- First kiss: A pivotal turning point in The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All first kiss storyline between Aya and Mitsuki.
- Slow build: The romance develops gradually through music, record-store encounters, and identity confusion.
- Why it matters: The moment redefines the relationship after the central misunderstanding is resolved.
- Where to read: Official English volumes are published by Yen Press.
- Anime ahead: The anime adaptation is scheduled to premiere in 2027 on Crunchyroll.
Why the First Kiss Matters in the Story
In The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All (Japanese: Ki ni Natteiru Hito ga Otoko ja Nakatta), Sumiko Arai builds the entire romance around tension and restraint. Aya Oosawa, a fashionable high-school girl, falls for a stylish record-store employee she believes is a boy — only for that person to turn out to be her quiet female classmate, Mitsuki Koga. The first kiss between them is therefore not a casual story beat. It is the payoff of dozens of small, music-connected moments where the two girls slowly learned who the other really was.
The series has sold more than 2.25 million copies globally and won the Web Manga category at the 2023 Next Manga Awards, and much of that success comes from how carefully Arai paces emotional milestones. Every step toward intimacy — a shared playlist, an awkward school hallway conversation, a lingering look across the record shop counter — earns the next one.
This guide discusses the emotional arc leading to the kiss and its aftermath in general terms. If you want a completely unspoiled experience, read the official English volumes first before returning to this analysis.
The Road to the First Kiss: Relationship Timeline
The kiss does not arrive early. It follows a long sequence of misunderstandings, revelations, and quiet reconciliations. The table below summarizes the emotional milestones in order.
| Stage | Relationship Milestone | Emotional Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aya meets the mysterious record-store employee | Sparks initial fascination and the central identity mistake |
| 2 | Discovering they are classmates | Creates dramatic irony and daily tension at school |
| 3 | The identity reveal | Forces both girls to re-examine their feelings |
| 4 | Awkward rebuilding of trust | Shows whether attraction survives the truth — it does |
| 5 | Deepening musical bond | Music becomes their shared emotional language |
| 6 | The first kiss | Confirms mutual romantic feeling beyond doubt |
Pay attention to how Arai uses silence and panel spacing before emotional peaks. The moments of hesitation before a confession or kiss are drawn with as much care as the moment itself, which is why the payoff lands so strongly.
What Makes the Moment Work
Earned, Not Rushed
- Slow-burn pacing across many chapters
- Attraction is tested by the identity reveal
- Readers feel the weight of every prior scene
Mutual Vulnerability
- Both girls drop their public personas
- Aya's expressiveness meets Mitsuki's quiet honesty
- Neither is passive in the moment
Music as Catalyst
- Rock records and shared listening frame key scenes
- Music gives them permission to be close
- The record store remains their emotional home base
How to Read Up to the First Kiss in Order
To experience the buildup properly, follow the official English publication order from Yen Press. Starting mid-series will spoil both the identity twist and the romantic payoff.
Start with Volume 1
Read Volume 1 to meet Aya, Mitsuki, the record store, and the misunderstanding that launches the entire premise.
Continue with Volume 2
Volume 2 deepens the relationship, expanding school life, romantic tension, and the emotional misunderstandings that set up later milestones.
Follow the Series Listing
Use the official Yen Press series page to track newly released English volumes so you can continue in the correct order.
Reread the Early Music Scenes
After reaching the kiss, revisit the early record-store chapters. Arai plants small visual and musical callbacks that reward a second read.
English editions are available through Yen Press and authorized digital storefronts such as BOOK☆WALKER. Avoid unofficial aggregate sites, as they do not support the creator.
Character Reactions and Aftermath
The aftermath of the kiss is as important as the moment itself, because Arai treats it as a beginning rather than a conclusion.
| Character | State Before the Kiss | State After the Kiss |
|---|---|---|
| Aya Oosawa | Loud, expressive, uncertain whether her feelings survived the identity reveal | More grounded; her affection becomes deliberate rather than infatuation |
| Mitsuki Koga | Reserved, guarded, more comfortable expressing herself through music than words | Gradually opens up; begins trusting Aya with her private self |
| Their dynamic | Built on misunderstanding and cautious curiosity | Reframed as an honest relationship between two people who truly know each other |
Themes the Kiss Resolves
Identity and Honesty
- The romance only becomes real after the false identity is gone
- Being known matters more than being admired
Music as Connection
- Their shared language of rock records carries the emotional weight
- Listening together replaces the need for grand confessions
Youth and Growth
- Both girls mature from infatuation into genuine care
- School-life details keep the story grounded and relatable
Readers on communities like r/TheGuyShesInterested frequently cite the kiss buildup as the moment the series elevated from a clever premise to one of the strongest modern yuri romances.
Fan Checklist: Catch Every Detail
Things to Notice Around the Kiss Arc:
- Track every record-store scene and the music playing in the background
- Note how Mitsuki's androgynous styling is framed before and after the reveal
- Watch Aya's speech patterns shift from excited to sincere
- Reread the identity reveal chapter for foreshadowing in early panels
- Follow the official anime site for adaptation news before the 2027 premiere
The official anime website and author Sumiko Arai's account @agu_knzm are the best sources for news on new volumes and the 2027 anime, which may animate the kiss arc for the first time.
FAQ
Q: Do Aya and Mitsuki kiss in The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All?
Yes. Their first kiss is a major relationship milestone that arrives after a long slow-burn buildup, following the identity reveal and the rebuilding of trust between them. It confirms that their romantic feelings are mutual and lasting.
Q: Does the kiss happen before or after Aya learns Mitsuki is a girl?
After. The story's entire emotional logic depends on it — Aya's attraction is first tested and then reaffirmed once she knows the record-store employee is her classmate Mitsuki, making the eventual kiss far more meaningful.
Q: Which volume should I read to reach the first kiss?
Start with Volume 1 and continue in publication order through the Yen Press English editions. The romance builds gradually across volumes, so reading from the beginning is the best way to experience the buildup and payoff.
Q: Will the kiss be shown in the 2027 anime?
The anime adaptation is scheduled to premiere in 2027 on Crunchyroll. Which chapters it covers has not been fully detailed yet, so follow the official anime site for announcements about the adaptation's scope.