An aspiring paleontologist gets dumped by her boyfriend, then stabbed by someone trying to rob a combini. As a result, she reawakens as Pia Rockwell, a super minor side character in a reverse harem otome game — so minor that she doesn’t even have a name in the actual game. So… this is an isekai but also a love story. Oh yeah, since Pia is a side character, she believes that her love interest Rufus will eventually fall for the heroine like all the other pretty boys. Pia will subsequently be banished into obscurity. As a result, she tries to convince Rufus to call off her engagement. Y’know, this kinda reminds me of An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess, so you could even call this a villainess anime. How should I categorize this show? There are, however, a few things I’m iffy about.

First, the paleontology thing is kinda cute and quirky. I like a girl with a real passion, especially for something as nerdy as fossils. But she didn’t just get dumped. She also lost her research, because she submitted everything under her boyfriend’s name. What kind of uber nerd would do that? If you were really into a subject, would you really let someone else — even a boyfriend you really love — steal your thunder? Would you risk academic dishonesty and thus jeopardize your future career? Eh, I don’t buy it. Look, I think the love for paleontology is real on the part of… whoever wrote this story. But the tragic backstory that’s supposed to give Pia a deathly fear of being betrayed? I think the author could’ve done better. I think they kinda mailed this one in a little.

Second, like Cecil in An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess, Rufus is rather willful, so he won’t let Pia break up with him. In fact, he falls in love with her precisely because she isn’t after his money and status. To ease her fears, he makes a bet: if he truly does fall in love with someone else in the future, he will owe her 100 million gold as well as free access to his family’s estate (it’s apparently full of fossils). As a result, keeping the engagement intact is a win-win for the girl! Alright, sure. The problem is the characters. It’s only the first episode, but I would say neither Pia nor Rufus is as charismatic as their counterparts Bertia and Cecil. It’s mostly Rufus, if I gotta be honest. So far, he’s just not that interesting.

Anyway, Pia is really smart and talented, so already, people might be after her. Rufus even gets a little possessive and protective about his future wife. But how did they find out about her already? Is there a mole? The girl has just recently recovered from a major illness, so she’s apparently underweight. As a result, Rufus would tell her when to eat and even when to nap lest she lose her excavating privileges. I suppose if the girl is truly sickly and frail, it’s all for a good cause. Still, the behavior is a little controlling and thus concerning. Most of all, I’m just waiting for a time skip before I can truly judge the show. It’s no fun when they’re still just babies (technically 10). We also need to see how they interact with the side characters, and whether or not the future heroine ends up being an antagonist. I was disappointed when Heronia in An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess ended up being so foolish.

A few minor asides before I wrap this post up:

• Man, these poor anime characters. It seems like they just get cucked left and right. Even when they reincarnate, it’s a big worry!
• Ultimately, I think this should go into the Villainess Villainy column.
• Never, ever sign a contract without a lawyer present. At the very least, you gotta have your parents in the room, sheesh.
• So, uh, do you think this poor girl got isekai’d as well? Imagine if she ends up being the heroine, i.e., Pia’s rival…