Aoi and Ryota have been friends for as long as they can remember, so when it comes time to head off to college, it only makes sense for them to room together. Practically joined at the hip, they are convinced that their relationship will stay the same forever...until one day, Aoi wakes up to find Ryota leaning in to kiss him! Now Aoi must unpack this bewildering development, but he just can't seem to forget Ryota's touch...

I Can’t Stand Being Your Childhood Friend has art and story by An Momose. English translation is done by Tristan K. Hill and lettering by Kai Kyou. Published by Seven Seas (October 14, 2025). Rated M.

Rebecca Silverman
Rating:

One of the greatest frustrations of reading romance is that the characters can often be one actual conversation away from resolving their problems. Having them not discuss things is as much a cheat as stat screens in isekai, and it may be even more irritating because it feels so artificial. With that said, the greatest strength of I Can’t Stand Being Your Childhood Friend is that Ryota and Aoi are champion communicators. Yes, Ryota kept his feelings to himself for years, but once those gates open, the two of them make efforts to discuss them like rational human beings.

This goes beyond just talking about emotions and whether or not Aoi is comfortable (or willing) transitioning from lifelong best friends to boyfriends. The sex scenes are also full of conversation, from Ryota seeking enthusiastic consent to ongoing discussions of what's working for them and what isn't. It may not be sexy for all readers, but it's important for the characters as they navigate the changes in their feelings and relationship. They are first and foremost best friends, and the book makes it clear that becoming boyfriends doesn't negate that other relationship. For Aoi and Ryota, it enhances it.

It's easy to get invested in the two college students' lives. Even before a chapter from Ryota's perspective spells out just how long and solid their relationship is, An Momose does a good job showing readers how comfortable the two are with each other and how they appear to the outside world. All of their friends and neighbors assume that they're already dating, but that's a product of the type of interactions the two share and the level on which they know each other. They aren't codependent, but they are a pair, which is a large part of why Ryota isn't sure it's worth disrupting what they do have for what might not be possible. After his confession, Aoi goes through much the same thing, and the takeaway is that these two care so much about each other that they're not entirely sure what to do with their feelings. Having them largely work things out together, with minimal outside influence, gives the plot a close, intense appeal.

Momose's art is attractive, and there's moderate censoring of the sex scenes, which are still plenty explicit. The existence of bisexuality is a piece of the book's world, something we don't always see acknowledged, and overall there's just a really lovely focus on communication. If the lack of it is your pet peeve, don't miss this series.