Osamake

Osamake: Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won't Lose (幼なじみが絶対に負けないラブコメ), abbreviated as Osamake (おさまけ), is a Japanese romantic comedy light novel series written by Shūichi Nimaru and illustrated by Ui Shigure. A manga adaptation with art by Ryō Itō has been serialized in Media Factory's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive since November 2019. An anime television series adaptation by Doga Kobo aired from April to June 2021.

Plot
Sueharu Maru is a seventeen-year-old high school boy who has never had a girlfriend. He lives next door to his childhood friend Kuroha Shida, a small and cute Onee-san type of girl with an outgoing character. One day, Kuroha confesses to Sueharu, but he rejects her; Sueharu only has eyes for his first love, Shirokusa Kachi, who is a beautiful idol and an award-winning author in school. Shirokusa is indifferent to all boys in school but Sueharu, which makes Sueharu think that he might have a chance. When Sueharu decides to confess his feelings, he is devastated to find out that Shirokusa already has a boyfriend. Kuroha approaches Sueharu, offering to help him get revenge on Shirokusa and her boyfriend. However it turns out that Shirokusa also has feelings for Suehara.

Characters

 * Sueharu Maru (丸 末晴)
 * A former child actor. He is traumatized by his mother's death and quits acting at the peak of his fame, becoming a regular high school student at the beginning of the series. Despite his acting prowess, he is easy to read and is relatively naive when it comes to romance, making him highly susceptible to teasing by the opposite sex.
 * A former child actor. He is traumatized by his mother's death and quits acting at the peak of his fame, becoming a regular high school student at the beginning of the series. Despite his acting prowess, he is easy to read and is relatively naive when it comes to romance, making him highly susceptible to teasing by the opposite sex.


 * Kuroha Shida (志田 黒羽)
 * Sueharu's childhood friend who lives next door to him. As the eldest of four sisters, she has a tendency to look after others and is socially adept. Although she wishes for Sueharu's happiness, she also knows him better than anyone else and doesn't hesitate to use that to her advantage.
 * Sueharu's childhood friend who lives next door to him. As the eldest of four sisters, she has a tendency to look after others and is socially adept. Although she wishes for Sueharu's happiness, she also knows him better than anyone else and doesn't hesitate to use that to her advantage.


 * Shirokusa Kachi (可知 白草)
 * An award-winning novelist and Sueharu's first love. When Sueharu entered high school, he did not recognize her at first as she had a boyish appearance as a child. She is renowned as a "cool beauty" at school due to her fame, demeanor, intelligence, and looks. Despite being cold and aloof toward most of her male classmates, she acts friendly around Sueharu after he praises her writing.
 * An award-winning novelist and Sueharu's first love. When Sueharu entered high school, he did not recognize her at first as she had a boyish appearance as a child. She is renowned as a "cool beauty" at school due to her fame, demeanor, intelligence, and looks. Despite being cold and aloof toward most of her male classmates, she acts friendly around Sueharu after he praises her writing.


 * Maria Momosaka (桃坂 真理愛)
 * A famous actress known for starring in the hit drama The Ideal Little Sister. Sueharu was assigned to be her mentor when he was a child actor, through which they developed a sibling-like relationship. She idolizes Sueharu and yearns for him to return to acting.
 * A famous actress known for starring in the hit drama The Ideal Little Sister. Sueharu was assigned to be her mentor when he was a child actor, through which they developed a sibling-like relationship. She idolizes Sueharu and yearns for him to return to acting.


 * Tetsuhiko Kai (甲斐 哲彦)
 * Sueharu's close friend. He enjoys watching Sueharu react to various events and often orchestrates things behind the scenes.
 * Sueharu's close friend. He enjoys watching Sueharu react to various events and often orchestrates things behind the scenes.


 * Mitsuru Abe (阿部 充)
 * Shirokusa's fake boyfriend. He is a big fan of Sueharu when Sueharu was the child actor.
 * Shirokusa's fake boyfriend. He is a big fan of Sueharu when Sueharu was the child actor.


 * Meiko Mine (峰 芽衣子)
 * Shirokusa's close friend.
 * Shirokusa's close friend.


 * Soichiro Kachi (可知 総一郎)
 * Shirokusa's father.
 * Shirokusa's father.


 * Rena Asagi (浅黄 玲菜)
 * A kouhai in Sueharu's school.
 * A kouhai in Sueharu's school.


 * Midori Shida (志田 碧)
 * Kuroha's next younger sister. She is the tallest in four sisters of Shida family.
 * Kuroha's next younger sister. She is the tallest in four sisters of Shida family.


 * Aoi Shida (志田 蒼依)
 * Kuroha's second younger sister, Akane's elder twin sister.
 * Kuroha's second younger sister, Akane's elder twin sister.


 * Akane Shida (志田 朱音)
 * Kuroha's youngest sister, Aoi's younger twin sister.
 * Kuroha's youngest sister, Aoi's younger twin sister.


 * Shion Ōragi (大良儀 紫苑)
 * Shirokusa's maid who has lived with her family for years. Because of this, she and Shirokusa have a sister-like relationship. She is also classmates with Sueharu.
 * Shirokusa's maid who has lived with her family for years. Because of this, she and Shirokusa have a sister-like relationship. She is also classmates with Sueharu.


 * Shun Hardy (ハーディ・瞬)


 * Eri Momosaka (桃坂 絵里)

Production
The names of the characters are references to characters in Fire Emblem: for instance, Maru, Shida, Kachi, Kai and Maria are named after Marth, Sheeda, Catria, Cain and Maria respectively. The names of the female characters include colors: for instance, Kuroha (lit. "black feather/wing"), Shirokusa (lit. "white grass"), Momosaka (lit. "pink slope/hill"), Asagi (lit. "pale/shallow yellow"), Midori (lit. "green"), Aoi (lit. "blue-i"), Akane (lit. "red sound") and Shion (lit. "purple garden").

Light novels
The series is written by Shūichi Nimaru and illustrated by Ui Shigure. ASCII Media Works has begun publishing the series under their Dengeki Bunko imprint since June 2019. A total of twelve volumes have been released as of March 2024.

Manga
A manga adaptation by Ryō Itō began serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive in November 2019, with six tankōbon volumes were published so far.

A spin-off manga series illustrated by Mutsumi Aoki titled Osananajimi ga Zettai ni Makenai Love Come: Otonari no Yon-shimai ga Zettai ni Honobono suru Nichijō ("Daily Lives Where the Four-Sister Neighbour Absolutely Will Make You Warm") began serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive on January 27, 2021. Three tankōbon volumes have been published so far.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on October 3, 2020. The series was animated by Doga Kobo and directed by Takashi Naoya, with Yoriko Tomita handling series' composition. Naoya also designed the characters. It aired from April 14 to June 30, 2021, on AT-X and other channels. Riko Azuna performed the series' opening theme song "Chance! & Revenge!", while Inori Minase and Ayane Sakura performed the series' ending theme song "Senryakuteki de Yosō Funō na Love Comedy no Ending Tema Kyoku" (lit. "An Ending Theme Song for a Tactically Unpredictable Romantic Comedy"). Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia. Muse Communication has licensed the series in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and will stream it on their Muse Asia YouTube channel and Bilibili. The series ran for 12 episodes.

Reception
The light novel ranked fifth in 2020 in Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, in the bunkobon category.