Too Many Losing Heroines!

Too Many Losing Heroines! (負けヒロインが多すぎる！), also known as Makeine, is a Japanese light novel series written by Takibi Amamori and illustrated by Imigimuru. The story takes place in Toyohashi, Aichi, where Amamori comes from. It follows a boy in high school interacting with several girls who got heartbroken after being rejected by their respective love interests. It began publication under Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko imprint in July 2021. A manga adaptation illustrated by Itachi began serialization on Shogakukan's Ura Sunday website and MangaONE app in April 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures premiered in July 2024.

Plot
Self-proclaimed "background character" Kazuhiko Nukumizu accidentally witnesses Anna Yanami, a popular girl in his class, being rejected by her childhood friend. He labels her a "losing heroine", and soon finds himself getting involved with Anna and other similar girls.

Characters

 * Kazuhiko Nukumizu (温水 和彦)
 * The protagonist of the series. He is a first-year high school student who is a loner with a philosophical personality and an otaku fond of reading light novels.
 * The protagonist of the series. He is a first-year high school student who is a loner with a philosophical personality and an otaku fond of reading light novels.


 * Anna Yanami (八奈見 杏菜)
 * One of the loser heroines. She is the popular girl in Kazuhiko's class with a bright and charming personality.
 * One of the loser heroines. She is the popular girl in Kazuhiko's class with a bright and charming personality.


 * Lemon Yakishio (焼塩 檸檬)
 * One of the loser heroines and another classmate of Kazuhiko. She is the ace of the track and field club, and like Yanami, is also popular.
 * One of the loser heroines and another classmate of Kazuhiko. She is the ace of the track and field club, and like Yanami, is also popular.


 * Chika Komari (小鞠 知花)
 * One of the loser heroines and another classmate of Kazuhiko. A member of the literature club, she is shy and has a hard time talking to others.
 * One of the loser heroines and another classmate of Kazuhiko. A member of the literature club, she is shy and has a hard time talking to others.


 * Kaju Nukumizu (温水 佳樹)
 * A second-year middle school student who is Kazuhiko's little sister.
 * A second-year middle school student who is Kazuhiko's little sister.


 * Koto Tsukinoki (月之木 古都)
 * The vice president of the literature club.
 * The vice president of the literature club.


 * Shintarō Tamaki (玉木 慎太郎)
 * The president of the literature club.
 * The president of the literature club.


 * Sayo Konuki (小抜小夜)

Light novel
Written by Takibi Amamori and illustrated by Imigimuru, Too Many Losing Heroines! began publication under Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko imprint on July 21, 2021. Seven volumes and a short story volume have been released as of July 18, 2024.

On July 11, 2023, the official Twitter account of the light novel announced that the series had been licensed in English without revealing a publisher. On February 14, 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they had licensed the series.

An audiobook version of the series began on September 20, 2023, featuring the voices of Uzawa Shōtarō, Rina Honnizumi, Maki Yamaichi, Mei Shibata, Chihiro Shirata, Keaki Watanabe, Shuma Kono, Yurie Igoma, Kiri Kamasawa, and Taira Yamauchi, all of whom are from 81 Produce. It has been released up to the second volume of the series.

Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Itachi began serialization on Shogakukan's Ura Sunday website and MangaONE app on April 29, 2022. The manga's chapters have been collected in three tankōbon volumes as of July 18, 2024.

On February 14, 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they also licensed the manga adaptation.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on December 14, 2023. The series is produced by Aniplex, animated by A-1 Pictures and directed by Shōtarō Kitamura, with scripts written by Masahiro Yokotani, characters designed by Tetsuya Kawakami, and music composed by Kana Utatane. It premiered on July 14, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening theme song is "Tsuyogaru Girl" (つよがるガール) performed by BotchiBoromaru featuring Mossa of Necry Talkie, while the multiple ending theme songs are performed in the following: the first is a cover of Hitomi's "Love 2000" by Hikaru Tono as her character Anna Yanami. Crunchyroll licensed the series. Plus Media Networks Asia has licensed the series in Southeast Asia and aired it on Aniplus Asia.

According to the editor-in-charge of the light novel series, Iwaasa, the discussion about the anime adaptation started before the publication of the first volume of the series.

Other
The series had an illustration collaboration with the second volume of the manga series Starting Today, We're Childhood Friends by Midori Obiya. It also had multiple collaborations with Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park and JR Tōkai.

Reception
In the 2022 edition of Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, the novel series ranked 18th in the bunkobon category, and 11th in the new work category.