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vixvaporub · 5 months

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The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All | Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta by Sumiko Arai – Chapter 46, Bonus Chapter

#The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All #Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta #Sumiko Arai #tgswiiwagaaedit #Yuri #manga #mymanga #vixmanga #manga cap #mangaedit #itsmangacap #anisource #animanga

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vick-shimmer · 1 month

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Let’s go, lesbians! Let’s go!

Twitter

#wlw #yuri #yuri manga #the guy she was interested in wasn't a guy at all #jfc that’s a mouthful #is there a shorter tag for this?#fanart #manga #my art #wlw art #yuri art #the guy she was interested in wasnt a guy at all #tgswiiwagaa #Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta #sumiko arai #arai sumiko #tgswii #mitsuaya

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profilepicparadise · 4 months

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Dual profile pictures for punk sapphics only ~♡

Original photo:

source: The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All (気になってる人が男じゃなかった, Kininatteru Hito ga Otoko ja Nakatta) - Sumiko Arai

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sleepyagent · 2 months

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The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All by Arai Sumiko

#ki ni natteru hito ga otoko janakatta #the guy she was interested in wasn’t a guy at all #arai sumiko #sumiko arai #manga #wlw #edit #mitsuki koga #aya oosawa #yuri #sapphic #bisexual #lesbian #mine #mangacap #mangaedit

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yuripoll · 8 months

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SEASON 2 FINALE

#matches #yuri #gl #girls love #wlw #manga #manhua #the guy she was interested in #the guy she was interested in wasn't a guy at all #tgswii #tgswiiwagaa #sumiko arai #tamen de gushi #sq: begin with your name #their story #tan jiu

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tuffluff7 · 19 days

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By Sumiko Arai

#mine #Sumiko Arai #yuri #🍀#girls love

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lilium-dragomir · 25 days

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#Manga #Shoujo ai #Sumiko Arai #Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta #The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All

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lucidragon · 9 months

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#the guy she was interested in wasn't a guy at all #arai sumiko #sumiko arai #manga #i just discovered this manga #the title is cheesy but it feels very genuine and sweet and heartwarming #manga cap

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hatsumishinogu · 4 months

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Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta Vol.2

#ki ni natteru hito ga otoko janakatta #the guy she was interested in wasn't a guy at all #sumiko arai #girls love #manga

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vixvaporub · 5 months

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The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All | Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta by Sumiko Arai – Chapter 46, Bonus Chapter

#The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All #Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta #Sumiko Arai #tgswiiwagaaedit #Yuri #manga #mymanga #vixmanga #manga cap #mangaedit #itsmangacap #anisource #animanga

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the-guy-shes-interested · 23 days

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The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All - The reason why Sumiko Arai's popular work spread from social media! [Interview with Shuko Yokoi! Manga ga Umareru Basho Volume 7]

April 7, 2024

Greetings, everyone! I'm excited to announce that I'll be translating Sumiko Arai's upcoming interviews starting from this one. Be sure to join the Discord Server of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All for every latest updates!

Shuko Yokoi, a manga writer, hosts a series exploring into "the start of the story" with fellow manga artists, the creators behind the works. In its 7th volume, she interviews Sumiko Arai, the author of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All.

Summary of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All: Aya Osawa, a high school student, finds herself captivated by a mysterious figure she refers to as "onii-san," who works at a CD shop. However, it's revealed that this "onii-san" is actually Mitsuki Koga, a quiet classmate whom Aya has never even spoken to. This narrative revolves around the "affection" shared between two women and gained considerable attention on social media.

[Interview starts from here! ── Original link]

I've long aimed to create a story that goes beyond just romantic love.

──How did the concept of "Mitsuki" and "Aya," two girls' story, originate?

I've always wanted to tell a story about girls. I'm drawn to stories where individuals from vastly different backgrounds connect despite their differences. This interest sparked the idea. Being passionate about drawing, I used to share short silent manga strips on social media. I believed that by omitting dialogue, it could easily resonate with international audiences, regardless of their language. One of these creations eventually inspired The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All.

──When The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All was announced on Twitter, it received an overwhelming response. Currently, Ms. Arai has over one million followers on Twitter. Was the ease of reaching overseas audiences, as you mentioned earlier, one of the reasons for sharing it on social media?

To be honest, I never anticipated such a response, so I didn't think too much about it (laughs). It was really thrilling to engage with people from around the world on social media. Having lived abroad myself, I believe that experiencing different environments has greatly influenced who I am today. Perhaps because there aren't as many stories globally about women connecting as there are about heterosexual or male-male relationships, it might have been well-suited for social media.

──What inspired you to portray the relationship between these two girls?

I believe the connections between women can be incredibly deep and intimate. That sense of closeness when you share everything… from matching outfits to the same music, spending hours in each other's company without necessarily saying much. It's a kind of affection distinct from romantic love. Personally, I tend to think that romantic relationships often end when they break up, you know? So, I wanted to illustrate something that goes beyond that. I sometimes wonder if being together without the confines of a formal relationship is what love truly is. Sorry if it's unclear.

──I can relate because I've always admired relationships that can't be named or are just between two people.

Everyone has those lonely and isolated moments, don't we? Especially in our youth, when we're all carrying various emotions. But if we could find someone who resonates with us at our most vulnerable, I imagine it would be something lifelong. That's what I'm trying to capture as I draw.

Confidence can be a lifesaver.

──How did you come up with Mitsuki's character, initially believed to be a mysterious "onii-san" but revealed as a cool girl?

It's completely my preference. I love women who have a masculine aura about them, so I created Mitsuki's character based on that. Like, what it would be like if a quiet girl actually had tattoos. Plus, I wanted to show her compassionate nature. Mitsuki is unconsciously innate, she naturally radiates warmth and care without even realizing it.

──She's handsome and gentle, isn't she? When it comes to showing sexuality, I feel a strong affirmation of her existence and femininity through the artwork, which is pretty exciting.

Thank you very much. I'm glad you notice the attention to detail, like Mitsuki's slender wrists, fingers, and the shape of her nails. Looking back at the art in the first volume, there are parts where I go, "Wow," but I put a lot of effort into showing Mitsuki's expression when she tells Aya, "I want to be friends."I made sure to focus on portraying expressions even in the rough drafts (laughs). I've been able to improve my drawing skills a bit, so these days, I often find myself liking what I draw more.

──That part when they become friends at school is quite memorable, isn't it?

I'm a huge fan of the American TV show "Glee," which is all about a high school choir made up of minorities. Growing up watching that show had a big impact on me. I was drawn to the stories where characters, despite seeming to have it all together, actually struggle with hidden emotions. So, I wanted to create something similar myself. Aya embodies some of those qualities. She may seem sparkly and put-together on the outside, but she actually carries a strong sense of determination, ready to confront any situation with a "huh?" kind of attitude. She's a spirited girl with a lot of backbone.

──In the second volume, their unique personalities shine through even more.

While Mitsuki tries to hide her true self at school, her efforts to conceal it make her even more fascinating. It's interesting to see how, through her interactions with Aya, her real self gradually emerges, even in the school setting.

──Isn't it amazing to feel completely yourself with someone you love?

Being true to yourself means having confidence in your identity. When you stop worrying about others' opinions, you naturally attract those who value you for who you are and what you stand for, just like how Mitsuki and Aya grew closer. The best part about being confident is that it's for your own sake. That's why I create manga, aiming to inspire others to embrace their authenticity and self-assurance.

──Music plays a vital role in this manga, adding a unique yellow-green and black color scheme that initially gave it a rock vibe.

Interestingly, I chose the yellow-green color just 15 minutes before posting the first chapter on social media (laughs). I didn't expect it to go viral, but I thought a rock-like feel with a slightly daring color would be fitting, so I went with it on impulse. Maybe that last-minute decision turned out well.

──As for the music in the story, aside from NIRVANA, there are many other tracks featured. What's your own musical journey like?

When I was young, BECK's album 'Guero' was my absolute favorite. I remember dancing to it in my father's workplace, and that's where my love for rock began. NIRVANA's music is exceptional, and I resonate with Kurt Cobain, the frontman, for pushing the boundaries of feminism and gender. Being an only child, I spent a lot of time alone, and having moved to places where I couldn't communicate well, I feel like music filled the silence and nurtured my imagination.

──In 'The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All,' music serves as a bridge between the vastly different worlds of Mitsuki and Aya, connecting them in unexpected ways.

Yes, that's right. The ending part in Volume 2 left a lasting impression on me. Aya attempts to prevent Mitsuki from leaving the pedestrian bridge, which can metaphorically be viewed as a stage. It signifies a moment of deep friendship and love. Additionally, there's a profound love for Mitsuki's music as well.

──I really liked the part where you added the line saying, 'The song connects the world!!' Do you have a specific way you show music in your work?

Honestly, I just put in music that I like. It's more of a personal choice. I don't think it's anything super profound, but I do think carefully about which songs match each scene. Sometimes, scenes are directly inspired by music, like the part in Volume 2 where Aya and Mitsuki hold hands, which came to me while listening to The Shins.

──I have a playlist I made officially, but I also enjoy listening to music while reading.

It might sound a bit silly because I pick the music myself (laughs), but I like it. I haven't told anyone this, but in my official playlist, I try to mix up the songs that Mitsuki and Aya would choose as much as I can. But of course, the flow of the music takes top priority.

That makes me even more excited to hear what happens next! I can't wait to see what's in store for them. Thanks a lot!

[Interview Ends Here. Thanks for reading! Be sure to join the Discord Server of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't A Guy At All for every latest updates!]