Kiss Him, Not Me

Kae Serinuma is a second year high school student who lives for boys' love stories and quietly ships her classmates. After the sudden death of a favorite anime character pushes her into stress-related weight loss, Kae wakes up to find her appearance has changed and that several classmates are suddenly paying attention. Her daydreaming fujoshi brain keeps turning every awkward encounter into BL scenarios, which clashes with the real-life advances from a snarky junior, a gentle senior, and other admirers. The show follows Kae as she copes with new social pressures, her romantic confusion, and her tendency to read every situation through a fandom-colored lens, all while school life carries on around her.

Released in 2016, the anime was directed by Hiroshi Ishiodori, with Michiko Yokote credited for series composition. The TV adaptation kept a light, comedic tone and ran as a single-season broadcast aimed at shoujo and comedy fans.

The series resonated with fujoshi and otaku communities, prompting lots of fan art, cosplay, and online discussion about its portrayal of fandom. Characters like Kae and her admirers became popular subjects for social media sharing, and the show often comes up in conversations about romance comedies that reference otaku culture.

Audience ratings were positive, reflected in an 8.4/10 average from user votes, with praise centered on the humor, character chemistry, and playful inversion of romantic tropes. Recurring themes include identity, body image and self-confidence, the boundary between fantasy and reality, and how friendships shift when feelings change. Viewers often point to the strong comedic timing and the respectful, affectionate treatment of fan culture.

The series didn't receive major industry awards, yet it built a devoted fanbase and maintained steady popularity among viewers who enjoy romance comedy with meta commentary. Its lasting appeal comes from the mix of slapstick, heartfelt moments, and a lead who never loses her love for BL even as her world changes.