Summary
There’s no doubt that Deku and Uraraka’s relationship inMy Hero Academia, based on complementing and supporting each other, made them one of the best couples in anime. However, even ifMHAis an action-packed shōnen where romance has a small subplot, its author, Kohei Horikoshi, has been confirmed to be a fan of romance and wholesome slice-of-life.
In an author commentary published in Weekly Shōnen Jump issue 29 from 2023,Horikoshi revealed that his comfort mangas wereBlooming LoveandSkip and Loaferand stated that he loves them so much that he wants to continue reading them forever.
Horikoshi had praised the mangaKagurabachi, and recently, as a fan of his work, he is recommending Daichi Kawada’s seriesBlooming Love,published in Shōnen Jump+ and available on the app Manga Plus.
As confirmed by the official X account of Daichi Kawada, Kohei Horikoshi wrote a touching message for the upcoming volume wherehe complimentedBlooming Lovefor its emotional story.
New Shonen Jump Manga is the Perfect Romance Series More Fans Need to Read
Miyu Suzuki and Yusuke Tani are classmates with clashing personalities, but they make a perfect match in this newly-localized Shonen Jump manga.
Blooming Love’s Subtle Romance Earns Horikoshi’s Recognition
Created by Daichi Kawada, Serialized onShōnenJump+
Volume 3 of Blooming Love, set for release on August 11, 2025, includes a recommendation by Horikoshi where he refers to the series as hisiyashi, a word that bears the meaning of healing, therapy, or a sense of serenity.ForBlooming Loveto be considered by Horikoshi as a form of comfort is highpraiseand something the series excels at, being a simple yet sweet and wholesome romance made to relax and remember the beautiful things about love. He wrote about how the subtle emotions of the heart and every framed moment becomes precious in the series.
The world is all about the subtleties of a small heart. Every moment captured, each frame becomes endearing.
Horikoshi highlights how each frame inBlooming Loveis captivating, and this is because Kawada’s art is charming, and the composition truly conveys the longing and awkwardness but also the expectation and essence of first love. Also, the author often uses panels to reflect the characters' feelings and tell the story without dialogue.
Horikoshi, by having a weekly serialization, is always under high pressure, so it made sense for him to enjoy a slow-paced story likeBlooming Love, which is quite the opposite of his own work. The manga doesn’t stretch the conflicts, so it doesn’t become long, nor does the story evolve very quickly, instead telling its narrative in a way that’s more adjacent to “slow burn” storytelling.
Blooming Love is a Story Made to be Loved by Artists
The Story Highlights the Beauty of Art and Crafts.
Just like it did with Horikoshi, Kyoko and Shintaro’s story resonates with artists who can see themselves represented in how the characters show their passion for their respective fields, which blooms into love out of mutual fascination, and in how their dynamic is based on trying to master their arts while supporting each other in achieving their dreams.
Blooming Lovestands out because it’s not like other romances focused on harems, love triangles, or fanservice, but on art and crafts and how finding someone who understands your goals can push you forward.Blooming Loveis definitely anunderrated romance manga, and Horikoshi gave it his recommendation in its newest volume to encourage more fans to read his favorite comfort story.
My Hero Academia
Cast
Anime series My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where most have them. Despite his lack of abilities, he enrolls in a prestigious hero academy, striving to learn the true essence of heroism and fulfill his dream of becoming a hero.
