Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!?

Plot

Takuya Seo, a loner student, is a fan of an anime series targeted towards young girls, but is embarrassed about others finding out. He sits behind two gyaru classmates, Kotoko Ichiji and Kei Amane, whom he sees as belonging to a different caste. However, after accidentally dropping his eraser and overhearing them talking about anime, he realizes that they actually share similar interests. The three start a relationship, bonding over their shared fondness for anime, and both girls find themselves falling head over heels in love with Takuya, even though he remains completely oblivious.

Characters

Takuya Seo (瀬尾卓也, Seo Takuya)

Voiced by: Shō Komura

An otaku student with a strong interest in anime and manga. He is secretly a fan of the series Glittery Monpets, also known as GlitterMon, and accidentally reveals this when he corrects Kei and Kotoko after overhearing them talk about it, which leads to him forming a connection with the two. He is fairly observant, often noticing when the girls get too close, do embarrassing things without realizing it, or when Kei is hiding her true feelings about being an otaku. He is very grateful for Kei and Kotoko's friendship, as it allows him to openly enjoy the hobby he loves and be himself. He easily gets flustered by the girls' actions, especially when they act affectionate around him, though he is completely oblivious to the girls being in love with him, and only sees them as good friends.

Kei Amane (天音 慶, Amane Kei)

Voiced by: Konomi Inagaki

One of Takuya's two gyaru classmates and a close friend of Kotoko. She has long brown hair and a more reserved personality. She is secretly an otaku, but tries to hide it by claiming her interest is on behalf of her sister, which does not fool Takuya. When it comes to anime and manga, she becomes very excited and tends to speak without holding back, sometimes saying strange things without realizing it. She truly values Takuya as a friend and is grateful to have someone she can openly share her hobbies with. Over time, she appears to gradually develop feelings for him, though he has no idea.

Kotoko Ijichi (伊地知 琴子, Ijichi Kotoko)

Voiced by: Yū Serizawa

One of Takuya's two gyaru classmates and a close friend of Kei. She has short golden hair and an outgoing, cheerful personality. She is very open-minded, quickly understanding Kei and Takuya's interests and even developing an interest herself. She is also observant, noticing Kei's otaku tendencies, her occasional slip-ups, and her growing relationship with Takuya. Outside of school, she helps take care of her siblings to support her mother, and appears much different—wearing glasses, with messier hair and no makeup—a side of her that Takuya has seen, much to her embarrassment. Deep down, she appreciates Takuya's honesty and kindness, and feels bad that he has no close friends. Like Kei, she also seems to gradually develop feelings for him, but he is oblivious.

Genichiro Ijichi (伊地知 弦一郎, Ijichi Genichirō)

Voiced by: Jun Kasama

Kotoko's older brother. He deeply cares about his family and is especially overprotective of his younger sister.

Sayu Amamiya (雨宮 紗優, Amamiya Sayu)

Voiced by: Konomi Kohara

An elementary school student who is Kei's next-door neighbor. Due to their close relationship, they consider themselves to be sisters.

Kakeru Ijichi (伊地知 翔, Ijichi Kakeru)

Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki

Kotoko's younger brother, who is attached to Sayu. He mistakes Takuya for being Kotoko's boyfriend.

Hibiki Ijichi (伊地知 響, Ijichi Hibiki)

Voiced by: Emiri Katō

Kotoko's younger brother. He has a crush on Sayu and also thinks that Takuya is Kotoko's boyfriend.

Media

Manga

Written by Norishiro-chan and illustrated by Sakana Uozumi, Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!? began serialization in Coamix's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Zenon on August 25, 2021. Its chapters have been compiled into thirteen tankōbon volumes as of June 2026.

During their panel at Sakura-Con 2025, Yen Press announced that it had licensed the series for English publication.

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced on October 1, 2025. It was later revealed to be a television series produced by TMS Entertainment and directed by Shin Mita, with series composition by Kazuhiko Inukai, characters designed by Rion Matsuda, and music composed by Kō Satō. The series aired from April 8 to June 24, 2026, on the IMAnimation W programming block on TV Asahi and its affiliates. The opening theme song is "Hide and Seek", performed by I-dle, and the ending theme song is "Ishō Nakako" (一生仲仔), performed by Sun Soo Girl. Crunchyroll is streaming the series. A cover of the song "Plastic Love", sung by Serizawa as her character Kotoko Ijichi, was used as episode 6's ending theme song.

Reception

By February 2024, the series had over 500,000 copies in circulation.