Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku was ranked number one in the "This Manga is Amazing! 2016 Women's Edition"! This is the story of the awkward but growing love between extreme game otaku Hirotaka Nifuji and closeted fujoshi Momose Narumi who loves BL. It's full of points that any otaku can relate to! This is a hugely popular romantic comedy that will make even non-otaku laugh and feel excited. In this article, we will be sharing the charms of the heroine, Narumi!
Narumi's Charm ① She's Just So Cute♡
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
Her senior, Kabakura, says, "She's bad at her job, has no breasts, and her only redeeming quality is her cute smile." However, not only Hirotaka, but Kabakura and Koyanagi are also smitten with Narumi's cuteness. In the first half of the story, Kabakura was dreaming about Narumi even though he knew she was an otaku. Lol Kabakura's type is a small, cute girl like Ranka from Macross, and according to Koyanagi, Narumi is his perfect fit.
Even his online game avatar is top notch!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/Wotakoi Production Committee
Narumi's natural personality enhances her cuteness, but she also has great fashion sense! She wears different outfits for Comiket and regular dates, and she's impeccably cute in both cases. By the way, Narumi has great taste, and her avatar in the online game she plays with Hirotaka and the others is also super cute!
Narumi's Charm #2: She's cute, but she makes funny faces!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
As mentioned in Charm #1, Narumi is so cute that she captivates everyone around her. She also has a rich expressiveness and often makes funny faces. In addition to regular faces, she also makes anime parody faces, a style unique to otaku. Her parodies of JoJo and Akagi are a testament to her true otaku nature. lol
Narumi's Charm 3: Her Emotional Abundance!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/"Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi is the type of person who can pour her love into many things, but she gives her all to them. This is why she laughs and cries so much. I'm jealous of people who are otaku yet have a fulfilling life. When the wife character in my favorite anime died, I was so depressed that everyone around me wondered what had happened. Then, when I went out drinking, I burst into tears in front of Koyanagi and the others, talking about the wife character's death. lol
I still cry even after watching the same movie three times.
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku © Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi wanted the special postcard given to moviegoers, so she went to see the movie by herself twice, but didn't get one of her favorite character, so she invited Hirotaka to come see the movie again. Even though it was her third time seeing the movie, Narumi burst into tears next to Hirotaka. Seeing Narumi burst into tears, Hirotaka thought, "Narumi's love is intense. Her smiles, her tears, her emotions are always moving with all her might, and she's too hot for me to touch. But that's what I like about her." Girls with rich emotions do seem to sparkle!
Narumi's charm point 4: Despite being the heroine, she's a true fujoshi.
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
Speaking of Narumi-sensei, she's a fujoshi (fangirl) who has written her own BL (boys' love) books and sold them at Comiket. Her handsome boyfriend from her previous workplace found out she was an otaku, and dumped her because he couldn't stand fujoshi girls. However, now she has made a friend named Koyanagi who is an otaku and fujoshi, and Hirotaka and Kabakura are also understanding, so she is able to enjoy herself without hiding her otaku and fujoshi sides at all. Being able to enjoy the things you love to the fullest is very appealing!
Her fujoshi side has even dragged Hirotaka into it.
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/"Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi has Hirotaka help her with toning her BL books and selling them, fully involving him in her fujoshi hobby. It's impressive that Narumi can get help, but Hirotaka is also impressive for helping her. LOL As childhood friends, they spent so much time together that they didn't even notice, but perhaps Narumi and Hirotaka were a perfect match? Incidentally, according to Koyanagi, there are no bad BL books that Narumi recommends.
Narumi's charm point 5: She's a hardcore otaku!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
In Charm 4, we mentioned her fujoshi nature, but Narumi also displays her intense otaku-ness when it comes to anime and games. She loves multiple female protagonists and can easily recite famous anime quotes. Incidentally, she's a fan of Ayanami when it comes to Evangelion. She had a really hard time with the no-otaku keyword date. lol
The level of the game is also impressive.
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/"Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi and Hirotaka often play Monster Hunter, and there's a scene where Narumi asks Hirotaka for help gathering materials. It seems that Narumi is not only an avid fan of BL and anime, but also of video games. Furthermore, despite her cute appearance, the online game she plays with Hirotaka and the others is at a higher level than Kabakura, and her class is the intimidating "Assassin," which even Kabakura finds a little intimidating.
Narumi's Charm 6: Despite being an otaku, she has great communication skills!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/"Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi has loved anime and manga since she was little, but she also has many friends and precious possessions. On the other hand, Hirotaka has always played games since he was little, and he didn't have many friends. Despite this, he and Narumi were close. Hirotaka says that the reason they became friends was because Narumi asked Hirotaka to exchange battle pencils, but Narumi doesn't remember. lol
Showcase Your Communication Skills at Work!
Narumi is good friends with Kabakura and Koyanagi, known as the "most terrifying duo" at work, and often goes out drinking with Hirotaka, who isn't particularly into social circles. Her colleagues, unaware that the four of them are fellow otaku, say she's amazing. When Hirotaka was asked by a colleague if he was dating Narumi, he tried to brush it off by saying that Narumi gets along with everyone, so he's not special, but everyone agreed. In other words, Narumi is known at work as a sociable girl who's far removed from otaku. lol
Narumi's Charm #7: She's very close with her otaku friend, Koyanagi Hanako!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/"Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi has always kept her otaku identity a secret. Although she has many friends, Hirotaka is her only otaku friend. Then, she meets her first female otaku friend, Koyanagi Hanako! Both of them had given up on finding friends to talk to about nerdy hobbies or browse BL books together, so they're happy to have become friends. And now, Narumi and Koyanagi have become "soul comrades in arms." lol
Our preferences aren't compatible!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi's ideal type is a tough guy, while Koyanagi's ideal type is a prince-like type—their ideal types are completely different. Even in BL pairings, even though their favorite characters overlap, the seme and uke roles are always reversed. Regarding this, Narumi and Koyanagi believe that in the next life they will be able to laugh together arm in arm.
Narumi's Charm #8: She's a bit clumsy and not good at her job.
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
Even at work, Narumi is a complete slob, accidentally making 200 copies and working overtime because she's too busy guarding her timeline. Apparently, she's capable if she tries, but she rarely shows her true potential. She's the kind of girl you just can't leave alone. Narumi-sensei also sells BL books at Comiket events, but she's terrible at schedule management. Ever since she was in middle school, she's stayed up all night writing before every Comiket. That slightly absent-minded side of her is also part of her charm!
Narumi's Charm 9: She's cute even in cosplay!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi had always only watched cosplay, but when Koyanagi invited her, she couldn't refuse and finally made her cosplay debut at Comiket! Koyanagi is a famous cosplayer, so she transformed herself with his professional skills. Narumi's small breasts, which she was insecure about, were also covered up, and she looked great! However, Narumi intended to send the photo of her cute first cosplay look to Hirotaka, but instead sent it to her younger brother, Naoya, by mistake. Lol. Even Narumi's slightly clumsy side is cute!
Narumi's Charm 10: No matter what, she loves Hirotaka!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/"Wotakoi" Production Committee
When Narumi and Hirotaka started dating, it seemed like they were attracted by the benefits of being able to accompany each other to Comiket as vendors and to collect materials together. However, once they started dating, even though she thought condescending things like "Even though you're Hirotaka," she still felt nervous going to his room and blushed at what Hirotaka said. It turns out Narumi really does like Hirotaka!
She gave him matching earrings as a gift.
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha / "Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi and Hirotaka are both otaku, and their only previous dates have been to Comiket or anime merchandise shops. On their first normal date, Narumi gives Hirotaka matching earrings! Unfortunately, Hirotaka's earring holes had closed up, but he was very happy to wear them every day. Narumi shyly handed him the present, looking like the very image of a girl in love.
A summary of Narumi's charms!
Source: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ©Fujita, Ichijinsha/"Wotakoi" Production Committee
Narumi's charm lies in her ability to laugh and cry, her diverse hobbies, and her ability to enjoy everything with all her heart. Hirotaka also said he likes those aspects of her. She's so caring and endearing to those around her, and she's both cute and has great taste. I'm so envious! I'm looking forward to seeing more of Narumi's everyday life, despite being an otaku and having a fulfilling life.
