Ayaka Is in Love with Hiroko! (彩香ちゃんは弘子先輩に恋してる, Ayaka-chan wa Hiroko-senpai ni Koishiteru) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Sal Jiang. It was serialized online via Futabasha's Web Comic Action from June 2020 to March 2023, and is licensed for an English-language release on NTT Solmare's MangaPlaza website. A television drama adaptation premiered in July 2024.
Synopsis
Ayaka Usagida, a young office worker, falls madly in love with her senior team leader, Hiroko Kanō. As Ayaka tries to make her attraction known, Hiroko consistently misreads the situation despite being a lesbian herself. However, Ayaka remains undeterred in confessing her feelings.
A young office worker who falls madly in love with her senior, Hiroko Kanō. Ayaka was known as being quite serious and stone-faced at work before she fell for Hiroko, after which she changed her dress style in hopes of catching Hiroko's eye.
A senior sales manager who is widely respected within her company. Outside of work Hiroko has a reputation of being womanizer at her local lesbian bar, however she remains closeted due to a past incident at work. She constantly misinterprets Ayaka's advances as either platonic or being directed at her male coworkers.
A senior sales staff member, Yūya has worked with Hiroko since they both joined the company. He helps in mentoring new staff such as Ayaka which leads his coworkers to often misinterpret his and Ayaka's professional relationship as romantic.
A senior staff member, she has worked alongside Hiroko and Yūya for several years. She tries to support Ayaka in hopes that she can help heal the negative effects a past work relationship had on Hiroko.
Written and illustrated by Sal Jiang, Ayaka Is in Love with Hiroko! began serialization online via Futabasha's Web Comic Action from June 26, 2020, to March 10, 2023.[3] The series has been collected in three tankōbon volumes as of March 2023.
The series is published in English on NTT Solmare's MangaPlaza website and app.[4]
A live-action television drama adaptation was announced on June 6, 2024.[1] The series was produced by MBS TV as a part of its "Drama Tokku" programming block and directed by Nao Nomura, with Ayumi Shimo writing the scripts. The series stars Shiho Katō and Kanna Mori in the lead roles. It premiered on MBS TV and TV Kanagawa on July 4, and aired till August 23, 2024.
Reception
Erica Friedman of Yuricon gave the series an overall positive review, summarizing that "this is very much a “wackiness ensues” farce of a Shakaijin Yuri manga. You can just about hear Khaturian's Sabre Dance playing in the background, while doors slam and people run to and fro. The resolution of this manga will also be anticlimactic. It's the tension between ladies’ woman Hiroko unable to give in to her desires and Ayaka wearing another tantalizing – yet professional – outfit and trying to get sempai's attention that is the plot."[8]
