Okay, let's talk about *Kae Serinuma* from Kiss Him, Not Me!. This girl? Total legend. She's an anime-obsessed fujoshi who suddenly becomes, like, ridiculously gorgeous after mourning her favorite character.
Suddenly, all the hot guys in her class are vying for her attention. It's the kind of scenario we only dream of, right? But Kae? She's way more interested in seeing them pair up with each other!
The Harem's All Here!
So who are these suitors? First, we've got *Yusuke Igarashi*, the sporty one. Then there's *Hayato Shinomiya*, the shy and sweet underclassman. And let's not forget *Asuma Mutsumi*, the gentle and understanding senior.
*Kazuma Nanashima* is the bad boy type. And don't even get me started on *Shima Nishina*, an artistic girl who also catches Kae's eye!
It's a full-blown reverse harem situation. Basically, any viewer could pick their favourite character to end up with Kae! But the real question is, does Kae actually *want* any of them?
Fujoshi Forever?
This is where *Kiss Him, Not Me!* throws a delightful curveball. Kae, despite enjoying the attention and developing feelings for the boys, is still fundamentally a fujoshi at heart.
She gets just as excited about imagining *Yusuke* and *Kazuma* holding hands as she does about going on a date. Priorities, right?
The series constantly reminds us that Kae’s true passion lies in her otaku interests. She often gets distracted by manga, anime, and, of course, her BL fantasies.
The Not-So-Traditional Ending
So, who does she choose? Well, here's the thing: *Kiss Him, Not Me!* doesn't give us a definitive romantic pairing at the end.
Instead, after a time skip, Kae returns to her "original" form (not quite as drastically different, but noticeably less conventionally attractive), and all the boys are still hanging around, still vying for her affection.
The series suggests that Kae is still enjoying their company and that she's grown as a person throughout her experience.
But there's no dramatic confession or fairytale wedding. Instead, the ending implies that Kae might end up single and content, surrounded by friends who accept her for who she is. It's not about romance. It's about self-acceptance and appreciating the relationships you have, regardless of their nature.
A Celebration of Otaku Life
Ultimately, *Kiss Him, Not Me!* is a celebration of otaku culture. It pokes fun at romance tropes while also acknowledging that everyone deserves to be loved and accepted for who they are.
The ending, while unconventional, is true to Kae's character. She never fully gives up her fujoshi identity for the sake of romance. That’s the beauty of the story.
So, while we don't get a clear "winner" in the romantic race, we get something much more valuable. We get a story about a girl who embraces her passions and finds happiness on her own terms.
And sometimes, that's even better than a happily-ever-after with a prince charming. Right?
