For the last few years, avid anime fans have waited anxiously for the return of A-1 Pictures’ hit rom-com, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. Recently, the franchise revealed a surprise teaser trailer and release date for a brand-new installment slated to air later this month.

On Dec. 9, 2025, the official X (formerly Twitter) account for Kaguya-sama released a short trailer for a new TV anime special titled Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – Stairway to Adulthood. As shown below, the anime will feature the return of series mains, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, as they take new positions on the “battlefield” of high school romance.

The teaser, seen below, also previews a brand-new opening theme song titled “A Dangerous Memory,” performed by Masayuki Suzuki and Kaguya’s voice actor, Aoi Koga. According to the post, the episode is scheduled to premiere on Dec. 31, 2025.

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Returns After 3 Years With New Anime Trailer & Release Date

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is based on the original manga by Aka Akasaka, who is also known as the creator of the critically-acclaimed Oshi no Ko series. Unlike the intense, drama-fueled plot line of the latter manga, Kaguya-sama presents a unique twist on the classic “rivals-to-lovers” trope featured in dozens of anime romances.

As the top students of their class at Shuchiin Academy, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are both extremely proud and unwilling to directly confess their love to one another. Consequently, the two concoct various plots and schemes to provoke a confession from their respective opponent.

Season 1 of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War aired from Jan. 12 to March 30, 2019. The series’ overwhelming popularity led to the production of two additional seasons, an original video animation (OVA) and a canon film installment titled Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends.

The latter premiered in Japanese theaters in December 2022. However, it was not screened in North America until February 2023. Both the anime series and its film adaptation were directed by Mamoru Hatakeyama (or Shinichi Omata), who also worked on the Black Butler franchise, Hetalia: The Beautiful World and Undead Murder Farce.

Per Oricon US, the upcoming anime special features Aoi Koga’s first-ever vocal collaboration with Masayuki Suzuki, who has performed every opening theme for Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. “This time, my duet partner and I recorded together for the first time…I was impressed by how naturally she captured the world we aimed to portrayed through the music,” Suzuki stated. “I believe the song reflects the new romantic dynamics of the new protagonists.”

Shortly after the trailer reveal, Koga also released a statement expressing her feelings about the project. “To think I would have the opportunity to sing the opening theme alongside Masayuki Suzuki, who has supported and colored the series since season one…it is both a tremendous honor and an emotional moment for me, especially because this work holds such a special place in my heart,” Koga said. “I hope listeners will enjoy the song and feel an even deeper connection to the world of Kaguya-sama.”

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Aka Akasaka’s titular manga is available in English from VIZ Media.