So many lovable couples to root for?! “Sekaiichi Hatsukoi: The Case of Ritsu Onodera” by Shungiku Nakamura is a delight packed with fan-favorite pairings.

Introducing “Sekaiichi Hatsukoi: The Case of Ritsu Onodera” from Kadokawa ASUKA COMICS CL DX!

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.

First love never comes true—so who decided that?

Disliking being labeled as a nepotism hire, Ritsu Onodera (小野寺律) leaves his parents’ company and transfers to the publishing house Marukawa Shoten. However, he is assigned to an editorial department that handles shōjo manga—an area he has neither interest in nor experience with.

For personal reasons, Ritsu has decided that he will “never fall in love again,” making romance manga completely out of the question for him.

To make matters worse, the arrogant and overbearing editor-in-chief, Masamune Takano (高野政宗), turns out to be Ritsu’s “first love,” sending him into a total panic—?!

Presented by a sharp, capable editor-in-chief × a feisty rookie editor, this is a slightly realistic publishing-industry love story that will make editors break out in a cold sweat☆ Plus, it includes a 27-page newly drawn bonus featuring their past!

From ASUKA COMICS CL DX “Sekaiichi Hatsukoi: The Case of Ritsu Onodera”

Shungiku Nakamura (中村春菊), a name practically everyone in the BL world knows—or so I might be biased.の作品！

This is a work by Shungiku Nakamura (中村春菊), also the creator of “Junjo Romantica,” a title well known for its many media adaptations—not only manga, but also novels, anime, and films (＾＾). If you love BL, chances are you’ve read at least one of Nakamura’s works before (just my bias). Even if you haven’t, I’m sure this is a title you can enjoy, so I’d love to share some of its highlights! And for those who already know it well, I hope this gives you a reason to pick it up again and rediscover its charm!

This is a nostalgic series I discovered back when I was a student, when the manga—and later the anime adaptation—had me chatting excitedly about it with friends day after day. Even now, it’s still being serialized as an incredibly long-running and hugely popular work (＾＾). As you read on with plenty of delightful hesitation and anticipation, multiple couples appear throughout the story, so I’d like to briefly summarize each of them one by one!

The Case of Ritsu Onodera (Masamune Takano × Ritsu Onodera)

The main couple featured in the title. Takano, who may be arrogant and domineering but suddenly shows gentle gestures that really get under your skin, Mr. Takano, and the spirited Onodera, who starts off determined to take everything head-on, only to find his pace gradually thrown off and becoming irresistibly adorable before he realizes it. Their fast-paced, high-energy exchanges are a lot of fun (＾＾). Because of lingering feelings from their past, they’re the couple I most want to keep watching to see where their relationship goes next. It’s such a joy…!!

The Case of Chiaki Yoshino (Yukari Hatori × Chiaki Yoshino)

The ultra-successful manga artist Yoshino and his childhood friend and editor Hatori. While watching over the unconsciously charming Yoshino from the closest position, Hatori ends up taking on a long-suffering, mom-like role and dealing with all sorts of trouble. I feel bad for Hatori, but there’s something wonderfully frustrating about a character whose lack of self-awareness makes him that much more dangerous…!! Reading along, you can’t help but think, “If only he knew how this feels,” and find yourself hoping he’ll be rewarded somehow in the end (＾＾). Hang in there, Hatori…!!!

The Case of Shota Kisa (Kou Yukina × Shota Kisa)

An editor from the same department as Onodera, Kisa, and Yukina, who attends an art university while working part-time at Books Marimo. With his prince-like looks, Yukina completely captures Kisa’s attention—this is a pairing where you can truly enjoy that “good-looking face” appeal on the page. You can also savor Kisa’s adorable blushing and the unexpected, earnest side of Yukina, making them a wonderfully cute couple (＾＾). So soothing… it can be nerve-racking at times, but devoted love really is the best!!

The Case of Takafumi Yokozawa (Zen Kirishima × Takafumi Yokozawa)

It’s a story about Yokozawa, a sharp-looking sales employee feared by those around him, and Kirishima, a highly capable magazine editor-in-chief—and a single father. Just when you expect only the most mature, adult interactions, you’re instead touched by their surprisingly childlike and adorable sides (＾＾). With past ties to Takano and hidden emotions that carry a quiet sense of sadness, this is a story I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys taking their time to read deeply. It’s also been adapted into a novel and a movie, so some readers may already know it—but the scenes where Kirishima shows love for his own child are especially moving… they really bring tears to your eyes ( ﾉД`)

On the fact that there are just way too many couples to recommend

How did you find it (＾＾)? Were there any couples that caught your eye? Honestly, I’d love to talk about it without worrying too much about spoilers, but because it’s such a long-running series, it’s also a story you want to savor little by little—which made me realize once again how hard it is to pick out just one moment and say, “This is exactly what I love about it!!”

I’d be really happy if this made you want to try reading it, even just a little at a time (＾＾). Please dive into Shungiku Nakamura’s world, where the appeal lies in characters facing the people they want to pour their emotions out to!