You Were Experienced, I Was Not: Our Dating Story
Japanese light novel series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
You Were Experienced, I Was Not: Our Dating Story,[b] also known as KimiZero (キミゼロ) for short, is a Japanese light novel series written by Makiko Nagaoka and illustrated by magako. The series published ten volumes under Fujimi Shobo's Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint from September 2020 to March 2025. A manga adaptation by Noyama Carpaccio began serialization in Square Enix's Gangan Online web service in February 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by ENGI aired from October to December 2023.
| You Were Experienced, I Was Not: Our Dating Story | |
First light novel volume cover | |
| 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、お付き合いする話。 (Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Otsukiai Suru Hanashi) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy[1] |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Makiko Nagaoka |
| Illustrated by | magako |
| Published by | Fujimi Shobo |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Fujimi Fantasia Bunko |
| Original run | September 19, 2020 – March 19, 2025 |
| Volumes | 10[a] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Makiko Nagaoka |
| Illustrated by | Noyama Carpaccio |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| English publisher |
|
| Magazine | Gangan Online |
| Original run | February 23, 2022 – present |
| Volumes | 9 |
| Anime television series | |
| Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me | |
| Directed by | Hideaki Ōba |
| Written by | Hiroko Fukuda |
| Music by | Kei Haneoka |
| Studio | ENGI |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | AT-X, Tokyo MX, BS11, SUN, KBS Kyoto |
| Original run | October 6, 2023 – December 22, 2023 |
| Episodes | 12 |
Premise
As a punishment for losing a game, Ryūto Kashima, a gloomy high school boy, is forced to confess his love to Runa Shirakawa, a beautiful girl who is at the top of the school pecking order and admired by everyone. The two end up going out simply because Runa happened to not be in a relationship. After Ryūto asks her out, Runa brings him to her room, where they discover that they have drastically different ideas of how they should date. The two are different in just about everything, from their friends, to personalities and hobbies. Nevertheless, they surprise each other by their differences every day, learn to accept the other for who they are, and gradually connect with each other.
Characters
- Ryūto Kashima (加島 龍斗, Kashima Ryūto)
- Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae[2]
- A gloomy second-year high school boy. He has never had a girlfriend, does not have many friends, and his only hobby is watching live streams on the Internet. Initially, he had a crush on Maria Kurose, but following her rejection, he finds himself falling in love with Runa Shirakawa, a beautiful and popular girl admired by everyone in school. As a punishment for losing a game, he confesses his feelings to Runa in person, and to his surprise, she agrees to date him. Later in the series, he becomes a university student while still dating Runa.
- Runa Shirakawa (白河 月愛, Shirakawa Runa)
- Voiced by: Momo Asakura[3] (PV), Saori Ōnishi[2] (anime)
- A gyaru who is at the top of the school caste and is considered to be the most beautiful girl in her grade. She is bright, cheerful, can approach anyone without hesitation, and has dated many boys before. After Ryūto confesses to her, she accepts his confession and starts going out with him. Even though she has experience in dating, she still worries that their relationship might not last long. They remain a couple after graduating from high school, although due to Ryūto's university studies they only meet occasionally.
- Maria Kurose (黒瀬 海愛, Kurose Maria)
- Voiced by: Aoi Koga[4]
- Ryūto's first crush and Runa's fraternal twin sister, but they grew up separately after their parents divorced when they were in the fifth grade. Though she initially rejected Ryūto's previous confession, she is jealous of her sister's charisma and popularity, including her relationship with him.
- Nikoru Yamana (山名 笑琉, Yamana Nikoru)
- Voiced by: Ayaka Fukuhara[4]
- One of Runa's friends and also a gyaru. In the anime's official English translation, her name is given as Nicole.
- Akari Tanikita (谷北 朱璃, Tanikita Akari)
- Voiced by: Tomori Kusunoki[4]
- A friend of Runa.
- Yūsuke Ijichi (伊地知 祐輔, Ijichi Yūsuke)
- Voiced by: Fukushi Ochiai[4]
- A friend of Ryūto.
- Ren Nishina (仁志名 蓮, Nishina Ren)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Sakaguchi[4]
- A friend of Ryūto.
- Shūgo Sekiya (関家 柊吾, Sekiya Shūgo)
- Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno[4]
- A college student who reveals to be Nikoru's ex-boyfriend. He only dated Nikoru two weeks before dumping her.
- Ken
- Voiced by: Kun[4]
- A popular online streamer who Ryuto and his friends are fans of.
Media
Light novels
Written by Makiko Nagaoka with illustrations by magako, the series began publication under Fujimi Shobo's Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint on September 19, 2020. A promotional video was released on Kadokawa's official YouTube channel on July 15, 2021, to promote the series, featuring Momo Asakura as Runa Shirakawa.[3] The series ended with the release of its tenth volume in March 2025.[5]
In September 2023, J-Novel Club announced that they licensed the novels for English publication.[6]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 19, 2020[7] | 978-4-04-073809-3 | December 8, 2023[8] | 978-1-71-830974-6 |
| 2 | March 19, 2021[9] | 978-4-04-073993-9 | February 22, 2024[10] | 978-1-71-830976-0 |
| 3 | September 18, 2021[11] | 978-4-04-074213-7 | May 9, 2024[12] | 978-1-71-830978-4 |
| 4 | February 19, 2022[13] | 978-4-04-074286-1 | August 1, 2024[14] | 978-1-71-830980-7 |
| 5 | September 16, 2022[15] | 978-4-04-074539-8 | October 24, 2024[16] | 978-1-71-830982-1 |
| 6 | March 17, 2023[17] | 978-4-04-074540-4 | January 23, 2025[18] | 978-1-71-830984-5 |
| 7 | September 20, 2023[19] | 978-4-04-075011-8 | May 22, 2025[20] | 978-1-71-830986-9 |
| SS | March 19, 2024[21] | 978-4-04-075337-9 | — | — |
| 8 | June 20, 2024[22] | 978-4-04-075012-5 | September 2, 2025[23] | 978-1-71-830988-3 |
| 9 | February 20, 2025[24] | 978-4-04-075724-7 | — | — |
| 10 | March 19, 2025[25] | 978-4-04-075725-4 | — | — |
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Noyama Carpaccio began serialization in Square Enix's Gangan Online web service on February 23, 2022.[26] As of January 2026, nine tankōbon volumes have been released. In June 2023, Square Enix began to publish the series in English on their Manga UP! Global service.[27]
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 12, 2022[28] | 978-4-75-758145-6 |
| 2 | November 11, 2022[29] | 978-4-75-758258-3 |
| 3 | April 12, 2023[30] | 978-4-75-758527-0 |
| 4 | October 12, 2023[31] | 978-4-75-758855-4 |
| 5 | March 12, 2024[32] | 978-4-75-759103-5 |
| 6 | August 9, 2024[33] | 978-4-75-759355-8 |
| 7 | January 10, 2025[34] | 978-4-75-759614-6 |
| 8 | July 11, 2025[35] | 978-4-75-759894-2 |
| 9 | January 9, 2026[36] | 978-4-30-100278-9 |
Anime
On September 9, 2022, an anime television series adaptation was announced. The anime is produced by ENGI and directed by Hideaki Ōba, with Hiroko Fukuda overseeing series' scripts, Yosuke Itō designing the characters, and Kei Haneoka composing the music.[1][37] It aired from October 6 to December 22, 2023, on AT-X and other networks.[4][38] The opening theme song is "Love You Tender!" (ラブ・ユー・テンダー！) by Maaya Uchida, while the ending theme song is "Aikotoba" (あいことば) by rock band AliA.[39] Crunchyroll licensed the series under the title Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me.[40] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[41]
| No. | Title [42][43] | Directed by [42] | Written by [42] | Storyboarded by [42] | Original release date [44] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Our Confession Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi ni, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Kokuhaku Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミに、経験ゼロなオレが、告白する話。) | Hideaki Ōba | Hiroko Fukuda | Hideaki Ōba | October 6, 2023 | |
|
Ryūto Kashima, a second-year high school student, is an introvert. He only has two real friends, his main hobby is watching live streams on the Internet, and he has never had a girlfriend. However, because of a bet over who gets the best score on a test, Ryūto who coerced into confessing his feelings to his crush, Runa Shirakawa, the most beautiful girl in his class. He barely speaks, assumes he would be rejected, but to his surprise, she agrees to date him. | ||||||
| 2 | "Our First Date Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Hatsu Dēto Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、初デートする話。) | Shin'ichi Fukumoto | Hiroko Fukuda | Sōta Yokote | October 13, 2023 | |
|
Ryūto ends up dating Runa and after some awkwardness is worried that he will be dumped soon. Even when Runa talks to him, he doesn't feel confident because of the way people look at him. Despite this, he ends up going on a first date with Runa. | ||||||
| 3 | "My Surprise For You Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi ni, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Sapuraizu Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミに、経験ゼロなオレが、サプライズする話。) | Kentarō Mizuno | Hiroaki Nagashima | Shinichi Watanabe | October 20, 2023 | |
|
Ryūto is surprised to learn that Maria Kurose, the girl he was rejected from when he was in the first year of junior high school, has transferred to his school. However, since he has a girlfriend now, he tries to keep his distance from her. Ryūto is approached by "demon gyaru" Nikoru Yamana, Runa's best friend, and told that it is Runa's birthday soon. | ||||||
| 4 | "Our Jealousy Story: The Inexperienced You Gets Jealous of the Experienced You" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi ni, Keiken Zero na Kimi ga, Shitto Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミに、経験ゼロなキミが、嫉妬する話。) | Hideaki Ōba | Hiroko Fukuda | Hideaki Ōba | October 27, 2023 | |
|
When hearing nasty rumors spread about Runa, Ryūto declares in front of his classmates that he is her boyfriend and the rumors are lies. Some disbelieve him but Runa also tells everyone that she is dating Ryūto. Maria quietly walks out of the noisy classroom. Rýūto chases after Maria and discerns that she was the one who spread the rumors about Runa. Maria reveals the true nature of her relation to Runa. | ||||||
| 5 | "Our Dating Story: The Inexperienced Me Spends the Night with the Experienced You" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Otomari Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、お泊まりする話。) | Yūtarō Hoshino | Hiroaki Nagashima | Yūtarō Hoshino | November 3, 2023 | |
|
Ryūto and Runa decide to go on a date to the beach to commemorate their "one-month anniversary". Ryūto is excited to see Runa in a dazzling swimsuit. The experience makes him exhausted, but his nervousness gradually melts away as he sees Runa look so happy. When the weather suddenly changes and they are stranded with no transportation, Ryūto and Runa are forced to stay at an inn and save money by sharing a single bedroom. | ||||||
| 6 | "Our Cheating Story: The Experienced You Cheats with an Experienced Someone Else?" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi ga, Keikenzumi na Dareka to, Uwaki Suru Hanashi?" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミが、経験済みな誰かと、浮気する話？) | Maki Itō | Takayo Ikami | Naoki Hishikawa | November 10, 2023 | |
|
Maria, pretending to be Runa, calls Ryūto to the school gym late at night. Maria earnestly conveys the full extent of her feelings for Ryūto, who ultimately rejects her. While Ryūto consoles Maria after the rejection, someone is filming them together. | ||||||
| 7 | "Our Festival Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me Go to a Summer Festival" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Natsumatsuri ni Iku Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、夏まつりに行く話。) | Shin'ichi Fukumoto | Hiroko Fukuda | Hideaki Ōba Hiroyuki Kōbe | November 17, 2023 | |
|
Ryūto and Runa spend two weeks of summer break living together at Runa's great-grandmother's house while working at her uncle's beach shop. They help each other out at the shop, go grocery shopping for dinner, cook together, and generally thrilled to be in a situation where they are just like a married couple, savoring their happiness and envisioning their future. | ||||||
| 8 | "Our Survival Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Us Play Survival Games" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Oretachi ga, Sabagē Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレたちが、サバゲーする話。) | Takahiro Hirata | Hiroaki Nagashima | Megumi Yamamoto | November 24, 2023 | |
|
Ryūto and Runa decide to go to a survival game together, hoping to have a new experience for both of them. Ryūto's friends, Yūsuke and Ren, and Runa's friends, Nikoru and Akari Tanikita, are also invited and a heated battle between the boys and the girls takes place on the field. After having a great time that even the friends enjoy, Ryūto and Runa ride the ferris wheel together. | ||||||
| 9 | "Our Running Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me Run Together" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Issho ni Hashiru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、いっしょに走る話。) | Hiroyuki Kanbe | Takayo Ikami | Shinichi Watanabe | December 1, 2023 | |
|
Runa runs for a position on the school festival's executive committee in order to promote her "friendship plan" with Maria with the ultimate goal to normalize their relationship. Ryūto is also involved and the three of them become pamphlet clerks. However, when Runa and Maria disagree on the format of the pamphlet design, Ryūto must decide which girl's design to endorse. | ||||||
| 10 | "Our Different Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me Go Different Ways" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Surechigau Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、すれちがう話。) | Shin'ichi Fukumoto | Takayo Ikami | Atsuko Tonomizu | December 8, 2023 | |
|
Despite agreeing with Ryūto's decision to not lie and endorse Mari's design, Runa suggests to Ryūto that they should keep their distance for a while. Ryūto feels powerless, but when Akari tells him that Runa has met up with another man, Ryūto, not believing she has a "sugar daddy", asks his friend from cram school, Shūgo Sekiya, to come to school on the day of the school festival to find out the truth. | ||||||
| 11 | "Our Breakup Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me Break Up" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Owakare Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、お別れする話。) | Hideaki Ōba | Hiroko Fukuda | Hideaki Ōba | December 15, 2023 | |
|
Yūsuke is dumped by Akari and becomes a shut-in, while Ren has an unrequited love for Nikoru. Nikoru is able to reunite with Shūgo and it seems like they started dating, but things aren't going well. When Ryūto witnesses Maria being assaulted, his relationship with Runa becomes strained. Finally, Runa makes a decision. | ||||||
| 12 | "Our Experience Story: The Experienced You and the Inexperienced Me Get Experienced" Transliteration: "Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Keiken Suru Hanashi" (Japanese: 経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、経験する話。) | Akira Ishii | Hiroko Fukuda | Shinichi Watanabe | December 22, 2023 | |
|
Runa wants to fulfill her dream of living in the same house with her family again. On Christmas Eve, with the help of Ryūto and Maria, Runa plans a surprise reunion for her parents intending for them to reconcile. However, the situation takes an unexpected turn. Ryūto and Runa decide to spend the night alone. Runa later decides they should break up, but when Ryūto refuses, in tears, they renew their commitment to one another. | ||||||
Reception
The series both the anime and manga adaptation as well as the light novel received mixed reviews from various critics.
Caitlin Moore wrote that the anime is somehow both "ambitious" and "completely lacking in ambition". She noted that the concepts are "nice on paper", but the execution was "lacking", noting that both Ryuto and Runa have a "personality of wallpaper paste". She adds that the series is openly about sex. Still, the protagonists have "very little chemistry outside of a couple of scenes" and writers try to "inject some tawdry drama" by inserting a love triangle between Runa and Maria. She concluded that the anime was "fine".[45]
Sean Gaffney of A Case Suitable for Treatment praises the first volume of the light novel for sticking to its theme of "slut-shaming is bad” but noted that the couple's progression is the "least interesting part of the series so far" noting that "Just because you’re not having sex doesn’t mean that hand-holding should take 60 pages."[46]