Best Slice of Life Manga of 2012

It is no coincidence that Megurigaoka Private High School is a second home for Yuki Takeya and the rest of the School Living Club. The club has only one mission: to spend day and night on campus promoting independence and engaging in a wide variety of school activities. Between Yuuri Wakasa's composure, Kurumi Ebisuzawa's dependability, Yuki Takeya's initiative, and their teacher Megumi Sakura's support, the club should have everything under control—in theory, that is. As it turns out, living at school has its fair share of challenges. In order to make it to graduation and beyond, the members of the School Living Club must overcome their day-to-day troubles while making the most of their school lives.

A transfer student at her new high school, Chihiro Watanuki is helped out by a student while finding a place to park her bicycle. After her class introduction concludes, she finds out that her seat is right next to the boy who helped her earlier that day. Her classmates inform her that he is Yuuji Yugami, the ace of the Baseball Club. However, they also advise her to stay away from him, as he is known to be a bonafide weirdo and his actions are incomprehensible to most people. Unconvinced, she attempts to interact with him, quickly realizing that he is nothing but a pain to talk to and that the rumors were indeed true. Shortly afterward, Chihiro gets entangled in a sticky situation with the third-years, but Yugami once again comes to her rescue, albeit for his own self-righteous reasons. Convinced that there is more to him than meets the eye, she is determined to treat him unbiasedly and to live a normal high school life surrounded by friends.

The story covers 13 years and begins with a 19-year-old college student named Hana who encounters and falls in "fairy tale-like" love with a "wolf man." After marrying the wolf man, Hana gives birth and raises two wolf children—an older sister named Yuki who was born on a snowy day, and a younger brother named Ame who was born on a rainy day. The four quietly lived in a corner of a city to conceal the existence of the "wolf children," but when the wolf man suddenly dies, Hana decides to move to a rural town far removed from the city.

Shortly before the school term is over, a peeping attempt goes wrong and results in middle school student Yuuichi Kanba reconnecting with his childhood friend Makio Fujiyama, a girl who stands taller than the rest of her classmates at 181 cm. After seeing her undress, feelings of affection begin to blossom within Kanba, despite Fujiyama being considered unattractive by both peers and passersby. Kanba asks her out on an impulse and—to his surprise—she says yes. Through school events, fireworks festivals, and more, Kanba juggles gawking at his new girlfriend and keeping their relationship a secret. This is no easy task for the less-than-popular Kanba, as Fujiyama often draws the eyes of all around her. Fuijyama-san wa Shishunki follows the pair as they stumble hand-in-hand through many lighthearted, comedic situations and gradually learn more about young love and each other.

The world of Kamiyama High School is full of colorful and mysterious events, but 15-year-old Houtarou Oreki cannot be bothered to pay much attention to it. Choosing to live his life by conserving energy whenever possible, he is content with acknowledging the bare minimum to get him through each day. However, he finds his lifestyle threatened by his sister's request for him to join the Classics Club. Wishing to avoid any repercussions, Houtarou reluctantly agrees and visits the club room, where he meets the ladylike yet passionate Eru Chitanda. Joined by cheerful longtime friend Satoshi Fukube and former classmate Mayaka Ibara, the four members of the illustrious Classics Club delve into the enigmas of ordinary life on an idyllic journey of exploration.

Makoto Kowata, a novice witch, packs up her belongings (including her black cat familiar) and moves in with her distant cousins in rural Aomori Prefecture, in the far north reaches of Japan, to complete her training and become a full-fledged witch.

In a place between somewhere and nowhere, a man who calls himself "God" awaits people on the verge of death. He meets the good, the bad, and everyone in between, and allows them to reflect on their lives. Some require comfort, while others repent or regret their actions. God provides a fair judgment to all before they can pass on to the other side. Life waits for no one. Still, people take living for granted while they are still in this world. But all men must die when their time comes. Philosophical and thought-provoking, About Death looks into concepts of life and death through the various experiences of dying people and their individual encounters with God.

Little did Nao Kogure realize back in middle school that when she left an umbrella and a box of bandages in the rain for injured delinquent Taiga Onise that she would meet him again in high school. Nao wants nothing to do with the gruff and frightening Taiga, but he suddenly presents her with a huge bouquet of flowers and asks her to date him—with marriage in mind! Is Taiga really so scary, or is he a sweetheart in disguise?Included one-shot: Volume 8: Sugar

Adachi and Shimamura, two young women who attend the same high school, are inseparable friends. Whether playing table tennis, chatting about favorite TV shows, or just relaxing together, they're happy to share their days. When Adachi's friendship turns into romantic attraction, the relationship begins to change, one day at a time.

Volume 1: Dear Mr. Rain Kutsuna Satoru, a hat maker, picks up a man collapsed on the side of the road named Kashiba Ryou, who came to Japan to die. Volumes 2-3: Dear Hatter Volumes 4-7: The Speaker

On his way home from his part-time job, Yuuya Amane finds two small cute creatures in a box looking for an owner. These said creatures are called "Nukos"—cats that have evolved with qualities closer to those of humans. As a result, they can speak words and feel human emotions while not straying too far from their catlike instincts. Curious about their nature and at the same time drawn to them, Yuuya assumes ownership of the two Nukos and offers his house as a place for them to stay. Adorable and heartwarming, Nukozuke! depicts the everyday life of Yuuya and his two Nukos: Kei, a calico Nuko who acts mature despite often being mistaken for a girl, and Sasame, a black Nuko who is the younger of the two.

The dark fantasy follows a high school sophomore named Akihito Kanbara. Although the boy appears human, he is half yōmu and invulnerable to wounds because he can heal quickly. One day, Akihito meets freshman Mirai Kuriyama when it seems she is about to jump from the school rooftop. Mirai is isolated because of her ability to manipulate blood, which is unique even among members of the spirit world. Disturbing events begin to unfold after Akihito saves Mirai.

Once again, we join Sentarou, Kaoru and their friends in a short jam session of friendship, music and love. 1. Junichi and Yurika, after Junichi's move to Tokyo 2. A short story about Kouta, Ritsuko and the guy who answered the phone when Kaoru called Ritsuko 3. Tsutomu Murae (Ritsuko's dad) and how he finds his way into Jazz 4. Sentarou Kawabuchi and how he discovers his new resolve 5. After story...

The story of three average women, and their not-so-common everyday life.

A spin-off of Yuru Yuri featuring Sakurako and her sisters.

The manga revolves around high school boys Seto and Utsumi, and their completely normal but comedic talk after tests end.

In the manga's story, the everyday lives of the nine super-powered siblings of the royal family are monitored by more than 200 surveillance cameras and broadcast nationwide. The people of the nation who are watching the broadcast will have the ability to elect the next monarch. The story focuses on Akane, the third-oldest sister who can manipulate gravity. She is shy and desperately does not want to be caught on camera.

Positioned in the midst of Akihabara, Kanda and Jinbocho, the traditional Otonokizaka Academy is on the brink of reorganization. Nine girls rise up to this school crisis! In order to save the school, the girls have decided to... become idols!? The girls' challenges start here...

A gangster goes to a rural school to teach a class of five unique children.

Shizuru Roji has a crush on fellow college student Nana, but he doesn't have the courage to confess. Antisocial and extremely awkward, he is only able to express his feelings for her through poetry. As if it couldn't get any worse, he meets Kokoro Maida, Nana's cousin, an odd little child that starts to call him "Mama." As Shizuru gradually becomes attached to Kokoro, not only does he get into all kinds of mischief, he also finds himself spending more time with the girl he loves.

Non-chan and Ritsuko, lovers for many years, facing problems that can not be avoided like "night life," "meal" and "children." Love story drawn from the perspective of two.

A young man, who is living alone for the first time after finding employment. At his tiny, no-bath apartment he finds a landlord who looks like a little sister. She does the cooking and housework, so sometimes seems like a grandmother, but she also enjoys a normal middle school life with her friends.

Life can be so wonderful, yet terrible. The young Umeno, bullied since she started high school, decides to put an end to her life, but her suicide attempt fails and she survives. In the hospital, fate seems to provide her a new beginning. She meets people who show her a different meaning of life, above all a boy her own age who has a terminal illness...Can hope germinate even in the coldest of winters?

A side story of Lucky Star, involving the hungry little sister and her otaku big sis, and their life with no money because of big sis' tendency to buy doujinshi. *Note: Includes two extras.*

This alternative story tells the life of the series' characters when they're in their thirties using Mami's viewpoint. She's the only single person in their group, as Homura, Kyouko and Sayaka are married and Madoka is engaged. Mami loves eating, drinking beer and is obsessed with diets and losing weight, what's more, she works part-time. Due to this, Kyuubey has been recently telling her that "she's not the same as before"...

Kei Sonofuji is trying to get a new start by changing her image before getting into high school. But just as it seems everything is going to go well, she gets sick and has to miss the first week. Just as she thinks she's missed out on everything, she gets a surprise from one of her classmates!

Shuuhei, Harumi and Daiki start their second year of high school with an absolute goal: Getting at least two new members for their swimming club to keep its position as a club. This is the daily struggles and shenanigans of a high-school boys' swimming club!

The Sunroad Shopping District is getting very few customers because of the recession and a new big mall that opened on the other side of the station. Ami is worried because she doesn't know what will happen to her family store, but the problem will be solved by her dear... unemployed brother: "In order to save the shopping district, become an idol!!"

The author, Akino Kondoh, tells her thoughts on integrating the land of Thanksgiving. Beyond the difficulty of learning a foreign language, she recounts her daily anecdotes, between astonishment and questions.

Chise lost her mother when she was little and lives with her father, a writer. The only man she likes is her father.

Crappy TL of publisher's annotation: One day to the next door of apartment where living a high-schooler Tatsumi Etou, moves somehow younger than him pretty little girl. But what if that little girl asks Tatsumi to be his little sister? No problem if she is cute, even if they not related by blood! This is how enviable youth life is start.