Romantic comedy slice-0f-life anime has been going through a renaissance lately. From early adaptations in Toradora to the wildly-popular My Dress-Up Darling to cult-classics like Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro!, watching these manga come to life on-screen is a sure delight for fans of this niche type of anime. The newest addition to the fledgling genre is Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, so what makes it so special?

The biggest factor to this anime is that the romantic will-they-won’t-they tension is gone. The couple is established from the get-go. With that in play, the couple, Shikimori and Izumi, showcase a fervent dynamic. Izumi’s natural unluckiness is complemented by Shikimori’s ability and care to prevent the frequent catastrophe that seems to come Izumi’s way. In turn, Izumi shows such feverish compassion for Shikimori that viewers can’t help but gush for the supportive couple.

The sheer wholesomeness that Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie exudes can easily put a smile on any viewer’s face. The back-and-forth support from each character showcases the true love that each feels towards the other, no matter how much Izumi’s misfortune may seem to inconvenience Shikimori, who cares not for this thanks to the ongoing solicitude from Izumi. When he shows support, she succeeds beyond her wildest dreams. It’s a mutually-beneficial partnership which each person thrives in.

Typically, in rom-com slice-of-life anime, we’re left on the edge of our seats waiting for one character to profess love for the other. Seeing as this happens early on in Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, the tension factor is nonexistent. Without suspense, it becomes a relaxed, rewarding watch. As of writing, three episodes of Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie are available to watch, with new episodes premiering weekly. I couldn’t recommend this enough as each episode has given me happy tears to this point.