- The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All is a yuri romance manga by Sumiko Arai
- Core premise: Aya falls for a stylish record-store clerk who turns out to be her classmate Mitsuki
- Global reach: Over 2.25 million copies sold and 2M+ social followers as of 2026
- Anime status: TV anime adaptation scheduled to premiere in 2027 on Crunchyroll
- English edition: Published officially by Yen Press, starting with Volume 1
Series Overview: A Music-Driven Yuri Romance
The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All (Japanese: 気になってる人が男じゃなかった) is a yuri romance manga by Sumiko Arai, serialized by KADOKAWA and published in English by Yen Press. The story follows Aya Oosawa, a fashionable high-school girl who becomes fascinated by a cool, androgynous employee at a record store — not realizing that the person behind the shop persona is her quiet female classmate Mitsuki Koga.
The series won the Web Manga category at the 2023 Next Manga Awards, a major milestone that propelled it to international attention. The official anime site confirms the series has surpassed 2.25 million copies in circulation worldwide.
Video Highlights:
- Official teaser confirming the anime adaptation
- First animated glimpses of Aya and Mitsuki
- Music-centered visual identity carried into the adaptation
New readers should start with Volume 1 from Yen Press. The story builds slowly through small emotional moments, so reading volumes in publication order gives the best experience.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | 気になってる人が男じゃなかった |
| Author | Sumiko Arai (新井すみこ) |
| Japanese publisher | KADOKAWA |
| English publisher | Yen Press |
| Genre | Yuri, school romance, music, slice-of-life |
| Copies in circulation | 2.25 million+ |
| Major award | Next Manga Awards 2023, Web Manga category |
| Anime premiere | 2027 (Crunchyroll) |
Main Characters of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All
The romance works because of contrast. Aya is loud, fashionable, and expressive; Mitsuki is reserved and communicates best through music. Their different public personas — and the identity mix-up at the record store — drive the emotional tension.
Aya Oosawa
- Role: Outgoing high-school student
- Gyaru-inspired fashion and lively presence
- Drawn to alternative and rock music
- Falls for the record-store clerk before learning the truth
Mitsuki Koga
- Role: Quiet classmate and music enthusiast
- Androgynous style that sparks the misunderstanding
- Deeply knowledgeable about rock records
- More comfortable expressing herself through music than words
Aya and Mitsuki
- Dynamic: Central romantic pairing
- Enthusiasm meets quiet reserve
- Music acts as their shared language
- Relationship develops across school and the record store
This guide keeps character descriptions spoiler-light. Key turning points in Aya and Mitsuki's relationship — including when the misunderstanding begins to unravel — are best experienced by reading the volumes directly.
| Character | Personality | Appearance | Music Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aya Oosawa | Expressive, curious, quick to obsess | Gyaru fashion, bright energy | Newcomer drawn to rock through the shop |
| Mitsuki Koga | Reserved, cool, observant | Androgynous, black-clad shop look | Expert taste, works at the record store |
Music and Themes: Why This Manga Stands Out
Music is not background decoration in The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All — it is the story's emotional engine. The record store creates the central meeting point, album art and headphones shape the visual identity, and the characters' listening habits reveal their inner lives.
The Record Store as Meeting Place
The shop is where Aya first encounters Mitsuki's alternate persona. Music knowledge, visual presentation, and personal curiosity converge in a single recurring setting outside the classroom.
Rock Music as Atmosphere
Records, covers, and the shop environment give quiet romantic scenes texture and support the series' slightly rebellious, fashion-forward mood.
In an official interview with uDiscover Music, Sumiko Arai discusses how records and rock culture are woven directly into the creative foundation of the manga, explaining why the music feels integral rather than decorative.
| Theme | How It Appears |
|---|---|
| Identity and first impressions | Aya's misunderstanding of Mitsuki's shop persona |
| Self-expression | Fashion, music taste, and contrasting public/private selves |
| Youth and school life | Classmates, part-time work, awkward everyday moments |
| Slow-build romance | Small emotional steps rather than dramatic confessions |
The combination of a distinctive yuri premise, a strong visual identity, and authentic music culture helped the series stand out from typical school romances — a key reason it topped the 2023 Next Manga Awards web category.
Beginner Guide: How to Start Reading
If you are new to the series, follow these steps to get the most out of the story.
Understand the premise
Aya develops feelings for a cool person at a record store — who is actually her classmate Mitsuki. This identity twist powers the early tension.
Start with Volume 1
Read the official Yen Press English edition of Volume 1 to meet Aya, Mitsuki, and the record-store world.
Continue in publication order
Move to Volume 2 and follow the official series page for later volumes.
Watch for the music details
Pay attention to records, playlists, and listening scenes — they carry much of the emotional subtext.
Track the anime
Keep an eye on the official anime site for 2027 adaptation news.
| Volume | Order | Main Content | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | First | Aya, Mitsuki, record-store meeting, identity misunderstanding | English (Yen Press) |
| Vol. 2 | Second | Developing relationship, school life, romantic tension | English (Yen Press) |
| Series listing | Ongoing | Follow official publication list for new volumes | Yen Press series page |
New Reader Checklist:
- Read Volume 1 from the official English edition
- Notice how music scenes reveal character feelings
- Track the contrast between Mitsuki's two personas
- Follow the Yen Press series page for new volumes
- Bookmark the official anime site for 2027 updates
Where to Read and Anime Updates
Support the series by using official channels only. The table below lists verified sources for the English edition.
| Platform | Format | Language | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yen Press series page | Series listing | English | All volumes |
| Yen Press Vol. 1 | Volume listing | English | Volume 1 |
| BOOK☆WALKER Vol. 2 | Digital edition | English | Volume 2 |
Avoid pirate reading sites. They harm the creators and often host poor-quality scans that lose Arai's detailed fashion and album-art artwork. Use the publisher links above for the best reading experience.
Anime adaptation status (as of October 2026):
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Adaptation | Confirmed TV anime |
| Premiere window | 2027 |
| Streaming | Crunchyroll |
| Official trailer | Released |
| Official site | kinioto-anime.com |
Follow the author on X (@agu_knzm) and the fan community at r/TheGuyShesInterested for the latest updates.
FAQ
Q: What is The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All about?
It is a yuri romance manga by Sumiko Arai. Aya Oosawa, a fashionable high-school girl, falls for a stylish record-store employee who turns out to be her quiet female classmate, Mitsuki Koga. Their relationship develops through music, school life, and the identity misunderstanding at the heart of the premise.
Q: Is The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All worth reading?
Yes, especially if you enjoy yuri, school romance, music-centered settings, and character-driven stories. It won the Web Manga category at the 2023 Next Manga Awards and has sold over 2.25 million copies worldwide, reflecting strong reader reception.
Q: When does the anime premiere?
The official anime site and Crunchyroll teaser indicate a 2027 premiere on Crunchyroll. Follow kinioto-anime.com for production staff, cast, and broadcast details as they are announced.
Q: Where can I read the official English edition?
Yen Press publishes the English edition. Start with Volume 1 via the Yen Press website, and check authorized digital storefronts such as BOOK☆WALKER for later volumes.