Koikimo
Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui • Nomad • 2021
So… What Is Koikimo?
Koikimo, short for Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui, follows successful 26-year-old businessman Ryo Amakusa after a high school girl named Ichika Arima saves him from falling down a staircase.
When Ryo later realizes that Ichika is his younger sister Rio’s best friend, he tries to thank her with flirting. Ichika’s response is basically immediate disgust.
And apparently that is exactly what it takes for this man to fall completely in love. 😭
Synopsis
High school student Ichika Arima unexpectedly saves Ryo Amakusa, a 26-year-old businessman, after he nearly falls down a staircase. She even gives him her lunch when she realizes he has not eaten.
Later that day, Ryo discovers that the girl who helped him is actually his younger sister Rio’s classmate and best friend. He attempts to repay Ichika with his usual charm, only for her to reject him without hesitation.
Instead of being offended, Ryo becomes completely fascinated by her. From flowers and phone calls to relentless declarations of affection, he begins trying to win Ichika over while she continues reminding him exactly how creepy she thinks he is.
Meanwhile, Rio finds the entire situation way too amusing and becomes surprisingly supportive of her brother’s attempts to make her best friend fall for him.
Chaos Check
Music Notes
The opening theme is “Monoqlo City” performed by ACE COLLECTION, while “Linaria” by MaRuRi to Ryuga closes each episode.
The overall soundtrack keeps the series feeling much lighter and more like a traditional romantic comedy, even when the actual relationship at the center of the story raises some very obvious questions.
Immediate Vibe
Somehow followed immediately by:
“Okay but play the next episode.”
My Take
Koikimo is one of those anime where I completely understand why someone would look at the premise and immediately decide it is not for them.
Ryo is 26. Ichika is 16. The anime does not hide that fact, and the age difference is impossible to separate from the central romance.
What surprised me, though, is that the show is very aware that Ryo’s behavior is ridiculous. Ichika does not instantly melt because an attractive older man is interested in her. She insults him, rejects him and repeatedly calls out how uncomfortable his behavior can be.
Ryo, meanwhile, is so used to women responding positively to him that Ichika’s complete lack of interest basically short-circuits his brain. Suddenly this successful, confident businessman is sending flowers and obsessing over whether one high school girl likes him.
And then we have Rio.
This girl finds her brother falling for her best friend hilarious and is practically sitting front row with popcorn. Instead of shutting the situation down, she actively helps him and seems genuinely entertained every time Ichika puts Ryo back in his place.
Where Koikimo Gets Interesting
Underneath the uncomfortable setup, one of the more interesting parts of Koikimo is watching Ryo deal with feelings he cannot control using the same effortless charm that worked for him before.
Ichika does not see him as some perfect romantic lead. She sees the weirdness, calls it out and forces him to actually think about how his actions affect someone else.
The story also introduces people who would make considerably more conventional romantic partners for both characters. Ichika’s classmate Kai develops feelings for her, while Ryo’s coworker Arie begins developing feelings for him.
Those relationships make the central pairing even more complicated because the anime is forced to acknowledge something the audience is already thinking: there are easier and much more socially acceptable options standing right there.
That tension becomes a surprisingly important part of the later episodes as the story starts moving beyond Ryo simply chasing Ichika and asks what either of them actually wants.
The People Making This Messier
Kai & Arie Enter the Chat
Kai Tamaru
Kai gives Ichika the possibility of a relationship with someone her own age who already shares some of her interests.
- Her classmate
- Quiet and considerably less overwhelming
- Actually develops sincere feelings for her
- Makes Ichika question what she really wants
Arie Matsushima
Arie works alongside Ryo and represents the kind of relationship that would make considerably more sense to basically everyone around them.
- Ryo’s coworker
- Shares his interest in anime
- Develops genuine feelings for him
- Directly confronts the reality of Ryo’s age gap
Content & Audience Note
The central romantic storyline involves a 26-year-old adult and a 16-year-old high school student. That is not a tiny technicality or something that disappears after the first episode. It is the main premise.
If age-gap romances involving a minor are an automatic no for you, this is probably one to skip.
If you are comfortable engaging with a fictional, intentionally uncomfortable romance and enjoy character banter, persistent-romantic-lead chaos, love rivals and romantic comedies where everyone has opinions about the relationship, you may find yourself much more entertained than expected.
Availability
The anime was licensed by Crunchyroll outside Southeast Asia. Streaming catalogs can change by country and over time, so check your current regional streaming services before starting.
The original manga by Mogusu is complete with 8 volumes.
Final Verdict
Koikimo is absolutely not going to work for everyone, and I would never recommend pretending the age difference is not a major part of the story.
At the same time, the combination of Ichika’s blunt personality, Ryo’s complete inability to act normal around her, Rio’s matchmaking chaos and the growing romantic complications gives the series a strangely addictive quality.
Messy? Absolutely.
Did I still want to know how all of this ended? …also yes. 😂
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