The popular shojo manga series, A Condition Called Love (Hananoi-kun to Koi no Yamai), by Megumi Morino, is set to receive a new side story series. The announcement, made in the September issue of Kodansha’s Monthly Dessert magazine, comes just as the main series concluded its serialization on July 24, 2025. The new side series is slated to launch in the January issue of the same magazine.
Continuation of the Beloved Romance
Fans eager to spend more time with Hotaru Hinase and Saki Hananoi will welcome the news of the side story. The original manga, which began serialization in Monthly Dessert in December 2017, has garnered significant popularity, with over 4 million copies in circulation, including digital copies. It also won the Best Shōjo Manga award at Kodansha’s 45th Manga Awards in 2021.
The main series follows Hotaru, a 16-year-old high school freshman who, despite having a fulfilling life with friends and family, has always been indifferent to romance. Her perspective shifts dramatically after she offers an umbrella to her heartbroken schoolmate, Hananoi-kun. This simple act leads to Hananoi-kun’s unexpected confession, setting in motion a journey of discovery for Hotaru as she navigates the complexities of love.
The Main Series’ Concluding Chapters
A Condition Called Love officially concluded in the September issue of Monthly Dessert on July 24, 2025. Prior to this, the manga had entered its final arc in the January issue of Monthly Dessert, which shipped on November 24, 2023. Kodansha published the 17th compiled book volume of the manga on May 13.
Kodansha USA Publishing has been releasing the manga digitally in English since 2020 and began publishing physical volumes in January 2023. The 16th English volume was released on April 8.
Anime Adaptation and Its Reception
The manga also received an anime adaptation, which premiered in April 2024. Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan, making it accessible to a global audience. The anime, produced by East Fish Studio, was directed by Tomoe Makino, with scripts by Hitomi Amamiya. The opening theme song, “Kimi no Sei” (It’s Your Fault), was performed by Sexy Zone, and the ending theme was the Japanese version of “Every Second” by Mina Okabe.
While the anime brought the story to a wider audience, its reception has been mixed, with some critics noting inconsistencies in character portrayal and pacing compared to the manga. Despite this, the enduring popularity of the manga series has clearly paved the way for this new side story, promising more romantic developments for fans.
