Manga artist Takahiro Seguchi, known for the psychological series Sickness Unto Death, has teamed up with writer Yōshō Tokiwa to launch a new manga titled Otonari-san no Gyaru ga Boku wo Horesasetakute Zenryokusugiru (The Gal Next Door is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall for Her). The new series premiered on Overlap’s Comic Gardo platform on Friday.
A New Romantic Comedy Premise
The newly launched manga dives into the realm of romantic comedy, a shift from Seguchi’s earlier, more intense work. The story centers on a high school student who has been granted permission to live independently, with the strict caveat that he must avoid any romantic entanglements. However, his quiet life takes an unexpected turn after he helps a flamboyant classmate. This encounter leads to the girl becoming relentlessly determined to make him fall for her.
From Light Novel to Manga Adaptation
Otonari-san no Gyaru ga Boku wo Horesasetakute Zenryokusugiru originates from Yōshō Tokiwa’s light novel series. The novel first debuted on the Kakuyomu and Shōsetsuka ni Narō websites on May 31, and Overlap published its first volume on September 25. The manga adaptation brings Tokiwa’s popular web novel to a new visual medium, with Takahiro Seguchi’s art style giving life to the characters and their comedic interactions.
Takahiro Seguchi’s Diverse Portfolio
Takahiro Seguchi has a history of adapting various stories into manga. His previous notable works include the manga adaptation of Kōji Natsumi’s Girly Air Force light novel series, which ran in Kadokawa’s Monthly Shōnen Ace magazine from October 2018 to May 2019. He also recently concluded the Last Boss Love Death manga with writer Yoshikazu Kuwashima in December 2024, which was serialized in Champion Cross (formerly Manga Cross).
The Legacy of Sickness Unto Death
Seguchi is perhaps most recognized for Sickness Unto Death (Japanese: Shi ni Itaru Yamai), a psychological manga series written by Hikaru Asada. This series was serialized in Hakusensha’s Young Animal from March to December 2009 and collected into two volumes. Vertical published the manga in English, introducing its intricate narrative to a Western audience. The story, inspired by Søren Kierkegaard’s book of the same name, delves into themes of despair and psychological torment through the eyes of a psychology student and his troubled patient, Emiru. The manga explored a complex relationship between a psychologist and a patient suffering from an unknown mental illness, showcasing Seguchi’s ability to illustrate deeply emotional and dramatic narratives.
What to Expect from the New Series
With The Gal Next Door is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall for Her, readers can anticipate a blend of comedic situations and heartfelt moments as the protagonist tries to maintain his condition of avoiding romance, while the titular “gal” exerts her full effort to win him over. Seguchi’s detailed artwork, previously applied to dramatic and action-oriented series, will now lend its unique touch to a lighter, yet engaging, romantic comedy narrative. This new series marks an exciting new chapter for both Seguchi and Tokiwa, offering fans a fresh story on Overlap’s Comic Gardo.
