"A Romantic Comedy Where the Childhood Friend Won't Lose" (abbreviated as Osamake) is a light novel published by Dengeki Bunko (KADOKAWA) and was also ranked in "This Light Novel is Amazing! 2020." The anime adaptation will begin airing in April 2021, and the story centers around the childhood friend, who in today's climate is often the losing heroine. Of course, this is not just a story about childhood friends, as there are some quirky developments waiting for you. We would like to introduce the first episode of Osamake with spoilers!! !
Osamake Story Part 1: Sueharu Maru's First Love
Sueharu Maru, a 17-year-old high school student, has a crush on Shirakusa Kachi, a student at the same high school. It was Sueharu's first love. Shirakusa was already a successful writer, winning the Akutami Prize while still in high school. Her beautiful looks made her an idol at school. Shirakusa has a very cool personality, but she seems to soften up when she talks to Sueharu... which leads him to believe she might be interested. However, Shirakusa starts dating Mitsuru Abe, who made his acting debut as a third-year student.
Osake Story Part 2: Kuroba Shida's Confession
Sueharu had a childhood friend named Kuroba Shida. She was a caring and cute girl who liked Sueharu. Sueharu had received a serious confession from Kuroba. However, Sueharu rejected her because he had feelings for Shirakusa. Normally, a relationship like this would have ended in disaster, but Kuroba and Sueharu's relationship didn't. This was because Kuroba was acting in Sueharu's favor. However, after being essentially dumped by Shirakusa, Kuroba, shocked, suggested "Let's get revenge." His plan was to get revenge on Shirakusa and Abe-senpai, who had humiliated him.
Osake Story Part 3: How to Get Revenge?
Sueharu was determined to get revenge, but the question was how to do it. Simply seeking revenge would only leave him feeling empty. He tried to spy on Abe-senpai's movements in an attempt to find his weaknesses, but only discovered that Abe-senpai was a perfect superhuman. Then, Abe-senpai himself appeared before Sueharu. Abe-senpai knew that Sueharu had once been known as a genius child actor and that he had feelings for Shirakusa. Abe-senpai is jealous of Sueharu's talent and wants to humiliate him, which is why he started dating Shirakusa. Sueharu decides to get revenge by making Shirakusa fall in love with him and then dumping her.
Osake Story Part 4: The School Festival is the Stage for Revenge
After being constantly teased by Abe-senpai, Sueharu decides to perform in the school festival play to get back at Shirakusa and Abe-senpai. The problem was the script, but surprisingly, Shirakusa agreed to write it. Later, Sueharu collapses during a school play practice. In fact, he still has a deep trauma that haunts him to this day: the death of his mother in an accident while performing together. This trauma was the very reason he quit being a child actor.
Osake Story Part 5: Sueharu's Past
Sueharu wakes up in the nurse's office, where Shirakusa is watching over him with concern. Shirakusa's proposed play involves taking over the confession festival, one of the school festival's events. As a reward for writing the script, Shirakusa asks Sueharu why he quit being a child actor. Shirakusa knew him from his days as a child actor.
Osake Story Part 6: Kachi Shirakusa's Revenge
As a child, Kachi Shirakusa struggled to fit in, was bullied, and couldn't attend school. Despite this, she admired Sueharu, who was a successful child actor. By coincidence, her father worked in the entertainment industry, and Shirakusa had a connection with Sueharu. Sueharu called Shirakusa "Shiro," and Shirakusa made a promise with him back then. It was a promise to Sueharu that he would play the lead role in a story he wrote. It was also Shirakusa's first love, and she worked hard to achieve it, even winning the Akutami Prize as a high school student. However, her promise to Sueharu was not fulfilled. Feeling betrayed by Sueharu, Shirakusa resolved to seek revenge. Coincidentally, her revenge plan was similar to Sueharu's: "make him fall in love with me, then dump him."
Osake Story Part 7: Overcoming Trauma
In order to perform on stage, Sueharu had to overcome his own trauma. Kuroba offered him some advice. Think about the role you're playing and who you want to play it for. It's said that by doing so, you'll be able to overcome your trauma.
Osake Story Part 8: The Day of the School Festival
On the day of the school festival, a certain person appears before Sueharu. It's Shiro, the childhood friend to whom Sueharu once promised. Shirakusa reveals to Sueharu that she is Shiro and promises him to call her Shiro. Then, as Abe-senpai takes to the stage at the confession festival, Sueharu bursts onto the stage while performing a dance he once performed. Abe-senpai and Sueharu were different actors. Sueharu has the audience glued to his heart. And with that momentum, he confesses his feelings to someone.
Osake Story Part 9: Revenge Completed!!
Sueharu chose Kuroba. Even after Sueharu had been rejected, Kuroba remained devotedly by his side. Sueharu dumped Shirakusa in front of the audience and confessed his feelings to Kuroba. But, but, but!! But Kuroba's response was!!! "No!"... Sueharu had been rejected by Kuroba. The confession, which should have been 100% successful, failed, a complete disaster, became online news, and was leaked to video sites, garnering an incredible number of views. This was Sueharu's revenge, Kachi Shirakusa's revenge, and Shida Kuroba's revenge.
Osake Story Part 10: A Romantic Comedy That Never Loses Because There Are No Winners
In fact, it wasn't just Sueharu and Shirakusa who were planning this revenge: "Get him to fall in love with me, then dump him." Kuroba was also upset about being dumped. That's why he wanted revenge. But this was also a terrible act of self-destruction. Kuroba undoubtedly loved Sueharu, and if he had accepted his confession, he would have achieved his goal. But he didn't. He was upset about being rejected. He was jealous of Sueharu and Shirakusa's special relationship and felt frustrated. Sueharu and Shirakusa returned home, crying in embarrassment, but Kuroba felt the same way. There are no winners. That's why his childhood friend never lost.
Osake Story Part 11: The True Winner
In fact, behind this epic confession, there was someone who achieved his goal. These were his best friend, Kai Tetsuhiko, who posted Sueharu's confession online and earned advertising revenue, and Abe Mitsuru, the villain and scapegoat. The story that Abe and Shirakusa were dating was, of course, a lie, and it was revenge against Sueharu. Abe knew everything, yet he played the villain. Abe wasn't the bad guy Sueharu thought he was. Of course, Abe wasn't lying about being jealous of Sueharu's talent, but more than that, Abe was a fan of Sueharu's childhood and hoped that he would overcome his trauma and regain his former glory.
Osake Story Part 12: A New Spark
Maru Sueharu's epic comeback, confession, and failed attempt were broadcast across Japan. Daily tabloids covered it with humor. Shirakusa and Kuroba were also caught in the crossfire. Seeing this, an acquaintance of Sueharu's from his childhood came to visit. It was Momosaka Mari, who was like a younger sister to Sueharu. Mari's arrival ignites a new conflict, but Mari has a specific purpose. Sueharu's best friend, Kai Tetsuhiko, also secretly works for a specific purpose.
[A Romantic Comedy Where the Childhood Friend Won't Lose] Summary with Spoilers
We've shared a spoiler summary of the first episode of Osake! The plot twist at the very end was incredibly entertaining! It's a story that feels like an ensemble drama, with the intentions of not only the protagonist but also various other characters intertwined. The unexpected developments in subsequent episodes are incredibly entertaining, so we're looking forward to seeing them in the anime! The Osake anime will begin airing in April 2021!
