Oct 26, 2025
Alright, so Kusunoki-san wa Koukou Debut ni Shippaishiteiru is one of those titles that surprised me way more than I expected. It’s about Shizuki, a guy who went through a huge glow-up after being labeled a “loser” in junior high. Traumatized by that experience, he transfers to a new school hoping to leave his past (and his old classmates) far behind. There, he ends up meeting Kusunoki, another ex-loner who’s also had her own glow-up.
From there, things slowly start to unfold. Shizuki just wants a peaceful high school life, but of course, that’s not how things work in this genre. And to make matters interesting,
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the popular girl who humiliated him in junior high—Hebizuka—is still a scar in his mind. His trauma runs deep enough that he feels sick around attractive girls… except, oddly enough, not around Kusunoki. That tiny emotional loophole becomes the foundation for this story’s charm and direction.
If you’ve read Masamune-kun’s Revenge, you’ll definitely notice the similarities. It plays in that same field of redemption, emotional scars, and self-worth, though this one feels a bit more grounded and less melodramatic.
Art: 8/10
Honestly, the art is great. The backgrounds, the paneling, the characters—everything just feels polished. Mii-sensei really nailed the visual side of things. It’s clean, expressive, and honestly one of the strongest aspects of the series. Even during casual scenes, the art carries a sense of realism that pulls you in.
Story: 6–7/10
While the premise might seem familiar in a landscape full of school romcoms, Kusunoki-san manages to stand out slightly. Redemption and glow-up stories are surprisingly rare, and even when they do pop up, they’re often shallow or purely aesthetic. Here, there’s actual introspection. Shizuki’s struggles with self-image, fear, and self-worth feel genuine as it's not just about looking better, its about trying to believe you deserve the new life and confidence that comes with the glow-up.
That said, the story remains fairly simple and predictable. But in a market oversaturated with shallow, repetitive romance tropes, this one feels like a small but welcome breath of fresh air. Mii-sensei’s writing doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it at least spins it with more sincerity than most, so while the plot itself might be simple, it carries an authenticity that’s missing in a lot of modern romcoms.
Characters: 7–8/10
At first, I was wary that Shizuki would fall into the typical “timid male lead” archetype. Thankfully, he didn’t. He’s cautious, yes—but also kind, realistic, and self-aware—though his occasional pessimism feels all too human. His moments of self-doubt, despite his outward transformation, anyone who’s ever struggled with confidence will recognize those spirals of doubt he falls into and tries to mirror a relatable internal struggle: even when we change, it’s hard to shake off the ghosts, thoughts and memories of who we used to be, those scars don’t magically vanish—and the manga does a good job showing that.
Kusunoki, too, is handled with nuance. Her growth from a socially awkward girl to someone who can make friends and navigate relationships naturally feels earned, not rushed. However, she sometimes comes off as misleading—making comments that clearly sound romantic while seemingly unaware of their impact. It’s frustrating but believable, especially given her social inexperience.
And then there’s Otobe. I’ve got to give Mii-sensei serious props for her writing. Her introspection about her feelings for Shizuki was a refreshing surprise. Instead of blindly pursuing the male lead (as so many secondary heroines do), she actually questions her feelings. She sits down, thinks about why she likes Shizuki, and realizes maybe she doesn’t have a solid reason This kind of emotional self-awareness is rare in the genre(as sad as it sounds as this type of understanding isn't rare in reality to most) and adds depth to her character as many stories don’t bother giving secondary heroines that kind of depth—they just fall for the MC because he smiled at them once. So seeing Otobe actually reflect on her emotions? That's rare and for that Mii-sensei deserves praise for writing her with such maturity, even though she’s clearly not destined to win.
Overall: 7.8/10
At its core, Kusunoki-san wa Koukou Debut ni Shippaishiteiru is just a genuinely good read. It’s not trying to be flashy or groundbreaking—it’s just sincere in it's writing and direction as Mii-sensei intended. The art is solid, the characters feel real, and the story knows what it wants to be: a grounded romance about two people trying to outgrow their past selves and it's honest portrayal of emotional growth make it a worthwhile read among the sea of cookie-cutter school romances.
Frankly, it deserves far more recognition than its current score of 6.98. The fact that formulaic titles like Rent-A-Girlfriend or Kanojo, Okarishimasu and Kakkou no Iinazuke rank higher feels absurdly dastard. Meanwhile, Kusunoki-san actually tries to say something about self-image and emotional growth. But hey, popularity doesn’t always equal quality.
If you’re tired of repetitive, shallow school romances and want something with heart, sincerity, and a touch of realism, give this one a shot. It might not change your life, but it’ll probably make you smile—and maybe even think back to your own awkward school days. And honestly, that’s more than I can say for most romcoms these days.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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