High school senior Aya Osawa’s life keeps a steady rhythm that anyone would be happy to play along to. She’s popular, fashionable, and on the cusp of graduating with something of a plan in mind for how the soundtrack of her life will sound. There’s just one thing, one very important thing, that she keeps guarded from everyone else- her love of rock and roll. No one else understands the passion Aya feels for the foreign bands she has playing on repeat. That is, until, she visits a retro record store and is lovestruck at first sight by the mysterious, cool-looking, face masked-and-tatted guy working the shop till. Aya’s crush on the record store guy builds up in BPM the more she talks to him about her favorite thing- music! Even though her best friends at school don’t get her obsession, they gladly hear out the serial dramas of Aya’s love life. However, while Aya fangirls over her crush, she has no idea said crush is in the same room, nor any idea that the guy she thought she just met is actually the girl who sits beside her in class.
Part-time record store clerk Mitsuki Koga is satisfied with her life playing as background noise. Though she’s mostly invisible at school, she’s never been the type to seek out friends, anyway. The instruments in her room and the rock songs playing at her uncle’s record shop are enough to keep her company. She’s even been inspired to start writing music of her own. It’s not that bad that no one feels safe enough for Mitsuki to share her passion with. That is, of course, until her bubbly classmate Aya happens upon her part-time job, and starts up a fanatical flirtation about all things punk rock, seemingly without recognizing Mitsuki. This shines a spotlight on part of Mitsuki’s life she always kept guarded, but the more she and Aya bond over their love of rock and roll, the less Mitsuki feels able to go back to being a backing track to her own life.
This beautifully illustrated manga perfectly captures the feeling of finding that one person who you can be your fullest self with, even if there are a few awkward bumps and misunderstandings along the way. “The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy At All” does an amazing job at using unique music as a metaphor for coming to understand and express queer feelings, and how companionship in the things that matter to you most will always make your heart sing as it was meant to. The tension of the premise doesn’t get in the way of Aya and Mitsuki having many genuine moments together, and though the chapters are shorter compared to other manga series, the gorgeous art style Arai employs speaks volumes. This manga would be ideal for any manga reader that wants a heartwarming story about two girls discovering what sets them apart from the crowd.