Vermeil in Gold

Every exam at the Ortigia Academy of Magic is a breeze for Alto Goldfield — except the one that matters most, because he can't summon a familiar to save his life or his academic career, and he's running out of options. Facing the threat of repeating a year, he digs up a dusty old grimoire and tries one last ritual. Instead of getting a cute animal companion, he accidentally unseals Vermeil, a centuries-old demon with immense power and zero concept of personal space. She agrees to be his familiar, which sounds great until you learn the contract requires daily mana transfers through kissing. His childhood friend Lilia, who's been quietly crushing on him, does not take this well. This 12-episode TV series from 2022 leans into its ecchi comedy without pretending to be something it isn't. The dynamic between Alto and Vermeil is genuinely fun — she's ancient and dangerously powerful but also playful and affectionate, while he's trying to navigate school life with a demon familiar who keeps causing scenes. The character designs are expressive and the fantasy school setting gives it room to mix lighthearted humor with actual magical stakes when Vermeil's sealed power starts drawing unwanted attention. If you liked the familiar-master chemistry in The Familiar of Zero or the supernatural school vibes of Rosario + Vampire and High School DxD, this hits a similar spot. It's a shounen fantasy with a youthful energy that knows exactly what kind of show it wants to be.