There's a saying that you shouldn't HOOKUP where you XLOOKUP, don't get your honey where you make your money, and so on. But given how much time people spend at work, it's no surprise that office romance happens. Unfortunately, not many of them openly admit that they’re currently in one. Whether due to workplace policy or to prevent gossip among coworkers, some individuals choose to keep their relationships private. Winter 2025 Anime Kono Kaisha ni Suki na Hito ga Imasu (I Have a Crush at Work) revolves around this issue in the form of cute little series of two coworkers in love.

Yui Mitsuya and Masugu Tateishi are just your usual white-collar workers. Despite working in the same office, they don't seem to be in a good term. Every time they meet, Yui always acts tough and takes cold shots at Masugu in front of everyone. The same goes for him, who often gives it back to her. Their colleagues are somewhat worried and tell them to get along, but little do they know that all of the bickering is just an act. In fact, these two fell head over heels for each other since the first episode. However, they decided to date discreetly to avoid being the center of attention. Until they find the right time to tell, they’ll pretend to be at each other’s throats. The question is, can they keep a secret?

Navigating workplace romance can be tricky, especially when you have to hide it. From commuting with different trains to showing no signs of affection while on the clock, Yui and Masugu make sure to keep their relationship low while maintaining professionalism at work. There are times where the two do things for the thrill, like holding hands when they're being squished in a cramped elevator. Once their 9-5 is over, they finally take their mask off and jump into being lovey-dovey. You can expect them to talk about their day and have intimacy like actual adults in a relationship. Speaking of intimacy, these two don’t hold back to go further when they’re in the mood. Lip kisses, sharing a bath, and sleeping together happen naturally as part of their daily life. They surely still have childish whims here and there but hey, at least it didn’t take them an entire season to just call each other’s given name.

Besides our main pair, I also root for Shizuno Hayakawa and Keisuke Somei. Since two of them are introverted, both are a little shy when it comes to opening up. And with their boss-employee relationship, it makes things even more complicated. Still, watching them slowly bring down their walls is such a delight. A combo of a reliable alcoholic onee-san and low-energy kouhai sounds chaotic on paper, but they make such a great dynamic so it works. They're so natural and comfortable when they're together, to the point the 8-year age gap they have no longer matters. Although Shizuno and Keisuke get little screen time compared to Yui-Masugu, their relationship is also something worth looking forward to.

For a romcom which takes place at an office, the office portion feels real. The work isn't merely background noise; they go more in-depth by showing the actual process of it, as well as social and politics of corporate life. This series also explores the struggle of working adults to make a career for themselves. Pulling an all-nighter, pursuing job-related certifications, moving to a new department, all of these are so relatable. Akamaru Enomoto as the author does a great job of utilizing the workplace setting nicely and not leaving it behind as a backdrop.

When it comes to production value, KonoSuki has vibrant art style and appealing character designs. The animation is serviceable with great drawing where it’s needed, such as detailed shots of pastry products. On the aural side of things, I think all seiyuus did wonderfully. While the soundtrack isn’t that remarkable, it manages to build a proper mood for the most part. Kinda surprised to learn that Polkadot Stingray performs the opening theme Ano ne – it sounds very anisong-y coming from a band with bangers like Jet and Telecaster Stripes. As for ED theme, pachae’s Futarijime has a slow and laid-back vibe. It’s a song you’d tune in while leisurely walking home from work or having an intimate date with your partner.

To sum up, I really enjoyed I Have a Crush at Work. There aren’t many office romance getting adaptation these days, and this one feels pretty mature with a good balance between work life and love life. Too bad this show isn't licensed for the West market yet, since it’s only available on Ani-One Asia YouTube channel which isn’t globally available.