Kaguya-sama: Love is War returns with new content for Brazilian fans in early 2026. The long-awaited OVA, titled “-Stairway to Adulthood-“, has arrived in Crunchyroll’s catalog, the platform that distributes the anime in Brazil. The special episode advances the story beyond the thrilling ending of the third season, offering a glimpse into the adult life of Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane. With its release schedule met, the material is relevant for continuing one of the most acclaimed romantic comedies of recent years, although, due to its compact format, it leaves aside important arcs from the original manga.
The episode works as a collection of sketches, presented through a clever narrative device: a flash-forward of the already married couple revisiting memories. This way, fans can see how the relationship between the two evolves, from the initial innocent phase to more intimate moments. The production, however, chooses to focus almost exclusively on the main couple, a choice that, while enjoyable, creates a counterpoint by completely neglecting the parallel plots of characters like Miko Iino and Yu Ishigami, who have deep development in the printed work.
Quality Animation, but Uncertain Future
The highlight of the OVA is undoubtedly the maintenance of technical excellence. The animation remains fluid, with superb voice acting, especially from Aoi Koga as Kaguya. Additionally, the series’ characteristic humor is present, with visual gags and absurd situations that work perfectly, proving that the creative team still masters the formula. However, the feeling that remains is ambiguous. On one hand, it’s a gift to see more of the duo; on the other, the work seems like a “monkey’s paw” (a wish that backfires), as it offers a bit of what fans wanted, but not in the complete way they expected.
Thus, the OVA serves as a sweet yet incomplete epilogue for those who only follow the anime. It confirms the unique chemistry between Kaguya and Miyuki and delivers good laughs, but it also signals, in a somewhat melancholic way, that significant stories from the manga may never come to life on screen. Therefore, while we await news about a possible fourth season, this extra content is a bittersweet consolation, perfect for easing the longing, but it makes it clear that the Kaguya-sama universe still has much to offer.
