A magical cupid forces a gamer to date, but she fights back with logic
In short: Anzu Hoshino wants nothing more than video games, chocolate, and her cat. When a wizard named Riri confiscates these treasures to force her into a real-life romance, Anzu launches a strategic counter-offensive. She is determined to outsmart the cupid and reclaim her peaceful, romance-free life at any cost.
Romantic Killer, a manga series by Wataru Momose, follows the life of Anzu Hoshino, a high school student who rejects traditional romance in favor of her three primary passions: video games, chocolate, and her pet cat, Momohiki. The narrative begins when a wizard named Riri appears, claiming to be a love cupid tasked with reversing Japan's declining birth rate by orchestrating romantic encounters for Anzu. To force her cooperation, Riri seizes her three greatest desires, trapping her in a series of scenarios reminiscent of shōjo manga tropes.
The series, which ran on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ from July 2019 to June 2020, subverts genre expectations through its protagonist. Anzu is logical, blunt, and fiercely protective of her autonomy, actively working to dismantle the romantic traps set by Riri. While Riri attempts to pair her with various candidates—including the cold, reserved Tsukasa Kazuki, her childhood friend Junta, and the wealthy Hijiri Koganei—Anzu remains focused on her goal of returning to her normal life. The story explores the genuine bonds that form despite these forced circumstances, revealing that the boys' affections are authentic rather than products of manipulation.
Beyond the manga, the story expanded into an original net animation released on Netflix in October 2022 and a live-action film released in Japan in December 2025. The series achieved critical recognition, winning first place in the second of Shueisha's Jump Vertical Scrolling Manga Awards and ranking 12th in the 2020 Next Manga Awards. Through its blend of comedy and character-driven drama, Romantic Killer challenges the conventions of the romance genre while highlighting the importance of personal boundaries and the complexity of human relationships.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Romantic Killer
- Also: Wikidata — Romantic Killer · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Romantic Killer · CC0
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