Akira Failing in Love
| Akira Failing in Love | |
First tankōbon volume cover | |
| 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 (Momose Akira no Hatsukoi Hatan-chū) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Shinta Harekawa |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Shōnen Sunday Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Sunday |
| Original run | August 21, 2024 – present |
| Volumes | 6 |
Akira Failing in Love (Japanese: 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。, Hepburn: Momose Akira no Hatsukoi Hatan-chū) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shinta Harekawa. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday since August 2024, with its chapters collected in six tankōbon volumes as of March 2026.
Plot
The series follows Hajime Kugayama, a first year high school student who lives in a small town of 5,000 people. He reunites with Akira Momose, his elementary classmate. He had feelings for her until she moved away during the 4th grade. Expecting to maintain a distant relationship in high school, he is surprised when she approaches him. As it turns out, Akira wants to gain his attention, despite her clumsiness.
Characters
- Hajime Kugayama (久我山 はじめ, Kugayama Hajime)
- Voiced by: Reiji Kawashima (PV)[2]
- A high school student and Akira's classmate. He had a crush on Akira when they were young, but they lost contact after she moved away. He is surprised to be reunited with her in high school. He is oblivious towards her feelings for him.
- Akira Momose (百瀬 アキラ, Momose Akira)
- Voiced by: Aya Yamane (PV)[2]
- A high school student and Hajime's classmate. They were classmates in elementary school, although she moved away during the 4th grade. She moves back to town, aiming to start a relationship with Hajime. However, her clumsy nature makes this a challenge.
- Rendaiji (蓮台寺)
- Hajime's best friend who often gives him the wrong advice based on his experience with visual novels. For some reason, he cannot look girls directly in their eyes.
- Tsumugi Kintetsu (近鉄 つむぎ, Kintetsu Tsumugi) / Kin-chan (きんちゃん)
- One of Akira's few friends, who is a very calm and friendly person.
- Mei Kibu (鬼舞 めい, Kibu Mei) / Mei-Mei (めいめい)
- One of Akira's few friends with a kind of foul mouth. She and Tsumugi are very supportive of Akira and her attempted actions towards Hajime.
- Mone Kajiyashiki (梶屋敷 もね, Kajiyashiki Mone) / Captain (部長, Buchō)
- The captain of the track club. She is charismatic but gets flustered by romantic matters.
Publication
Written and illustrated by Shinta Harekawa, Akira Failing in Love started in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday on August 21, 2024.[3][1] Shogakukan has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes, with the first one released on December 18, 2024;[4] an animated promotional video was released on YouTube to promote the volume's release.[2] As of March 2026, six volumes have been released.[5]
The series is licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media, with the first volume set to be released in March 2026.[6]
Volumes
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 18, 2024[7] | 978-4-09-853684-9 | March 10, 2026[8] | 978-1-9747-6250-7 | ||
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| 2 | March 18, 2025[9] | 978-4-09-854027-3 | May 12, 2026[10] | 978-1-9747-6320-7 | ||
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| 3 | June 18, 2025[11] | 978-4-09-854149-2 | — | — | ||
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| 4 | September 18, 2025[12] | 978-4-09-854237-6 | — | — | ||
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| 5 | December 18, 2025[13] | 978-4-09-854376-2 | — | — | ||
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| 6 | March 18, 2026[5] | 978-4-09-854491-2 | — | — | ||
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Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
- "The Speaking-with-Your-Inner-Voice Club" (心の声で語り部中。, Kokoro no Koe de Katari-bu chū)
- "Fighting a Lonely Battle as a Full-On Gyaru" (孤軍奮闘ガチギャル中。, Kogun Funtō Gachi Gyaru-chū)
- "Wrapping It Up in a Flood of Feelings" (あふれる気持ちにくるまり中。, Afureru Kimochi ni Kurumari-chū)
- "Feelings Hippety-Hopping Through the Rice Field" (田んぼで気持ちがぴょんぴょん中。, Tanbo de Kimochi ga Pyonpyon-chū)
- "Romance and Regulations Colliding" (恋慕と法律が衝突中。, Renbo to Rūru ga Shōtotsu-chū)
- "Offering Help Along the Bumpy Road of Love" (でこぼこ恋路を手助け中。, Dekoboko Koiji o Tedasuke-chū)
- "Encountering an Adult at Work" (バイトで大人に邂逅中。, Baito de Otona ni Kaikō-chū)
- "Hiding in the Target Location" (標的の居場所に潜伏中。, Nerai no Ibasho ni Senpuku-chū)
- "Taking the Plunge at the Railroad Crossing" (果敢な行為に踏み切り中。, Kakan na Kōi ni Fumikiri-chū)
- "Saving Money One Town Over" (隣の町にて節約中。, Tonari no Machi ni te Setsuyaku-chū)
- "Trying on Each Outfit with Feeling" (一着入魂試着中。, Icchaku Nyūkon Shichaku-chū)
- "Katanas and Emotions Battling It Out" (刀と想いと交戦中。, Katana to Omoi to Kōsen-chū)
- "Hurling Simple Questions" (素朴な疑問を投げかけ中。, Soboku na Gimon o Nagekake-chū)
- "Going Down Stairs to a Scary Story" (階段そののち怪談中。, Kaidan Sono nochi Kaidan-chū)
- "Blowing Up One Day" (ある日の彼女は膨らみ中。, Aru Hi no Kanojo wa Fukurami-chū)
- "Big Days Overlapping" (式日どうしが重なり中。, Shikijitsu Dōshi ga Kasanari-chū)
- "Reflecting Along the Way" (想い馳せる、道中。, Omoi Haseru, Dōchū)
- "Sharing Feelings in the Snow" (想い交う、雪中。, Omoi-kau, Setchū)
- "Buddy-Buddying at Christmastime" (なかよく並んでクリスマ中。, Nakayoku Narande Kurisuma-chū)
Reception
The series was nominated for the 2025 Next Manga Award in the print category, and was ranked sixth.[14][15]
See also
- Senpai, This Can't Be Love!, another manga series by the same author
- Three Exorcism Siblings, another manga series by the same author
References
- ^ a b 晴川シンタが描く、ちぐはぐほのぼの純愛ラブコメディがサンデーで開幕. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 21, 2024. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c 【百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。】①巻発売記念PV (in Japanese). YouTube. December 18, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (August 14, 2024). "'Senpai, This Can't Be Love!' Author Shinta Harekawa Launches New Manga on August 21". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ 計画的だが不器用なヒロインのドタバタ純愛物語「百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。」1巻. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 18, 2024. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ a b 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 6 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (June 7, 2025). "Viz Media Reveals Releases for Bug Ego, Super Psychic Policeman Chojo, Sakamoto Holidays, More Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ "Akira Failing in Love, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ^ 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 2 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on April 19, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ "Akira Failing in Love, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 3 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on May 11, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 4 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
- ^ 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 5 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ 「次にくるマンガ大賞 2025」投票受付スタート! エントリー総数9,432作品の中からノミネート100作品が決定. Da Vinci News (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ 「次にくるマンガ大賞 2025」1位に「魔男のイチ」「サンキューピッチ」. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc. September 18, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
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External links
- Official website at Web Sunday (in Japanese)
- Akira Failing in Love at Anime News Network's encyclopedia