The Anime! Anime! editorial team presents a recommended manga series that has not yet been adapted into anime. This time, we introduce ‘Kono Koi o Hoshi ni wa Negawanai’ (published by KADOKAWA under its it COMICS imprint).
Fuyuki, Eiri, and Kyou have been inseparable since childhood. They have always been friends, but Fuyuki harbors romantic feelings for Eiri. One day, the three visit an amusement park, and Fuyuki discovers that Kyou also has feelings for Eiri. Determined to stay by Eiri’s side no matter what, Fuyuki suppresses her own love.
Note: The following contains spoilers. Please proceed with caution.
When Romantic Feelings Shake Friendship, People Question the Nature of Their Relationships
In romance manga, the feeling of “like” often drives the story forward—realizing feelings, deciding whether to confess, and watching relationships change. However, Kono Koi o Hoshi ni wa Negawanai follows this formula while also diverging from it. The manga does not focus on the fulfillment of romantic love, but on the relationships themselves, which begin to waver once those feelings emerge. The three childhood friends—Fuyuki, Eiri, and Kyou—see their dynamic shift after Kyou’s confession and the start of a relationship. Fuyuki’s love does not aim to break Eiri and Kyou apart; rather, she tries to protect her bond with Eiri, and that very effort transforms their connection.
Between Love and Friendship: Reexamining the Feeling of ‘Like’
Kono Koi o Hoshi ni wa Negawanai also places romantic “like” and platonic “like” on equal footing. Fuyuki loves Eiri romantically, while Eiri loves Fuyuki as a dear friend and childhood companion. The two clearly have different kinds of affection, yet they choose to continue their relationship while understanding that difference. In common parlance, “more than friends, less than lovers” often places romantic love above friendship, as if it is stronger. But loving a friend as a friend is equally worthy of celebration. As a yuri manga, Kono Koi o Hoshi ni wa Negawanai portrays romance while also conveying that friendship love is just as wonderful.
Romantic feelings are often judged by whether they lead to a couple. But this manga gazes at the uncertain time before that—the things that change because you fell in love, and the things you wish would stay the same. The characters stand still, holding contradictory wishes, reflecting the pain of youth itself, beyond the framework of a romance manga.
《animeanime》
