Manga Up! Global has announced the addition of two new manga titles to its growing digital library: “Yang Can’t Live Alone” by sooncha and “Your Castle’s Little Helper” (based on the original story by Kazuhito Minagi with illustrations by PenekoR). The platform added “Yang Can’t Live Alone” on Wednesday and “Your Castle’s Little Helper” on Sunday.
The move continues Manga Up! Global’s mission to provide a wide array of manga to international audiences, offering both new and established series shortly after their Japanese releases.
Diving into the New Titles
“Yang Can’t Live Alone”
“Yang Can’t Live Alone” is a romantic comedy manga that centers on Yuu, a hardworking and serious college student who, despite her capabilities, struggles to find love due to her intimidating demeanor. Her desire to be someone’s “number one” leads her to question if she needs to change herself. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Yang, a charming and affable Chinese exchange student. However, Yang harbors a significant secret that Yuu soon discovers. What begins as a “professional” arrangement between the strong-willed Yuu and the “puppy-like” Yang evolves into a heartwarming and intense romance. The manga by sooncha first launched on Square Enix’s Manga Up! service in Japan on December 5, and its first compiled volume was shipped on May 7.
“Your Castle’s Little Helper”
“Your Castle’s Little Helper” introduces readers to a starving child in a forgotten part of a vast castle, who suddenly awakens with the memories of Chihiro Sagami, a modern Japanese office worker. Determined to survive, she makes a deal with a kindhearted chef: work in exchange for food. Her small stature but capable hands quickly earn her the affectionate nickname “Little Helper” among the castle staff. However, beneath her cheerful demeanor and love for delicious food, her mysterious golden eyes conceal a profound secret that could determine the fate of the world. The manga, illustrated by PenekoR based on Kazuhito Minagi’s original story, began serialization on Square Enix’s Manga Up! service in July 2024. Minagi’s original story was first published on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō (Let’s Become Novelists) website in April 2021, concluding in June 2021, and was later released in four compiled book volumes by Square Enix. The second compiled volume of the manga shipped on March 7, with the third volume expected on September 5.
Manga Up! Global’s Expanding Reach
Manga Up! Global, launched by Square Enix, has steadily expanded its catalog since its worldwide release. The app, which became available globally on iOS and Android devices in July 2022, aimed to address the increasing demand for online entertainment and the brisk sales of English manga translations. At its launch, the platform offered approximately 160 titles, including 100 new English translations. It also prides itself on providing day-and-date localizations of popular ongoing series, ensuring global fans have timely access to new chapters. The platform operates on a points-based reading service, with the initial chapters of many series available for free, and subsequent chapters accessible through “UP” points that refresh daily or purchasable “XP” points. This ongoing expansion with titles like “Yang Can’t Live Alone” and “Your Castle’s Little Helper” reinforces Manga Up! Global’s commitment to bringing diverse manga experiences to a global readership.
