Manga Like Otome Tsubaki Never Laughs

The difficulties of adulthood and the harsh realities of office work often make people wish they could go back to their younger years and choose differently. This feeling leads 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki to consider an unusual offer. After returning home from his part-time job, Arata is contacted by Ryou Yoake, a representative from the ReLife Research Institute, who presents an experimental program designed to improve his job prospects. The ReLife project plans to change Arata's appearance to that of a 17-year-old, allowing him to experience high school again for one year. After this trial ends, he will receive a job offer, something he has had trouble getting since leaving his previous job. Despite his doubts, Arata agrees to the strange arrangement. But his adult way of thinking and his lack of recent school experience make handling everyday life in high school harder than he expected.

In *Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You*, fifteen-year-old Sawako Kuronuma is constantly mistaken for Sadako Yamamura, the terrifying ghost from *The Ring*. Because of their striking resemblance, her classmates call her "Sadako," and her reserved, melancholic personality, combined with this reputation, makes others avoid her. Despite this isolation, Sawako remains kind and diligent. Driven by a sincere desire to make friends, she admires Shouta Kazehaya, the most popular boy in her class, whose cheerful demeanor and natural charisma make him well-liked. Hoping to become more like him, Sawako starts spending time with Kazehaya. Through his support, she finds the courage to face challenges she would never have attempted alone. One-shot included: Volume 22: Mayuge no Kakudo wa 45° de (45° Eyebrows)

Chikan Otoko is a socially awkward otaku with a perverse side who regularly visits the 2ch forum. One day, while returning from work, he is wrongly detained for stalking. Once the confusion clears, he learns that the girl he calls Miss Understanding has been deeply affected by a real stalker. Wanting to earn her favor, he extends his help. Unexpectedly, he finds himself growing closer to Miss Understanding and her companions: the lively Kansai and the innocent Loli Jugs.

Kazunari Usa's dream of living independently from his parents becomes a reality when they allow him to move into an old boarding house called Kawai Complex. With the landlady handling his meals and his parents covering the rent, Kazunari believes he has found the peaceful life he craves as he prepares to begin his high school journey. However, his hopes are soon dashed. Upon settling in, Kazunari finds out that he must share his room with Shirosaki, a resident masochist. Additionally, he must live alongside Mayumi Nishikino, a heavy drinker with a dismal love life, and Sayaka Watanabe, a college student who seems innocent but hides many surprises. Despite the quirks of his housemates, Kazunari feels lucky to be living in the same complex as Ritsu Kawai, a second-year student he has a crush on. As Kazunari adjusts to life at Kawai Complex, he realizes that the unusual residents are bound to disrupt the quiet lifestyle he envisioned.

After a five-year relationship ends, 26-year-old Michiyo Ozawa spends the evening drinking with coworkers. When she returns home, she finds the elevator in her apartment building out of order. Looking for an alternative, she goes to a nearby house to use the bathroom and meets Zenji Oyamada. At first glance, he seems ordinary, but Michiyo notices a large pile of boxes in his room. These boxes contain strange items sent by Oyamada's brother, who lives abroad and frequently changes hobbies. Fascinated by the mysterious boxes, Michiyo is invited by Oyamada to open one. As she does, a heartwarming story unfolds about an ordinary couple and their shared experience with the unusual contents of these boxes.

High school teacher Rinko Yoshitaka seems to treat Ryo Arase as she would any other student, frequently scolding him for late work and keeping a professional front. But unknown to everyone else, Yoshitaka and Arase share hidden romantic encounters. Although they find ways to meet in private, Yoshitaka insists their relationship must stay secret until Arase turns 20. Even with this rule hanging over them as a warning, Arase and Yoshitaka find it hard to hold back from each other. They have to practice self-control to keep others from becoming suspicious.

In eighth grade, Hikage Sumino struggles with low self-esteem and severe social anxiety, causing her to go almost unnoticed by her classmates. Despite her determination to make friends when she entered middle school, Hikage ended her first year isolated. She finds comfort in tending to a struggling flower and maintaining "1 Centimeter of Happiness," a sunflower-themed blog where she shares her daily experiences and emotions. Although her blog typically receives only two visitors, Hikage treasures their encouraging words. Unexpectedly, Hikage discovers that Hinata Mutou and Teru Mikami, two of the school's most popular boys, have both noticed her and remember her name. This sudden recognition leaves her disoriented, prompting her to document the event on her blog. Encouraged by a comment from a frequent reader, Hikage begins to build self-confidence and resolves to make positive changes in her life.

On a cold, quiet day, police officer Aleksander meets Emma, a small blind woman with grace, who is on a journey to become independent. By chance, the station where Aleksander works needs someone to handle incoming calls. Despite their physical differences—Emma delicate and Aleksander tall and imposing—a fragile bond starts to develop between them. This relationship defies simple labels, existing somewhere between friendship and romance, as if separated by a thin, transparent veil.

Set in early 20th century Victorian England, Emma is a heartfelt and emotional romance between two people from vastly different social classes. A servant named Emma and an aristocrat named William Jones develop deep feelings for one another, despite the societal rules that define their positions in life. Their struggle to overcome the barriers of wealth, status, and rigid customs forms the core of this emotionally intense story by Kaoru Mori. The strict social hierarchy of the era, along with disapproving members of the upper class—including those within William’s own family—attempt to keep the loving couple apart, condemning their relationship as improper. Yet despite these obstacles, the bond between William and Emma grows stronger, proving more resilient than any judgment from society. This passionate tale, created by the acclaimed author of Otoyomegatari, follows two individuals who refuse to let go of their love. Will the many unforeseen challenges tear William and Emma apart, or will they finally achieve the happiness they cherish?

In his fourth year at Momogaoka College of Music, Shinichi Chiaki—the son of a renowned pianist—harbors a secret dream of becoming a conductor like his father. But his fear of flying keeps him trapped in Japan, unable to pursue opportunities abroad in Europe. One night, after collapsing, Chiaki is helped by Megumi "Nodame" Noda, a talented but messy and eccentric pianist. To his dismay, Nodame turns out to be his neighbor, and he finds himself reluctantly working with her. Despite the potential for chaos, Chiaki begins to rediscover his love for music through their encounters. How will this unusual partnership develop?

Born into a family infamous for its womanizing men, Akemitsu Akagami has been ostracized since childhood, unfairly branded as a skirt-chaser like the rest of his lineage. Hating the Akagami name, he swears to erase its shame by living a celibate life. However, fate has other plans when Akemitsu experiences love at first sight on his way home from work one day. Overwhelmed by his spiraling emotions, he takes drastic action—becoming a monk to suppress his worldly desires. Seeking to leave his past behind, Akemitsu heads to the nearest temple for Buddhist training. But fate tempts him once more: the girl he fell madly for greets him at the door, living in the very temple where he hopes to train.

After taking a year off from school, Hong Sul—a diligent and high-achieving student—unintentionally loses the good graces of her seemingly perfect senior, Yu Jeong. As a result, her life takes a turn for the worse, and she becomes convinced that Yu Jeong is the cause of all her troubles. Yet, when a year passes, why has he suddenly started treating her with such kindness?

Tamahiko Shima, the youngest son of the distinguished Shima family, was raised in opulence yet starved of genuine warmth from his aloof relatives. After losing his mother and suffering a severe injury to his dominant arm in a tragic accident, he sank into hopelessness and was cast aside by his father, who deemed him a failure. Banished to a remote rural estate to safeguard the family's reputation, Tamahiko expected to wither away alone—until Yuzuki Tachibana arrived, announcing that his father had sent her to be his wife. Through her devoted care, Yuzuki breathes new purpose into his barren existence, guiding him as he mends the deep emotional scars of his past. Gradually, their lives become entwined, and they share the bittersweet journey of their first love.

The narrative spans thirteen years, focusing on Hana, a nineteen-year-old university student, who begins a fairy-tale relationship with a man who is also a wolf. After they marry, Hana gives birth to two half-wolf children: Yuki, her first daughter, born during a heavy snow, and Ame, her younger son, born on a rainy day. To hide the children's true nature, the family lives quietly in a secluded part of the city. When the wolf father suddenly dies, tragedy forces Hana to relocate the family to a far-off rural town, leaving their urban life behind.

Takemoto lives in a small student apartment, always busy with managing his finances and getting to classes on time. Though he lives on his own, he still has a lot to learn about maturity. Along with his unusual friends—Morita, Mayama, Yamada, and Hagumi—he sets out on a path to grasp life and find his true self. Also included in Volume 10 are the extra one-shots: Sora no Kotori and Hoshi no Opera.

Nanase Sakashita is the reliable class representative, while Hana-kun is a student who often skips school. Despite their contrasting natures, an unexpected connection develops when Hana-kun steps in to protect Nanase from a bullying classmate. Nanase then takes it upon herself to encourage him to participate more and attend school regularly, while Hana-kun is equally determined to prove that life has more to offer than just academics. Can they bridge their different paths and form a bond?

At the close of the school year, middle schooler Yuuichi Kanba accidentally witnesses his childhood friend Makio Fujiyama, a towering 181 cm girl, in an embarrassing situation, which causes him to develop romantic feelings for her. Although Fujiyama is seen as unattractive by others, Kanba impulsively asks her out and, to his surprise, she agrees. As they navigate school events, fireworks displays, and other activities, Kanba constantly tries to sneak glances at Fujiyama while keeping their relationship a secret from those around them. This proves challenging due to Fujiyama's imposing presence, which often draws unwanted attention. In "Fujiyama-san wa Shishunki," Yuuichi and Makio experience a series of amusing and lighthearted moments, learning about love and each other along the way.

In "Kodocha: Sana's Stage," young actress Sana Kurata confronts many difficulties at school, especially from her bullying classmate Akito Hayama. However, Sana's lively and upbeat personality drives her to address every issue she faces. Her determined efforts both annoy and captivate Hayama, while his gloomy attitude similarly frustrates and motivates Sana to change his perspective. As these opposing characters start affecting one another, they endure various hardships that slowly overcome their differences and create a stronger bond between them.

Kenta Fukuyama is a 30-year-old man who has always lacked self-confidence, making romantic relationships difficult for him. His life changes when he meets Chihiro Yamaguchi, a designer who appears distant but is genuinely kind and caring. Kenta becomes deeply drawn to her, and her appreciation for his honest and gentle nature leads to their decision to get married. As newlyweds, Kenta and Chihiro face various challenges because of their shy personalities, inexperience, and living apart. Despite these difficulties, their shared passion for barbecuing and occasional help from friends and family allow them to overcome their obstacles and strengthen their unique, heartfelt bond.

23-year-old Aoki Daisuke starts his teaching career at Futatsubashi Elementary School, where he is put in charge of Class 3-1. One of his students, Rin Kokonoe, is a sharp and playful girl who develops a strong infatuation with him and openly announces that she is his girlfriend. Even though it could threaten his position, Rin keeps chasing after her relationship with her teacher, adding more complications to the already tangled interactions among their friends, family, and fellow students.

Yun-lee carries a deep emotional scar. After an accident, she lost two pivotal years of her life—the time from age 19 to 21. Her existence feels empty and mournful, yet she continues with her preparatory studies, trying to recover the missing period. One day, while going to feed some stray cats, she meets a young man who seems to possess exactly the years she lost—those between 19 and 21.

Takuma and Mayu first met when they were both eight years old. Because Takuma often needed to be hospitalized for his heart condition, he developed a close bond with Mayu, whose father was his doctor. As time passed, their friendship deepened. Yet, during the summer of his eighth year, Takuma made a promise to Mayu that he was unable to keep. As they grow older, their relationship becomes even more entangled. Included one-shots: Volume 1: Motto Ikitai... Volume 7: The Things I Want Volume 11: He Aims for the Pathetic Zoo That Doesn't Thrive

In "Skill of Lure," Sung-Gi Jang is unfairly branded as a complete pervert by his classmates, who misread his lack of social grace as lecherous behavior. Despite this reputation, Sung-Gi genuinely struggles to navigate interactions with the opposite sex. His misfortunes seem endless until his close friend Jae Hwang, witnessing Sung-Gi’s despair, offers assistance. Unbeknownst to Sung-Gi, Hwang is a skilled pick-up artist. Under Hwang’s tutelage, Sung-Gi begins to learn the fundamentals of conversing and interacting with women. Through numerous attempts and failures, he starts to understand the subtleties necessary for expressing deeper emotions. Realizing how much he can read from subtle cues, Sung-Gi becomes particularly interested in a specific classmate and uses the newly acquired "Skill of Lure" to connect with her.

Upon finishing university, Kumiko "Yankumi" Yamaguchi lands a job teaching math at a high school for boys only. She becomes the homeroom teacher for the famously difficult Class 3-D, and the students try to ruin her teaching career. Her stubbornness and forceful approach slowly win their respect. The school does not know that Yankumi is also the successor to the influential Kuroda Ikka yakuza clan in Tokyo.