The community of Kaguya-sama: Love is War is in a state of uncertainty. Despite being one of the most successful romantic comedies of the last decade, recent signs suggest that a fourth season might never happen. The focus of concern lies in the upcoming television special, The Stairway to Adulthood, scheduled to premiere on December 31, 2025.
The problem with the end-of-year special
Readers of the manga have detected that the promotional content of The Stairway to Adulthood makes direct reference to the outcome of the story. If this special adapts the end of the manga, it would imply a massive omission of content: approximately 100 chapters (from volume 16 to 28) that would be left unanimated. This would mark a drastic shift in production from Aniplex and A-1 Pictures, opting for a quick closure rather than continuing with the seasons format.
Possible causes
A determining factor could be the commercial performance of the previous film, The First Kiss That Never Ends. Despite the popularity of the series, the film debuted at number eight at the Japanese box office, a low-key performance compared to other recent anime giants. This could have influenced the decision not to invest in a full-length production for a fourth season.
Manga Reading Guide
In the event that the anime does not continue faithfully, this is the guide to resume the story in the Aka Akasaka manga:
- If you finished Season 3: Start reading from Chapter 138 (Volume 14).
- If you saw the movie The First Kiss That Never Ends: Pick up reading from Chapter 161 (Volume 16).
In addition, it should be remembered that the anime has omitted several comedy chapters throughout its seasons, such as chapters 2, 3, 4, 10, 13, 15, among others, which can only be enjoyed in the physical volumes.
