Does Saki end up with Makoto in Senpai Is an Otokonoko? Explained

Modified Sep 08, 2024 14:10 GMT

Does Saki end up with Makoto in Senpai Is an Otokonoko? Explained (Image via Project No.9)

One of the most popular anime in the Summer 2024 broadcast season has been Senpai Is an Otokonoko, the television adaptation of author and illustrator Pom’s original manga of the same name. The romantic coming-of-age story has captivated the hearts and minds of viewers on the back of relatable troubles of youth, and incredibly well-written characters.

More specifically, Senpai Is an Otokonoko fans have taken to the central trio of Ryuji Taiga, Saki Aoi, and protagonist Makoto Hanaoka, who also make up the series’ main love triangle. This is also whom fans spend the most time with throughout the series, so, understandably, the trio would all become fan favorites.

However, as the first season of the Senpai Is an Otokonoko anime progresses, fans are becoming more and more curious as to who Makoto ends up with in the end between Saki and Ryuji. While there is an answer, it requires going to the end of Pom’s original manga series, which will not be adapted in this first season of the television anime.

Disclaimer: Spoilers for Senpai Is an Otokonoko beyond season 1 below. Readers’ discretion is requested.

Makoto’s final romantic partner in Senpai Is an Otokonoko is one which upset many fans upon the manga’s conclusion

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At the end of the manga, it is heavily implied that Makoto Hanaoka and Saki Aoi begin dating each other following the latter’s declaration of love for the former in the final chapter. This brings an end to the pair’s tumultuous, back-and-forth romance with each other, which has been highlighted to a degree in the anime thus far. This declaration also parallels the way the Senpai Is an Otokonoko manga begins, with Saki’s love now being accepted by Makoto rather than rejected.

This declaration comes after Saki, Ryuji, and Makoto meet up to watch the stars together since Aoi is soon moving to a new school. The next day, she confesses that she likes him again after taking some time to truly consider her feelings for Makoto. As fans have seen throughout season 1, Aoi has struggled with determining whether or not Makoto is her “special person.” However, this obviously does end up being the case once she sorts her feelings out.

However, the entire school ends up hearing them over the intercom due to the room Saki is in when she confesses. While Ryuji doesn’t get Makoto in the end, he does help the pair’s love blossom by stopping teachers from barging into the room. Saki and Makoto later meet up, with the former asking the latter to date and him accepting.

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While the manga doesn’t show them as a couple before its end, it’s heavily implied that they do end up together. This is particularly highlighted by Aoi planning to visit her grandmother every weekend even after moving to her new school. In turn, this means Aoi is able to come back to the area and visit Makoto every weekend, hence it being heavily implied that the two begin dating.

While this all seems innocent and satisfactory enough, many take issue with the series putting the pair together due to how heavily invested the story gets in Ryuji’s feelings for Makoto. This pairing was also a fan-favorite considering how pure and genuine Ryuji’s love for Makoto is by nature of their having been friends for so long. However, in the end, Makoto ends up with Saki all the same.