Let's be real for a second. Rom-com anime are a dime a dozen, and most of them follow the exact same "will-they-won't-they" blueprint until you want to pull your hair out. But every once in a while, a show like Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru drops and reminds us why we like the genre in the first place. It isn't just the flashy animation from Madhouse or the fact that it nails the "gamer" aesthetic without being cringe. It's the people behind the microphones. The cast of My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 is, quite honestly, the reason the emotional beats land instead of falling flat.
You've got Akane, who is basically a walking disaster but in the most relatable way possible, and Yamada, who is so socially stunted it hurts. If the voice acting wasn't top-tier, Yamada would just come across as a jerk, and Akane would be annoying. Instead, we get this nuanced, slow-burn chemistry that feels... well, human.
The voices behind Akane and Yamada: A masterclass in chemistry
In the Japanese version, Inori Minase takes on Akane Kinoshita. If you’ve watched anime in the last decade, you’ve heard her. She was Rem in Re:Zero and Hestia in DanMachi. She’s got this incredible range where she can go from "comically distraught" to "genuinely heartbroken" in a single breath. Akane is a tough role because she’s a college student dealing with a messy breakup. Minase gives her that slightly frantic, high-energy vibe that grounds the character. You feel her desperation when she’s trying to win back her ex through a video game, which is a wild sentence to type, but she makes it believable.
Then you have Koki Uchiyama as Akito Yamada. This was a casting stroke of genius. Uchiyama is the king of the "emotionless but deep down he cares" archetype. Think Tsukishima from Haikyuu!! or Toge Inumaki from Jujutsu Kaisen. Yamada is a pro gamer who is basically allergic to social interaction. He’s blunt. He’s cold. He’s focused on the grind. Uchiyama plays it with this low-register, steady monotone that only breaks when Akane finally starts to get under his skin. It’s the subtle shifts in his voice—a slightly longer pause, a soft "huh"—that sell the romance.
What about the English Dub?
If you're more of a dub fan, the English cast of My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 is equally stacked. Abby Trott voices Akane, and she brings a warmth to the role that matches Minase’s energy perfectly. You might know her as Nezuko from Demon Slayer. Opposite her is Stephen Fu as Yamada. Fu has been everywhere lately, and he manages to capture that dry, detached personality without making Yamada sound like a robot.
The chemistry between the leads is the spine of the show. If they don't click, the "gaming" gimmick doesn't matter. Fortunately, they click.
The supporting players who keep things interesting
A show can't survive on the leads alone. The secondary characters in the FOS (Forest of Savior) guild provide the necessary chaos to keep the plot moving.
Natsuki Hanae voices Eita Sasaki (Princess Ruri). This is hilarious if you know Hanae’s work as Tanjiro in Demon Slayer. Seeing him voice a guy who plays as a hyper-cute female avatar in an MMO is peak entertainment. Eita is the "big brother" figure of the group, and Hanae plays him with a cheerful, slightly mischievous vibe that contrasts well with Yamada’s gloom.
Then there’s Momoko Maeda, Akane’s best friend, voiced by Saori Onishi. Momoko is the voice of reason—or at least, she tries to be. She’s the one pushing Akane to get back out there and stop moping over her ex. Onishi plays her with a grounded, slightly cynical edge that balances out Akane’s impulsivity.
The "Antagonists" and the Drama
We have to talk about Runa Sasaki. Voiced by Ai Kakuma, Runa starts off as a total nightmare. She’s Eita’s younger sister, and she’s incredibly protective of her "spot" in the guild. She tries to sabotage Akane, and in any other show, she’d stay a one-dimensional villain. But the writing—and Kakuma’s performance—allows her to grow. You start to see her loneliness and her fear of being left behind as her brother and Yamada grow up.
And let’s not forget the guy who started it all: Takuma Furukawa, Akane's ex-boyfriend. He's voiced by Takeo Otsuka. He isn't exactly a "bad guy" in the traditional sense; he's just a guy who moved on and handled it poorly. Otsuka plays him with just enough obliviousness to make you understand why Akane was frustrated.
Why the voice acting matters for the "Gaming" aspect
In Yamada-kun at Lv999, the game Forest of Savior is a character in itself. The cast has to navigate the dual identities of their real-world selves and their avatars.
- Akane/Akane: Her avatar looks just like her, so her voice remains consistent.
- Yamada/Yamada: Same deal. Efficient, just like his playstyle.
- Eita/Princess Ruri: This is where the fun is. The disconnect between the cute avatar and Eita’s actual voice is a recurring bit that never really gets old.
The show uses voice acting to bridge the gap between digital interaction and physical reality. When they’re talking through headsets, the audio quality often shifts slightly to give it that "Discord call" feel. It’s a small detail, but it adds to the immersion. You can hear the clicks of the mechanical keyboards in the background, the subtle hum of the PC—it all feels lived-in.
How to appreciate the performances (Actionable Steps)
If you're looking to dive deeper into why this cast works so well, there are a few things you can do to really "see" the craft behind the curtain.
Compare the Sub and Dub versions.
Usually, people pick a side and stick to it. Don't do that here. Watch an episode in Japanese to hear the specific cadence of Inori Minase’s comedic timing, then re-watch it in English to see how Abby Trott interprets those same emotional beats. It’s a great way to see how localization works.
Check out the Seiyuu events.
The Japanese voice acting industry is massive, and the cast of My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 has done several live events and radio shows (like the Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Radio wo Suru). Watching Uchiyama and Minase interact in real life is fascinating because their real-world dynamic is actually somewhat similar to their characters, though much more professional.
Look into the production credits.
The sound director, Jin Aketagawa, is a legend in the industry. He’s worked on Kaguya-sama: Love is War and 86. When you see his name on a project, you know the voice acting is going to be directed with precision. He’s the one who ensures that Yamada doesn’t just sound bored, but specifically introverted.
Follow the Animators' cues.
Pay attention to how the animation reacts to the voice. In the scenes where Akane is drunk or rambling, the animators at Madhouse match her movements to the frantic pace of Minase's delivery. It's a symbiotic relationship.
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The reality is that My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 succeeds because it treats its characters like people rather than tropes. The cast brings a level of sincerity to the table that elevates the source material. Whether you’re a veteran MMO player who relates to Yamada’s grind or someone who’s felt as lost as Akane after a breakup, these performances give the story its heart.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, pay attention to the silence. In a world of loud, screaming shonen protagonists, the quiet moments between Yamada and Akane—the sighs, the hesitations, and the soft "mhm"s—are where the real story is told. Next time you watch, turn the volume up during those awkward pauses. That's where the magic happens.