An Introvert's Hookup Hiccups: This Gyaru Is Head Over Heels for Me! (陰キャの僕に罰ゲームで告白してきたはずのギャルが、どう見ても僕にベタ惚れです, Inkya no Boku ni Batsu Gēmu de Kokuhaku Shite Kita Hazu no Gyaru ga, Dō Mitemo Boku ni Beta Bore desu, lit. "The Gal Who Was Meant to Confess to Me as a Game Punishment Has Apparently Fallen in Love With Me") is a Japanese light novel series written by Yuishi and illustrated by Saku Kagachi. It began as a web novel series posted on the web novel sites Shōsetsuka ni Narō and Novel Up Plus between March 2020 and December 2021. Hobby Japan began publishing it in print under their HJ Bunko imprint, with the first volume being released in December 2021. Ten volumes have been published as of November 2024. A manga adaptation illustrated by Nagomi Kanna began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website in June 2022, with the series being compiled into four volumes as of December 2024.
Plot
The series follows Yōshin Misumai, a loner and quiet student in class who has no friends. One day, Nanami Barato, a popular gyaru, confesses to him after losing a punishment game. As part of the punishment, she is to confess to Yōshin, and if she succeeds, they would be in a relationship for a month. Knowing of the plan, Yōshin initially hesitates but decides to go along, knowing that the relationship would only be for a month. However, he soon realizes that Nanami has genuinely developed feelings for him.
Characters
Yōshin Misumai (簾舞 陽信, Misumai Yōshin)
The protagonist, Yōshin has no friends in class owing to his introverted personality, instead focusing on hobbies like playing mobile games. Contrary to this, he is mildly buff due to working out too. He is hesitant to accept Nanami's confession, but goes along with the punishment game after seeking advice from his online friends. Little by little, Yōshin falls in love with Nanami; finding her to be much sweeter and innocent than her style suggests.
Yōshin worries Nanami will still dump him by the end of the month, despite her obvious devotion to him. Even with his fears, Yōshin defends Nanami multiple times from those interfering with their relationship.
A gyaru who is a popular student but has also developed a reputation for rejecting multiple confessions; the boys objectified Nanami, giving her trust issues. After losing a punishment game, she is forced to confess to Yōshin, who was chosen by her friends owing to his unpopularity and his introvert nature. He showed her respect and saved Nanami from being hit by a bucket dropped from the second floor. Nanami wears contacts typically, looking like a different person in glasses.
Despite who their relationship started, Nanami genuinely falls in love with Yōshin and feels guilty, unaware he knows of the punishment game and thinks she's just playing things up. Her mother encourages Nanami to confess at the end of the month.
Media
Light novel
An Introvert's Hookup Hiccups: This Gyaru Is Head Over Heels for Me! initially began as a web novel series posted on the online publishing sites Shōsetsuka ni Narō and Novel Up Plus. Chapters were posted between March and September 2020, with extra chapters being posted afterwards until October 2021.[2] It was later aquired by Hobby Japan, which began publishing it as a light novel series under their HJ Bunko imprint on December 1, 2021.[3] A promotional video featuring narration by Reina Ueda was posted on the official Hobby Japan YouTube account in September 2022 to promote the release of the fourth volume.[1] Ten volumes have been published as of November 2024.[4] The series is licensed in English by J-Novel Club.[5]
A manga adaptation illustrated by Nagomi Kanna began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus manga service on June 17, 2022.[15] It has been compiled into four tankōbon volumes as of December 2024.[16]
