Real Girl

Isolated otaku Hikari begins dating outspoken classmate Iroha after meeting her during school punishment, knowing she plans to move away in six months.

Synopsis

The Anime Lad

Hikari Tsutsui prefers fictional girls and expects little from his classmates. A school punishment pairs him with Iroha Igarashi, an outspoken student carrying a bad reputation. She proposes that they date. Hikari agrees, then learns she plans to move away in six months. His first relationship therefore includes a clearly stated deadline.

Super Eyepatch Fox

Hikari understands fictional romance better than real people. Pool-cleaning punishment introduces Iroha, a blunt classmate surrounded by gossip. She asks him out. He accepts. Then comes the deadline: she leaves in six months. Begin a real relationship while time and reputation crowd the opening.

Gigguku

Hikari has spent years retreating into manga and games, then Iroha walks into pool-cleaning duty and asks him to date her. He has NO preparation for this! Worse, she plans to leave in six months. Their relationship starts with a deadline, putting real pressure on an otaku who preferred romance behind a screen.

Father's Basement

Hikari begins as a defensive otaku who expects more from fictional girls than classmates, while the school's labels around Iroha are ugly and convenient. Her direct proposal disrupts both habits. She asks for a relationship, he accepts, and the six-month deadline prevents the setup from pretending they have unlimited time.

Hikari Tsutsui has never been popular, his one real friend is an even worse otaku than he is, and the only girls he's known are the two-dimensional women from his manga and video games. Until, that is, he's sent to help clean the pool as punishment and is partnered with the school's resident "bad girl", the very real, very three-dimensional Iroha Igarashi.

What defines it

A sweet, grounded shoujo romance. Warm and honest.

Watch path

Watch the numbered main seasons in order. Announced continuations follow the released entries. Optional titles are not included in this main-series path.

Main storyMain seasons

Recommendation shape

MoodMostly bright

BrightBleak

PaceNot enough evidence

StoryNot enough evidence

ActionNot enough evidence

Moral framingNot enough evidence

Cast focusNot enough evidence