My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected (Japanese: やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。, Hepburn: Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatteiru), often called Oregairu (俺ガイル) or Hamachi (はまち), and also known as My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, is a Japanese book series written by Wataru Watari and illustrated by Ponkan 8. The story follows Hachiman Hikigaya, a teen who believes the worst will happen, doesn't like to talk about feelings, and sees things in a practical way. He is forced by his teacher to join the school's service club and work with two girls who also have personal challenges. Together, they help others while dealing with their own problems.

There are three manga versions and two collections of stories. The series was also made into an anime television show. The first season aired from April to June 2013, followed by a second season from April to June 2015, and a third and final season from July to September 2020. A video game titled Yahari Game demo Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatteiru was released for the PlayStation Vita in September 2013 by 5pb. A second game by 5pb. came out in October 2016. Both games were later released together for the PlayStation 4 in October 2017 and for the Nintendo Switch in October 2022. A third game was released for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in April 2023.

Plot

The story follows two students who prefer to be alone, Hachiman Hikigaya, who is practical, and Yukino Yukinoshita, who is attractive. Despite their different ways of thinking and acting, they help and give advice to others through their school's Service Club, with the help of Yui Yuigahama, who is cheerful and friendly. The story shows different situations that happen in school and how students think and act when interacting with each other.

Media

The light novel series was written by Wataru Watari and illustrated by Ponkan 8. Shogakukan published the series under their Gagaga Bunko imprint. The first volume was released on March 18, 2011, and the series ended with its 14th volume on November 19, 2019. Limited editions of the fourth and eighth volumes included art books by Ponkan 8 and guest illustrators. A short story collection, numbered volume 7.5, was published on August 20, 2013. Three additional short volumes, 6.25, 6.50, and 6.75, were bundled with limited editions of the first, third, and fifth DVD and BD volumes of the first anime series. These were released as a single volume, numbered 6.5, on July 22, 2014. Another short story collection, labeled 10.5, was released on March 18, 2015, and a fourth one, 14.5, on April 20, 2021. Yen Press licensed the series for an English version and published it from September 27, 2016, to October 18, 2022.

A drama CD titled Tatoeba Konna Birthday Song was released with a special edition of the 3rd light novel on November 18, 2011. The CD includes a character song titled "Bright Generation," sung by Yukino Yokinoshita (Saori Hayami) and Yui Yuigahama (Nao Tōyama), and composed by Yukari Hashimoto. A second drama CD, Hikigaya Komachi no Keiryaku, was sold with the first CD at Marvelous AQL’s booth at Comiket 83 on December 29–31, 2012. A third drama CD, Kanojotachi no, We Will Rock You, was bundled with the special edition of the 7th volume on March 19, 2013. This CD includes a character song titled "Rock You!!" by Yokinoshita (Hayami) and Yuigahama (Tōyama), composed and arranged by Yūya Saitō. A fourth drama CD, Sono Christmas Candle no Akari ga Yureru Toki…, was released with the special edition of volume 6.5 on July 22, 2014. This CD includes a character song titled "Kimi to Merry Christmas" by Hayami and Tōyama.

The first manga adaptation, illustrated by Rechi Kazuki, was titled My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected -Monologue-. It was published in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan from September 25, 2012, to April 25, 2023. Its chapters were collected into twenty-two tankōbon volumes published between March 19, 2013, and July 25, 2023. A second manga series, illustrated by Naomichi Io and titled My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected @comic, was published in Shogakukan’s Monthly Sunday Gene-X from December 19, 2012, to February 17, 2023. Its chapters were collected into twenty-two tankōbon volumes published between May 17, 2013, and April 18, 2023. Yen Press licensed this series for an English version.

A 4-panel manga series by Yūta Taneda, titled Yahari 4-koma demo Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru, was published in Ichijinsha’s Manga 4-koma Palette magazine. A preview chapter was released on March 22, 2013, and the first chapter on April 22, 2013. The series ended on June 22, 2015, and its chapters were collected into two volumes. Two anthology volumes by multiple authors were published by Ichijinsha under its DNA Media Comics imprint on May 25 and July 25, 2013.

A 13-episode anime television series, directed by Ai Yoshimura and produced by Brain’s Base, aired from April 5 to June 21, 2013. An additional anime-original episode, written by Wataru Watari, aired on June 27, 2013. The series was released on Crunchyroll and other platforms. The opening theme was "Yuki Haru Ame" by Yanagi, and the ending theme was "Kimi to Koi no Uta" by Yanagi. The anime was licensed for an English version by Funimation.

A second anime season, titled My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU 2, aired from July 6 to September 24, 2014. A third season, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU 3, aired from July 5 to September 22, 2017. A fourth season, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU 4, aired from July 5 to September 22, 2020. The anime was released on Crunchyroll and other platforms. The opening themes for the second, third, and fourth seasons were "Kimi to Koi no Uta" by Yanagi, "Kimi to Koi no Uta" by Yanagi, and "Yuki Haru Ame" by Yanagi, respectively. The ending themes were "Kimi to Koi no Uta" by Yanagi for the second and third seasons and "Yuki Haru Ame" by Yanagi for the fourth season. The anime was licensed for an English version by Funimation.

A video game for PlayStation Vita, titled Yahari Game demo Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru, was published by 5pb. and released on September 19, 2013. Takuya Eguchi, Saori Hayami, and Nao Tōyama reprised their roles

Reception

By January 2020, the light novel had more than 10 million copies sold. The book titled My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, as I Expected was named the best light novel in Japan according to polls created by the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! annual guide book in 2014, 2015, and 2016.