Is Riko in Love with Kanna?

If you’ve spent any time watching or reading Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, you’ve probably found yourself wondering about Riko and Kanna’s relationship. Their interactions are adorable, hilarious, and at times, surprisingly emotional. But one question that keeps coming up in the fandom is: is Riko actually in love with Kanna?

Let’s dive into their bond, why people read it as romantic, and what it really says about friendship, admiration, and the innocence of youth.

Who Are Riko and Kanna?

Kanna Kamui is one of the most lovable characters in Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid. She’s a young dragon who ends up living in the human world with Miss Kobayashi and Tohru. Despite being a powerful creature, she looks and acts like a sweet little girl who’s curious about everything around her.

Riko Saikawa is Kanna’s human classmate. She’s lively, proud, and competitive, but her personality takes a hilarious turn when she meets Kanna for the first time. The moment Kanna smiles at her, Riko completely loses her composure. She blushes, freezes up, and sometimes even faints from being overwhelmed by Kanna’s cuteness.

Their relationship quickly becomes one of the funniest and most endearing dynamics in the entire series.

Why Fans Think Riko Is in Love with Kanna

It’s easy to see why people might interpret Riko’s feelings as romantic. She clearly adores Kanna, and her exaggerated reactions feel a lot like the way people behave when they have a crush. Her cheeks turn red, she gets flustered when Kanna touches her, and she often acts shy in a way that mirrors romantic comedy tropes.

But here’s the thing: Riko and Kanna are both children. The story doesn’t treat their relationship as romantic—it treats it as pure, innocent admiration. Riko is experiencing what might be her first real emotional attachment to someone who completely captivates her. It’s funny, wholesome, and heartfelt all at once.

If you enjoy seeing deep emotional bonds and magical friendships like theirs, you might also like Dawn of the Dragon, a fantasy manhwa that explores similar themes of connection and wonder.

Understanding Riko’s Feelings

Riko’s over-the-top reactions are meant to make you laugh, but they also reveal how deeply she cares for Kanna. What she feels is a mix of admiration, affection, and fascination. She’s amazed by Kanna’s calm, kind energy, and she doesn’t quite know how to handle those feelings yet.

Think of it as a childhood version of being starstruck. Riko doesn’t understand love in a mature way, but she knows Kanna makes her heart race. And that’s what makes her feelings so relatable—we’ve all been that kid who suddenly meets someone who feels larger than life.

How Kanna Sees Riko

Kanna’s approach to their friendship is much more composed. She’s affectionate, gentle, and teasing, but she doesn’t show any signs of romantic interest. To Kanna, Riko is a precious friend and a source of human warmth she enjoys being around.

She visits Riko’s house, eats snacks, plays games, and enjoys her company. While Riko is often flustered, Kanna’s calm and affectionate responses make their interactions feel balanced. The two have a genuine connection built on kindness, understanding, and shared curiosity about the world.

The Beauty of Their Friendship

One of the reasons people love Riko and Kanna’s dynamic is because it captures the magic of childhood friendship. It’s unfiltered, emotional, and honest. Kids don’t always know how to label their feelings, but they express them with sincerity.

Riko’s reactions are exaggerated, but they reflect something real—the joy of having someone who makes you feel special. And Kanna, despite her ancient dragon origins, finds comfort in Riko’s pure-hearted companionship.

Their friendship reminds us that not all love needs to fit into adult categories. Some love is simply about being happy in someone’s presence.

Moments That Show Their Bond

There are several memorable moments that showcase just how close they are:

• When Kanna invites Riko over for a sleepover, and they spend time laughing and playing together.

• When Riko gets embarrassed after Kanna holds her hand or gives her a compliment.

• When Kanna comforts Riko after she’s teased at school, showing her softer, caring side.

These scenes make their bond feel real. It’s not just played for laughs—there’s a sense of emotional warmth that makes their friendship one of the highlights of the series.

What the Creator Intended

Coolkyousinnjya, the creator of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, often blends comedy and warmth in their storytelling. Riko’s blushing and fainting are clearly written as comedic exaggerations, not as romantic gestures. The humor works because it’s innocent, not suggestive.

The series as a whole celebrates different forms of love—platonic, familial, and yes, sometimes romantic—but Riko and Kanna’s connection falls firmly into the “wholesome friendship” category. It’s about affection, not attraction.

Why Fans Still Love the “Crush” Theory

Even though the relationship isn’t romantic, many fans still enjoy the idea of Riko having a crush on Kanna because it adds a cute, funny dynamic to the story. It’s relatable to how kids sometimes express admiration—they blush, they act awkward, and they don’t know why their emotions are so strong.

The “crush” angle doesn’t take away from the innocence of their friendship. In fact, it highlights it. Riko’s feelings, while exaggerated, come from a place of pure joy and wonder.

Final Thoughts

So, is Riko in love with Kanna? Probably not in the romantic sense. What she feels is admiration, affection, and friendship—a child’s version of love that’s innocent and full of warmth.

Their bond shows how deep connections can form without romance being involved. Riko may get flustered every time Kanna smiles at her, but at the heart of it all, she just loves being around someone who makes her happy.

It’s that simple, and that’s what makes their relationship so charming. In a world full of dragons, magic, and chaos, Riko and Kanna’s friendship is a small reminder that love, in its purest form, can be found in the simplest human moments.