Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! is an upcoming lighthearted romance anime, though it’s not your average high school rom-com, as this is a proper boys’ love series. Proper in the sense that the show’s protagonist does not beat around the bush (at least to himself) when it comes to his feelings towards a classmate.
Aside from being different from other rom-com anime because of its BL premise, it also sets itself apart from other shows in the genre. It’s fair to say that many BL shows have a bit of an edge to them, with some also featuring plenty of fanservice, or at least more overt sexual themes.
While those aren’t bad things, Nakamura is different, as it’s more of a wholesome and lighthearted BL show that should make for a cute watch. At least, that’s based on the show’s first episode, which I got to watch ahead of its premiere this April.
[Spoiler Warning: This review has some spoilers for the anime’s first episode.]
This series follows Okuto Nakamura, a sixteen-year-old high school student who has a crush on his classmate, Aiki Hirose. While he’s still in the closet, he’s very much aware that he’s gay. The problem is that he’s struggling to even talk to Aiki because of how shy and introverted he is.
Episode 1 of the series shows two scenarios of Okuto trying to talk to Aiki. First is a scene after class where he wants to invite Aiki to a casual café visit. Given how shy and awkward he is, the results are quite funny. The next is a home economics class where he finally gets a better chance to talk with Aiki, but he hilariously gets blocked by an octopus of all things.
For anime rom-com standards, the scenarios in Episode 1 aren’t particularly unique, though I thought they were cute and executed quite well. While I’ve been spoiled by some recent shows in terms of how fast the main couple gets together, I think the pace should be fine here, given Okuto’s character.
What gives this show a lot of potential is the fact that it’s a proper BL series, meaning this isn’t just yaoi bait, as the protagonist indeed says (at least to himself) that he’s gay. As the show treats it matter-of-factly, all while adding some cute (if standard) romance anime tropes, I can see this series appealing to many BL fans, especially those wanting something a bit different.
As a bonus, studio Drive has done well to translate the look of the manga into anime here. The show’s slightly retro style is also quite nice to watch visually, and it perfectly matches the chill and fun tone of the show.
Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! – Initial Verdict
Thanks to its wholesome BL premise, coupled with its nice animation and cute scenarios, Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! is shaping up to be a fun watch for both BL and rom-com anime fans. Hopefully, we see proper development as the story progresses instead, as this is a trap that many rom-com titles fall into.
Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! will premiere this April on Crunchyroll as part of its Spring 2026 anime lineup.