Sei Soragami’s romance manga series, Twenty and the Beast (Nijū to Seijū), is officially set to conclude with its next chapter, scheduled for release on October 10. The announcement was made in the October issue of Kodansha’s Bessatsu Friend magazine.
The popular office romance, known for its exploration of an age-gap relationship, will wrap up after a run that began in October 2022.
Publication History and English Release
Twenty and the Beast debuted in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Friend magazine in October 2022. The series has garnered a following for its engaging storyline and character dynamics. It has been compiled into seven tankōbon volumes in Japan. The sixth compiled volume was shipped on May 13, 2025.
For international readers, Kodansha’s K Manga service began releasing the series in English on July 20, 2025. At the time of its English digital debut, 47 chapters of Twenty and the Beast were available on the platform, allowing a broad audience to follow the unfolding romance.
The Story of Aya and Yamato
The manga centers on Aya, a 20-year-old in her third year as a working adult, who finds herself training her first kohai, Yamato Higa. Higa, at 26, is described as kind, pleasant, and popular within the department. However, he shows a teasing, “alpha male side” exclusively to Aya, his trainer. The dynamic between the mature and assertive Higa and the often flustered Aya forms the core of this office love story.
Sei Soragami, the creator behind Twenty and the Beast, is also known for their work on the Idol Shikkaku manga adaptation of Wakana Abe’s novel, which launched in January 2024.