Kodansha’s K Manga service has officially begun releasing Sei Soragami’s romance manga, “Twenty and the Beast” (Nijū to Seijū), in English. The digital platform announced the availability of the series on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, July 17, 2025, bringing the popular office romance to English-speaking audiences.
About “Twenty and the Beast” (Nijū to Seijū)
“Twenty and the Beast” is an office romance manga penned and illustrated by Sei Soragami. The series originally launched in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Friend magazine in October 2022. As of May 2024, Kodansha had shipped six compiled volumes of the manga in Japan.
Plot Summary and Characters
The story centers on Aya, a 20-year-old in her third year of working, who finds herself training her first junior colleague, 26-year-old Yamato Higa. While Higa is generally kind and popular within the department, he displays a teasing, “alpha male” side exclusively towards Aya, his trainer. This dynamic creates a challenging work environment for Aya, as Higa’s mature and assertive demeanor constantly keeps her on edge, making it difficult for her to focus on her duties. The manga delves into a secret office romance with an older, slightly “S-type” (sadistic) junior.
K Manga’s Growing Library
K Manga, launched by Kodansha in May 2023, serves as the publisher’s official manga platform, primarily targeting the U.S. market initially. The service aims to provide officially translated, high-quality manga directly to fans, often featuring simultaneous releases of popular ongoing series with their Japanese counterparts. The platform boasts a wide selection of Kodansha’s popular titles across various genres, including action, fantasy, and romance.
The addition of “Twenty and the Beast” further expands K Manga’s romance offerings, joining other notable titles available on the platform such as “The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity,” “A Sign of Affection,” and “How I Met My Soulmate.” K Manga continues to expand its reach, having recently extended its service to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore in October 2024.
