by The synopsis and preview images for Episode 3 of the Winter 2026 anime My Childhood Friend Won’t Be a Romantic Comedy have officially been released. The episode is scheduled to air on Monday, January 19, 2026, and promises another mix of awkward misunderstandings, romantic tension, and comedy centered around childhood friends who are anything but simple.
Based on the popular manga currently serialized on Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket, the series has been gaining attention for its self-aware take on classic romantic comedy tropes—especially the idea that childhood friends never win in rom-coms.
About My Childhood Friend Won’t Be a Romantic Comedy
The story follows Kaisennosuke, a first-year high school student better known by his nickname “E-Yu.” He is a hardcore romantic comedy fan, with a particular obsession with stories where childhood friends become lovers.
Ironically, E-Yu strongly believes one thing:
“Real-life childhood friends never turn into romantic comedies.”
Despite this belief, his actual childhood friends—Shio Mizumo and Akari (Hito)—are both undeniably cute and harbor complicated feelings toward him. The series humorously explores E-Yu’s denial, the girls’ emotional struggles, and the awkward distance created by unspoken affection.
The result is a sweet, frustrating, and painfully relatable romantic comedy that blends parody with sincere emotional moments.
Episode 3 Title and Synopsis
Episode 3
“Longing, Alone, Night School, Fantasy, Promises—But It Still Won’t Be a Romantic Comedy”
In Episode 3, things take an unexpected turn when Shio and Akari discover E-Yu’s secret collection of romantic comedy manga, including a series titled My Childhood Friend Is Too Cute—a story that hits far too close to home.
After seeing the collection, Shio becomes distant and cold, quietly worrying:
“He’s probably going to make fun of me…”
Her confidence shaken, Shio sinks into depression. However, Akari encourages her to stop overthinking and take action.
Inspired by classic rom-com scenarios, Shio decides to boldly recreate a famous trope—the “Forbidden Gym Storeroom” scene—from the fictional series Ore-Love. She ambushes E-Yu while he is on cleaning duty, hoping the situation will finally spark something romantic.
Things, of course, do not go as planned.
Shio ends up falling asleep inside the gym storeroom, becoming trapped alone after school. What begins as a bold romantic fantasy turns into an awkward and lonely situation, perfectly capturing the series’ theme: wanting a romantic comedy moment, but reality refusing to cooperate.
Why Episode 3 Is Important
Episode 3 highlights several key themes of the series:
- The gap between fantasy and reality
- The emotional insecurity of unrequited love
- How romantic comedy tropes often fail in real life
- Shio’s growing vulnerability and internal conflict
It also deepens the emotional complexity of the characters, especially Shio, whose cold behavior is not cruelty—but fear.
Main Characters and Cast
- Kaisennosuke (E-Yu) – Gaku Urao
- Shio Mizumo – Rinka Kusumi
- Akari (Hito) – Yuzuki Serizawa
- Tsukimiruna – Sae Hiratsuka
- Haru Hinata – Yuyuki Yamamoto
Each cast member brings subtle emotional nuance to a story that relies heavily on awkward silences, internal monologues, and unspoken feelings.
Staff and Production Details
- Original Work: Shinya Sanren
(Serialized in Magazine Pocket, Kodansha) - Director: Satoshi Kuwabara
- Series Composition: Mitsuki Hirota
- Screenplay: Mitsuki Hirota, Mayumi Morita
- Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Reina Iwasaki
- Animation Production: Tezuka Productions
Tezuka Productions’ experience with character-driven stories shines through in the expressive animation and timing-based humor.
Broadcast & Streaming Information
TV Broadcast
- TV Tokyo (6 affiliates)
Every Monday from 12:00 AM, starting January 5, 2026 - AT-X
Every Tuesday from 10:30 PM
Repeat broadcasts: Thursdays 10:30 AM / Mondays 4:30 PM - BS Nippon TV
Every Tuesday from 11:30 PM
Streaming
- Fastest Streaming:
d Anime Store, AnimeFesta (On-air version) - Exclusive “Petit Doki Version”:
d Anime Store, AnimeFesta (selected episodes only) - General Streaming (from Jan 9):
ABEMA, Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT, TVer, DMM TV, FOD, Lemino, Niconico, and more
Note: Broadcast and streaming schedules may change without notice.
Opening & Ending Themes
- Opening Theme:
“Airaby”
HoneyWorks meets Mizumoeshio, Kaito, Tsukimiruna, Hinata Haru
(CV: Rinka Kusumi, Yuzuki Serizawa, Sae Hiratsuka, Yuyuki Yamamoto) - Ending Theme:
“Contrary” by Hikari Kodama
The music reinforces the emotional push-and-pull of adolescent romance and self-doubt.
Final Thoughts
Episode 3 of My Childhood Friend Won’t Be a Romantic Comedy perfectly captures why the series resonates with so many viewers. It balances humor with genuine emotional pain, reminding audiences that romantic fantasies don’t always survive real life.
With its self-aware storytelling, lovable yet flawed characters, and constant tension between expectation and reality, the series continues to stand out among Winter 2026 anime.
If you enjoy romantic comedies that question their own clichés, Episode 3 is not to be missed.
