Sakura Trick
Plot. Haruka Takayama and Yū Sonoda were inseparable during middle school, but upon entering high school, they end up being seated on opposite sides of the classroom. Having to spend time with new friends, the two decide to make their relationship special by kissing each other in secret. Media. Manga. The manga, illustrated by Tachi, began serialization in the first issue of Houbunsha's "Manga Time Kirara Miracle" magazine on March 17, 2011. Eight "tankōbon" volumes were released between August 27, 2012 and September 27, 2017. Anime. A 12 episode anime television series adaptation of the manga series  was announced in the August issue of the "Manga Time Kirara Miracle!" magazine. The series, produced by Studio Deen and directed by Kenichi Ishikura with character designs by Kyūta Sakai, aired on TBS between January 9, 2014 and March 27, 2014 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll in North America. The opening theme is "Won（*3*）Chu KissMe!" by Haruka Tomatsu, Yuka Iguchi, Yuka Aisaka, Hiromi Igarashi, Mai Fuchigami, and Megumi Toda, whilst the ending theme is "Kiss (and) Love" by Tomatsu and Iguchi. The ending theme for episode eight is by Saki Fujita, Momo Asakura, and Yurika Endō. The series is licensed  in North America by Sentai Filmworks. MVM Films have licensed the series in the UK. Video game. Characters from the series appear alongside other "Manga Time Kirara" characters in the 2017 mobile RPG, "Kirara Fantasia". Reception. Anime News Network's critics Rebecca Silverman and Zac Bertschy gave the first episode a rating of 3 out of 5 while Carl Kimlinger and Theron Martin gave it a 3.5 out of 5. Kotaku's Richard Eisenbeis called it his "favorite anime of the  winter season".