[Youth x Love Story] There’s no such thing as a “sparkling youth.” Or so she thought, until school life started to shine! Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You.!

“Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You” is a youth romance manga by Haruka Mitsui, which enjoyed a long serialization in the shojo manga magazine “Nakayoshi.” The story begins on high schooler Mizuho Nishino's 17th birthday, but the start is anything but glamorous. Between losing her chance to get closer to the swim club upperclassman she admired and her parents completely forgetting her birthday, it's a truly disastrous day. The situation is so dire that readers can't help but feel sorry for her, but this very day becomes the catalyst for her mundane daily life to change instantly. The scent of romance suddenly drifts into her ordinary school life, and the story heads in an unexpected direction.

Mizuho had long admired Saito, a senior in the swimming club. He was the quintessential “cool upperclassman” who made her heart race every time she saw him at practice. However, upon learning that Saito was quitting swimming, Mizuho decided to take the plunge and confess her feelings. Despite gathering all her courage, the result was unfortunately a heartbreak. For Mizuho, who dreamed of the sparkles of youth, this must have been a devastating blow. Normally, the story might have ended with her feeling down, but this manga immediately shifts into high gear as a romance drama. Interestingly, the heartbreak serves as the signal to open the door to a new love.

The person who shakes up Mizuho’s life is her childhood friend, Kizuki Hazawa. After a long-standing, somewhat inseparable relationship since elementary school, he suddenly declares himself a “candidate for her boyfriend.” This unexpected confession from a long-time friend must have been a shock to Mizuho. But it doesn't stop there; Mizuho is surrounded by a group of handsome childhood friends who each begin to deepen their relationship with her. In this way, the bond between these five people—who were supposed to be just childhood friends—transforms into something complex and lively, where friendship and love intertwine.

A major charm of this work lies in the relationship between the heroine and her four childhood friends. While it may seem like a common trope in shojo manga, the distinct personalities of each character elevate it beyond simple romantic maneuvering. The sense of distance that comes from having spent so much time together and the feelings hidden within casual conversations give the story its reality. Misunderstandings born from being close, the bewilderment of the moment friendship turns to love, and the specific radiance of youth—these emotions are portrayed so carefully that while reading, you feel as if you are part of their circle.

Just as the title suggests, “Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You” depicts a time in youth where one simply cannot escape falling in love. The progression—starting from a heartbreak, changing relationships with childhood friends, and a daily life that gradually begins to sparkle—is incredibly pleasant to read. At first, you might think, “Is it really possible for love to gather so perfectly?” but the characters' emotions are so carefully drawn that you soon find yourself pulled into their world. With moments that make you laugh and others that make your heart squeeze, it is a work packed with the true essence of youth romance manga. It’s a story that lets you enjoy the feeling of love slowly spreading with every turn of the page.