Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku

Narumi Momose is an office worker who keeps a secret life as a yaoi fan, and when she switches jobs she runs into Hirotaka Nifuji, a childhood friend who looks put-together but lives for video games. They agree to try dating out of convenience and familiarity, but their differing ways of expressing affection, social awkwardness, and the need to hide parts of themselves make simple romantic gestures feel clumsy. The series follows their tentative steps toward a relationship, leaning on everyday humor and slice-of-life beats instead of dramatic plot twists, and it stays focused on small, awkward moments rather than big revelations.

The TV anime aired in 2018 and is adapted from Fujita's popular webmanga, with Arisa Date and Kent Ito leading the voice cast as Narumi and Hirotaka, respectively.

The show struck a chord for how it portrayed adult otaku life, showing fandom and office routines side by side. Fans picked up on its relaxed tone and conversational humor, and it helped normalize showing hobbyist interests in romantic leads without turning them into punchlines.

Critical and fan response tended to be favorable, reflected in an average score around 7.5 out of 10 from viewers. Reviewers often praised the chemistry between the leads, the light comedic timing, and the focus on realistic, everyday interactions. Themes include balancing personal passions with public persona, communication gaps in relationships, and how shared history can ease awkwardness.

It didn't dominate awards seasons, but it did raise the profiles of its voice actors among anime audiences and secured a steady fanbase. Its reputation rests more on steady popularity and relatability than on trophy cases.