L DK
L♥DK is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ayu Watanabe, centering on the romantic and comedic entanglements of high school student Aoi Nishimori, who lives independently in a compact LDK apartment and unexpectedly shares her living space with the school's aloof "prince," Shusei Kugayama, leading to a secret cohabitation fraught with misunderstandings and growing affection.[1][2] The series was serialized in Kodansha's Bessatsu Friend magazine from March 2009 to August 2017, spanning 98 chapters collected into 24 tankōbon volumes, with the final volume released in October 2017. A sequel titled LDK Pink began serialization irregularly in the same magazine in February 2022.[3][4] In North America, Kodansha USA published an English localization starting in October 2015, collecting all 24 volumes (with later volumes in omnibus format) by November 2023, making it accessible to international audiences through licensed translations.[1] L♥DK explores themes of young love, independence, and personal growth amid high school life, with Aoi navigating her disdain-turned-attraction for Shusei while concealing their living arrangement from friends and family, including her best friend Saya and Shusei's complicated family dynamics.[5] The manga's popularity led to two live-action film adaptations: the first in 2014, directed by Taisuke Kawamura and starring Ayame Gōriki as Aoi and Kento Yamazaki as Shusei, followed by a sequel titled L DK: Two Loves Under One Roof in 2019, which continued the story post-high school.[6][7]Synopsis and characters
Plot
Aoi Nishimori, a straightforward high school sophomore, begins living alone in a modest apartment after her parents relocate to another city for work, allowing her to continue attending her current school. She develops an intense resentment toward Shūsei Kugayama, the school's charismatic and aloof "prince," following his public and callous rejection of her best friend Moe's confession. Unbeknownst to Aoi, Shūsei has been her next-door neighbor all along; however, when a fire—sparked by Aoi's impulsive actions—devastates his living space, he has no alternative but to take refuge in her LDK apartment, forcing the unlikely pair into an awkward cohabitation arrangement that tests their boundaries from the outset.[8][9] Spanning 24 volumes published between 2009 and 2017, the series chronicles the gradual transformation of Aoi and Shūsei's dynamic from mutual irritation and frequent misunderstandings to a heartfelt romance, shaped by the intimate challenges of shared domestic life. High school pressures, including academic demands and social intricacies, compound their situation, while external conflicts arise from love rivals—such as Shūsei's older brother Sōju, who takes a romantic interest in Aoi—and uncovered family secrets that threaten their budding connection. Through these trials, the narrative delves into themes of personal maturation fostered by interdependence, the nuances of tsundere romantic tropes where guarded emotions slowly unravel, and the navigation of obstacles like rival pursuits and familial meddling.[8][10] The storyline builds toward Aoi and Shūsei's affirmed dedication to one another as they graduate high school, marking the resolution of their core relational tensions without venturing into subsequent life stages.[8]Main characters
Aoi Nishimori is the protagonist of L DK, a high school girl who lives independently in a small apartment after her family relocates for work, allowing her to continue attending her current school.[11] She is characterized by her impulsive and straightforward nature, often acting on her strong sense of fairness, such as confronting others directly when she perceives injustice, including her initial disdain for Shūsei Kugayama after he rejects her best friend's confession.[12] Aoi's self-sufficiency is evident in her daily routines, like budgeting for groceries and cooking, which highlight her resilience and maturity beyond her years.[12] Throughout the series, her arc involves growing in confidence and emotional maturity, as she navigates personal vulnerabilities and learns to balance her protective instincts with deeper self-reflection.[12] Shūsei Kugayama serves as the male lead, renowned at school as the aloof "prince" due to his handsome appearance, intelligence, and popularity among peers, yet he maintains a distant, tsundere demeanor that masks a more caring and respectful side.[11][12] His background includes facing personal hardships, such as temporary homelessness following a fire in his apartment, which leads him to share living space with Aoi in her LDK apartment.[13] Motivated by a desire for independence and subtle protectiveness, Shūsei often appears heartless in rejecting advances but shows genuine concern for those he values, gradually revealing vulnerability through small acts of support.[12] His character development centers on softening his emotional guardedness, transitioning toward open affection and patience in relationships, particularly as he addresses rival influences and family-related tensions.[12] The core dynamic between Aoi and Shūsei revolves around their unexpected cohabitation, which sparks initial awkwardness and tension in the confined space of the LDK apartment, evolving into a romance marked by mutual attraction, jealousy from external suitors, and eventual confessions that deepen their bond.[11][12] This setup, triggered by the fire incident displacing Shūsei, forces them to confront their preconceptions—Aoi's resentment giving way to fluttering feelings, and Shūsei's aloofness yielding to protectiveness—fostering a relationship built on shared domestic challenges and emotional growth.[13][12]Supporting characters
Moe Shibuya serves as Aoi Nishimori's closest confidante and best friend throughout the series, characterized by her bubbly personality and unwavering support for Aoi's endeavors.[14] Despite experiencing occasional pangs of jealousy stemming from her own past confession to Shūsei Kugayama, Moe consistently provides emotional guidance and encouragement that bolsters Aoi's personal growth and romantic pursuits.[15] Her role often manifests in heartfelt conversations that help Aoi navigate interpersonal challenges, fostering deeper self-reflection without dominating the central narrative.[14] Sōju Kugayama, Shūsei's older brother and a professional photojournalist, introduces elements of familial rivalry and external tension through his charming yet flirtatious demeanor.[16] His interactions with Aoi, marked by suggestive advances, heighten triangular dynamics that provoke Shūsei's jealousy and underscore the complexities of their shared living situation.[16] As a more worldly figure, Sōju's presence adds layers of conflict by challenging the protagonists' budding relationship, though his influence remains secondary to the core romance.[14] Wataru Sanjō functions as Aoi's kind-hearted childhood friend and former crush, offering comic relief through his oblivious nature and steadfast loyalty.[14] His unrequited feelings for Aoi create subtle obstacles in the form of emotional entanglements, yet he ultimately contributes to her support network by providing reliable companionship during moments of uncertainty.[14] Wataru's lighthearted antics and genuine concern help diffuse tensions, facilitating Aoi's emotional development without resolving key romantic arcs. Aoi's family includes her parents, who relocate to another city for work, leaving her to manage independently in their apartment, and her younger brother Kento, who occasionally visits and embodies sibling protectiveness.[15] This separation enables Aoi's autonomy but introduces underlying worries about family obligations that influence her decisions. Shūsei's estranged family dynamics, marked by distant parents and a complicated bond with Sōju, reveal his guarded side and contribute to conflicts arising from unresolved parental expectations.[16] These familial elements create additional hurdles, such as visits that disrupt household harmony, while also prompting character growth through confrontations with past traumas.[14]Media
Manga
L♥DK is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ayu Watanabe. It was serialized in Kodansha's monthly magazine Bessatsu Friend from the March 2009 issue (released February 13, 2009) to the September 2017 issue (released August 12, 2017), and collected into 24 tankōbon volumes.[13][17] The series' cohabitation romance premise, centered on high school students sharing an apartment, attracted a dedicated readership during its run.[18] Kodansha published the original Japanese volumes between April 2009 and October 2017. The manga achieved significant commercial success in Japan, with the first 12 volumes selling over 2.7 million copies by 2013.[18] In North America, Kodansha USA licensed the series for English release under the Kodansha Comics imprint, beginning with the first volume on October 20, 2015, and completing the run with an omnibus of volumes 23–24 on November 7, 2023.[1] The English edition spans 20 physical releases, with later volumes combined into omnibuses for volumes 17–18, 19–20, 21–22, and 23–24. As of October 2017, the full series had reached 10 million copies in circulation, including digital editions.[19] The manga encompasses 98 chapters across its volumes, with thematic arcs progressing from initial cohabitation tensions to deeper relational developments and external conflicts, all while emphasizing emotional growth in intimate settings. Key volumes highlight milestones such as the introduction of core dynamics in early releases and resolution in later ones, without delving into specific events.| English Volume(s) | Release Date | Pages | ISBN (Japanese Example for Vol. 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 20, 2015 | 178 | 978-4-06-364070-6 |
| 2 | Dec 15, 2015 | 178 | 978-4-06-364081-2 |
| 3 | Feb 23, 2016 | 170 | 978-4-06-364092-8 |
| 4 | Apr 19, 2016 | 178 | 978-4-06-364102-4 |
| 5 | Jun 14, 2016 | 178 | 978-4-06-364111-6 |
| 6 | Aug 23, 2016 | 178 | 978-4-06-364121-5 |
| 7 | Oct 18, 2016 | 178 | 978-4-06-364129-1 |
| 8 | Dec 27, 2016 | 178 | 978-4-06-364137-6 |
| 9 | Mar 28, 2017 | 178 | 978-4-06-364142-0 |
| 10 | Aug 8, 2017 | 178 | 978-4-06-364149-9 |
| 11 | Jun 26, 2018 | 178 | 978-4-06-511014-5 |
| 12 | Nov 13, 2018 | 178 | 978-4-06-511352-8 |
| 13 | Aug 27, 2019 | 178 | 978-4-06-513487-5 |
| 14 | Dec 3, 2019 | 194 | 978-4-06-513976-3 |
| 15 | Jun 2, 2020 | 178 | 978-4-06-514878-0 |
| 16 | Jul 20, 2021 | 178 | 978-4-06-515999-1 |
| 17–18 (Omnibus) | Nov 16, 2021 | 354 | N/A (Omnibus) |
| 19–20 (Omnibus) | May 2, 2023 | 352 | N/A (Omnibus) |
| 21–22 (Omnibus) | Oct 24, 2023 | 352 | N/A (Omnibus) |
| 23–24 (Omnibus) | Nov 7, 2023 | 402 | N/A (Omnibus) |