Kaguya-sama: Love is War is a very clever anime, with a well-developed story line. From the narrator who brings life to what could've been a common romantic plot, to the main characters themselves, this was a well-thought out romantic anime. I loved the subtext that they probably knew that the other felt the same, but they were too proud/smart/eager to have the upper hand to say it first. And it made for utterly hilarious, if not ridiculous, situations. Chika and Yuu were perfect additions to them. With Chika's syrupy sweetness and Yuu's morbid self, they brought even more humour to an already funny pair of characters. I don't know if I'll ever see the phrase "O kawaī koto" the same ever again. I'd start laughing each time Miyuki had that horrifying thought of Kaguya calling him cute.
It's not just laughs though. Seeing what Kaguya's life is like and how she has her own personal struggles beyond trying to be the best at school was a bit sobering, and I'd love to know more about her home life. Is her mom alive? Is she an only child? Why does the dad summon her and not spend time with her? I hope they delve a little bit into that. Hayasaka is a great support to Kaguya, though it is her job. You can see that she does have a bit of affection towards Kaguya beyond being her maid. You could even say, she is a friend somewhat. I do wish that Kaguya would listen to Hayasaka more, because she does speak the truth; truth that would be beneficial to Kaguya if she would listen. But that's where the pride comes in, I suppose. Their dynamic is a joy to watch.
I'm getting ready to binge-watch season two while waiting on season 3, because I am invested in the story of Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya. I really want to know who's going to say "I love you" first, or will it continue to be a stalemate. Will they find a clever way to say it without actually saying it? I find myself asking those questions constantly. I even started giving them scores for each episode because the narrator was such a vibe! A true vibe. Listen, even the seemingly unnecessary filler episode with the ramen noodles was great fun. It got me craving ramen noodles as well. Which I'll get later because right now, I'm still working.
I would recommend it as a first watch for those who haven't watched romance anime and want to try it out. The story is well thought-out, it is hilarious, and a little irreverent. Because they're trying not to show openly their feelings for each other, the romance is a bit of an undercurrent instead of in-your-face, but because you as a viewer know what's going on with them both, you do root for them to make it known. May the best student win!!