Haibara's Teenage New Game+
Japanese light novel series
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Haibara's Teenage New Game+ (Japanese: 灰原くんの強くて青春ニューゲーム, Hepburn: Haibara-kun no Tsuyokute Seishun Nyū Gēmu) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kazuki Amamiya and illustrated by Gin. It began publication under Hobby Japan's HJ Bunko light novel imprint in December 2021. A full-colored vertical manga adaptation illustrated by Misaomaru was serialized on Hobby Japan's Comic Fire manga website from June 2023 to August 2024, with a sequel illustrated by Comochiya beginning serialization on the same website in December 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Comet premiered in April 2026.
| Haibara's Teenage New Game+ | |
First light novel volume cover | |
| 灰原くんの強くて青春ニューゲーム (Haibara-kun no Tsuyokute Seishun Nyū Gēmu) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy[1] |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Kazuki Amamiya |
| Illustrated by | Gin |
| Published by | Hobby Japan |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | HJ Bunko |
| Original run | December 1, 2021 – present |
| Volumes | 10 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Kazuki Amamiya |
| Illustrated by | Misaomaru |
| Published by | Hobby Japan |
| Imprint | HJ Comics |
| Magazine | Comic Fire |
| Original run | June 16, 2023 – August 29, 2024 |
| Volumes | 3 |
| Manga | |
| Ame ni Utareru Kimi ni Kasa o Sasō | |
| Written by | Kazuki Amamiya |
| Illustrated by | Comochiya |
| Published by | Hobby Japan |
| Magazine | Comic Fire |
| Original run | December 19, 2024 – present |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Misuzu Hoshino |
| Written by | Keiichirō Ōchi |
| Music by | Sōnosuke Takao |
| Studio | Studio Comet |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | TBS, BS11, AT-X |
| Original run | April 3, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 3 |
Plot
Natsuki Haibara, a fourth-year university student, was planning for his life after graduation when he is suddenly transported back in time. He finds himself seven years in the past to when he was a first-year high school student. As he has retained memories and skills from his university life, he aims to relive his high school days and deal with his past regrets, including becoming friends with his former crush Hikari Hoshimiya.
Characters
- Natsuki Haibara (灰原 夏希, Haibara Natsuki)
- Voiced by: Yūto Uemura[2]
- A university student who is sent back to the past and is now reliving his high school life. He had many regrets in his previous life and aims to avoid the mistakes he made before.
- Hikari Hoshimiya (星宮 陽花里, Hoshimiya Hikari)
- Voiced by: Kanon Takao[2]
- A beautiful high school student that Natsuki crushed on when he was in high school. In his new life, he befriends her, and though she is unaware of his feelings for her, she still comes to care for him.
- Miori Motomiya (本宮 美織, Motomiya Miori)
- Voiced by: Kanna Nakamura[3]
- Natsuki's childhood friend.
- Uta Sakura (佐倉 詩, Sakura Uta)
- Voiced by: Aya Yamane[3]
- Yuino Nanase (七瀬 唯乃, Nanase Yuino)
- Voiced by: Sayumi Suzushiro[3]
- Tatsuya Nagiura (凪浦 竜也, Nagiura Tatsuya)
- Voiced by: Ryōta Suzuki[4]
- Reita Shiratori (白鳥 怜太, Shiratori Reita)
- Voiced by: Tomohiro Ōno[4]
- Serika Hondo (本堂 芹香, Hondo Serika)
- Voiced by: Aimi[5]
Media
Light novel
Written by Kazuki Amamiya and illustrated by Gin, Haibara's Teenage New Game+ began publication under Hobby Japan's HJ Bunko light novel imprint on December 1, 2021. Ten volumes have been released as of April 1, 2026.[6] The series is licensed in English by J-Novel Club.[7]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | North American release date | North American ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 1, 2021[8] | 978-4-7986-2680-2 | December 19, 2022[9] | 978-1-71-834280-4 |
| 2 | June 1, 2022[10] | 978-4-7986-2845-5 | February 20, 2023[9] | 978-1-71-834282-8 |
| 3 | November 1, 2022[11] | 978-4-7986-2984-1 | May 15, 2023[9] | 978-1-71-834284-2 |
| 4 | March 1, 2023[12] | 978-4-7986-3094-6 | August 25, 2023[9] | 978-1-71-834286-6 |
| 5 | June 30, 2023[13] | 978-4-7986-3218-6 | November 20, 2023[9] | 978-1-71-834288-0 |
| 6 | December 1, 2023[14] | 978-4-7986-3358-9 | April 26, 2024[9] | 978-1-71-834290-3 |
| 7 | May 31, 2024[15] | 978-4-7986-3552-1 | November 22, 2024[9] | 978-1-71-834292-7 |
| 8 | December 27, 2024[16] | 978-4-7986-3723-5 | June 20, 2025[9] | 978-1-71-834294-1 |
| 9 | July 1, 2025[17] | 978-4-7986-3887-4 | February 27, 2026[9] | 978-1-71-834296-5 |
| 10 | April 1, 2026[6] | 978-4-7986-4060-0 | — | — |
| 11 | June 1, 2026[18] | 978-4-7986-4195-9 | — | — |
Manga
A full-colored vertical manga adaptation illustrated by Misaomaru was serialized on Hobby Japan's Comic Fire manga website from June 16, 2023, to August 29, 2024.[1][19] Its chapters have been compiled into three digital volumes as of February 2026.[20]
A sequel illustrated by Comochiya began serialization on the same website on December 19, 2024.[21]
Anime
An anime adaptation was announced by the HJ Bunko X account on July 1, 2025,[24][25] which was later confirmed to be a television series that is produced by Studio Comet and directed by Misuzu Hoshino, with series composition handled by Keiichirō Ōchi, characters designed by Hiromi Ono, and music composed by Sōnosuke Takao. The series premiered on April 3, 2026, on TBS and other networks.[2][26][a] The opening theme song is "Fly Again!!", performed by Ami Maeshima, while the ending theme song is "Dramatic Tōhikō" (ドラマチック逃避行; 'Dramatic Runaway Trip'), performed by Aimi.[27] Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[28]
Episodes
| No. | Title [29][30] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Storyboarded by [b] | Original release date [31][a] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Gray Boy's Plan For a Colorful Adolescence" Transliteration: "Haīro Shōnen no Nijishoku Seishun Keikaku" (Japanese: 灰色少年の虹色青春計画) | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | April 3, 2026 | |
|
University student Natsuki reminisces about all the mistakes he made in high school. Despite graduating university and getting a good job he cannot get over his teenage regrets. The next morning, he awakens as a teenager again and realises he can have his high school life over again while avoiding the same mistakes. He spends the month before the entrance ceremony exercising and improving his appearance. His childhood friend Miori is amazed at the difference, as is he as she used to be a tomboy. At the entrance ceremony he encounters Hikari, his teenage crush who rejected him, her friend Yuino and three others he failed to make friends with the first time; Reita, Tatsuya and Uta. He is surprised to be included so easily in the group this time, and that Hikari blushes when he speaks to her. Miori is impressed Natsuki is making friends already and asks his help getting to know Reita, who is her type. A week later everyone is good friends and decide to spend a Saturday together. By monitoring Hikari's schedule Natsuki is able to invite her to walk home together on a day when everyone else is busy and instigate the creation of a friends group chat, which Hikari names the Natsuki-kun Family. | ||||||
| 2 | "Dreamlike Days" Transliteration: "Yume no Yōna Hibi" (Japanese: 夢のような日々) | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | April 10, 2026[c] | |
|
Natsuki offers Miori information on Reita if she helps him buy an outfit for Saturday with his friends. As a bonus, Miori promises to help get him a girlfriend if she ends up dating Reita. Saturday, Natsuki reveals he plans to get a job. Yuino reveals she already works at Café Mares and offers to introduce Natsuki to her manager. In private, Reita asks Natsuki if he is scared of Tatsuya, since he rarely speaks to him and flinches around him. Natsuki recalls in his first high school experience Tatsuya ended his friendship with him as he found him pathetic and annoying, which Natsuki still has not gotten over. Later, everyone realises Natsuki is good at basketball, which Natsuki attributes to losing weight and his first high school experience training on the school team while being ignored by his teammates. Tatsuya challenges him to a one-on-one game. Wanting to get over the past, Natsuki agrees to play and hopefully impress Hikari. Having spent years watching Tatsuya play, Natsuki knows his moves and is able to keep up. Natsuki recalls while the original Tatsuya wasn't exactly a friend, he was one of the few who did not make his life worse. Natsuki wins the match, impressing Tatsuya. | ||||||
| 3 | "Perfect Behavior" Transliteration: "Kanpeki na Furumai o" (Japanese: 完璧な振る舞いを) | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | April 17, 2026 | |
|
Natsuki begins working at Café Mares, where his skills from being a former adult impresses the manager, Kirishima. With midterms approaching, the group decide to hold study sessions. During the first session Natsuki is momentarily enchanted by Uta before confusedly snapping out of it. They begin holding sessions daily, and Tatsuya teases him over Uta, though Natsuki insists it is Hikari he is interested in. Tatsuya claims he doesn’t have a crush on anyone. Miori joins the next session with her friend Serika and notices Uta staring at Miori, so she secretly informs Natsuki he has made an idiotic mistake, but won’t tell him what he did. Hikari calls Natsuki that night, worried something is wrong with Tatsuya. After midterms everyone goes to karaoke and Natsuki impresses everyone, since he was once addicted to solo karaoke. Tatsuya abruptly leaves and becomes angry when Natsuki shows concern about him. Reita reveals Tatsuya is struggling with jealousy, since Natsuki beat him at basketball, can cook, is smart and is even a good singer, all of which impressed Uta whom Tatsuya is in love with. Natsuki realises this is the mistake Miori warned him about. Despite looking up to Tatsuya, he failed to notice his feelings and has deeply upset him. | ||||||
| 4 | "If You Support Me" Transliteration: "Kimi ga Sasaete Kureru Nara" (Japanese: 君が支えてくれるなら) | TBA | TBA | TBA | April 24, 2026 | |
|
Tatsuya distances himself from the group and Natsuki returns to his loner habits, avoiding Uta in particular in case it upsets Tatsuya. Miori notices Uta is upset and asks Natsuki about it. Natsuki feels better after remembering Miori always comforted him when he was upset, so he tells her everything. The next day he confronts Tatsuya, who admits he hates himself for being jealous and for not being able to impress Uta himself, so Natsuki shouldn't apologise. Tatsuya is shocked when Natsuki shouts at him, since Miori told him the same thing; Natsuki has done nothing wrong, Tatsuya caused his own pain by being cowardly and should stop comparing himself to Natsuki. Natsuki then shows him a picture of himself overweight, proving how hard he had to work to feel equal to people like Tatsuya. Tatsuya realises he should apologise to everyone. Having eavesdropped their conversation, Uta rejects Tatsuya whom she only sees as a friend. Everyone else asks to see the photo of overweight Natsuki. Their group gets back together but Uta is surprised Tatsuya refuses to give up on her. Natsuki is grateful to Miori for helping. Meanwhile, Uta is deeply upset Natsuki isn't interested in her and wonders who he likes instead. | ||||||
| 5 | "I'll Give You an Umbrella When You're In the Rain" | TBA | TBA | TBA | May 1, 2026 | |
|
As their group is back together Miori decides to arrange a double-date for her and Reita, and Natsuki with Hikari. At Miori's urging Natsuki invites Hikari to a movie. At first Hikari seems reluctant, then misunderstands by thinking he wants her help to get Miori together with Reita. Uta asks to join them and Natsuki feel terrible he has to refuse, though Miori insists it is the safest option. The movie goes smoothly, but afterwards Miori is confronted by her basketball senior Wakamura for skipping practise. Reita worries Miori has damaged her relationship with her team and cryptically asks Natsuki to look out for her. Miori concludes the date was a failure. Natsuki observes her next practise where there is tension between Miori and Wakamura. Uta reveals despite being a first year and skipping practise Miori earned a prestigious spot on the team that Wakamura wanted. Tatsuya helps Natsuki realise Miori, who used to be helpful to her teammates, now hogs the ball and tries to score as many points as possible by herself. Uta later calls Natsuki upset after an argument with Wakamura. Natsuki has a sudden idea for how to intervene between Miori and Wakamura, and asks Uta for help. | ||||||
| 6 | "Wish" | TBA | TBA | TBA | May 8, 2026 | |
|
Natsuki challenges Miori to basketball, with the loser having to obey the winner. Miori is surprised when Natsuki beats her but agrees to his demand that she accept his help. She confesses she overheard her teammates describe her as arrogant, so she began hogging the ball to prove how good she is, but now her team don’t trust her. Natsuki and Uta help her practise passing the ball and promise to support her. At next practise Miori starts to get back to normal. Miori asks Natsuki to watch her next game, which she wins by cooperating with her teammates. Uta asks Natsuki to Tanabata festival where after food and games Natsuki almost kisses her, but hesitates due to thinking about Hikari. Uta acts normally and insists they write wishes on Tanzaku for the festival. Uta hides her wish from him while Natsuki wishes for a fun adolescence. Uta changes her wish at the last second to match Natsuki’s, throwing her first wish away. Uta holds Natsuki’s hand back to her parent’s shop but as he walks away, she kisses him on the cheek. She then urges him not to respond until she has tried harder to win his heart. Natsuki is unsure how to feel. Uta’s discarded wish is shown to be that Natsuki falls in love with her. | ||||||
| 7 | "Aiming for the Ultimate Summer" | TBA | TBA | TBA | May 15, 2026 | |
|
Hikari hides from her parents she is writing a novel. Natsuki admits to Reita he might like both Uta and Hikari. Reita admits he likes Miori. The group plan a summer beach trip. Hikari admits she can't go, with Yuino revealing her father is strict and would never let Hikari on an overnight trip with boys. Miori is shown to know about Uta kissing Natsuki, and is not happy about it. Natsuki realises he doesn't know much about Hikari as a person. The group decide to rent a beach cottage and invite Miori and her friend Seri. Yuino takes Natsuki with her to buy a bikini, unaware how awkward it would be. They encounter Hikari with her father, Sei, who is furious to see Natsuki as Hikari had told him only girls were going to the beach. Natsuki recognises Sei as Vice-president of Starflat, a machine maintenance firm, and in seven years' time Sei will reject Natsuki for a job for being an independent thinker instead of a mindlessly obedient salaryman. Natsuki feels guilty for getting Hikari in trouble. Later, Hikari lets Natsuki read her novel, which is set by the ocean. Natsuki starts to worry about Hikari's mental state. Later, Hikari calls Natsuki to tell him she ran away from home. | ||||||
| 8 | "Your Dream and the Secret Relationship" | TBA | TBA | TBA | May 22, 2026 | |
Reception
The series won the grand prize at the HJ Novel Award in 2020.[33]
See also
- Rebuild World, another light novel series with the same illustrator
Notes
- Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
- Due to the broadcast of the 2026 Masters Tournament, this episode aired at 2:57 a.m. JST, 1 hour and 29 minutes after the original air time on TBS.[32]