- Aya Osawa is the outgoing, fashion-forward lead of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All.
- Central premise: Aya falls for a stylish record-store "guy" who is actually her classmate Mitsuki Koga.
- Music connection: Rock music and the record store give Aya and Mitsuki a shared language.
- Where to read: Official English volumes are published by Yen Press.
- Anime ahead: An anime adaptation is expected to premiere in 2027.
Aya Osawa: Character Overview
Aya Oosawa (also written as Aya Osawa / 大泽绫) is one of the two leads of Sumiko Arai's yuri romance manga The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All (Japanese title: 気になってる人が男じゃなかった). She is a fashionable, expressive high-school girl whose fascination with a mysterious record-store employee launches the entire story. What Aya doesn't realize at first is that the cool "guy" behind the counter is actually Mitsuki Koga, a quiet girl in her own class.
The series has become a breakout hit — winner of the 2023 Next Manga Awards in the Web Manga category, with more than 2.25 million copies sold and over 2 million social followers according to the official anime site.
Video Highlights:
- Official anime teaser introducing the world of Aya and Mitsuki
- Music and record-store atmosphere at the heart of the story
- Anime adaptation confirmed for Crunchyroll
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Aya Oosawa (大泽绫) |
| Role | Main character, one of two romantic leads |
| Personality | Outgoing, expressive, quick to become fascinated |
| Style | Gyaru-inspired fashion, lively presence |
| Music taste | Drawn to alternative and rock music via the record store |
| Counterpart | Mitsuki Koga, her classmate |
You'll see both "Aya Osawa" and "Aya Oosawa" in fan communities and official materials. They refer to the same character — the difference is only romanization of the Japanese name.
Aya and Mitsuki: How the Relationship Works
The romance in The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All is built on a classic identity misunderstanding handled with unusual care. Aya meets Mitsuki's stylish, androgynous record-store persona first and assumes she is a boy. Meanwhile, at school, Mitsuki presents a completely different everyday identity — and the gap between these two versions of the same person drives much of the early tension.
Aya's Perspective
- Falls for the cool shop employee
- Doesn't connect the clerk to her classmate
- Curiosity grows through repeated visits
Mitsuki's Perspective
- Knows the truth from early on
- More comfortable expressing herself through music than words
- Quiet reserve contrasts Aya's energy
Their Shared Ground
- Music acts as a bridge between their worlds
- School life and record store overlap
- Small emotional steps over dramatic leaps
The identity confusion isn't played purely for laughs. It shapes how Aya perceives attraction, self-expression, and first impressions — and the story treats her gradual discovery with genuine emotional weight rather than reducing either girl to a stereotype.
| Relationship Stage | What Happens | Emotional Tone |
|---|---|---|
| First encounter | Aya notices the stylish clerk at the record store | Intrigue, fascination |
| Growing visits | Music conversations deepen the connection | Nervous excitement |
| School overlap | Aya and Mitsuki interact as classmates | Awkward, unaware |
| Discovery arc | Aya pieces together the truth | Tension, vulnerability |
| Aftermath | The relationship redefines itself honestly | Slow-building romance |
Music, Fashion, and Aya's Identity
Music is not background decoration in this series — it defines the setting, the pacing, and the characters' inner lives. In an official interview with uDiscover Music, author Sumiko Arai discussed how rock culture and the record-shop environment shaped the manga's creative foundation.
| Element | Role in Aya's Story |
|---|---|
| Record store | The meeting place; where Aya first encounters Mitsuki's persona |
| Rock records | Establish the series' energetic, slightly rebellious mood |
| Headphones and listening habits | Show Aya's curiosity developing through observation |
| Fashion and style | Gyaru-inspired look contrasts Mitsuki's androgynous cool |
| Album artwork and visuals | Reinforce the manga's fashion-forward identity |
Aya relates to music from the outside — she is drawn to the cool image surrounding the store — while Mitsuki's deeper knowledge of the shop and its stock reveals a more private side of her personality. That asymmetry gives their conversations texture long before either girl fully understands the other.
Pay attention to what Aya listens to and how she talks about it in each chapter. Her musical vocabulary grows alongside her feelings — one of the series' subtlest storytelling devices.
How to Start Reading: A Beginner's Path
The English edition is published by Yen Press, with the Japanese original released by KADOKAWA. Follow the numbered volumes in order.
Start with Volume 1
Volume 1 introduces Aya, Mitsuki, the record-store setting, and the identity misunderstanding that launches the story.
Continue to Volume 2
Volume 2 continues the developing relationship, expanding school life, music scenes, and emotional misunderstandings.
Follow the official series page
Use the Yen Press series listing and authorized storefronts like BOOK☆WALKER to track new English releases.
Watch for the anime
An anime adaptation is expected in 2027, with official anime sites already live in Japanese and English.
Stick to official channels like Yen Press, KADOKAWA, and authorized digital storefronts. Unofficial scanlations often miss the series' careful visual details — fashion, album art, and panel rhythm matter to the storytelling.
Reader Checklist and Reception
The series won the Web Manga category at the 2023 Next Manga Awards, a major marker of its popularity among digital readers. Its crossover appeal spans yuri fans, school-romance readers, and music-culture enthusiasts.
New Reader Milestones:
- Read Volume 1 and meet Aya and Mitsuki
- Notice how music frames every key scene
- Track the identity misunderstanding arc
- Follow Yen Press for new English volumes
- Bookmark the official anime site for 2027 updates
If you enjoy character-driven yuri romance, fashion-conscious art, music-centered settings, and relationships built through small emotional steps, Aya's story is an easy recommendation — and the award recognition supports the hype.
FAQ
Q: Who is Aya Osawa in The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All?
Aya Osawa (also romanized Aya Oosawa) is one of the two main characters. She is a fashionable, outgoing high-school girl who becomes fascinated by a stylish record-store employee — not realizing that person is her female classmate Mitsuki Koga.
Q: Is The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All a yuri manga?
Yes. The series is a yuri (girls' love) romance centered on the growing relationship between Aya and Mitsuki, blending school life, slice-of-life moments, and rock-music culture.
Q: Where can I read the official English edition?
Yen Press publishes the official English volumes. You can browse the series page on Yen Press or check authorized digital storefronts such as BOOK☆WALKER for individual volume listings.
Q: When does the anime premiere?
According to the official anime website and Crunchyroll's teaser, the anime adaptation of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All is expected to premiere in 2027.