The manga was first published as a one-shot in Shueisha's shōjo manga magazine Bessatsu Margaret on August 11, 2005,[3] and planned to be compiled in her previous work, Crazy For You. Shiina decided to expand the story and make it into a full series.[ch. 1:author's note] The manga started in the January 2006 issue of Bessatsu Margaret, released on December 13, 2005.[4][5] The manga was put on hiatus in February 2009, due to Shiina's childbirth,[6] and resumed in September of that same year.[7] The manga finished on November 13, 2017.[8] Shueisha collected its chapters in 30 tankōbon volumes, released from May 25, 2006,[9] to March 23, 2018.[10]
An irregularly published sequel spin-off manga series, titled Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You: Soulmate (君に届け 番外編～運命の人～, Kimi ni Todoke Bangaihen: Unmei no Hito) (which is also a sequel spin-off of Shiina's other manga Crazy for You), was serialized in Bessatsu Margaret from April 13, 2018, to May 13, 2022, and collected into three volumes.[11]
The series was licensed by Viz Media for an English-language North American release. The sequel spin-off manga was also licensed by Viz Media.[12]
Sawako Kuronuma is a 15-year-old high school freshman who has always been ostracized by her peers due to her frightening resemblance to the horror movie character Sadako. But underneath her frightening exterior is a kind, gentle girl in search of friendship. Naturally drawn to the most popular boy in her grade, Shouta Kazehaya, who she met under a road of cherry blossoms, Sawako considers him the "100% refreshing" role model whom she can only admire from afar. But when he suddenly begins talking to her, Sawako's world is turned upside down as she learns to communicate and form relationships with other human beings for the first time in her life.
Sawako's dream to make friends shows hope of coming true with newfound friends Ayane Yano and Chizuru Yoshida, but her chances take a dark turn when strange rumors begin spreading throughout school Ayane is a slut and Chizuru is a former gang member. When Sawako herself is wrongly accused of being the culprit of these rumors by her peers, she is deeply saddened and retreats to her former isolation in order to protect her friends. This causes tensions between the 3 as they all begin second-guessing their friendship. When confronted by nasty bullies, Sawako is finally driven to step up to the plate and defend her friends. With clear, direct communication, Sawako is able to convey her feelings of love for Ayane and Chizuru, and clear up the misunderstanding regarding her as the culprit. The 3 girls officially become best friends.
Sawako finally begins to open up socially with and connect with her classmates instead of scaring them off. Strangely, even the prettiest and most popular girl in her grade, Ume Kurumizawa, is suddenly eager to be her best friend. But appearances are misleading, and when Sawako and Ume become friends, Ume immediately reveals she has a crush on Shouta (due to him being the only sincere person she knew in middle school) and asks Sawako to support her. Sawako is suddenly forced to take a deep look into the nature of her feelings for Shouta.
Sawako finds herself unable to support Ume but cannot understand why. Ume is angered and hypothesizes Sawako herself may have a crush on Shouta. Sawako begins to wonder what romantic love is, and asks Chizuru's childhood friend, Ryu Sanada, to explain it to her. Ryu explains romantic love is a love where the person in question is special to you, and reveals to Sawako he is in love with Chizuru. Sawako realizes she is in love with Shouta. Ayane uncovers evidence Ume was the actual culprit behind the rumors and wanted to ostracize Sawako from Shouta, Ayane, and Chizuru due her jealousy. Ume's plans are thwarted when Shouta is mistakenly led to believe Ume was in an unrequited love with Arai Pin, the P.E. coach and the group's teacher. Upset, Ume reveals herself to be a dishonest, manipulative individual to Sawako. Sawako is saddened, but let Ume know she is also in love with Shouta. Ume feels like giving up on clearing up the misunderstanding made between her and Shouta, but Sawako advises her to just tell him the truth.
The disheartened Ume encounters Shouta, who comforts her on being "rejected" by Pin. Ume remembers Sawako's words, and finds the courage to clear up the misunderstanding by confessing her romantic feelings to Shouta. Shouta cannot accept her feelings, as he has fallen in love with Sawako, and respectfully rejects Ume. Ume is saddened, but happy she was able to genuinely express herself instead keeping things misunderstood. After the rejection, Ume becomes more honest and open with her harsh personality, and declares Sawako as a worthy rival in love. From this experience, Sawako begins to learn to live with her romantic feelings for Shouta. Ayane breaks up with her college boyfriend after he slaps her face. On the other hand, Chizuru is excited to learn her longtime crush and Ryu's older brother Toru Sanada is returning to their town, but she is left heartbroken when she learns he is getting married.
Chizuru gets into a fight with Ryu during his birthday when he tells her love was futile, and he wished she had given up sooner. Sawako and Ayane are saddened when they realize they cannot do anything to fix the situation. But Shouta assures them Chizuru will be fine as long as they are there for her. Ryu calls Toru to talk to Chizuru one last time before getting married, and Chizuru finds the strength to finally confess her feelings to Toru. Toru assures Chizuru he will always see her as a little sister. Chizuru begins to accept their relationship will never change, and congratulates Toru on his engagement. Ryu comforts the heartbroken Chizuru, and they reconcile.
The Christmas holidays arrive, and freshman year is coming to a close. Sawako wants to attend her class Christmas party along with her friends, but she has already promised to celebrate with her parents. With the help of her friends, Sawako finds courage to ask her parents to attend. Realizing their daughter is beginning to grow up, they allow her to attend and gift her her first cell phone. On New Year's Eve (which also happens to be Sawako's 16th birthday!), Chizuru and Ayane invite Sawako to join them in visiting a local shrine. As a birthday surprise, they get her to go alone on a "date" with Shouta. Sawako and Shouta are initially nervous, but eventually become comfortable as they learn more about each other's childhoods. Once they get their fortunes, Sawako and Shouta exchange phone emails. They walk together and part at the same path where they met, eager and anxious about the future of their relationship. Near the end of freshman year on Valentine's Day, Sawako intends to give Shouta Honmei chocolates along with her friends, but Ume spitefully discourages her by making it appear Shouta will only accept Giri ones. Sawako ultimately chickens out, as her chocolates are too serious to be considered Giri chocolates, but she is afraid to risk Shouta's rejection. Shouta, on the other hand, is disheartened when he discovers Sawako has given everyone chocolates except him, and begins to wonder if this is a clue she is romantically rejecting him.
April brings Sawako into her second year of high school. She is glad she is in the same homeroom as Chizuru, Ayane, Shouta, and Ryu again. Her reputation is changing as her classmates are becoming more receptive to her true personality. However, while Sawako is making friends with new classmates, Shouta no longer sits next to her, causing her to feel lonely. After the Valentine's Day incident, their relationship has become strained. Sawako has begun to feel self-conscious and ashamed for unknowingly favoring Shouta and wanting to be more than friends. A new classmate named Kento Miura notices Sawako's dilemma, and pitying her, befriends her. He is very flamboyant and open with Sawako, stirring jealousy in Shouta. Ayane notices this and offers to help Shouta pursue Sawako (though it isn't explicitly stated). However, he tells her he would prefer to tell the person themselves about his feelings for them, instead of involving a third party. Ayane notes Kazehaya is the type of person who does not like others interfering with his affairs. He asks Sawako if he was too conceited to think he was her closest male friend. Sawako does not know how to reply. Shouta expresses worry to Ryu over how he had troubled Sawako, but realizes he must stop beating around the bush and act soon; otherwise, she may be snatched away by someone else (namely Kento).
A few weeks before midterm exams, Kento announces to the class Sawako is holding a crash course after school. Kazehaya helps spread the word and brings a lot of people to the study group. During the session, everyone praises Sawako for being such a great teacher. Afterwards, Kento confronts Shouta about how much an outcast Sawako was before Shouta started talking to her. Thinking Shouta, being her opposite, is no longer necessary in Sawako's life and could cause her to become an outcast again, asks him to stay away from her. Annoyed by his pitying attitude towards Sawako, Shouta tells him not to look down on her and he does things for a reason. Thus, he will deal with corresponding issues himself. Kento asks if Shouta likes someone, and Shouta responds "I do!" Kento offers to help Shouta, who angrily rejects the idea. This discussion causes Shouta to lose confidence in how Sawako perceives him. Chizuru and Shouta meet up on the way home, and Shouta confides with Chizuru over this insecurity, but Chizuru, unaware he likes Sawako, tells him due to their different backgrounds, he is probably the most distant person to Sawako. Although they attempt to communicate how they feel, various misunderstandings prevent Sawako and Shouta from understanding each other. They begin to avoid each other.
After the midterms, everyone is praising Sawako for her review session. Sawako's class decides on having "Sadako's Black Magic Café and Shamanic Advice" booth as their exhibition for the summer school festival. Ayane separately advises Sawako and Shouta each to stop avoiding each other and act. Chizuru finally realizes Kazehaya likes Sawako and she screwed up. During the weekend, Chizuru attends Toru's wedding and solidifies her sibling-like relationship with Toru. Afterwards, Chizuru asks Ryu to follow up with Shouta, feeling guilty about what she said to him, and Ryu concedes.
The next week, during lunch, Ryu and Pin push Shouta to confess to Sawako in the courtyard. However, Kento interferes by revealing to Sawako Shouta is in love with someone (both not realizing it is Sawako herself), and probably only talked to her out of pity. Devastated, Sawako begins to cry. Kento tries to cheer her up by asking her out, only to be drowned out by the arrival of Shouta, who confesses his love to Sawako. Kento finally realizes Shouta has never pitied Sawako and likes her romantically, but Sawako mistakes his feelings as just friendship. Shouta and Sawako skip class to finally talk. However, due to a misunderstanding, they both end thinking they have been rejected by the other. With her self-esteem crushed, Sawako deems herself conceited to Ayane and Chizuru and thinks she has inconvenienced Shouta this entire time with her feelings. Outraged at Sawako's attitude, Chizuru states only her tendency to sell herself short is inconveniencing Shouta and storms off. Ayane tells Sawako she is no less than others unless she feels she is. Ayane catches up to Chizuru, and after discussing what happened, they both arrive to the conclusion Sawako will be able to fix this problem herself.
Ume learns about the “rejection” and confronts Sawako after school, angrily stating even though Shouta is the only person who never pitied her, she didn't even put up a fight for him. She is not a worthy rival. While getting ready for the festival, Pin, who believes Shouta rejected Sawako, scolds him for leading her on. Upset, Shouta tells him Sawako rejected him. Pin realizes Shouta is only complaining about himself instead of trying to understand Sawako, and tells him to just give up on Sawako, leaving Shouta to realize he has always been self-involved.
The next day, Ayane and Chizuru confront Kento and Ume, who both have dabbled in and caused all issues. Ume breaks down in angry tears, stating even if she messed things up, even she couldn't believe Sawako could be such a spineless girl who couldn't fight back, and runs off. Ayane explains to Kento his “philanthropy” was selfish, and he is only feeding his narcissism while in messing Sawako and Shouta’s affairs, so it is best to not interfere.
As the day of the festival arrives, Sawako ponders everyone’s words and realizes she has never taken initiative when it came to Shouta. Sawako apologizes to Chizuru for belittling herself and thanks her for her friendship, and Chizuru brightens. On the day of the festival, Kento apologizes to Sawako and Shouta separately for interfering. Sawako further realizes she has built a wall between her and Shouta, the one who has always been honest with her. Shouta tells Kento he may be Sawako’s opposite, and he is not as great as she thinks she is. n fact, he is the one who has always admired her for her strong willpower to make everything possible all by herself. Sawako reflects even though she initially thought of Shouta as a divine role model, the person she fell in love with is just an ordinary boy. With this conclusion, Sawako realizes she no longer cares who Shouta likes or if she will be rejected, and is spurred to take on action by finally letting her feelings out.
Sawako finds Shouta in the classroom. Shouta apologizes to Sawako for troubling her with his selfish thoughts, and promises to properly listen to what she has to say. Sawako tells Shouta she used to always receive frightened apologies whenever she tried to help others, but Shouta smiled and thanked her when they first met as if she were like everyone else, which made her really happy. Sawako thanks him for changing her world, and confesses her romantic love to him. All misunderstandings are cleared, and Shouta realizes Sawako feels the same way he does. Jou Sounichi interrupts them, saying Pin is looking for Sawako. Embarrassed, Sawako runs off and Shouta mulls over her confession.
That night, the class collects at Chizuru's house once more to prepare for the costume parade. Pin visits to discuss with Sawako about her costume parade's solo performance (reenacting the reemergence of Okiku from the well from the Japanese ghost story (kaidan) Banchō Sarayashiki). Sawako becomes embarrassed and tells Pin she can't look at Shouta without impure hopes. Pin replies everyone has a heart, so it's natural to have impure hopes, and finishes off with his own comedic impure hope to bribe the judges to win the costume parade and win a bet to get premier sushi. He runs off, telling her not to worry about it and for her to do well in the solo performance. Sawako becomes more confident, barely able to wait to see Shouta again.
The next day, Shouta ensures Sawako knows his feelings, but she interrupts him saying she wants to go first. She tells him she wants to know more about him and build their new relationship from scratch. She asks him to watch her perform as she will try her best to win for everyone's sake. Kazehaya smiles and confidently shouts out to her saying he likes her. Everyone turns to them in surprise, including Sawako who blushes. Sawako gives a brilliant performance but gives cold drinks to the judges as part of Pin's bribery. Their class ends up getting no points for the parade. Nonetheless, they earn sixth place in the competition. The class decides to have an after party, where the students voice their beliefs Sawako won Shouta over with black magic. Sawako and Shouta have to clear up the misunderstanding by making their relationship clear. Kento sees how surprisingly perfect Sawako and Kazehaya are together.
The next day, Sawako goes to confront Ume, understanding she is heartbroken. Along the way, Sawako is harassed by the same bullies who originally bullied her in the girls' bathroom, but Ume defends her. When Ume is about to be harassed, Sawako determinedly stops them, stating she is her true rival. Sawako reports to Ume she is now dating Shouta. But Sawako cannot thank or apologize to her as she is dating him is itself disrespectful to Ume. Ume confesses the only reason she had the courage and confidence to profess her love for Kazehaya was because of Sawako, and states she was glad she was her rival. Ume explains to Kento and Ayane that she and Shouta having a romantic relationship was impossible from the beginning, as Ume had been a dishonest, manipulative individual, and though heartbroken, is relieved everything has ended.
Shouta thanks Ryu for listening to his troubles and Pin for advising him. Sawako and Shouta part ways outside their school. Remembering Ume's heartbreak, Sawako initially stops him, but realizes there is nothing she can do for Ume, says nothing. Watching Shouta go, Sawako cries for Ume's situation, and vows to treasure Shouta always as a way to honor her.
1/2 of this volume paints the previous events of Kimi ni Todoke up until now from Shouta's point of view. Shouta monologues how he was a rather impatient young man before he met Sawako, and how falling in love with her changed him.
Afterwards, the volume returns to the present July, where the first semester has ended and summer vacation is to begin. Sawako discovers she missed Shouta's birthday back in May. Sawako is disappointed in herself, and wonders how she can make it up to him. Ayane notices Sawako and Shouta are getting along well, and Chizuru comforts her on being single. Chizuru and Ayane walk together and meet Pin. Realizing Pin's students stole his candy after the failed school festival, Ayane gives him sweets. Chizuru tells Ayane she is too kind and not to waste it on useless men. Once Chizuru leaves, Ayane reveals to Pin in actuality, she is a cruel, calculating coward, fundamentally different from Sawako and Chizuru. Pin, however, forms his own opinion of Ayane based on her kindness towards him. He pats her on the head, and says, "you're a kind girl". Ayane is astonished, and watches him walk away.
That night, Chizuru visits Ryu's house, and realizes Ryu has grown taller than her. Ryu gives her a family picture taken during Toru's wedding, and Chizuru thanks him. Ryu asks Chizuru to state his good qualities, and Chizuru says he is kind, honest, and caring. Ryu smiles and replies he is patient.
Finally, Sawako goes on her first official date with Shouta to a Planetarium. Sawako finally gives the Valentine's Day Chocolates she originally couldn't give to Shouta. Tearing up, she tells Shouta that she doesn't know how to properly do a girlfriend's job, and wants time to pass so that being in a relationship with him will feel normal. Shouta hugs her and tells her that being a girlfriend is not a job, and to just be herself. He tells her that as they thought that their respective loves were unrequited, they must not waste the time they have together.
Due to her failing grades, Chizuru has to attend summer school. Although their grades are well off, Sawako and Ayane decide to keep her company and study. Afterwards, the 3 best friends walk home together and discuss many topics, including Sawako’s date with Shouta and how Ayane and Chizuru were bitter rivals before they became best friends. As Sawako is still trying to feel natural about being in a relationship with Shouta, she is at a loss of what to tell her parents. Sawako’s mother, Youko Kuronuma, suddenly discovers them while they are on a date. Shouta politely introduces himself, and Youko invites Shouta to have dinner with them. Sawako lets her father, Kitao Kuronuma, know that she is now dating Shouta, and he is shaken. Although their meeting initially starts off rocky, mostly due to Sawako’s father’s overprotectiveness and distrustfulness, Shouta and Kitao eventually hit it off after he realizes that Shouta is worthy of his daughter. Shouta assures Sawako that he will never hate her, and promises Kitao that he will date her seriously. Kitao and Youko thank Shouta for influencing Sawako to become more sociable and confident.
Chizuru badly needs a vacation from summer school, so she and the gang go to a local beach to relax. But there, while waging arm-wrestling matches with tourists who want to spend time with her, Ryu suddenly wins her hand, and Chizuru finds herself strangely uncomfortable and flustered. Kento finds himself saddened that Sawako and Shouta got together, as he had fallen in love with Sawako. Ayane comforts him. Shouta later invites Sawako to his place to study and meet his family: first his lookalike mother, who has health issues, his mischievous little brother Touta, and strict father Shouichirou, a baseball coach. While studying together, Sawako and Shouta pluck up the courage to call each other by their first names for the first time. Summer school eventually ends, and the second semester begins. Everyone is excited when a school field trip to tropical Okinawa is announced, but then a boy named Mogi suddenly confesses to Ayane. Ayane agrees to date him and get to know him over the trip.
The 2nd years travel by plane to Okinawa. The first evening in Okinawa goes well, and Sawako, Ayane, and Chizuru share a hotel room. While bathing in the Onsen, Sawako asks Ayane when she had started liking Mogi. Chizuru comments that Ayane never talks about her own love affairs. Surprised, Ayane replies that she had never thought about such things. Shouta, on the other hand, becomes self-conscious when the class teases him over his relationship with Sawako.
The next day, the class visits the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Ryukyu Islands, and Sawako takes pictures to commemorate new memories. News goes out that Ryu rejected a girl from Class C because he likes another girl. Chizuru becomes jealous that Ryu kept this information to himself. Ayane returns before class curfew from a date with Mogi, and crosses paths with Pin. She asks him if even he has ever truly loved anyone, and Pin replies, "of course!" Ayane is taken aback, and realizes that unlike everyone else, she has never loved anyone.
On the third day in Okinawa, the girl rejected by Ryu confronts Chizuru and tells her to stay away from Ryu if they are not in a romantic relationship. Chizuru becomes furious and yells at her to mind her own business. This fight leaves Chizuru visibly hurt and even more angry with Ryu for getting her involved. Sawako and Shouta meet up during the evening, but things become awkward after they end up nearly kissing.
On the last day in Okinawa, Ryu gets ice cream for Chizuru and Joe. Chizuru wonders if Ryu and her will inevitably become distant due to only being childhood friends, not lovers. But this view is shattered when Ryu finally confesses to her after Joe leaves. Horrified, Chizuru rejects him on the spot. While on a date with Mogi, Ayane overhears him talking with his friends and discovers that he was only dating her under false pretenses. Ayane breaks up with him. After some time, Kento finds Ayane sitting alone. Realizing that all this time, she has never been in a proper relationship, Ayane begins to cry, and Kento hugs her.
At the end of the volume, the 2nd years return to Hokkaido, but now the main cast is troubled and distant from one another.
Fall has arrived. Sawako and Shouta have become distant ever since the almost-kiss incident in Okinawa. Kento has developed a new interest in Ayane, but Ayane avoids him out of embarrassment. Although Chizuru is sent to bring food for Ryu by her parents, she cannot even look him in the eye. Instead, she makes Shouta give him food.
Realizing that her friendship with Ryu has ended, the anguished Chizuru broods by the harbor, even skipping school and meals because she is too depressed.
Shouta brings her food and finds her after school. Sawako and Ayane eventually find her as well, and Chizuru explains why she cannot look at Ryu in a romantic light.
The volume flashes back to Chizuru and Ryu’s childhood. Ryu and Chizuru were inseparable from the time they were toddlers. They had opposite personalities, but were able to understand each other well. When Ryu’s mother Tetsuko Sanada died in a car accident, Ryu went under depression and did not smile for many months. Realizing that he was suffering, Chizuru went as far as to leave his favorite food, Onigiri, at his doorstep. After finding Chizuru standing at his doorstep, Ryu finally let down his stoic face and broke down crying for the first time since his mother’s death.
The same year, Toru left Ryu and his father for college and asked Chizuru to look after Ryu. The evening Toru left, Chizuru vowed to Ryu at the harbor that she would be by his side forever as his sister.
The volume returns to present day, where Chizuru realizes that she still wants to salvage her friendship with Ryu, and brings him Onigiri as an early birthday present. Ryu looks at her with gratitude, and Chizuru immediately becomes uncomfortable. She yells that his confession is ruining their friendship. But Ryu grabs Chizuru and yells, “Let's end it then!” He explains that he had been waiting for it to end, and that it is impossible to salvage it. He eats the Onigiri and leaves Chizuru devastated.
Kimi ni Todoke has been adapted into two series of light novels in Japan released by Shueisha, one under their Cobalt imprint and one under their newer Mirai Bunko imprint.[61] Sixteen volumes have been released in the Cobalt imprint series; the first was released on August 1, 2007, and the last on December 25, 2015.[62][63] They were written by Kanae Shimokawa, who also novelized the Nana movie and Yūkan Club.[ch. 26:author note#2] Thirteen volumes of the Mirai Bunko version have been released; the first on March 1, 2011, and the last on June 5, 2015.[64][65] They were written by Kanako Shirai. Both series were illustrated by the author of the original, Karuho Shiina.
A separate volume, Kimi ni Todoke: Ashita ni Nareba (君に届け ~明日になれば~, Kimi ni Todoke: When Tomorrow Comes), also by Kanae Shimokawa, was released on September 11, 2009.[66] The volume took the place of the manga serialization in Bessatsu Margaret magazine while Karuho Shiina took a break due to her pregnancy in 2009; it contains the story of Kazehaya and Sawako's first meeting, before the events of the manga.[6]
