Square Enix’s Manga Up! Global service has expanded its library with the addition of Rui Ikeda’s manga, Why She Loves Scum (Kanojo ga Kuzu o Aisuru Wake wa). The series, which originally launched in March 2024, is now available for international readers on the digital platform.
Delving into “Why She Loves Scum”
Why She Loves Scum is described as a “trashy romance comedy” that centers on Mii-chan, a young woman with incredibly low standards for her romantic partners. Her affection is directed towards Hiro-kun, a character depicted as having no money, no job, and a tendency to cheat. Despite these significant flaws, Mii-chan loves Hiro-kun because he has, by her definition, shown some basic level of commitment—dating her for more than a week, remembering their meetup times, and even remembering her name.
The manga explores the comedic and perplexing dynamic between Mii-chan and Hiro-kun, with the latter often bewildered by Mii-chan’s inexplicable devotion and inability to be a “complete scumbag” to her. The narrative plays on the contrasts of Hiro-kun being “scum, but he’s kind” and “nice, but he’s trash,” setting the stage for a unique romantic comedy.
Manga Up! Global’s Expanding Reach
Manga Up! Global, the English-language version of Square Enix’s digital manga service, launched on July 25, 2022. The platform aimed to bring a wide array of manga content to a global audience, offering approximately 160 titles at its debut, including 100 new English translations. The service provides readers with access to the latest installments of ongoing series, often simultaneously with their Japanese releases, and also features popular completed works.
The app is available on both iOS and Android devices, and a web version was launched, allowing users to access the entire catalog from their browsers after creating an account on the mobile app. Square Enix continues to add new series each month, covering various genres from romance to dark fantasy.
The addition of Why She Loves Scum further diversifies the content available on Manga Up! Global, catering to readers who enjoy unconventional and comedic takes on the romance genre. The series by Rui Ikeda joins a growing library of titles on the platform.
