Is it wrong to fall in love even if you’re just the junior? “Hitorijime My Hero” by Arii Memeko（ありいめめこ）

I’d like to introduce “Hitorijime My Hero” (gateau comics), published by Ichijinsha!

The following is quoted from the back cover. This review touches on the story’s content! If you just want a brief idea of what it’s about, I’d be happy if you read only the highlighted sections.

“Is it really okay for me to fall in love with you with all my heart…?” …—————

Setagawa (Setagawa), a timid delinquent, is both a student and underling of Kosuke, a rough-around-the-edges high school teacher… Completely enamored with the man he admires, Setagawa is relentlessly tossed about by Kosuke’s words and actions.

A love he absolutely must not harbor—24/7!!… And yet before he knows it, it’s on his mind day and night…/////////

The more he tries to hold back, the stronger his desire grows—my hero, what am I supposed to do with these feelings?

Laughing, having fun, and shedding a few tears… a teacher × student love story is complete!

From “Hitorijime My Hero” (gateau comics), published by Ichijinsha

Personallythe ultimate pairing! Teacher × student

I actually discovered Arinco-sensei through an earlier work, “Hitorijime Boyfriend”, but it was one of those classic BL patterns where you get hooked after discovering a spin-off (laugh). I’ll probably introduce that title as well someday, so I’ll save my thoughts on it for later! For now, let’s talk about what makes “Hitorijime My Hero” so wonderful… One striking element—perhaps only permissible because it’s fiction—is the age gap…!!! Twelve years…!? Kosuke-san (hereafter referred to as Kosuke) was in sixth grade when Setagawa-kun was born… that age difference… it’s incredible. The shock certainly starts there, but as the story unfolds, a clear and thoughtful boundary between teacher and student is firmly maintained as the narrative progresses.

Masahiro Setagawa (then a middle school student), who had been running errands for a delinquent gang, came from a somewhat complicated family background and rarely felt at ease at home. With no real place to belong, he went through his days unsure of what his own sense of worth even was. Then one day, the delinquent group Setagawa belonged to was wiped out by a man notorious for terrifying rumors—the feared “Bear Killer”. With nowhere to go and no gang left behind, Setagawa finds himself meeting his elementary school classmate Kensuke Oshiba, who is trying to take care of an abandoned kitten. Suddenly being clung to, Setagawa is confused, but he ends up following Kensuke to his home with the idea of keeping the cat—where he then encounters “Bear Killer,” who turns out to be Kosuke Oshiba, Kensuke’s older brother. (The shocking revelation: he was already a teacher at this point…!!)

Acting purely on instinct out of fear, as a subordinate…

And so, as he ends up becoming a subordinate and obediently doing whatever he’s told, an unexpected feeling begins to take root. However, this is not something he wishes for himself, and he desperately tries to deny it—but perhaps because of the age gap, Kosuke-san’s conflicted and tangled responses push things further and further, until Setagawa-kun finally reaches his breaking point. The way this is portrayed is absolutely outstanding. One of the great strengths of Arinco-sensei’s work is how it functions as a romantic story that can make you cry despite being a comedy. Especially the scenes where emotions finally burst are deeply moving highlights that I highly recommend savoring slowly (^^)

A crisis with the delinquent gang making a comeback!?

Setagawa-kun learns that the delinquent gang he thought had disbanded is actually plotting revenge by searching for the “Bear Killer”. He tries his best to keep this hidden, but Kosuke-san—now a high school teacher—has a sharp eye for reading people, making secrets impossible to conceal. And then, at that very moment, the delinquent gang appears before the two of them…?! The final outcome is a must-see highlight that I highly encourage you to experience firsthand…!!!

With its perfectly balanced blend of comedy and just-the-right-amount-of-spice, this series has grown to quite an impressive number of volumes—making it ideal for a satisfying binge read (^^). Whether you’re new to it or already familiar with the story, it’s just as fun to revisit, so I highly recommend giving it a read (or a reread)!