By Kylie Jennings
What if your unexpected crush at a CD shop turned out to be the classmate you never noticed — and what if they weren’t a guy like you first suspected? The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy At All is a manga series about a girl named Oosawa Aya who visits a CD shop one day and almost immediately falls head-over-heels for the worker there. Little did Aya know, the worker was actually her classmate, Koga Mitsuki, another girl. This manga, created by Sumiko Arai, quickly caught the attention of many readers for various reasons. From the creative art style, amazing storytelling, and unique approach to woman-loving-woman relationships.
Furthermore, this series highlighted many classical rock songs and individuals that may have been less known to the original audience, as this series originated in Japan. The series was ranked second place in the 23 annual Da Vinci “Book of the Year” list and second place for top manga for female readers in 2024’s edition of Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi (This Manga is Amazing). The series has been in the works since 2022, and the third volume was released in Japan on February 19 this year, along with one more exciting announcement.
Not only is the release of volume three quickly approaching for us here in America, but an anime adaptation will be coming as well. This was shocking news to many fans but a pleasant surprise. Arai posted a statement to X (formerly Twitter) that read, “A few years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined a third book in bookstores let alone an anime adaptation of this series. It’s so, so touching and I’m so happy to be able to share the news with you guys :,) I hope it becomes something that’s loved worldwide by such a diverse & lovely audience like you guys. Thank you for always being a huge support, you made this happen!! So much love xx.”
As a fan of this series, I am ecstatic to have an anime version of it finally. I have been following this series since it was just a simple one-shot on the creator’s X account. Eventually, when Arai decided to make a fully fleshed version of the comic, the internet quickly swooped it under its wing. Popularity grew, and the series skyrocketed. In an odd way, I felt proud of the artist for how far they were able to come. Seeing classic rock songs like “You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi, “Heart-shaped Box” by Nirvana, or “I Love Rock N’ Roll” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts made me really happy, and it gave me a wave of nostalgia. I also felt that the flow of the story and the connection between the main characters was very natural. It wasn’t rushed and the characters were fully fleshed, given personality outside of their relationship. The characters and the story were not driven by lust but rather by a genuine, deeper connection that was far more intimate and meaningful. I will continue to watch this series grow and flourish. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store.
