- Primary genre: The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All genre is yuri (girls' love) romance at its core.
- Secondary tags: School romance, slice-of-life, and music manga elements shape the story's tone.
- Central hook: An identity misunderstanding at a record store drives the romantic tension.
- Format: Serialized web manga by Sumiko Arai, published by KADOKAWA in Japanese and Yen Press in English.
- Anime note: A TV anime adaptation is scheduled to premiere on Crunchyroll in 2027.
What Genre Is The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All?
The series is best classified as a yuri romance manga with strong slice-of-life and music-culture influences. Written and illustrated by Sumiko Arai (Japanese title: Kiniotteta Hito ga Otoko ja Nakatta, 気になってる人が男じゃなかった), it follows Aya Oosawa, a fashionable high-school girl who develops a crush on a stylish record-store employee—only for readers to learn that this "cool guy" is actually her quiet female classmate, Mitsuki Koga.
The genre blend matters because the record store is not just a backdrop. Rock records, album artwork, headphones, and listening habits define how the two leads communicate before they truly know each other, giving the romance a distinctive music-manga atmosphere that separates it from standard school romances.
Video Highlights:
- Official Crunchyroll teaser confirming the anime adaptation
- First animated look at Aya and Mitsuki's contrasting styles
- Confirms the series' music-driven, record-store-centered mood
If you search for this series, expect it to appear under yuri, GL (Girls' Love), school romance, and music manga tags across bookstores and databases. All of these labels are accurate.
Core Genre Elements Explained
Yuri Romance
- Central focus: Aya and Mitsuki's growing relationship
- Emotional pacing built on curiosity and attraction
- Won the 2023 Next Manga Award (Web Manga category)
Slice-of-Life
- School corridors, part-time work, fashion
- Small everyday moments drive the mood
- Gentle comedy mixed into daily scenes
Music Manga
- Record-store setting as the story's anchor
- Rock culture and album references throughout
- Music acts as the leads' shared language
The identity-misunderstanding premise—a girl falling for someone she assumes is a boy—is the engine of the plot, but the genre execution avoids relying on the twist alone. Character contrast between Aya's outgoing gyaru-inspired energy and Mitsuki's understated, androgynous coolness gives the romance its texture.
Yen Press's official series page presents the title through its identity twist and relationship-driven premise, targeting readers arriving from yuri, school romance, and music manga audiences alike.
Genre Tags at a Glance
| Genre Element | Role in Story | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Yuri / GL romance | Central relationship between Aya and Mitsuki | ★★★★★ |
| School life | Classroom dynamic and classmate identity reveal | ★★★★ |
| Slice-of-life | Everyday moments and gentle pacing | ★★★★ |
| Music / rock culture | Record store, CDs, shared listening habits | ★★★★★ |
| Romantic comedy | Awkward exchanges and misunderstandings | ★★★ |
How to Read It: Genre-Based Beginner Steps
Start with the premise
Understand that Aya falls for a record-store employee she believes is a boy, who is actually her classmate Mitsuki. This misunderstanding powers the early chapters.
Follow the romance, not just the twist
Once the setup is clear, the story's appeal shifts to how Aya and Mitsuki slowly discover each other's everyday identities through music and school life.
Notice the slice-of-life details
Pay attention to fashion, part-time work, and small behavioral changes—these ordinary moments carry as much weight as the romantic milestones.
Track the music references
Rock records and listening scenes reveal character personality. Mitsuki's deeper connection to the store exposes her private side.
Continue in volume order
Read the official English volumes from Yen Press in numbered order, starting with Volume 1.
This series is a strong fit if you enjoy character-driven yuri romance, fashion-conscious character design, and stories where the mood is built through music and quiet everyday scenes rather than dramatic plot events.
English Edition Overview
| Volume | Reading Order | Main Content | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | First | Introduces Aya, Mitsuki, the record store, and the identity misunderstanding | Yen Press English |
| Vol. 2 | Second | Continues the developing relationship and emotional misunderstandings | Yen Press English |
| Later volumes | In sequence | Follow the official series listing for new releases | Yen Press English |
Series Facts and Genre Context
The manga's commercial success reinforces its crossover genre appeal. According to the official anime website, the series has sold more than 2.25 million copies worldwide and counts over 2 million social media followers—remarkable numbers for a web-origin yuri title.
Key Series Data
| 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 |
| Major award | Next Manga Awards 2023, Web Manga category winner |
| Anime premiere | 2027, streaming on Crunchyroll |
Keep manga content separate from adaptation news. Confirmed anime information currently includes the teaser and the 2027 Crunchyroll premiere window; production and cast details will be added as official announcements arrive.
In an interview with uDiscover Music, Arai discusses how music and the record-store environment shaped the creative direction of the series—confirming that the music-manga identity is intentional, not incidental.
Reader Checklist: Is This Genre for You?
You will likely enjoy this series if:
- You enjoy yuri / girls' love romance with slow emotional buildup
- You like school-life and slice-of-life settings
- You appreciate music-centered stories and rock culture
- You prefer character-driven pacing over dramatic plot twists
- You want to follow the story into the 2027 anime adaptation
Use the Yen Press series page and authorized digital storefronts such as BOOK☆WALKER for official English editions.
Genre FAQ
Q: What genre is The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All?
It is primarily a yuri (girls' love) romance manga, blended with school romance, slice-of-life, and music manga elements. The record-store setting and rock music references give it a distinctive music-culture identity.
Q: Is it a comedy or a drama?
Neither exclusively. The series balances gentle romantic comedy from its identity misunderstanding with sincere emotional storytelling, leaning toward warm, everyday slice-of-life pacing rather than heavy drama.
Q: Is the series finished?
The manga is ongoing. KADOKAWA publishes the Japanese edition and Yen Press releases the English volumes; check the official Yen Press series page for the latest volume listings.
Q: Does the genre carry over to the anime?
Yes. The TV anime adaptation, scheduled to premiere on Crunchyroll in 2027, adapts the same yuri romance and music-driven story, as shown in the official teaser.