"The Undisputed Winning Heroine" — Illustration of Mahiru by Imigimuru for "The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten" Sparks Viral Reaction

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the TV anime The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten has released an episode visual for Season 2, Episode 1, illustrated by Imigimuru—the artist behind the illustrations for Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!. The post has quickly become a major topic of conversation among fans.

The post was accompanied by the caption: "Looking back at the events of Episode 1 along with an illustration by Imigimuru." Additionally, the official website URL was shared to announce that the Blu-ray & DVD Vol. 1 is scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 22.

The featured illustration depicts the heroine, Mahiru Shiina (CV: Manaka Iwami), in her school uniform, looking back with a gentle smile. While the bottom-left corner displays the title "Episode 1: Walking to School Together and the Official Debut," the most striking detail is the shadow cast on the wall in the background. At first glance, it appears to be only Mahiru’s shadow, but a closer look reveals a silhouette of two figures holding hands—a clever visual trick that mirrors the events of the episode.

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten is an anime adaptation based on the light novel series by Saekisan (Author) and Hanekoto (Illustrator). The love story follows Amane Fujimiya (CV: Taito Ban), an unkempt high schooler living alone, and his interactions with his neighbor Mahiru, the most beautiful girl in school. Their sweet yet slow-burn relationship, which blossoms after she begins taking care of his meals, gained immense popularity during the first season in 2023. The long-awaited second season premiered on April 3, 2026.

Fans flooded the post with praise and surprise, leaving comments such as "The shadows are holding hands!", "Is this even allowed to stay at just 4K or 8K resolution?!", and "She is the undisputed winning heroine." Furthermore, Takibi Amamori, the original author of Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!, also joined the conversation, commenting: "So this is the woman who defeated Yanami...!" This was a nod to the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel is Amazing!) rankings, where Mahiru has held the #1 spot in the Female Character category for four consecutive years, while Anna Yanami from Amamori’s work took the #2 spot. This playful interaction has added to the excitement among both fanbases.

(C)佐伯さん・SBクリエイティブ／アニメ「お隣の天使様」製作委員会