Now, you might notice the original source is a seinen. And while I know seinen is just a demographic and doesn’t necessarily affect the genre or story, I believe there are people out there expecting a more mature or bleaker story, especially since the manga was published in Young Animal—you know, the same magazine that Berserk came from. But here’s a heads-up: there is nothing remotely close to mature or bleak in this anime. In fact, my love story back in junior high had more conflict and depth than whatever this series is trying to present.
That aside, this was made by the same guy who gave us Rent-A-Girlfriend, so you already know not to get your expectations too high. Reiji took anime’s most common tropes and thingamajigs and proceeded to do... absolutely nothing new. It’s basically just your average “your siblings are actually not your siblings” story—but instead of one, there’s five of them.
Now, the story could have leaned into the concept of differentiating familial and romantic love, and maybe even posed some interesting questions about how perspective can affect romantic feelings. But Reiji said, “fuck it, I’m not doing that—let’s just make them talk about family every fucking minute.” They talk about family so much, I could feel Dominic Toretto manifesting beside me out of thin air.
Also, the way these characters address each other sounds like they’re part of imperial inquisitor: “AH YES, MY SECOND SISTER,” “MY OLDEST SISTER,” “YOU ARE THE HEIR TO THE FAMILY,” “YOU ARE THE OLDER BROTHER.” It’s not the most realistic depiction of siblings by any means, but we can easily sweep that under the rug because first, it’s fiction. Second, Reiji probably never experienced having siblings in real life.
Almost every character is "by the book." If she’s a tsundere, then she’s GONNA be a tsundere. If she’s an onee-chan, she’s GONNA be an onee-chan and make damn sure everyone knows it. If she’s the smart type, then brace yourself for walls of intellectual dialogue delivered "smartly."
But then again, this is a romcom harem. Don’t expect too much. You’re not watching it for the plot, realism, or originality. You’re here for fun, to swoon over cute girls, and to root for your favorite to end up with the MC.
So yes, the anime does offer five attractive heroines, each distinct in design and personality, tailored to fit your favorite trope. Not the most unique, but let’s be real—you probably don’t care about originality, and honestly, neither do I. So Reiji at least did that part right.
Another good thing: the MC is actually bearable. Reiji CAN actually write a decent main character. While he’s far from perfect, at least this guy doesn’t make me want to choke him to death every time he opens his mouth.
The animation is great. Doga Kobo keeps their streak going, delivering cute and lovable character designs that really do justice to the original source.
Overall,if you come into this expecting depth, originality, or emotional nuance, you’re barking up the wrong tree. This anime is exactly what you'd expect from Reiji Miyajima—trope-filled, surface-level, and dripping in fantasy wish fulfillment. But hey, if you're just here for some cute girls, solid animation, and a main character who isn’t completely insufferable, then yeah, you’ll probably have a good time. Just don’t try to find meaning where there is none, and you might actually enjoy it.
