Manga Like The Star Next Door

In "Bloom into You," Yuu Koito loves romance manga and love songs, dreaming of one day experiencing her own heartfelt romance. But time and again, reality lets her down. When a classmate confesses to her in middle school and she feels nothing in return, Yuu becomes convinced she is simply incapable of falling in love. Later, while heading to the student council room, Yuu witnesses the council president, Touko Nanami, gracefully reject a confession. Impressed by Touko's composure, Yuu seeks her advice. To her shock, Touko then confesses to her, leaving Yuu speechless and with a pounding heart. "Bloom into You" follows the journey of discovering love and growing through experience. Will Yuu finally find the romantic story she has always longed for?

Sun Jing has a major crush on Qiu Tong, a graceful and charming blonde girl she first notices at a bus stop. Even though Qiu Tong embodies everything Sun Jing admires, the tomboyish and energetic Sun Jing finds it hard to speak up around her. Eventually, Sun Jing works up the courage to introduce herself, and the two become close friends. While they are only friends for now, Sun Jing is ready to do anything to make Qiu Tong happy, and her genuine feelings may eventually win Qiu Tong over.

Aya Oosawa has a crush on a mysterious, effortlessly cool employee at a small CD shop. This person, who projects nonchalance and a sharp sense of style, shares Aya's appreciation for classic rock music that her trendy friends don't get. Her classmate, the reserved Mitsuki Koga, listens to Aya's enthusiastic stories about this intriguing figure while struggling with a hidden reality: the person Aya is interested in isn't actually male. In fact, Mitsuki herself works at the shop, disguised in a regular school uniform. Mitsuki struggles with how to reveal her true identity but finds it hard to resist teasing Aya. As they bond over their shared love for music, it seems that Aya's admiration for Mitsuki might last even after the truth comes out.

In "Girl Friends," Mariko "Mari" Kumakura excels academically but remains withdrawn due to her quiet nature. Akiko "Akko" Oohashi, known for her energetic and outgoing personality, takes it upon herself to bring Mari into her social circle. Alongside Akko's existing friends—the impulsive Satoko Sugiyama and the lively Tamami Sekine—the group navigates the challenges of adolescence and the nuances of female friendship. As Mari and Akko grow closer through their shared experiences, they begin to question the depth of their connection. Together, they must confront the complexities and uncertainties that emerge as their relationship changes.

In "Whisper Me a Love Song," Yori Asanagi is mature in most aspects of life, but remains naive about romantic matters. This is highlighted when Himari Kino, a younger student, unexpectedly declares her love for Yori after Yori's band performs at the freshman orientation. Caught off guard and bewildered, Yori turns to her friends for guidance, only to be teased with the idea that Yori might be falling in love. Determined to reciprocate Himari's affection, Yori makes a decision, only to discover that Himari's feelings were not for Yori herself, but for Yori's music.

Yui Yamada, a reserved girl, stays within her small group of friends and cares for the school garden as the "Plant Appointee." One day, she meets Tomoka Kase, a standout member of the track team recognized for her lively and athletic nature. Despite their opposite lifestyles—Kase active in sports and Yamada with minimal club involvement—the two start building a stronger connection. As they delve into their relationship and personal development, will their bond grow into something more profound?

In "The Summer You Were There," the reserved Shizuku Hoshikawa plans to throw away her only novel, written purely for personal release. Her plan is interrupted when the charismatic Kaori Asaka accidentally takes the manuscript home, causing Shizuku to worry about her private work being revealed. To Shizuku's surprise, Kaori says the novel deeply moved her and asks to read more of Shizuku's writing. Caught off guard, Shizuku—who has no plans to write further—is uncertain. Kaori then suggests an unconventional idea: their romance could fuel Shizuku's future stories. Despite doubts about Kaori's true motives and her own cautious nature, Shizuku agrees, and together they begin a unique summer journey to discover and document their own love story.

Ordinary office worker Rei Oohashi suddenly awakens one day as Rae Taylor, the heroine of her favorite otome game, Revolution. Being surrounded by handsome men all competing for her attention would be any maiden's dream—but that is not the case for Rae! Not a single one of them can compare to the villainess, Claire François, whose blonde, drill-shaped curls only amplify her haughty and irresistible charm. In the original story, Claire torments and bullies the heroine, which pushes the latter closer to the male love interests. Yet Rae has no desire to pursue any of the men; her heart is fixed on Claire herself! Unaccustomed to being on the receiving end of affection, Claire is left defenseless against Rae's endless teasing. With the power of true love, can Rae successfully convey her heartfelt feelings to the villainess?

In a world where Kuroko Koumori has claimed over 715 lives, sanity seems a distant memory. Yet, by proving her mental stability despite this grim tally, Kuroko narrowly avoids the death penalty. Instead, she is appointed as a State-Appointed Executioner, tasked with hunting down other killers. Alongside her is Hinako Tozakura, a spirited and lawless driver of Ferraris, who navigates the roads without concern for rules or reality itself. Kuroko, nicknamed "Kuu-chan" by Hinako, is a talented and passionate killer with razor-sharp reflexes. Despite their contrasting personalities, these two unlikely partners are entrusted with the harsh responsibility of eradicating violent serial killers from their nation. It’s only fitting that those who carry out such brutal duties are far from ordinary. One-shot included: Volume 1: Pilot film of Murciélago

At the top of her middle school class in both academics and sports, Ayaka Sakurai ends up at a less desirable high school because she can't handle pressure. Her homeroom teacher, Michiko Egawa, notices Ayaka's struggles and offers an unusual deal: if Ayaka can get her classmate Sora Honda, who often skips classes, to come to school regularly, Egawa will give Ayaka a recommendation letter for her preferred school. After their first meeting with Sora, Ayaka updates Egawa, but Sora overhears the plan. With Ayaka's intentions exposed, Sora agrees to attend school on one condition—Ayaka must do a daily request from Sora. As part of their agreement, Sora's first request is for a kiss.

Miwa, a shy girl who likes girls, has a hard time finding romance in her quiet Japanese hometown. Her prospects don't improve when she moves away for college. That all changes when Saeko, a lively classmate, half-jokingly suggests the two of them date each other, figuring neither has any better options. Despite early friction and frequent misunderstandings, their casual relationship gradually deepens. As they grow closer, Miwa starts to wonder if this practical arrangement might actually become real affection.

Sumika Murasame is far from cute; her tall, strong build and boyish attitude have earned her the nickname "Violence Murasame." Unfortunately for Sumika, the object of her affection, Ushio Kazama, only has a soft spot for adorable girls. Even though they are best friends, Ushio is completely unaware of Sumika's feelings and keeps talking about her latest crushes. During their first year of high school, Sumika and Ushio befriend Tomoe Hachisuka and Miyako Tamae, who share their interest in girls. The four of them decide to start a club for "girl-loving girls," but they need a fifth member to get official status. Sumika is reluctant but joins, hoping it will help her grow closer to Ushio and face her one-sided love. One-shot included: Volume 6: Kamisama to Dance

Following her father's job transfer overseas, Konatsu Amano moves to Iyo-Nagahama to live with her aunt. On her way there, she is drawn into her new high school's aquarium club open house event, where she meets Koyuki Honami, an attractive senior. Through coincidental encounters, the two form a deep connection. Hoping to grow closer to Koyuki, Konatsu joins the aquarium club, which had previously been Koyuki's alone. Both Konatsu and Koyuki share a profound sense of solitude, kindness, and consideration. However, their reserved and stubborn nature prevents them from openly expressing their emotions, straining their relationship. To move forward, they must understand their significance to one another and learn to manage their feelings. Can Konatsu and Koyuki overcome their reluctance and face their true selves and each other, or will isolation remain their only companion?

Koharu, given a second chance after a close brush with death, is transformed into a modern-day Cupid who must foster romantic bonds between people to ensure her own survival. In this present-day setting, Cupids have traded traditional bows and arrows for high-powered firearms. Koharu eagerly takes on the role of helping others find love, but her unconventional mentors frequently ignore the established rules, transforming simple matchmaking tasks into fierce, tactical battles over relationships.

In "Citrus+", Yuzu Aihara, always cheerful and full of energy, and Mei Aihara, her more reserved and composed girlfriend, work to rebuild their bond after a period apart. Their friends—Harumi Taniguchi, Himeko Momokino, Nene Nomura, and others—stand by them through every challenge. Even Matsuri Mizusawa, usually their rival, now cheers for them. Mei returns after six months away, much to Yuzu’s joy. With their relationship now known, they aim to start fresh and take things step by step. Yet, obstacles remain: Mei’s duties as chairwoman of Aihara Academy and Yuzu’s plans for college. Despite these hurdles, the couple stays determined, relying on their love and support for each other to face whatever lies ahead.

In the opening moments of class, the casual mention of Sheena Totsuki's roommate's death barely disrupts the school routine. At this orphanage, which trains children as soldiers, death is a common occurrence. The country is mired in an endless war, and daily, the orphanage sends its young charges to die on the battlefield. Unlike her peers, Sheena is deeply affected by the ongoing conflict and yearns for peace. On the night her roommate passed away, Sheena met a blood-covered but cheerful girl. The next day, this girl appears as a new transfer student, introducing herself as Mimi Kagari. Previously known only as a campus legend—reputedly the orphanage’s secret weapon, an immortal girl—Mimi is now assigned as Sheena’s roommate, expressing her wish to form a friendship and experience normal school life. Despite her carefree attitude toward the war, which troubles Sheena, an unusual bond forms between them amidst the harsh realities of their environment.

In "Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl," Satomi Ooguma has never experienced romantic feelings until she meets her classmate, Mizuki Kanda. Because of Kanda's boyish appearance, Ooguma mistakenly believes she is a boy and begins to develop romantic feelings. When asked by a friend to find some boys for an event, Ooguma approaches Kanda for help. Despite her initial reluctance, Kanda jokingly agrees on the condition that they go on a date. Surprisingly, Ooguma readily accepts. The story unfolds as Ooguma comes to realize that Kanda is actually a girl. "Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl" explores the journey of these two characters as they face the complexities of their relationship and learn the true essence of love.

Fumi and Akira used to be close childhood friends, with Akira frequently watching over the sensitive Fumi. Their connection ended when Fumi's family moved away. Years later, after Fumi's family returned, chance brought them back together on their way to school. Their friendship picked up naturally, slipping back into its old, easy rhythm. Not long after, Fumi started a relationship with an older, fashionable student who was connected to Akira's prestigious Fujigaya Girls' Academy.

In her mid-twenties, Chiyo Kozuka is unemployed, broke, and three months behind on rent with no solution in sight. One day, her landlady pays an unexpected visit and proposes a deal: if Chiyo agrees to spend the night with her, the landlady will help ease Chiyo's money troubles. The next morning, Chiyo wakes up disoriented, hungover, and with no recollection of what happened. When the landlady gets up, she keeps her promise and offers Chiyo a financial arrangement so unusual that she has no choice but to accept.

Office worker Hinako Uno constantly feels societal pressure to find love, pushing her to embody the ideal of a "perfect young woman." Despite her best efforts, Hinako cannot reciprocate romantic feelings, which makes her believe she is flawed and unworthy of love. Her attempts to accept confessions from others repeatedly fail. Asahi Satou, Hinako's senior colleague, unexpectedly becomes the legal guardian of her younger sister after their last relative dies. Asahi dedicates herself entirely to supporting her sister, dismissing romance as irrelevant. One evening, Asahi finds Hinako crying on a park bench and offers her a bag of doughnuts for comfort. This gesture allows both women to drop their defenses and confide in each other about their inner struggles, potentially forging a bond that could change them both.

In "This Monster Wants to Eat Me," the mermaid Shiori emerges from the sea, takes the hand of high school student Hinako, and softly says, "I've come to eat you." Hinako, living alone in a coastal town, possesses a uniquely tempting body that draws nearby monsters. Shiori's purpose is to protect Hinako so they can reach their prime, eventually for the moment when Shiori will devour them completely. As this unavoidable destiny draws near, how will Hinako's heart be changed?

In "Yuru Yuri," a group of four carefree girls take over an abandoned Traditional Tea Ceremony clubroom and turn it into their own "Amusement Club." Despite repeated warnings from the Student Council, they refuse to leave and only occasionally participate in any real activities. This relaxed manga, marked by frequent stops and starts, follows the girls as they head out from home for casual strolls and set off on various small adventures together.

Ten years have passed since Momo "Maki" Makimura's first romance with Midori Oonishi came to an end, but Maki has never been able to move past her feelings for Midori, who broke off their relationship by saying they were "too old" to keep dating. When fate brings them together again, Midori invites Maki to her home, where Maki discovers that Midori is both engaged to someone else and expecting a child. Though Maki wants to offer her congratulations, she notices something feels off. As Midori talks more about her fiancé, Maki picks up on several troubling signs. That night, Maki urges Midori to run away with her instead. Kakeochi Girl explores Maki's efforts to help Midori while navigating their lingering feelings for each other.

Renako Amaori wants to put her awkward, lonely junior high days behind her and become a normal girl with normal friends in high school. Mai Ouzuka is the complete opposite: glamorous, rich, outgoing, and a professional fashion model. Against all odds, the two girls quickly form a deep bond. Renako thinks she's found the best friend of her dreams—until Mai confesses her romantic feelings, throwing Renako into a turmoil. Renako tries to prove that being best friends is better than being girlfriends, but Mai is absolutely certain they're destined to be lovers. Let the games of love begin!