#Nao Nifuji

[aleamaris]

I wanted to share this little drawing I did to accompany the ridiculously long fanfiction I started writing. If you like Nao and Kou and cats, you might want to check it out! Beware of the very bad cat puns though, haha:

[lemonjuice978]

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku review and analysis

Wotakoi is a manga and anime written by Fujita. The story is a slice of life romance that follows 4 adult office workers struggling with relationships and being an anime or video game fan in society. 

I was initially attracted to read this because the song in the intro to the anime was trending online, sticking it in my mind when I inevitably found it in manga form at Indigo. I picked it up over a year ago but only finished it in February after procrastinating reading it which I regret extremely. I absolutely loved this series and a lot of scenes had me giggling or squealing over the troupes and cute romantic moments.

To summarize, Wotakoi’s main character is Narumi Momose, a young adult starting at a new job after her previous workplace and boyfriend discovered she is an “Otaku”. On her first day at her new job, she encounters Hirotaka Nifuji, a childhood friend and fellow Otaku. Together, they reminisce about childhood, video games, and Narumi’s failed relationships, when Hirotaka decides that if love is so hard for the both of them, they should date each other. This deal of course comes with Hirotaka’s gamer prowess to assist Narumi in video games, as well as a bonded agreement to protect each others nerdy sides. The story shows them struggling with their interests in daily life and interactions with their just as nerdy coworkers.

Gender and sexuality play a large role in this series, as well as emphasis on “Otaku” fan culture. Though there are 4 main characters, a lot of the story follows Narumi, who can be classified by the term “fujoshi”. A fujoshi is typically a girl who obsesses over boys love manga and anime. She herself writes and illustrates this content to sell at conventions as well. This has striken controversy about this series since the whole idea of being a girl hyper-fascinated in male-male romance is considered creepy or weird in real people, nonetheless in fictional characters. Momose is heterosexual herself, but many scenes show her fantasizing about her coworkers in BL romance troupes. The other female main character, Hanako Koyonagi, is similar to Momose in her BL fantasies, but she is also a cosplayer, or in this case, a crossplayer (a cosplayer who dresses up as primarily characters of the opposite gender). This often creates funny dynamics between her and her boyfriend, Tarou Kabakura, who often questions how he feels about dating a girl who frequently looks like a guy (referenced in image below). Koyonagi and Momose have a few scenes where they have crossdressed their boyfriends to look like women, making for more entertaining gender conflicts. Generally, this story uses gender and sexuality as a point of amusement rather than a focal point or dramatic effect. 

A different discussion of gender occurs with the side characters of the manga, Naoya Nifuji and Kou Sakuragi, two college students with very contrasting personalities. Naoya is bubbly and outgoing, yet chooses to befriend the socially anxious Kou after meeting at Naoya’s workplace. Kou is a biological female, but appears very androgynous, and Nao mistakes her for a boy during the start of their story. This turns into the largest plot point of Naoya discovering that Kou has been a girl all along, and Kou’s embarassment and fear that Nao wouldn’t like her after discovering she’s “lied” about who she was. Kou has spent her whole life very lonely and doesn’t want to lose Nao because of how he has given her new confidence in social situations. This relationship develops into a somewhat cliche dynamic, with Naoya realizing he has feelings for her now that shes a girl in his eyes, but this gender change does play a large role in Kou’s character development and self expression as a woman. My only note on this side story is that Kou and Naoya were my favourite couple while reading the manga and was very disappointed to find out that the Wotakoi anime stops before going into their relationship further. Hoping for another season to see them progress in colour :).

All four of the main characters in this story are considered “Otaku’s”. Otaku is a Japanese term that refers to anyone who indulges in nerdy content like video games, anime, manga, cosplay, etc., and are typically stereotyped in society as losers. The groups have many scenes where they visit conventions and manga stores, or when they are displayed as their characters in the video games they play. This manga/anime puts a lot of effort into the accurate depiction of life as an Otaku and fan interactions within the community. This really adds to the slice of life part of the genre, being relatable to viewers as they themselves are just as nerdy as the characters they’re watching. This is an important thing that I don’t see a lot of manga or anime represent, being realistic representations of Otaku culture and relationships. Most romance manga is very fantastical or idealized, where interactions seem structured and poetic. In this story the characters feel a lot more familiar, often arguing or encountering silly antics that could happen to anyone. 

Wotakoi has been my favourite when it comes to romance so far, and I really hope to see more updates from the creator in the future. The manga artstyle is absolutely stunning and the plot is simple but funny. Overall an easy read that I would recommend to any romance fan.

[meganefeedbacks]

SNIPPETS OF WOTAKOI’S ONA: YOUTH BECAUSE WHY NOT????!?!?! THEY ALL HOLD A VERY DEAR AND SPECIAL PLACE IN MY WHOLE BEING.

[minatowifex]

Wotakoi ni koi wa Muzukashi- Icons

Wotakoi icons / Wotakoi metadinha / Wotakoi icons couple

[kalulu]

SPOILER

First, we've seen Nao getting jelly...

Then Kou getting jelly and missing Nao...

My babies starting to realize their feelings!!!!

I've read from reddit that the last note means "I'll find you again and again/many and many times, I'll go find you" HOW FUCKING SWEET IS THAT HUH. Bruh cant wait for the next chapter and their ova!!!! Another reason to live!!!!

P.S. before, my most wholesome/innocent couple award was Sawako/Kazehaya but boy, Nao and Kou dethroned them. I claim that Nao and Kou is the most inoccent otp now!!! Payt me 😂

[maquitrz]

[eyasluna]

Kou and Nao are adorable! I'm gonna miss this show so much when it finishes next week!😭

[murdersquazh]

WOTAKOI by Fujita ends with 11 volumes.

⚠️SPOILERS AHEAD!⚠️

Please do not repost

MY COMFORT MANGA ENDED BUT I CAN'T STOP SMILING

I FINALLY READ VOLUME 11 OF WOTAKOI AND IT'S 12:44 AM HERE BUT MY SISTER AND I INTERNALLY SCREAMING AND OUR DAD IS LOOKING AT US LIKE WE'VE GONE INSANE WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT TOO FAR OFF BECAUSE (ESP THE LAST 2 CHAPTERS):

1. NARU AND HIROTAKA FIGHT AND MAKE UP

2. NARU CAME OUT AS AN OTAKU TO HER CO WORKERS (AND TOLD THEM HIROTAKA'S HER BF)

3. KOU X NAO LETTING THE SQUAD KNOW THEY'RE DATING

4. KABA X HANA HAVING A FRIGGIN BABY OTW I KENNAT😭😭😭💓

5. KISS KISS FALL IN LOVE

AND SQUAD GOALS

THANK YOU SO MUCH FUJITA SENSEI FOR GIVING US THIS AWESOME STORY. I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT FOR MAYBE 3 YEARS NOW AND SAY WHAT YOU WILL BUT IT'S DEF MY FAVORITE MANGA. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE SPINOFF AND I WILL DEFINITELY READ YOUR FUTURE WORKS AS WELL.

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST ON ANY OTHER SITES

[kalulu]

OMG MY KOKOROOOOO CAN SOMEONE PLEASE UPLOAD THE WHOLE CHAPTER HUHUHU LET OUR SHIP SAIL!!!!!!

Wotakoi: Online Ver. Ch.54

You came and looked for me even in the game. There are so many memories here… I wanna see you… Nifuji-kun…

[italoniponic]

this is their dynamic, you can't convince me otherwise

[ridingthewhitechocobo]

Nao & friends

[aleamaris]

Years ago, I wrote a fanfiction about Nao and Kou and the cat they end up adopting. I finally finished my fanart about my favorite scene in it :') If you want to, you can check it out here:

[justmakoharu]

Yeah, definitely I would be glad If we had had a Plance confession like this 😭👌🏻😭👌🏻

Could we have this Headcanon where Kou and Nao are like the reincarnated or the pararel lifes of Lance and Katie?

[insanelostcat]

theyre in love ur honor 

[kalulu]

NaoKou OAD/OVA Little Trailer!

The best trailer in this year!!!! I was smiling the whole time I was watching this. my kokoro can't handle this. Immmm sooo excited ❤

[maquitrz]

Nao 😊

Manga: Wotaku ni Koi wa muzukashii