My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected (Japanese: やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。, Hepburn: Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatteiru), abbreviated as Oregairu (俺ガイル) and Hamachi (はまち),[3] and also known as My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, is a Japanese light novel series written by Wataru Watari and illustrated by Ponkan 8 [ja]. The series follows Hachiman Hikigaya, a pessimistic, closeminded, and realistic teen, who is forced by his teacher to join the school's service club and work with two girls with issues of their own. They offer help and advice to others while dealing with their inner conflicts.
There are three manga adaptations and two anthology volumes. It has been adapted into an anime television series, which aired between April and June 2013 and was followed by a second season which aired between April and June 2015, as well as a third and final season which aired between July and September 2020. Yahari Game demo Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatteiru, a video game, was released by 5pb. for the PlayStation Vita in September 2013. A second video game also by 5pb was released in October 2016. Both games were bundled together in a release for the PlayStation 4 in October 2017 and for the Nintendo Switch in October 2022. A third video game was released for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in April 2023.
The story follows two loners, the pragmatic Hachiman Hikigaya and beautiful Yukino Yukinoshita, who despite their varying personalities and ideals, offer help and advice to others as part of their school's Service Club, assisted by the cheerful and friendly Yui Yuigahama. It largely depicts various social situations faced by teens in a high school setting and the psychology driving their interactions.
Hachiman is a cynical and isolated student in class 2F of Sōbu High School, ostracized due to his aloof demeanor and "dead fish-eyes." His social exclusion has made him highly observant, allowing him to see through people's facades. He dismisses youthful idealism as hypocrisy, shaped by past failures. His teacher, Shizuka, forces him into the Service Club to prevent further alienation. After rescuing Yui's puppy on his first day, a car accident leaves him hospitalized for weeks, reinforcing his outsider status. He initially rejects Yui's kindness, believing it stems from guilt, and distances himself from Yukino upon learning her family's car caused the accident. Both misunderstandings are later resolved. Though aware of their feelings, he questions their sincerity before ultimately confessing to Yukino.
Yukino is a brilliant but cold student in class 2J and the sole president of the Service Club before Hachiman joins. Coming from a wealthy family, she is admired for her beauty and intellect but resented by peers, earning her the nickname "Ice-cold Beauty." She initially treats Hachiman with indifference, though she gradually softens toward him. Believing the capable have a duty to guide others, she helps people with blunt honesty, often criticizing their flaws. Her sharp demeanor alienates most, though Yui's persistent kindness eventually makes them close friends. Yukino recognizes Hachiman from the accident involving her family's car but conceals it, and is deeply hurt when he withdraws after learning the truth. Over time, she develops feelings for him and ultimately accepts his confession, beginning a relationship.
Yui is a cheerful and sociable classmate of Hachiman who first approaches the Service Club for help baking cookies. Unlike her more cynical peers, she struggles with self-expression, fearing rejection, and admires Yukino and Hachiman for their honesty. Initially believing talent is innate, she later adopts Yukino's perspective through their friendship. Though part of Hayato's social circle, she often defers to Yumiko. She develops feelings for Hachiman after he saves her dog, but upon realizing his affection for Yukino, she suppresses her emotions and supports their relationship. Despite confessing and being rejected, her unresolved feelings persist, acknowledged by Iroha and Komachi even as Hachiman and Yukino grow closer.
Saika is the president of the tennis club who has an androgynous appearance but prefers others to not mistake his gender. He is called "The Prince" by his female classmates. On their first meeting, Saika asks help from Hachiman to join the tennis club, which was brushed off by Yukino. Saika then asked the Service Club to help him improve his tennis skills. He eventually became one of the few people in class 2F who would talk to Hachiman on a first name basis, and often hangs out with him. Despite knowing that Saika is a boy, Hachiman oftentimes finds himself unwillingly attracted to him.
Hayato is Yukino's childhood friend who is a central figure in class 2F and the ace of the football club. He is extremely kind to other people, including Hachiman, and often offers his help to others. However, Hayama claims that he can never forge a good relationship with Hachiman since, despite understanding his acts of social suicide to protect everyone, he does not agree with him. He and Yukino have some strain to their relationship, stemming from an incident in the past, and thus far, his attempts to mend his relationship with Yukino have failed. Despite his popularity and success, he feels largely inferior to Hachiman.
Yumiko is a popular girl from class 2F with a pompous personality. She is the main female figure in Hayato's clique and it is hinted that she has feelings for Hayato. Due to her popularity, she has no trouble making friends, but she has little to no understanding towards people who have social troubles.
A close friend of Yumiko and Yui's, and a member of Hayato's clique. A massive Yaoi fangirl who loves to see two boys hitting on each other. When she gets riled up, all respect for personal space of others goes out the window. She has an eye for detail, especially for clothing.
Saki Kawasaki (川崎 沙希, Kawasaki Saki)
Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu (Japanese); Teresa Zimmermann[4] (English)
Saki is Hachiman's classmate who seems like a delinquent but wants to make friends deep down. She cares deeply for her brother as she hid her name and age to work as a night-shift bartender in order to pay school fees and reduce her family's load. After her brother asked for the Service Club's help, they eventually followed Saki to her workplace and found out her motives behind working night-shifts; she stopped working after the Service Club suggested her to aim for a scholarship instead.
Tobe is a member of Hayato's clique who is in the football club. He has feelings for Hina and is the only guy in the class who supported Hina's script for the cultural festival. During the school excursion, he intended to confess to Hina and therefore requested help from the Service Club. However, Hachiman knew Hina did not want to get into a relationship, so he confesses to (and is rejected by) Hina to prevent Tobe from being rejected, thus maintaining the status quo within that group.
Minami leads the second-most popular clique in class 2F and resents Yui for joining a more influential group. During the cultural festival, she volunteers as event organizer despite lacking the necessary skills, forcing the Service Club to assist. Yukino effectively takes charge, overshadowing Minami and leaving her feeling inadequate. When Minami refuses to host the closing ceremony, Hachiman deliberately draws criticism onto himself, allowing her to regain confidence and successfully conclude the event.
Iroha is a first-year student who manages the football team, and is cheerful and pretty. As she was recommended as a candidate for the student council president in a prank, out of her dislike of the role, she filed a request to the Service Club in order to not get elected and yet not lose in an embarrassing fashion. She eventually accepts her role of being the student council president after Hachiman managed to convince her. She had feelings for Hayato but was rejected by him when they were visiting destiny land. There is a running joke where Iroha mistakes something that Hachiman says or does as flirting, and promptly rejects him.
Shizuka is Hachiman's language teacher and the faculty advisor for the Service Club. Recognizing his social isolation, she deliberately assigns him to the club hoping it will help him. Despite her professional role, she displays eccentric traits—smoking, sensitivity about her age and unmarried status, and frequent references to shōnen manga. Her habit of entering the clubroom without knocking consistently annoys Yukino. Following the cultural festival, she admonishes Hachiman for his self-sacrificing tendencies, reminding him that his actions hurt those who care about him.
Komachi is Hachiman's younger sister who, different from her brother, is cheerful and lively, and is a member of the student council in her school. She understands her brother's anti-social personality, cares for, and relies on him. While attached to her brother, she shows cleverness in trying to pair up Hachiman with Yukino or Yui.
Haruno Yukinoshita (雪ノ下 陽乃, Yukinoshita Haruno)
Voiced by: Mai Nakahara (Japanese); Olivia Swasey[4] (English)
Yukino, and declares that she will no longer allow Haruno to interfere in their lives.
Haruno is Yukino's older sister, a charismatic yet manipulative college student who frequently interferes in her sister's affairs. Outwardly charming, she masks a calculating nature, deliberately provoking Yukino and Hachiman while feigning amusement. As a former Sōbu High student, she recognizes Hachiman's perceptiveness and taunts him with backhanded praise. Her beauty and status lead others to overlook her harmful behavior, such as disrupting the Cultural Festival by encouraging irresponsibility—forcing Hachiman to compensate and become a scapegoat. When Yui realizes Haruno's intent to sabotage Yukino, she confronts her, demanding she cease meddling in their lives.
Yoshiteru is a student from class 2C who suffers from adolescent delusions. He sees Hachiman as a friend after being paired up with him during physical education lessons. While he is annoying, he has a group of otaku friends he's on good terms with. He aims to be a light novel writer.
Rumi is a lonely primary school student who is openly despised by her peers. Hayato at first tried to resolve the situation through talking to her in front of her classmates, which instead attracted more hateful attention to her. Hachiman and company decided that the only way out is to destroy the trust between her peers, through having Hayato and Kakeru acting as bullies threatening Rumi's group-mates during treasure hunt. However, Rumi was able to use her camera's flash as a distraction, allowing the group to escape.
Meguri is a third-year student and the former president of Sōbu High School's student council. Although she is not a reliable leader herself, her personality has brought her immense support from the councillors and thus she is able to unite the student council.
She is Haruno and Yukino's mother. She worries for Yukino's whereabouts living alone and has Haruno spy on her. She is disappointed when she runs into Yukino late at night after a student council event.
The light novel series is written by Wataru Watari and illustrated by Ponkan 8 [ja]. It was published by Shogakukan under their Gagaga Bunko imprint. The first volume was published on March 18, 2011,[6] and the series was concluded with its 14th volume released on November 19, 2019.[7]
The limited editions of the fourth and eighth volumes included art books by Ponkan 8 and guest illustrators.[8][9] A collection of short stories, numbered volume 7.5, was published on August 20, 2013.[10] Three additional short volumes, 6.25, 6.50, and 6.75 were bundled with the limited editions of the first, third and fifth DVD and BD volumes, respectively, of the first anime series,[11] and were released as single volume, numbered 6.5, on July 22, 2014.[12] Another short story collection volume, labeled 10.5, was released on March 18, 2015, and a fourth one, 14.5, on April 20, 2021.[13][14]
Yen Press licensed the series for English release and published it from September 27, 2016, to October 18, 2022.[15][16]
"And that's how Yui Yuigahama decided to study." (こうして由比ヶ浜結衣は勉強することにした., Kōshite Yuigahama Yui wa benkyōsuru koto ni shita)
"Komachi Hikigaya is gonna marry her big brother when she grows up. (says me)" (きっと、比企谷小町は大きくなったらお兄ちゃんと結婚する.と俺は思っている., Kitto, Hikigaya Komachi wa ōkiku nattara onii-chan to kekkonsuru. To ore wa omotteiru)
"This is how Shizuka Hiratsuka kicks off a new competition." (こうして平塚静は新たな戦端の口火を切る., Kōshite Hiratsuka Shizuka wa aratana sentan ni kuchibi o kiru)
"Saika Totsuka's youth romantic comedy is right, as I expected." (やはり戸塚彩加との青春ラブコメはまちがっていない., Yahari Totsuka Saika to no seishun rabukome wa machigatteinai)
"Yukino Yukinoshita really does love cats." (雪ノ下雪乃はやっぱり猫が好き., Yukinoshita Yukino wa yappari neko ga suki)
"Komachi Hikigaya is shrewdly scheming." (ちゃっかり比企谷小町は画策している., Chakkari Hikigaya Komachi wa kakusakushiteiru)
"Despite it all, Yoshiteru Zaimokuza wails alone in the wasteland." (それでも材木座義輝は荒野に一人、慟哭す., Soredemo Zaimokuza Yoshiteru wa kōya ni hitori, dōkokusu)
"Finally, his and her beginning ends." (ようやく彼と彼女の始まりが終わる., Yōyaku kare to kanojo no hajimari ga owaru)
Bonus Track! "Like, This Sort of Birthday Song." (ぼーなすとらっく! 「たとえばこんなバースデーソング」, Bōnasu torakku! "Tatoeba konna bāsudēsongu")
"Saika Totsuka has surprisingly subdued tastes." (意外と戸塚彩加のセレクトは渋い., Igaito, Totsuka Saika no serekuto wa shibui)
"Unfortunately, nobody knows where Shizuka Hiratsuka's red thread went." (遺憾にも、平塚静の赤い糸の行方は誰も知らない., Ikannimo, Hiratsuka Shizuka no akai ito no yukue wa dare mo shiranai)
"Komachi Hikigaya considers that one day, her brother may leave." (ふと比企谷小町は兄離れする日を思う., Futo, Hikigaya Komachi wa anibanaresuru hi o omou)
"And so Yui Yuigahama disappears into the throng." (そして由比ヶ浜結衣は雑踏の中に消えていく., Soshite, Yuigahama Yui wa zattō no naka ni kieteiku)
"And as for Hachiman Hikigaya..." (では、比企谷八幡は., Dewa, Hikigaya Hachiman wa)
"Yukino Yukinoshita stands in place, just for a moment." (すこしだけ、雪ノ下雪乃は立ち止まる., Sukoshidake, Yukinoshita Yukino wa tachidomaru)
"Hachiman Hikigaya's life at school is, in fact, extremely peaceful." (これでも比企谷八幡の学校生活は平穏に過ぎている., Koredemo Hikigaya Hachiman no gakkō seikatsu wa heionni sugiteiru)
"Nobody knows why they came to the Service Club." (何故、彼らが奉仕部に来たのか誰も知らない., Naze, karera ga hōshibu ni kita no ka dare mo shiranai)
"Kakeru Tobe is just hopelessly shallow." (どうにもこうにも戸部翔は薄っぺらい., Dōnimo kōnimo Tobe Kakeru wa usupperai)
"At the end of the day, Hina Ebina is rotten?" (とどのつまり海老名姫菜は腐っている?, Todo no tsumari, Ebina Hina wa kusatteiru?)
"As you can see, Yui Yuigahama is doing her best." (ご覧の通り、由比ヶ浜結衣は頑張っている., Goran no tōri, Yuigahama Yui wa ganbatteiru)
"Surreptitiously, Yukino Yukinoshita goes out to town at night." (ひっそりと雪ノ下雪乃は夜の街を行く., Hissorito, Yukinoshita Yukino wa yoru no machi o iku)
"Unexpectedly, Yumiko Miura is actually paying attention." (思いのほか、三浦優美子はちゃんと見ている., Omoi no hoka, Miura Yumiko wa chanto miteiru)
"Even so, Hayato Hayama can't make a choice." (それでも、葉山隼人は選べない., Soredemo, Hayama Hayato wa erabenai)
"His and her confessions will reach no one." (——彼と彼女の告白は誰にも届かない., ——Kare to kanojo no kokuhaku wa dare ni mo todokanai)
Bonus Track! "The girls will rock you. ♥" (B T!: ぼーなすとらっく!彼女たちの、うぃー・うぃる・ろっく・ゆー♡, BT!: Bōnasu torakku! Kanojo-tachi no, wī wiru rokku yū ♡)
A drama CD, titled Tatoeba Konna Birthday Song (たとえばこんなバースデーソング; subtitled with "Birthday Song for you"), was released with a special edition of the 3rd light novel on November 18, 2011.[20] The drama CD contains a character song, sung by Yukino Yokinoshita (Saori Hayami) and Yui Yuigahama (Nao Tōyama), titled "Bright Generation" and composed by Yukari Hashimoto.[48] A second drama CD, titled Hikigaya Komachi no Keiryaku (比企谷小町の計略; subtitled with "His sister's tactics"), was sold together with the first one at Marvelous AQL's booth at Comiket 83, held on December 29–31, 2012.[49][50] A third drama CD, titled Kanojotachi no, We Will Rock You (彼女たちの、うぃー・うぃる・ろっく・ゆー♡; subtitled with "We will... We will rock "you"!!"), was bundled with the special edition of the 7th volume, published on March 19, 2013.[31] The drama CD contains a character song by Yokinoshita (Hayami) and Yuigahama (Tōyama), titled "Rock You!!" and composed and arranged by Yūya Saitō. A fourth drama CD, titled Sono Christmas Candle no Akari ga Yureru Toki... (そのクリスマスキャンドルの灯が揺れる時.......), was released with the special edition of volume 6.5 on July 22, 2014.[28] The fourth drama CD contains a character song by Hayami and Tōyama, titled "Kimi to Merry Christmas" (君とMerry Christmas).[51]
The first manga adaptation, illustrated by Rechi Kazuki, was released under the title My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected -Monologue- (やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。-妄言録-, Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru -Monologue-). It was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan from September 25, 2012,[52] to April 25, 2023.[53] Its chapters have been collected into twenty-two tankōbon volumes published between March 19, 2013, and July 25, 2023.
A second series, illustrated by Naomichi Io and titled My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected @comic (やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。@comic, Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru @comic) was serialized in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X magazine from December 19, 2012,[54][55] to February 17, 2023.[56] Its chapters have been collected into twenty-two tankōbon volumes published between May 17, 2013, and April 18, 2023.[57][58]Yen Press licensed the series for English release.
A 4-panel manga series by Yūta Taneda, titled Yahari 4-koma demo Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru (やはり4コマでも俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている.), was published by Ichijinsha's Manga 4-koma Palette [ja] magazine. A preview chapter was published on March 22, 2013,[59] and the first chapter was published on April 22 of that same year.[60][61] It ended on June 22, 2015,[62] and its chapters were collected in two volumes.[63][64] Two anthology volumes by several authors were published by Ichijinsha under its DNA Media Comics imprint on May 25 and July 25, 2013.[65][66]
A 13-episode anime television series, directed by Ai Yoshimura and produced by Brain's Base, aired between April 5 and June 21, 2013,[131] with an additional anime-original episode with writing by Wataru Watari following the series on June 27, 2013.[132] The series was simulcast with English subtitles by Crunchyroll.[133] An OVA episode on Blu-ray Disc was bundled with the limited edition of the video game, released on September 19, 2013.[132][134] The opening theme is "Yukitoki" (ユキトキ) by Nagi Yanagi and the ending theme is "Hello Alone" by Saori Hayami (credited as Yukino Yokinoshita) and Nao Tōyama (credited as Yui Yuigahama).[135] The anime has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America and Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.[2][136][137]
A second season was announced by Shogakukan in 2014.[138] The season, titled Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru Zoku, was produced by Feel and directed by Kei Oikawa, with character designs by Yuichi Tanaka and series composition by Shōtarō Suga.[139] It aired between April 3 and June 26, 2015. The opening theme is "Harumodoki" (春擬き) by Yanagi.[140] The ending theme is "Everyday World." (エブリデイワールド) by Saori Hayami (credited as Yukino Yokinoshita) and Nao Tōyama (credited as Yui Yuigahama).[141] The second season has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks.[142] An OVA episode, titled Undoubtedly, Girls Are Made of Sugar, Spice, and Something Nice (きっと、女の子はお砂糖とスパイスと素敵な何かでできている, Kitto, Onna no Ko wa Osatō to Spice to Suteki na Nanika de Dekiteiru), was bundled with the limited edition of the second video game, which was released on October 27, 2016.[143][144]
A third and final season was announced by Shogakukan on March 18, 2019.[145] Feel returned to animate the third season,[146] with Kei Oikawa returning as director, Keiichirō Ōchi replacing Shōtarō Suga as series composer, and Yuichi Tanaka returning as character designer. The season, titled Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru Kan, was set to premier on April 9, 2020,[147][148] before the series was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[149] The third season aired from July 9 to September 24, 2020. The opening theme is "Megumi no Ame" (芽ぐみの雨) by Yanagi, and the ending theme is "Diamond no Jundo" (ダイヤモンドの純度) by Saori Hayami (credited as Yukino Yokinoshita) and Nao Tōyama (credited as Yui Yuigahama).[150] Sentai Filmworks licensed the third season globally excluding Asia.[151] In Southeast Asia, the series is licensed by Medialink and released on streaming service iQIYI.[152] The third season ran for 12 episodes.[153] An OVA episode, adapting part of the bonus light novels included with the Blu-ray release of the third season, was bundled with the limited edition of the third video game, which was released on April 27, 2023.[154]
In April 2019, Sentai Filmworks confirmed that the series would receive a dub;[155] in July of the same year, Sentai announced that both the first and second seasons would be dubbed.[156] After Crunchyroll was acquired by Sony Pictures Television, the parent company of Funimation in 2021, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, among several Sentai titles, was dropped from the service on March 31, 2022.[157]
As part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the anime series, a new song "Yuki Haru Ame" (ユキハルアメ) by Yanagi was released on June 28, 2023.[158]
A video game for PlayStation Vita, titled Yahari Game demo Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru (やはりゲームでも俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている.; lit. My Youth Romantic Comedy even in a Game is Wrong As I Expected) was published by 5pb. and released on September 19, 2013. Takuya Eguchi, Saori Hayami, and Nao Tōyama reprised their roles from the anime.[134] The limited edition was bundled with an OVA episode.[132] 5pb. developed a second video game for the series for the PlayStation Vita that adapted the second season of the anime television series.[159][160] It was released on October 27, 2016. Like the first game, the limited edition was bundled with an OVA episode.[143] The release date of the second game was postponed from July 28, 2016, to October 27 of that same year.[144] Both games were later released in a bundle for the PlayStation 4 on October 26, 2017.[161] A port for the Nintendo Switch was released on September 22, 2022.[162][163] A third game by 5pb., adapting the third season of the anime television series, was released in Japan for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on April 27, 2023. The limited edition was also bundled with an OVA episode.[164]
By January 2020, the light novel had over 10 million copies in circulation.[165]My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected was chosen as the best light novel of Japan according to the online polls compiled by the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! annual guide book in 2014, 2015 and 2016.[166]
