If you’re a fan of Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms, you’ll enjoy these anime that also feature quirky, confident female leads who chase after more reserved or emotionally distant male protagonists. These series mix humor with romance, highlighting the slow but sure development of a relationship through playful teasing and personal growth.
1. Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro

Much like Medaka’s relentless teasing of Kuroiwa, Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro centers around Nagatoro’s playful bullying of her senpai, Naoto. As she pushes him out of his comfort zone, the relationship between them deepens into something more heartfelt.
What sets this anime apart is the rawness of their interactions, as Nagatoro balances her teasing with moments of vulnerability. It’s a mix of laughter and genuine connection, just like the push-pull dynamic between Medaka and Kuroiwa. If you enjoy watching a female lead who’s not afraid to tease and challenge someone with determination, Nagatoro will steal your heart.
2. Kaguya-sama: Love is War

In Kaguya-sama: Love is War, the pride and stubbornness of both leads, Kaguya and Miyuki, create a deliciously tense atmosphere, very similar to what you’ll see in Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms. Kaguya and Miyuki’s constant games of one-upmanship in their attempts to get the other to confess their feelings are full of hilarious twists and emotional moments.
Both Kaguya and Medaka enjoy playing mind games and trying to push each other into emotional submission, yet both have hidden vulnerabilities that surface as their relationships grow. This mix of laughs, clever moves, and growing romance will keep you hooked the whole way through.
3. My Senpai is Annoying

My Senpai is Annoying showcases a similar dynamic to Medaka Kuroiwa, with the female protagonist, Haru, finding herself irritated by her oblivious but charming senpai, Takeda. Haru starts off finding Takeda’s behavior annoying but slowly begins to develop feelings for him as she gets to know his more thoughtful side.
Like Medaka, Haru is assertive and doesn’t shy away from expressing her feelings, even if she acts tough at first. Takeda, much like Kuroiwa, is more reserved and doesn’t always understand the impact of his actions, creating a fun yet endearing relationship that evolves over time.
4. Horimiya

At the heart of Horimiya lies the story of two seemingly opposite classmates, Kyoko and Izumi, who initially appear to be distant from one another but ultimately reveal their true selves to each other. Similar to Medaka and Kuroiwa, both Kyoko and Izumi have walls around their emotions, but as their connection deepens, they begin to grow and understand each other.
The beauty of Horimiya is how it explores vulnerability and self-growth in its characters. As Kyoko and Izumi’s relationship deepens, their connection grows from lighthearted interactions to something more sincere, much like how Medaka and Kuroiwa’s bond evolves, though in a different way.
5. Lovely★Complex

Lovely★Complex focuses on the unconventional relationship between Risa, a tall girl, and Otani, a short boy. Their relationship is fueled by their height difference, but what starts as teasing turns into a tender romance. In the same way that Medaka and Kuroiwa’s interaction is shaped by their contrasting personalities, Risa and Otani’s relationship follows a similar pattern, with Risa being confident and outgoing, while Otani is more reserved.
As they support each other through their insecurities, the relationship grows into something beautiful and sincere. Also, the way they initially help each other with their romantic endeavors, only to fall for each other, mirrors the way Medaka pushes Kuroiwa to open up emotionally.
6. Tonikaku Kawaii

In Tonikaku Kawaii, Nasa is a lovable, naive guy who falls for the confident Tsukasa. Tsukasa, much like Medaka, takes charge of their relationship from the start, even though Nasa’s more bashful and clueless. Their story is less about teasing and more about understanding each other’s quirks, but the relationship between them is strikingly similar to Medaka and Kuroiwa’s.
The confident female protagonist and the somewhat oblivious male protagonist make a cute pair, and their love story unfolds with humor and sweetness. If you enjoyed the way Medaka takes control of Kuroiwa’s heart, you’ll appreciate how Tsukasa dominates Nasa’s.
7. The Quintessential Quintuplets

The Quintessential Quintuplets follows Fuutarou, a tutor who’s hired to help five very different sisters with their studies. While the show focuses on his relationships with each sister, the overarching theme of a seemingly indifferent male lead being pursued by strong-willed females mirrors the dynamic in Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms.
Fuutarou, like Kuroiwa, is initially closed off and uninterested, but as he spends more time with the quintuplets, he begins to develop deeper feelings for them. All in all, the series has plenty of humor, emotional growth, and a slow-building romance, just like Medaka and Kuroiwa’s relationship.
8. Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile follows Chiaki, a perfectionist music student, and Nodame, an eccentric and free-spirited pianist. Chiaki’s reserved nature contrasts sharply with Nodame’s carefree attitude, creating an interesting connection similar to Medaka and Kuroiwa’s. While Chiaki and Medaka may not show much interest at first, both male leads gradually find themselves drawn to their female counterparts, despite their initial resistance.
The series is filled with comedy, character development, and an unlikely romance, just like Medaka’s teasing but ultimately heartfelt pursuit of Kuroiwa’s affection.
9. Ouran High School Host Club

In Ouran High School Host Club, Haruhi, a girl who pretends to be a boy, finds herself caught up in the world of the Host Club, where she meets the charming and often arrogant Tamaki. Tamaki’s strong personality and his growing affection for Haruhi are similar to the way Medaka pursues Kuroiwa.
While both shows have romance and humor, Ouran High School Host Club leans more into reverse harem dynamics and parodying shojo tropes, whereas Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms focuses more on a one-on-one flirty battle. That said, both anime have a fun, teasing dynamic where one character keeps trying to win the other over, while the other keeps resisting entertainingly.
10. The World God Only Knows

In The World God Only Knows, Keima, a self-proclaimed “God of Conquest,” must win the hearts of various girls to release spirits that have inhabited them. Keima’s emotionally distant and somewhat indifferent personality is similar to Kuroiwa’s, while the girls he must charm share similarities with Medaka’s strong-willed, confident nature.
The humor and slow-burn romance that develops as Keima connects with these girls offer a similar vibe to Medaka’s pursuit of Kuroiwa. While the premise is different, the theme of a male lead who’s emotionally reserved being pursued by a confident female lead ties them together.