- Yes, it is yuri: The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All centers a romance between two girls.
- The leads: Aya Oosawa falls for Mitsuki Koga, mistakenly believing her to be a boy at the record store.
- Genre blend: Yuri romance, school life, slice-of-life, and music manga in one package.
- Award winner: It won the Web Manga category at the 2023 Next Manga Awards.
- Anime coming: A TV anime adaptation is slated for 2027 on Crunchyroll.
So, Is It Yuri? The Short Answer
Yes — The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All is a yuri (girls' love) manga through and through. Written and illustrated by Sumiko Arai and originally published in Japan as 気になってる人が男じゃなかった， the series follows the emotional relationship between two high-school girls: the outgoing Aya Oosawa and her quiet classmate Mitsuki Koga.
The premise itself answers the genre question. Aya becomes fascinated by a stylish, cool employee at a record store and assumes the person is a boy — but the person behind that shop persona is actually Mitsuki, a girl in her class at school. The title's identity misunderstanding is not a bait-and-switch; it is the engine that drives a genuine girl-meets-girl romance.
Video Highlights:
- Official anime teaser introducing Aya and Mitsuki's relationship
- Confirmation of the 2027 anime premiere
- Overview of the record-store setting and music-driven tone
The official anime site describes the core relationship between Aya and Mitsuki directly, and the series has sold more than 2.25 million copies worldwide with over 2 million social followers — strong indicators of its standing in the yuri and web manga community.
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Japanese title | 気になってる人が男じゃなかった |
| Author | Sumiko Arai (新井すみこ) |
| Genre | Yuri, school romance, slice-of-life, music |
| English publisher | Yen Press |
| Circulation | 2.25M+ copies worldwide |
| Anime | TV anime slated for 2027 |
"Yuri" and "GL (Girls' Love)" are used interchangeably by most readers. Japanese sources and KADOKAWA's official pages treat this series squarely within that category, alongside school-life and music themes.
Why the Genre Question Comes Up: The Identity Misunderstanding
New readers often ask "is it yuri?" because the setup sounds like a heteronormative romance at first glance. Aya, a gyaru-styled fashionable student, develops a crush on someone she believes is a cool boy working at a record shop. The twist arrives early: that person is Mitsuki, a girl with an androgynous style who presents a very different persona at work than she does at school.
The misunderstanding is resolved as a story device, not as a rejection of the romance. Aya's feelings persist and deepen as she gets to know the real Mitsuki, which is exactly why the series resonates with yuri readers.
Aya's Perspective
- Crush begins at the record store
- Believes the clerk is a boy
- Feelings survive the reveal
Mitsuki's Perspective
- Quiet, music-obsessed classmate
- Androgynous shop persona
- Connects through shared music
The Relationship
- Slow-building yuri romance
- Grows via curiosity and trust
- Not defined by the misunderstanding
This guide keeps major plot turns vague. The identity reveal referenced here is established in the very first volume and in the series title itself.
How to Start Reading: A Step-by-Step Beginner Path
If the yuri label appeals to you, the series is easy to pick up. Follow this reading path to start with the official English edition.
Understand the premise
Aya falls for a stylish record-store clerk who turns out to be her female classmate Mitsuki. Music and identity drive the early story.
Read Volume 1
Yen Press's English edition of Volume 1 introduces Aya, Mitsuki, the record store, and the identity misunderstanding that launches the romance.
Continue in publication order
Move to Volume 2 and subsequent volumes in numbered order, following the Yen Press series page for new releases.
Explore the music layer
Pay attention to rock references, album art, and listening habits — music is the shared language between the two leads.
Watch for the anime
A TV anime adaptation is scheduled for 2027, so catching up on the manga now puts you ahead of the adaptation.
| Volume | Order | What It Covers | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | First | Aya, Mitsuki, record store, the core misunderstanding | English (Yen Press) |
| Vol. 2 | Second | Deepening relationship, school life, music scenes | English (Yen Press) |
| Series page | Ongoing | Full official release list and future volumes | Yen Press series listing |
Use the official Yen Press series page and authorized digital storefronts such as BOOK☆WALKER. Avoid unofficial scan sites that harm the creators.
Music and Yuri: What Makes This Series Different
Many school romances use music as decoration. Here, rock culture and the record-store setting are structural to the romance, which is a big reason the series stands out among yuri titles.
| Element | Role in the Story | Yuri Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Record store | Central meeting place | Where Aya first notices Mitsuki |
| Rock records and playlists | Shared interest | Bridge between the two leads |
| Fashion and personas | Character identity | Fuels the misunderstanding theme |
| Listening habits | Emotional expression | Reveals Mitsuki's private self |
In a uDiscover Music interview, Sumiko Arai discusses how music and the record-shop world shaped the manga's creation, confirming that the music layer is intentional rather than incidental.
The series won the Web Manga category at the 2023 Next Manga Awards (AniTrendz coverage), cementing its reputation among both yuri and general web manga readers.
Is It Right for You? Reader Checklist
You will probably enjoy this series if:
- You enjoy yuri / girls' love romance
- You like school-life and slice-of-life pacing
- You love rock music and record-store culture
- You prefer character-driven stories over dramatic plot twists
- You appreciate stylish, fashion-forward character design
Readers looking for heavy drama, fantasy action, or fast-confession romances may find the pacing gentle. The series rewards patience with small emotional moments.
FAQ
Q: Is The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All actually yuri?
Yes. The series is a yuri romance centered on the developing relationship between two girls, Aya Oosawa and Mitsuki Koga. The title's misunderstanding is resolved early, and the romance continues between them.
Q: Does Aya stop liking Mitsuki after learning she is a girl?
No. The misunderstanding is a setup device, not the ending. Aya's feelings continue to develop as she gets to know the real Mitsuki through music and everyday school life.
Q: Where can I read the official English version?
Yen Press publishes the official English edition. You can browse the series page and individual volumes, plus authorized digital storefronts like BOOK☆WALKER.
Q: Is there an anime adaptation?
Yes. A TV anime adaptation is scheduled to premiere in 2027, with an official teaser already released and Crunchyroll announced as a streaming platform.