. Rias Gremory, a gorgeous senior and powerful devil, grants Issei a second chance by resurrecting him as her servant and recruiting him into the school's Occult Research Club. As Issei adapts to his new existence, he endures grueling training and battles to survive the treacherous realm of angels and devils. Alongside his new companions, every adventure blends humor with risqué moments, all while he conceals his dual life from his family and classmates in High School DxD.

Following a relaxing yet unforgettable summer break, the second semester is in full swing at Shuchiin Academy. As September approaches, Kaguya Shinomiya struggles with how to properly celebrate Miyuki Shirogane's upcoming birthday. Simultaneously, the term for the 67th student council is nearing its conclusion. With council members now dispersed across different classes, the time Kaguya and Miyuki have left to execute their elaborate schemes together is dwindling. A fierce election to select the next student council looms on the horizon, featuring several contenders vying for the position of president.

In everyone's life, a phase arrives where one feels truly unique, perhaps imagining supernatural powers or claiming origins from another realm. This condition, known as "chunibyou," often results in some of the most awkward memories. Yuuta Togashi still bears the scars of his chunibyou days when he styled himself as the "Dark Flame Master" during junior high. To flee those memories, he chose a high school far away where no one would remember his past. He longs for a standard high school life, completely free from such eccentricities. Yet, his hopes are tested by Rikka Takanashi, a fellow student who declares herself the wielder of the "Wicked Eye." Her presence shatters his dream of a mundane existence, and as Yuuta struggles with his lingering delusions, a funny and touching story emerges of a young man attempting to move past his embarrassing history.

Serving as the first female student council president comes with its challenges, especially at a school that recently switched from an all-boys institution to a co-educational one. Earning the nickname "Demon President" from the male students due to her strict disciplinary style, Misaki Ayuzawa readily uses her Aikido skills to discipline unruly boys and protect the female students at Seika High School. However, even the seemingly perfect Ayuzawa has an embarrassing secret: she works part-time as a maid at a maid café to help her struggling family pay the bills. She has managed to keep this job hidden from her classmates and maintain her flawless image as an outstanding student—until the day Takumi Usui, the most popular boy in school, walks into the maid café. He could destroy her reputation by revealing her secret... or he could twist the student council president around his little finger and use her secret as an opportunity to get closer to her.

In Nisekoi: False Love, Raku Ichijou is a first-year at Bonyari High School and the only heir to a major yakuza family. He clings to a promise made to a childhood friend a decade ago, with a lock-shaped pendant serving as the sole connection; the girl who left took the only key capable of opening it. Raku dreams of a normal high school life free from the yakuza and harbors feelings for his former middle school classmate, Kosaki Onodera. His plans are disrupted when the American Bee Hive Gang threatens his clan's territory. To avert war, Raku is compelled to enter a fake romance with Chitoge Kirisaki, the striking daughter of the Bee Hive leader. This arrangement is strained by their instant mutual animosity: Raku views Chitoge as a fierce gorilla, while she sees him as a weakling. The narrative centers on the comedic and chaotic dynamic between Raku and Chitoge as they maintain their charade to preserve peace in the city. Along the way, Raku encounters other girls tied to his past, embarking on a surprise-filled journey to find the key that will unlock both the pendant's secret and his own heart.

Diligent scholarship student Haruhi Fujioka enrolls at the prestigious Ouran Academy. While seeking a quiet place to study, Haruhi stumbles into what appears to be an abandoned music room, only to discover the renowned Host Club, a group of attractive boys who entertain the female student body. After a startling encounter with the club's founder and president, Tamaki Suou, Haruhi accidentally shatters an expensive vase. Unable to cover the cost of the damage, the Host Club proposes that Haruhi join them and work as a host. Unbeknownst to their classmates, Haruhi is mistaken for a male student and is assigned to entertain various girls while navigating the eccentricities of these new hosts.

In "My Little Monster," Shizuku Mizutani is a student who maintains a strict distance from her classmates, dedicating herself entirely to her studies. Her worldview begins to change when she crosses paths with Haru Yoshida, a troubled delinquent who has stopped attending school after an incident early in the term. Much like Shizuku, Haru struggles socially and has no real friends. In a shocking turn, upon their first meeting, he instantly declares Shizuku his friend and confesses his love for her. Unfamiliar with friendship and romance, Shizuku finds it difficult to understand her relationship with Haru. As they grow closer, she starts to see aspects of Haru beyond his aggressive exterior. Slowly, she develops feelings for him, even if she cannot clearly define them. Together, Shizuku and Haru explore the nature of their bond and the emotions they are experiencing.

The second season of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, titled Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku, resumes immediately after the conclusion of the first season. The story follows the Volunteer Service Club, comprised of the indifferent Hachiman Hikigaya, the bright Yui Yuigahama, and the fierce Yukino Yukinoshita, as they continue their mission to assist any student seeking help with their troubles. However, as rifts begin to form within their own group, Hachiman realizes that his talent for swiftly identifying the root of others' problems has a double-edged nature: the most logical solution is not always the most appropriate one.

At the elite Shuchiin Academy, the student council continues its intense mental battle, primarily between President Miyuki Shirogane and Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya. Both remain resolute in their goal to force the other to confess their love first. While facing pressure from her affluent family, Kaguya slowly softens her cold exterior, drawing nearer to Shirogane and her peers. Concurrently, Treasurer Yuu Isigami grapples with his hidden crush on senior Tsubame Koyasu, whose approval significantly bolsters his self-assurance. The council's newest recruit, Miko Iino, starts forming a connection with the rebellious Ishigami as she challenges her rigid moral code. As romance blooms throughout the academy, the student council pulls their less traditional friends into a series of increasingly hilarious situations.

Energetic Narumi Momose oversleeps through all four of her alarms and rushes to make it to her first day at a new office. As she dashes to catch her train, she vows to keep her hidden identity as an otaku and fujoshi a secret from her coworkers. However, her plan falls apart when she bumps into Hirotaka Nifuji, an old middle school friend. She tries to cover up by inviting him for drinks after work, but he accidentally exposes her when he casually asks if she plans to attend the upcoming Summer Comiket. Fortunately, the only witnesses—Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura—are also otaku. That evening, the two go out for drinks to catch up after years apart. When Narumi laments that her previous boyfriend broke up with her because he refused to date a fujoshi, Hirotaka suggests she try dating a fellow otaku—specifically, himself. He solemnly promises to always be there for her, support her, and help her farm for rare drops in Monster Hunter. Overwhelmed by the proposal, Narumi immediately agrees. And so the two otaku begin dating, starting their adorably awkward romance.

Kazuya Kinoshita, a 20-year-old university student, enjoyed a happy relationship with the lively and cheerful Mami Nanami until she abruptly broke up with him, leaving Kazuya heartbroken and adrift. To cope with his loneliness, he turns to an online app to hire a rental girlfriend, where he meets Chizuru Mizuhara, whose striking beauty and adorable personality immediately catch his attention. However, after reading reviews from other clients who had similar experiences with Chizuru, Kazuya starts to suspect that her kind smile and affectionate behavior are just part of the job, designed to play with his emotions. He decides to give her a poor rating, which enrages Chizuru and leads to a heated confrontation where her true sharp and passionate nature comes out. Their argument is interrupted when Kazuya learns that his grandmother has fallen ill. Rushing to the hospital, they find his grandmother already recovering, but confused by Chizuru's presence, she asks who he is. On impulse, Kazuya claims they are lovers, forcing Chizuru to keep up the act. With Kazuya still fixated on his ex-girlfriend Mami, how long can this difficult client and unwilling rental girlfriend maintain the deception?

In "The Quintessential Quintuplets," Fuutarou Uesugi is an academic prodigy whose personal life is far from simple. His reserved nature and preference for isolation have left him friendless, while his household faces severe financial strain due to his father's massive debts. During a lunch break, Uesugi clashes with a new female transfer student over a seat, sparking immediate mutual animosity. Later that same day, he seizes an opportunity to alleviate his family's monetary crisis: a high-paying private tutoring gig for a wealthy family's daughter, boasting a fee five times the standard rate. Upon accepting the role, Uesugi is stunned to discover the client is Itsuki Nakano, the very girl from his earlier confrontation. Even as Uesugi attempts to reconcile with Itsuki, he soon understands his troubles are only just starting. Itsuki is one of a set of quintuplets, and he is now tasked with tutoring her sisters—Miku, Yotsuba, Nino, and Ichika—as well. Each sister is teetering on the brink of failing their classes, yet all stubbornly refuse to accept a tutor. With his family's future hanging in the balance, Uesugi is determined to break through the sisters' resistance to studying and steer them toward academic success.

High schooler Chiyo Sakura harbors a deep crush on the oblivious Umetarou Nozaki. When she finally gathers the courage to confess, he misunderstands her and hands her an autograph instead. It is revealed that the seemingly aloof Nozaki is actually a famous shoujo manga artist known by the pen name Sakiko Yumeno. Following a string of comedic misunderstandings, Chiyo ends up working as one of Nozaki's assistants. As she navigates these humorous situations, she becomes close to eccentric classmates, including her bold fellow assistant Mikoto Mikoshiba and the school's self-proclaimed Prince, Yuu Kashima. Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun follows Chiyo as she supports Nozaki's career while quietly hoping he will eventually recognize her romantic feelings.

Once humiliated by the wealthy and charismatic Aki Adagaki, who cruelly dubbed him "Piggy" due to his weight, Masamune Makabe channeled his frustration into a rigorous fitness routine. He successfully transformed into a handsome and confident young man. His strategy is simple: make Aki fall in love with him, then break her heart upon their reunion. After transferring to Aki's high school, Masamune sets his revenge in motion by gradually forging a bond with the formidable girl. However, just as his scheme begins to bear fruit, an anonymous letter arrives containing his old, derogatory nickname. If Masamune cannot identify the sender, his intricate plan risks collapsing before it truly gets underway.

In High School DxD New, Issei Hyoudou, the high school pervert dreaming of becoming the Harem King, is drawn into even more intense adventures. While the Occult Research Club carries on with its usual duties, Issei notices that their Knight, Yuuto Kiba, has become unusually distracted and less alert. Upon investigating, Issei discovers Kiba's dark and violent past connected to the mysterious Holy Swords. Having endured a brutal experiment, Kiba is now driven to exact revenge on those responsible. The return of a familiar enemy, coupled with the arrival of two new Holy Sword users, pulls Issei and his fellow Devils into yet another sinister scheme.

Following the vanishing of the crimson sun and the catastrophic Breakdown Phenomenon that wipes Arata Kasuga's town from existence, reality is artificially reconstructed thanks to a magical grimoire entrusted to him by his childhood friend and cousin, Hijiri Kasuga. When Lilith Asami arrives to investigate the disaster, she demands Arata surrender the book or face death. Refusing both options, Arata instead enrolls in the clandestine Royal Biblia Academy. There, he encounters six other magic users who, alongside Lilith, comprise the Trinity Seven, the academy's elite members each wielding unique abilities. Fueled by his determination to rescue Hijiri, Arata and his new companions launch an exhaustive quest to halt the total destruction of his hometown and restore his cherished friend.

Naoto Hachiouji crosses paths with first-year student Hayase Nagatoro in the library. Upon discovering his manga sketches and noticing his timid demeanor, she immediately begins relentlessly teasing him, addressing him solely as Senpai. Initially, her playful jabs prove humiliating and irritating, forcing Naoto to comply with her demands. However, as they continue to spend time together, a strange bond develops, and Naoto finds himself genuinely enjoying Nagatoro's company. He comes to realize that his daily life is about to be filled with fun and unexpected surprises.

Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière attends the prestigious Tristain Academy, where she struggles with magic, causing her spells to frequently fail. Mocked by her peers as "Louise the Zero," she faces a critical moment when first-years must summon their familiars. Louise's attempt results in a massive explosion that everyone assumes is another failure, yet Saito Hiraga emerges from the chaos. Initially treated as a mere servant, Saito is forced to perform menial duties such as cleaning Louise's clothes and eating off the ground. However, a strange mark resembling that of the legendary familiar Gandalfr appears on his hand, hinting that he is far from ordinary. As Saito adapts to this unexpected new life, Louise begins to uncover her true potential, proving she is more than the humiliating nickname suggests.

Ryuu Yamada enters his second year at Suzaku High with hopes of leaving his delinquent past behind, yet he quickly reverts to skipping classes, fighting, and failing grades. Following another summons to the principal's office, he accidentally collides with Urara Shiraishi, an honor student, and a clumsy kiss results in their bodies temporarily swapping. As Ryuu and Urara navigate the complications and possibilities of this mysterious power, they are approached by Toranosuke Miyamura. As the sole member of the Supernatural Studies Club and a student council officer, Miyamura reveals he knows their secret and invites them to join. Together with Miyabi Itou, an eccentric student obsessed with the paranormal, they embark on a quest to uncover the legend of Suzaku High's Seven Witches: seven female students whose unique abilities activate through a kiss. The Supernatural Studies Club launches its inaugural mission to locate all seven witches.

After enrolling in a new school with hopes of making a good impression and finding friends, Kodaka Hasegawa finds himself isolated within a month. His blond hair and rough appearance lead classmates to mistakenly label him a troublemaker. His solitary existence shifts upon meeting Yozora Mikazuki, another social outcast found conversing with an imaginary friend in an empty classroom. Bonding over their shared loneliness, the two establish the Neighbor's Club, an organization designed to help members develop social skills and integrate with the student body. As eccentric individuals like Sena Kashiwazaki, an eroge enthusiast, join the group, Kodaka begins to feel he has finally found the nakama he sought among these unique personalities.

As summer break begins at Kuoh Academy, Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon Emperor, and the Occult Research Club members restart their operations. Following their clash with Issei's rival Vali and the Chaos Brigade, it becomes evident that Rias Gremory's peerage still lacks sufficient experience. To ready themselves for upcoming dangers, Rias and Azazel guide the group through rigorous training in the Underworld. Throughout this period, the team's bonds deepen, and Issei becomes increasingly entangled in intimate relationships with the club's female members. Simultaneously, their adversaries grow in both strength and quantity. The crisis escalates with the sudden appearance of Loki, the Evil God of Norse mythology, paving the way for dramatic showdowns and intense devil battles in High School DxD BorN!

Nasa Yuzaki is driven to distinguish himself by acing the national practice exam and securing admission to an elite high school. However, on a snowy evening while walking home, his focus shifts to an extraordinarily beautiful girl. Compelled to approach her, Nasa dashes forward, only to be hit by a truck. The girl swiftly drags him to safety. As he lies bleeding near an ambulance, he watches her vanish into the moonlight, reminiscent of Princess Kaguya returning to the moon. Unwilling to let their fleeting encounter end, he pursues her despite his wounds and asks her out. Touched by his bravery and sincerity, she agrees, but only on the condition that he marry her.