Three Newcomers Voice the Central Love Triangle
The manga follows Takeru, a high school boy with a devoted girlfriend named Kaori, who finds himself unable to resist the advances of Kaori's friend Tomoko. Creator Jura (じゅら) frames the story as a "tale of moral transgression," and it runs on Kodansha's Yanmaga Web (Young Magazine's online platform) and the Comic DAYS app. Volume 1 launched in January 2022.
All three lead voice actors are relatively fresh faces. Ryūga Nagaike (永池瑠雅) plays Takeru. In his official comment on Japanese manga news site Comic Natalie, Nagaike revealed this is the very first character he has ever voiced professionally. "The heart-pounding, nail-biting story had me hooked. What choices will they make? I couldn't look away," he said. He pledged to "pour everything I have" into bringing Takeru to life.
Sayaka Haneshi (羽紫さや花, reading unconfirmed) takes on Kaori, described as a bright, energetic girl with a strong sense of justice who wears her heart on her sleeve. Haneshi noted that the more she read the manga, the more she saw parts of herself in the character. During her first recording session, the team told her to play Kaori as "totally straightforward," which she said made the role a joy to perform.
Miki Hase (長谷美希) voices Tomoko, the best friend whose presence turns a sweet high school romance into something far more dangerous. Hase admitted she initially expected a lighthearted romantic comedy with a slightly risqué edge, but the manga pulled her in completely. "Before I knew it, I'd been captivated and toyed with by Tomoko, too," she said. She promised to deliver the story's "forbidden, can't-look-away" quality faithfully.
The Production Team
安ドウタカシ (likely Takashi Yasudō) directs at studio Quad. In an unusually candid official comment, Yasudō praised the manga's realistic approach to character body proportions and pledged to bring out the appeal of the female cast to the fullest.
Gokō Shiraki (白樹伍鋼) handles series composition and screenplay, while Ryūji Iwata (岩田竜治) serves as character designer and one of four chief animation directors. Quad produces the anime. Deregula manages production, with Wave Corporation backing the project.
The debut key visual places Tomoko front and center against a deep crimson background, her gaze fixed directly on the viewer.
Looking Ahead
Kanojo no Tomodachi premieres in October 2026. A specific date and broadcast slot have not been confirmed. No international streaming partner has been announced.
The official site (kanojo-no-tomodachi.deregula.com) and the show's X account (@kanotomo_anime_) are now live for updates. The source manga is published by Kodansha, with volume 1 available since January 2022. No English-language release has been confirmed at this time.