History ShoutOut / WotakoiLoveIsHardForOtaku

** When Narumi is pondering over whether she hurt Hirotaka's feeling by avoiding him, she looks across the room to Hirotaka and Taro, who are respectively emulating Gendo Ikari's infamous FingerTenting ScaryShinyGlasses pose and Kozo Fuyutsuki's beleaguered stare; both are even positioned exactly like Gendo and Fuyutsuki in Gendo's office. Made more explicit when Hanako swaps Taro's name for Fuyutsuki.

* When Hanako breaks down into tears at the restaurant, claiming she'll never be like Ranka, Taro asks if that means she's more like Sheryl, referencing the heroines to the two legs of the LoveTriangle in ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'' - the former being cute and petite like Taro's ideal girl, the latter more buxom and mature like Hanako.

* Hanako ropes Narumi into cosplay during their second Comiket together, and they both cosplay as characters from ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder; Hanako is dressed as Edmond Dantes, and Narumi as the female player character.

* Hanako ropes Narumi into cosplay during their second Comiket together: the latter turns out to be [[VideoGame/FateGrandOrder the female version of Ritsuka Fujimaru]].

! Other
* In the manga promotions, Hanako, Taro, and Hirotaka are positioned like they'd be in a ''Chiemi Blouson'' skit, with the former in Chiemi's place and Tarou and Hirotaka acting as her hunky flanks.

! Episode 1

! Episode 2

! Episode 3

! Episode 4

! Episode 5
* As Hirotaka is slowly falling asleep, Taro wonders if he spent last night staying up to play video games. Hirotaka answers "''Ikanimo''!!"[[note]]A {{Pun}} on the expression ''ika ni mo'' meaning "indeed"[[/note]] while making a squid gesture with his fingers, a reference to ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}''. Curiously, Narumi mixes up the name of the ''Splatoon'' characters "Inklings" by calling them "''[[Manga/SquidGirl ika musume]]''".

! Episode 6

! Episode 9

! Episode 11

* At the end of the episode, when Narumi asks Hirotaka, Tarou and Hanako who each of their respective 2D "FirstLove" is, they respond with [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Nakoruru]], [[Anime/MaisonIkkoku Kyoko Otonoshi]] and [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers Yuki Amami]][[note]][[http://asianwiki.com/Yuki_Amami Likely the actress]], best known to have played male characters and mostly popular with women[[/note]]; Narumi herself answers [[Manga/NintamaRantarou Doi-sensei]].

* After finding out that they both forgot their umbrellas, Hirotaka and Narumi reference Melt, a Hatsune Miku song by supercell.

* While the {{Anime}} makes it ambiguous, in the {{Manga}}, the game they're playing at Hirotaka's apartment is explicitly ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.

* While waiting in line, Hirotaka is seen playing ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' on his smartphone, citing how he caught "Happinas", the Japanese name of "Blissey" (in the manga he finds Dragonite instead); he also makes a quip about wanting to perform a "Musou Attack" when he and Narumi are stuck in the midst of a large crowd, the name of the {{Limit Break}}s from ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' and its {{Spin Off}}s.

* The trip after work to Animate manages to pack in visual nods to a wide variety in the {{Manga}}:

** ''Tejina Senpai'' by Azu is the {{Manga}} that Hirotaka looks at.
** Of the BoysLove {{Manga}} Narumi buys are ''Tashiro-kun, Kimi tte Yatsu wa'' by Yamada, ''Kimi wa Natsu no Naka'' by Nagisa Furuya, and ''THEO'' by Nachi Aono. In the same scene, Hanako holds a volume of Hashigo Sakurabi's ''Dakaretai Otoko Ichii ni Odosarete Imasu''.

* While the episode makes it ambiguous, in the {{Manga}}, the game they're playing at Hirotaka's apartment is explicitly ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.

* The video game Hirotaka constantly plays on his UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch is ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'', specifically the ''Generations Ultimate'' UpdatedRerelease.

* Hirotaka has figurines of [[Manga/MasamuneKunsRevenge Yoshino Koiwai]], [[Manga/EngagedToTheUnidentified Kobeni Yonomori]], and [[Manga/MahouSenseiNegima Kaede Nagase]] in his apartment; for the {{Manga}}, the figurines that are shown are of [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Luka Megurine]] and [[VideoGame/KantaiCollection Nagato]], instead.

** A painting on the wall shows a promotion for ''Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui''; another on the same wall ''My Senpai Is Annoying''.

** ''Tejina Senpai'' by Azu is the {{Manga}} that Hirotaka looks at.
** ''Manga/TheAncientMagusBride'' by Kore Yamazaki is purchased by Hanako.

* When Narumi boards the train while going to work, the advertisement panels all show a picture of Megumi Kato from ''LightNovel/HowToRaiseABoringGirlfriend''. It's also the shop banner for the following episode's RealLife bookstore chain "Animate".

* While waiting in line, Hirotaka is seen playing ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' on his smartphone, citing how he caught "Happinas", the Japanese name of "Blissey"; he also makes a quip about wanting to perform a "Musou Attack" when he and Narumi are stuck in the midst of a large crowd, the name of the {{Limit Break}}s from ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' and its {{Spin Off}}s.

* Both of Narumi's reactions after buying the churros go into {{Art Shift}}s that are based on certain {{Manga}}: the first one, about doubling down, is from ''Manga/{{Kaiji}}'' and the second is from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''.

* The "''Kabe-Don''!!" seen at the start of the episode between Hirotaka and Taro, as Narumi and Hanako are gleefully taking pictures, is based on the sterotypical act where [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabedon a man corners a woman against a wall, then slaps the wall to surround her]], giving a LoveConfession. While popular in {{Shoujo}}, it's also present in other genres like {{Yaoi}}.

* As Hirotaka is slowly falling asleep, Taro wonders if he spent last night staying up to play video games. Hirotaka answers "''Ikanimo''!!" while making a squid gesture with his fingers, a reference to ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}''. Curiously, Narumi mixes up the name of the ''Splatoon'' characters "Inklings" by calling them "''[[Manga/SquidGirl ika musume]]''".
* Hirotaka mentions Narumi should stick with just playing "''[=DōMori=]''" because she isn't a hardcore gamer. The game in question is the short-form of ''Dōbutsu no Mori'', the Japanese name for first installment of the ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' series.

* Hirotaka is seen playing ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' on his smartphone; he also makes a quip about wanting to perform a "Musou Attack" when he and Narumi are stuck in the midst of a large crowd, the name of the LimitBreak attacks from ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' and its {{Spin Off}}s.

* At the start of the episode, there's a poster for ''LightNovel/EromangaSensei'' on the wall of Taro's apartment.

* Both of Narumi's reactions after buying the churros are based on certain {{Manga}}: the first one, about doubling down, is from ''Manga/{{Kaiji}}'' and the second is from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''.

* When Takahiro asks Taro what did Hanako bribe him with in order to {{cross dress|er}}, the latter replies a [[VideoGame/KantaiCollection Yuudachi Kai-II]] figurine.

* At the end of the episode, when Narumi asks Takahiro, Tarou and Hanako who each of their respective 2D "FirstLove" is, they respond with [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Nakoruru]], [[Anime/MaisonIkkoku Kyoko Otonoshi]] and [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers Yuki Amami]][[note]][[http://asianwiki.com/Yuki_Amami Likely the actress]], best known to have played male characters and mostly popular with women[[/note]]; Narumi herself answers [[Manga/NintamaRantarou Doi-sensei]].

This show has plenty of references, as this is essentially a love letter to the {{otaku}}.

!! Other
* In the manga promotions, Koyanagi, Taro, and Hirotaka are positioned like they'd be in a Chiemi Blouson skit, with Koyanagi in Chiemi's place and Tarou and Hirotaka acting as her hunky flanks.

!! Episode 1
* When Narumi boards the train while going to work, the advertisement panels all show a picture of Megumi Kato from ''LightNovel/HowToRaiseABoringGirlfriend''. It's also the shop banner for the following episode's otaku bookstore.
* The character Koyanagi cosplayed as when Narumi first met her at the Comiket? Date Masamune from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara''.
* The video game Hirotaka constantly plays on his Nintendo Switch is ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''.

!! Episode 2
* When Narumi is pondering over whether she hurt Hirotaka's feeling by avoiding him, the scene moves over to Hirotaka and Kabakura, who are respectively emulating [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo]]'s FingerTenting and Fuyutsuki's beleaguered stare, with the scenery turning to evening for no apparent reason. Koyanagi even swaps Kabakura's name for Fuyutsuki.
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' is referenced again as all four debate who is the best girl: Hinako (Asuka), Narumi (Rei), Kabakura (Mari), and Hirotaka (Unit-01).
* Koyanagi's response to the disagreement ("Very well. Then Krieg is what you shall have") is a quote from ''Anime/{{Hellsing}}''.
* The sequence where Narumi tries to flee from what she thinks is an enraged Hirotaka takes elements from [=JRPG=]s, senior amongst them being ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[='=]s battle dialogue and options (including "couldn't run away" when escape is not an option).
** The tune when Hirotaka cuts off Narumi's escape the first time is the VideoGame/{{Castlevania}} death theme.
* One of Koyanagi's cosplay outfits in this episode is [[VideoGame/ToukenRanbu Shokudaikiri Mitsutada]].
* Hirotaka has figurines of [[Manga/MasamuneKunsRevenge Yoshino]], [[Manga/EngagedToTheUnidentified Kobeni]], and [[Manga/MahouSenseiNegima Kaede]]. In the manga, the figurines that are shown are of [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Luka]] and [[VideoGame/KantaiCollection Nagato]] instead.
* The trip after work to Animate manages to pack in nods to a wide variety in the manga the four pick up:
** A painting on the wall shows a promotion for ''Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui''.
** The other painting on the same wall is ''My Senpai Is Annoying''.
** ''Manga/YuruYuri'' is one of the cute manga Kabakura picks up.
** Among the BL manga Narumi picks are ''Tashiro-kun, Kimi tte Yatsu wa.'' by Yamada, ''Kimi wa Natsu no Naka'' by Nagisa Furuya, and ''THEO'' by Nachi Aono. In the same scene, Hinako holds a volume of Hashigo Sakurabi's ''Dakaretai Otoko Ichii ni Odosarete Imasu''.
** ''Hitorijime My Hero'' by Memeko Arii
** ''Tejina Senpai'' by Azu is the manga that Hirotaka looks at.
** ''Manga/TheAncientMagusBride'' by Kore Yamazaki is picked up by Hinako.

* The narration of Narumi pushing through Comiket crowds to rescue Hirotaka from over-eager fujoshi (and one "sketchy older guy") plays on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run,_Melos! Run, Melos!]], a classic Japanese short story about a man's desperate race to save his friend's life. Or, more likely, one of its anime adaptations.
* In a flashback, Narumi and Hirotaka are playing ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'' on a Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
* Narumi and Hirotaka play ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'' on the Nintendo Wii.
!Episode 4
* In the first minute, both Anime/SailorMoon R and Anime/DragonBallZ are namedropped. However, we only see the end of one of Usagi's massive pigtails playing on Momose's phone.
* After Hinako says she'll never be like Ranka, Kabakura asks if that means she's more like Sheryl. They're referring to the two legs of the love triangle in ''Anime/MacrossFrontier,'' one petite and cute like Kabakura's ideal girl, the other more mature and buxom.

* Both of Narumi's reactions after buying the churros are based on certain manga. The first one, about doubling down, is from ''Manga/{{Kaiji}}'' and the second is from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''.
* When Narumi mentions changing her phone background and taking keychains off her bag the night before going on dates, the keychain and phone wallpaper shown in the background are of [[VideoGame/ToukenRanbu Kashuu Kiyomitsu]].
* Hirotaka plays ''VideoGame/PokemonGo''.
* He also mentions wanting to draw a Musou attack from ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors''.
!Episode 11
* At the start of the episode, there's a poster for ''LightNovel/EromangaSensei'' on the wall.

* At the start of the episode, there's a poster for ''Anime/EromangaSensei'' on the wall.

* Both of Narumi's reactions after buying the churros are based on certain manga. The first one, about doubling down, is from Manga/{{Kaiji}}

** ''Tejina Senpai'' by Azu

* Hirotaka has figurines of [[Manga/MasamuneKunsRevenge Yoshino]], [[Manga/EngagedToTheUnidentified Kobeni]], and ''Manga/UQHolder''. In the manga, the figurines that are shown are of [[Music/Vocaloid Luka]] and [[VideoGame/KantaiCollection Nagato]] instead.

* When Narumi is pondering over whether she hurt Hirotaka's feeling by avoiding him, the scene moves over to Hirotaka and Kabakura, who are respectively emulating [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo]]'s FingerTenting and Fuyutsuki's beleaguered stare, with the scenery turning to evening for no apparent reason. Kyoanagi even swaps Kabakura's name for Fuyutsuki.

* Hirotaka has figurines of [[Manga/MasamuneKunsRevenge Yoshino]], [[Manga/EngagedToTheUnidentified Kobeni]], and ''Manga/UQHolder''.

* He also mentions wanting to draw a Musou attack from ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors''.

* When Narumi mentions changing her phone background and taking keychains off her bag the night before going on dates, the keychain and phone wallpaper shown in the background are of [[VideoGame/ToukenRanbu Kashuu Kiyomitsu]].

* After Hinako says she'll never be like Ranka, Kabakura asks if that means she's more like Sheryl. They're referring to the two legs of the love triangle in ''Anime/MacrossFrontier,'' one petite and cute like Kabakura's ideal girl, the other more mature and buxom.