If you’re looking forward to My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! (ImoUza), you probably enjoy rom-com anime full of teasing, awkward relationships, and comedic tension. With the anime debuting in October 2025, it’s a great time to explore similar shows. The following 15 anime all share playful banter, fake dating setups, or close-but-complicated relationships, making them perfect for fans waiting for ImoUza.
1. Toradora!
Every anime fan knows this one for good reason—it’s considered the gold standard of tsundere romance that defined an entire generation of anime. Taiga is a tiny girl who constantly beats up Ryuji, just like Iroha bugs Akiteru nonstop. Both girls act mean and annoying, but they’re really just hiding their feelings. Ryuji stays patient with Taiga’s antics, much like Akiteru handles Iroha.
The best part is seeing characters who seem to hate each other slowly become closer. Sometimes, the person who annoys you most might actually care about you the most, as both these anime prove. With its hilarious school-based comedy and genuinely sweet romance, it’s perfect for anyone who loves lighthearted high school romcoms with teasing, stubborn characters.
2. Nisekoi: False Love
Studio Shaft really nailed it with Nisekoi. The animation perfectly captures over-the-top romantic comedy moments that make you laugh and cringe. Raku has to fake being Chitoge’s boyfriend even though they fight constantly, similar to how Akiteru deals with Iroha’s antics despite wanting peace. Chitoge’s aggressive personality and constant arguing mirror the same energy as Iroha picking fights with Akiteru. Both guys just want a calm life, but these demanding girls keep dragging them into chaos.
That’s not where the similarities between these two shows end. Similar to Raku, Akiteru is actually forced into a fake romantic relationship with his cousin, Mashiro Tsukinomori, for family reasons. While he doesn’t have real feelings for Mashiro, the awkward situation gives Iroha endless opportunities to tease and pick on him, leading to plenty of funny misunderstandings and chaotic moments.
3. The Quintessential Quintuplets
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by one demanding person? Try dealing with five identical sisters who all have different personalities but the same face. Fuutarou has to tutor five different sisters, and each one has her own way of being difficult and demanding. It’s like taking Iroha’s personality and splitting it into five different girls who all want attention from the same guy. Fuutarou is just trying to do his job and get good grades, but these sisters keep making his life complicated with their drama. This is exactly what Akiteru goes through with Iroha constantly interrupting his normal life.
Unlike other harem anime, The Quintessential Quintuplets has a solid plot and personality development. Each sister shows a different type of stubborn personality, from openly mean to secretly sweet. The tutoring scenes are really funny because the girls don’t make it easy for him. The story actually cares about who he connects with, and guessing which sister he’ll choose will make even the biggest harem hater entertained.
4. Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro
The title says it all. This show perfected the art of “bullying equals affection” way before it became a mainstream trope. Nagatoro finds Senpai drawing manga and decides to make fun of him every single day after school. She acts really mean and calls him names, but you can tell she actually enjoys spending time with him. Senpai puts up with all her teasing because he’s too nice to tell her to go away, just like how Akiteru tolerates Iroha’s behavior.
Right out of ImoUza, Nagatoro also shows that when someone bothers you all the time, they might actually like you. Nagatoro invades Senpai’s art room whenever she wants, the same way Iroha treats Akiteru’s room like it belongs to her. The comedy comes from watching these quirky relationships slowly turn into real friendship and maybe even romance.
5. Rent-A-Girlfriend
Dating apps have nothing on literally renting a girlfriend for social situations. Kazuya rents a girlfriend named Chizuru, and their fake relationship gets complicated as real feelings start developing. Now, Chizuru acts differently depending on whether she’s working or just being herself, and somehow, even after 380 manga chapters, we still don’t know how it’ll end.
The fake or forced intimacy in both situations gradually becomes meaningful, whether it’s Chizuru’s rental relationship or Iroha inserting herself into Akiteru’s daily routine.
You’ll laugh at all the awkward situations and cringeworthy moments where characters make everything worse by misunderstanding each other. While frustrating at times, it’s a good choice for people who love complicated relationship drama.
6. My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected
We’ve all met that one person who thinks they’re too cool for everyone else. Hachiman is a loner who doesn’t want to deal with people, but he gets forced into the Service Club, where he has to help solve other students’ problems. The main girl, Yukino, acts cold and distant to everyone, but she’s really just protecting herself from getting hurt. Hachiman’s sarcastic thoughts about everyone around him are both funny and relatable, and the club setting gives the characters a reason to spend time together despite their personality conflicts.
This is similar to how Akiteru probably wants to be left alone but keeps getting pulled into situations involving Iroha. Both shows feature guys who’d rather avoid drama but keep attracting difficult girls who challenge them. If you like watching cynical characters gradually learn to care about others, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU delivers exactly that. Plus, the dialogue is smart and funny without being too complicated to follow, making it easy to enjoy the character interactions.
7. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Three seasons and a movie later, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War still hits different. Two super-smart students like each other but are way too proud to admit it, so they end up playing all sorts of mind games to make the other confess first. Kaguya acts like an ice queen most of the time, but when she gets flustered, she totally flips—classic tsundere vibes. The narrator even breaks down all the hidden thoughts behind their actions, which makes every awkward or silly moment even funnier.
In the same vein as Iroha and Akiteru’s back-and-forth in ImoUza, Kaguya’s favorite duo also keeps their true feelings under wraps. The difference is that Iroha is more playful and impulsive, while Kaguya actually schemes. Both shows show that even smart people can get totally childish around crushes. Plus, the student council setup gives Kaguya and friends a reason to interact, just like school frames all the chaotic interactions in ImoUza.
8. We Never Learn
Remember that sinking feeling when you opened a textbook for your worst subject? We Never Learn captures that universal struggle. Nariyuki tutors three girls facing their own academic nightmares—subjects that feel impossible. As is typical for harem anime, his patience and kindness make him popular among them without him even realizing it.
This is a bit like Akiteru dealing with Iroha in ImoUza: he’s just trying to help or mind his own business, but somehow ends up in complicated, teasing-filled situations. Both shows feature normal guys who attract attention just by being helpful and reliable. The school/academic setting adds realistic pressure and structure, giving the characters a reason to spend time together and slowly develop relationships.
9. My Little Monster
Brain’s Base (known for Oregairu, Durarara!!, and To Your Eternity) only made 13 episodes of this back in 2012, but it left a lasting mark on romantic comedy anime. Shizuku is completely focused on studying until she meets Haru, a guy who doesn’t follow social rules and does whatever he wants. Their relationship starts with constant annoyance, but over time, it slowly grows into something deeper. Haru’s unpredictable behavior and tendency to ignore personal boundaries create both comedy and drama, making every interaction fun to watch.
My Little Monster’s main couple is cut from the same chaotic, teasing-energy cloth as Iroha and Akiteru in ImoUza: Akiteru just wants peace, but Iroha keeps pushing into his space and teasing him, keeping him on his toes. To top it off, both anime series show that the person who irritates you the most might also be the one who understands you best.
10. Lovely Complex
Height differences in anime couples usually go one way, but this series flips the script. Risa is really tall, Otani is really short, and together they start as a comedy duo before slowly falling for each other. Their constant arguing and bickering create tons of laughs, and the high school setting keeps everything feeling authentic. The height difference makes for funny situations, but the real comedy comes from watching two stubborn people gradually realize they like each other.
In the spirit of Iroha keeping Akiteru on his toes in ImoUza, Risa and Otani’s constant teasing hides real feelings beneath the surface. Both shows show that couples who clash can actually care more about each other than those who get along all the time. Risa’s loud, persistent personality mirrors Iroha’s never-let-up energy, while Otani’s patience allows him to see past her annoying habits and appreciate her good qualities.
