"I think every guy would fall for Runako!" Voice actors Takehiro Urao & Sae Hiratsuka talk about the charms of the impish little sister heroine Runako [You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! Interview]

The currently airing TV anime You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! is a harem romcom based on the manga of the same name by Shinya Misu, currently serialized in "Magazine Pocket." As the title suggests, all four heroines are childhood friends, and the story follows a series of episodes where a romcom development seems like it’s about to happen, but never quite does.

Joining the protagonist Yonosuke Sakai (Eiyū) and heroines Shio Minamo and Akari Hiodoshi, episode 4 introduces Runa Tsukimi (Runako), an impish little sister character who takes an aggressive approach toward Eiyū. The show depicts with a light, romcom touch how Eiyū flinches at her straightforward advances, while Shio and Akari panic at the appearance of an unexpected rival.

In this article, we interviewed Takehiro Urao, the voice of Eiyū, and Sae Hiratsuka, the voice of Runako. We talked about Runako's charm, what they focused on while performing, and the fun chemistry unique to the interactions between Eiyū and Runako.

--Runako starts appearing in earnest from episode 4. That episode had a huge impact. First, could you tell us your first impressions of You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! and Runako?

Hiratsuka: I read the original manga for the first time after receiving the audition offer, and it felt so fresh that all the heroines are childhood friends. Each of them has a distinct, cute personality, and as I read on, there were many scenes that naturally made me chuckle.

I read it thinking that if I could become part of this work, I’d love to help make this world even more wonderful.

--What was your impression of the protagonist, Eiyū?

Hiratsuka: I thought it was charming how he’s always thinking seriously about his childhood friends and putting in so much effort for them. Even though he’s usually a bit spacey or dense, I was really drawn to the reliability he shows out of nowhere!

Urao: Drawn to him?! Really?

Hiratsuka: Ahaha (lol).

--The heroines are also swooning over those moments, after all (lol).

Hiratsuka: That’s right. I feel like I was able to watch Eiyū while empathizing with the heroines—or rather, with Runako-chan.