Our Precious Conversations
Our Precious Conversations (Japanese: Boku to Kimi no Taisetsu na Hanashi, lit. "The Important Talk Between Me and You") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Robico. It was serialized in Kodansha's *shōjo* manga magazine Dessert from August 24, 2015, to December 24, 2019, and was collected into seven tankōbon volumes.[1] The series follows shy high school student Nozomi Aizawa, who confesses her long-held crush on her classmate Shirou Azuma at a train station, leading to an unexpected and humorous exchange that sparks their budding relationship filled with misunderstandings and awkward conversations.[2] The manga blends elements of romantic comedy and school life, highlighting the protagonists' contrasting personalities—Aizawa's earnest but socially clumsy nature and Azuma's tsundere demeanor— as they navigate teenage romance through everyday interactions.[2] Published in English by Kodansha USA starting in 2017,[1] In addition to the manga, Our Precious Conversations inspired a live-action film adaptation that premiered in Japan in April 2018.[3]Background
Author
Robico is a Japanese manga artist. She debuted in the manga industry in 2005 with the one-shot "Demekinikku", published in Kodansha's Dessert magazine.[4] A pivotal work in her career is "My Little Monster" (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun), serialized from 2008 to 2013 across 13 volumes, which received an anime adaptation in 2012.[5][6] Our Precious Conversations was serialized in Kodansha's Dessert magazine.Development
Robico conceived Our Precious Conversations as a follow-up to her successful manga My Little Monster, drawing inspiration from a desire to delve deeper into the nuances of awkward teenage romances through dialogue-heavy misunderstandings that drive the narrative.[5] The manga was classified as a shōjo romantic comedy incorporating slice-of-life elements, specifically aimed at female teenagers to capture the emotional intricacies of youth.[5] Serialization commenced in Kodansha's Dessert magazine on August 24, 2015, marking Robico's return to the publisher after her prior hit.[5] However, the series experienced a hiatus from the July 2016 issue to the January 2017 issue, which affected the overall pacing and release schedule during its early run.[7]Story and Characters
Plot
Nozomi Aizawa first notices Shirou Azuma during their first year at Heiwadai High School, where she quickly develops a strong crush on the quiet, bespectacled boy but remains too shy to initiate any conversation with him.[8] After a year of silently admiring him from afar, Nozomi decides to follow Shirou from school to the nearby train station one afternoon in their second year, where she finally gathers the courage to confess her feelings directly to him.[9] Although Shirou, caught off guard by the sudden declaration, gently rejects her advances, he expresses interest in getting to know her better as a friend, setting the stage for their unconventional dynamic.[2] This pivotal moment launches the main storyline, centered on the pair's growing bond through a series of meandering, often humorous conversations that frequently detour into unrelated topics, exposing their individual insecurities about relationships, gender differences, and personal vulnerabilities.[10] The central conflict arises from persistent miscommunications and the inherent awkwardness of their evolving romance, as Shirou's blunt, sometimes unintentionally insensitive remarks clash with Nozomi's earnest but scattered enthusiasm, creating tension amid their high school routines.[11] These exchanges are woven into broader slices of school life, including classroom interactions and casual hangouts, where the influence of their separate friend groups adds layers of external perspective and gentle nudging toward mutual understanding.[12] As the series unfolds across seven volumes, Nozomi and Shirou's initial encounters at the train station and school events gradually foster deeper emotional intimacy, transforming their friendship into a more profound connection while highlighting the role of shared vulnerabilities in bridging their differences.[13] Group dynamics among friends, such as impromptu gatherings after classes or discussions during commutes, serve as catalysts that propel the main duo's development, underscoring how everyday social interactions help navigate the uncertainties of young romance.[12] The narrative arc culminates in a heartfelt resolution of their romantic tensions, emphasizing the value of persistent, honest dialogue in overcoming personal hesitations.Characters
The protagonists of Our Precious Conversations are Nozomi Aizawa and Shirou Azuma, two high school students whose awkward interactions form the core of the series' romantic comedy. Nozomi is portrayed as an airheaded yet persistent and emotionally expressive girl who drives the narrative by mustering the courage to confess her long-held feelings for Shirou, often leading to comedic misunderstandings in their exchanges.[1] Shirou, in contrast, is a petulant know-it-all who tends to go off on tangents, providing much of the story's comic relief through his unusual responses and rambling discussions that veer into unexpected topics.[1] The supporting cast adds layers to the interpersonal dynamics, including Nozomi's bold friend Kazuomi Tamaki, who serves as a comic foil with his outgoing popularity and teasing nature toward the leads. Shirou's classmate Marin Hamada introduces elements of rivalry and tension within the group, while Takuya Takahashi—nicknamed Caffeine—acts as a wildcard, bringing unpredictable energy to their conversations. Later in the series, Suzu Ichinomiya joins as a character who explores themes of jealousy, complicating the group's relationships.[14] Throughout the story, the characters undergo development primarily through their ongoing dialogues, with Nozomi gradually gaining confidence in expressing her insecurities and Shirou learning to open up emotionally beyond his tangential habits. These arcs emphasize how casual, meandering talks help them build genuine closeness despite initial awkwardness.[1] Robico's visual design highlights the characters' unspoken feelings through expressive facial details and subtle body language, employing a clean, emotive style that conveys the nuances of hesitation and affection in everyday school settings.[1]Publication
Serialization
Our Precious Conversations was serialized in Kodansha's Dessert, a monthly shōjo manga anthology magazine, from August 24, 2015, to December 24, 2019, corresponding to the magazine's February 2020 issue.[2][3] The series comprises 36 chapters, which were later collected into 7 tankōbon volumes. Publication experienced a hiatus beginning with the July 2016 issue due to the author's health issues, with serialization resuming in the December 2016 issue; this interruption led to an adjusted release cadence for subsequent chapters.[15][7] In November 2019, the manga's conclusion was announced, with previews of the final chapter highlighting the protagonists' post-graduation future and a definitive romantic closure.[3]Volume List
The manga Our Precious Conversations (original Japanese title: Boku to Kimi no Taisetsu na Hanashi) was compiled into seven tankōbon volumes by Kodansha under their KC Dessert imprint, collecting all 36 chapters from its serialization in Dessert magazine without adding new content such as bonus stories or illustrations beyond standard volume extras like the mini illustration collection in the final volume.[16][17] The cover artwork for each volume, illustrated by author Robico, prominently features protagonists Nozomi Aizawa and Shirou Azuma in everyday school or conversational settings, often with expressive poses that underscore the series' themes of awkward romantic exchanges and emotional growth.[18][19]| Volume | Original Release Date | ISBN | Pages | Chapters Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 11, 2016 | 978-4-06-365856-9 | 176 | 1–6 |
| 2 | March 13, 2017 | 978-4-06-365899-6 | 168 | 7–11 |
| 3 | November 13, 2017 | 978-4-06-510420-0 | 176 | 12–16 |
| 4 | July 13, 2018 | 978-4-06-512229-7 | 160 | 17–21 |
| 5 | January 11, 2019 | 978-4-06-514236-3 | 160 | 22–26 |
| 6 | August 9, 2019 | 978-4-06-516715-1 | 160 | 27–31 |
| 7 | March 13, 2020 | 978-4-06-518969-6 | 176 | 32–36 |