OUR AIMLESS NIGHTS

Two Japanese teens with opposite personalities form a budding romance at their neighborhood store.

Chika Aiyama and Hiroto Waya avoid each other at school but in the evenings they hang out together, just the two of them, outside the corner store where Waya works. Flashing back to a year prior, their story shows Chika’s first year of high school, when she suddenly faced a long commute after her parents’ divorce. One night she ran into Waya, her quiet, loner classmate, when she went into the store while he was working. Bubbly and friendly Chika struck up a conversation and found she enjoyed his company, so she continued to stop by during Waya’s shifts to talk to him. They soon started having regular nighttime meetups outside the convenience store, but they kept them a secret from everyone at school. As the teens continue getting to know each other, feelings slowly begin to develop between them—but they must also navigate some misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and their wildly different personalities. This translated work adapted from a Japanese webcomic is a wholesome, adorable story with little overt drama. The characters face their own internal struggles and feelings about self-worth, acceptance, and belonging, which will resonate with readers. The art has a sweet simplicity, with carefully placed details heightening emotions and deepening their growing attraction.

A sweet and lighthearted high school romance.