Is My Clueless First Friend Worth Reading?
Quick Answer
Yes -- My Clueless First Friend is a gentle, warm slice-of-life series with a sweet slow-burn romance, and its low-stakes episodic format makes it an easy, comforting read.
Quick Verdict
“Gentle and warm: a slice-of-life school comedy about a first friendship that slowly becomes something more.”
Best for: Readers who want a low-stakes, feel-good slice-of-life series with a sweet, slow-building romance.
Not for: Readers wanting a complete story with a clear ending -- this is an ongoing series with no conclusion yet.
- Type
- Manga
- Genres
- School Life, Romance, Slice of Life, Comedy
- Status
- Ongoing
- Author
- Taku Kawamura
- Publisher
- Square Enix / Big Gangan (JP); Yen Press (EN)
- Platform
- Yen Press / digital storefronts
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Format | Manga |
| Run | 2018–present · ongoing |
| Community score | AniList 7.5 |
What is My Clueless First Friend about?
Akane Nishimura is a quiet goth-styled student her classmates have nicknamed "Grim Reaper," assuming she's standoffish or scary. In reality she's just shy and has never had a real friend. When transfer student Taiyo Takada shows up, he's completely unbothered by her reputation and just treats her like anyone else -- and that simple, clueless kindness becomes the start of her first real friendship. The series follows the two of them through ordinary school-life milestones -- lunch duty, summer vacation, field trips, Christmas -- as their bond slowly deepens into something that might be more than friendship.
Written and illustrated by Taku Kawamura, the manga has run in Big Gangan since 2018 and remains ongoing.
Is this a slow-burn romance or purely a friendship story?
It plays as both at once, which is a lot of its charm -- the series spends real time on the simple warmth of Akane's first friendship while letting a will-they-won't-they romantic thread develop gradually in the background. Chapter titles referencing love letters and a Christmas confession suggest the romance side becomes more overt as the series continues.
Is the tone light and easygoing?
Yes -- it's a gentle, low-stakes slice-of-life series built around small, relatable school-life moments rather than melodrama. The emotional core is Akane slowly coming out of her shell, and the series treats that journey with warmth rather than angst.
Is it worth reading?
For readers who want a gentle, feel-good slice-of-life series with a sweet slow-burn romance at its edges, My Clueless First Friend is an easy, comforting pick. It's ongoing, so there's no ending to speak of yet, but the low-stakes, episodic format makes it simple to pick up and enjoy chapter by chapter.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Warm, low-stakes slice-of-life tone throughout
- A genuinely sweet, gradually developing central relationship
- Easy to pick up chapter by chapter thanks to its episodic structure
- Likable, relatable lead in Akane's slow journey out of her shell
Weaknesses
- Still ongoing, so there's no ending or full arc to judge yet
- Low-stakes, episodic format means pacing is gentle rather than eventful
- Will-they-won't-they romance develops slowly, which won't suit impatient readers
Similar Titles
Prefer to watch? There's an anime
My Clueless First Friend: see where to stream it legally, plus episode guides and trailers, on Watchanimee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is My Clueless First Friend finished, or is it still running?
It's still running -- the manga started in 2018 and remains ongoing, with no ending yet to spoil.
Is there an anime for My Clueless First Friend?
Not currently -- there's no anime adaptation announced as of this writing, so the manga is the only way to read the story.
Is My Clueless First Friend more comedy or more romance?
A mix of both, leaning slice-of-life -- it's primarily a gentle school-life comedy with a slow-building romantic thread running alongside it.
