Taishi Tsutsui’s popular manga series, We Never Learn (also known as BokuBen), is set to make a comeback with a special one-shot story on April 4th on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ website. This announcement has sparked excitement among fans who enjoyed the series’ unique blend of romantic comedy, harem elements, and slice-of-life scenarios during its original run from February 2017 to December 2020. The original manga was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine and compiled into 21 tankōbon volumes.
What to Expect from the New One-Shot
Details about the plot of the one-shot are currently scarce. Given the manga’s multiple ending approach, it’s unlikely that the new chapter will offer an epilogue to any specific route. It will likely be a casual revisit of the series to remind fans why they fell in love with the characters and their stories. The return is welcomed by fans, especially considering Tsutsui is currently working on Syd Craft: Love is a Mystery.
A Brief Overview of We Never Learn
We Never Learn centers around Nariyuki Yuiga, a high school student from an impoverished family who strives to earn a VIP recommendation, a special scholarship that would cover all of his college tuition fees. To secure this scholarship, he must tutor three female geniuses in their weakest subjects:
- Fumino Furuhashi: A literature prodigy who is hopeless at mathematics and sciences.
- Rizu Ogata: A mathematical genius who struggles with literature and the humanities.
- Uruka Takemoto: An athletic star who is terrible at all academic subjects.
As Nariyuki tutors these girls, he also has to deal with their growing romantic feelings for him. Later in the series, two other girls also became central to the story:
- Mafuyu Kirisu: Nariyuki, Rizu and Fumino’s teacher. Despite her professionalism, she is a slob at home.
- Asumi Kominami: A rōnin student who is often mistaken for a middle school student.
The series gained popularity for its comedic situations, the endearing characters, and the way it subverted traditional harem tropes.
The Unique “Multiple Endings” Approach
One of the most distinctive features of We Never Learn was its “multiple endings” approach. Instead of choosing one definitive love interest for Nariyuki, the author, Taishi Tsutsui, created separate arcs for each of the main heroines, showcasing a potential future relationship between them and the protagonist. This allowed fans to experience their preferred pairing while still considering each ending as part of the overall canon. The multiple endings included:
- Uruka Takemoto’s Ending: Nariyuki confesses his feelings to Uruka at the airport. Several years later she returns as a world champion swimmer, and Nariyuki proposes to her, which she accepts.
- Rizu Ogata’s Ending: Rizu and Nariyuki help their friend Sawako Sekijou reconcile with her estranged parents, after which they become a couple.
- Fumino Furuhashi’s Ending: Fumino falls on the way to the college entrance exam rather than Nariyuki.
- Asumi Kominami’s Ending: Asumi’s father and her medicinal knowledge saved Nariyuki’s life, and after waking up, Nariyuki felt indebted to her and proposed to her for marriage.
- Mafuyu Kirisu’s Ending: Nariyuki moves into the apartment next to Mafuyu’s, and Nariyuki becomes her colleague after he starts teaching at Ichinose Academy. The arc ends with her realizing her feelings for Nariyuki and the two getting married.
This approach was praised for giving each character a satisfying conclusion and allowing readers to choose their own “canon” ending.
Reception and Popularity
We Never Learn achieved significant popularity during its run, with the manga reaching:
- 1 million volumes in circulation by May 2018.
- 2 million volumes in circulation by February 2019 (including digital sales).
- Over 4.4 million copies in circulation by March 2021.
The series also spawned:
- An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Silver and Arvo Animation, with two seasons airing in 2019.
- Two light novel spin-offs released in 2019.
Viz Media licensed the manga for English release in North America, serializing it in their digital Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and releasing it in print.
Other Works by Taishi Tsutsui
Taishi Tsutsui is a prolific manga artist with a diverse portfolio of works, including:
- Esprit (2008)
- Fukashigi Philia (2011)
- Steins;Gate – Hiyoku Renri no Sweets Honey (2011)
- Idoroll (2014)
- Magical Pâtissière Kosaki-chan!! (2014)
- Missile to Plankton (2014)
- Mangaka no Neko de Aru (2022) – A pet comedy one-shot about manga artists and their cats.
- Syd Craft: Love is a Mystery (2024) – A detective story currently being serialized in Shonen Jump.
- Yosame Hakuro wa Korosenai
Tsutsui also has a drawing channel on YouTube where he uploads long drawing videos and videos of serialized manuscripts.
The Enduring Appeal of We Never Learn
Despite its conclusion in 2020, We Never Learn continues to resonate with fans due to its:
- Relatable and endearing characters: The struggles and aspirations of Nariyuki and the heroines are relatable to many students.
- Humorous and engaging storytelling: The series blends comedy, romance, and slice-of-life elements effectively.
- Unique “multiple endings” approach: This allowed fans to connect with their preferred characters and storylines.
The upcoming one-shot offers a chance for fans to revisit this beloved series and perhaps gain new insights into the characters and their world.
Anime and Adaptations
The We Never Learn manga series was adapted into an anime series of the same name. It was produced by Studio Silver and Arvo Animation. The first season aired from April 7 to June 30, 2019, and the second season aired from October 6 to December 29, 2019.
Season 1
The first season adapts the initial story arcs from the manga, focusing on Nariyuki’s efforts to tutor Fumino, Rizu, and Uruka in their weak subjects while navigating the comedic and romantic situations that arise. The opening theme for the first season is “Seishun Seminar” (セイシュンゼミナール), and the ending theme is “Never Give It Up!!”, both performed by Haruka Shiraishi, Miyu Tomita, and Sayumi Suzushiro under the name Study.
Season 2
The second season continues to adapt the manga, further exploring the relationships between Nariyuki and the girls, as well as introducing new challenges and developments in their lives. The second opening theme is “Can now, Can now”, performed by Study, while the ending theme is “Hōkago no Liberty” (放課後のリバティ), performed by Halca.
OVA Episodes
Two OVA (Original Video Animation) episodes were also produced and bundled with the manga’s 14th and 16th volumes, which were released on November 1, 2019, and April 3, 2020, respectively.
Reception
The anime adaptation was generally well-received by fans, who praised its faithful adaptation of the manga’s comedic and romantic elements, as well as its animation quality and voice acting. However, some viewers were critical of the anime-original ending in the second season, which deviated from the manga’s multiple endings approach.
In Conclusion
The return of We Never Learn with a new one-shot is a testament to the series’ enduring popularity and the impact it had on its fans. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, this is an excellent opportunity to experience the charm and humor of Taishi Tsutsui’s work.
