Hitomi Takano, the manga artist best known for My Boy and Gene Bride, has officially begun serialization of her latest project, Tomodachi kara de mo Ii desu ka (Can we start as friends?). The series launched this Friday on Shinchosha’s digital platform, Comic Bunch Kai.
The story focuses on the strained reunion of two former student friends: Sono Tajima, who now works for a streaming company, and Koharu Shiraishi, a local television personality in Fukuoka. Their relationship is colored by Sono’s lingering resentment regarding Koharu’s past behavior. The narrative kicks off when a scandal involving Koharu and a popular idol surfaces, leading a desperate Koharu to seek refuge at Sono’s home. The dynamic shifts as Sono finds herself harboring a complicated sense of satisfaction in being the one Koharu turns to for help.
Takano’s career has been defined by nuanced, character-driven dramas. Her previous work, My Boy, gained significant critical attention, including a nomination for the 10th Manga Taisho awards and a #2 ranking on the 2017 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list for male readers. Her most recent completed series, Gene Bride, concluded in 2024, with its final volume released in English earlier this year by Seven Seas Entertainment.
