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The Apothecary Diaries
Japanese light novel series and its adaptation(s) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Apothecary Diaries (Japanese: 薬屋のひとりごと, Hepburn: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto; lit. 'Apothecary's Soliloquy') is a Japanese light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino. Since 2011, it has been serialized online on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. In the following year, it was acquired by Shufunotomo, who initially published the series as a novel with a single volume in 2012 and then as a light novel series in 2014.
The series is set in a fantasy country inspired by the Tang Dynasty of early medieval China and follows a girl named Maomao, who was trained from an early age by her apothecary father, and was sold as a servant to the emperor's palace while she secretly employs her pharmacologist skills in the service of the people of the palace.
It has been adapted into two manga series in 2017, with one published by Square Enix in Monthly Big Gangan, and another one published by Shogakukan in Monthly Sunday Gene-X. The light novel is licensed digitally in North America by J-Novel Club and in print by Square Enix. The manga illustrated by Nekokurage is also licensed by Square Enix. An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM aired from October 2023 to March 2024, while a second season aired from January to July 2025. A sequel to the anime series has been announced.
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Synopsis
Set in a fictional country based on Imperial China during the Tang dynasty,[2] and often referencing knowledge closer to the late Ming dynasty, the series follows Maomao, a young girl working as an apothecary in a red-light district, who was kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as an indentured servant. She still retains her curious and eccentric personality and plans to work there until her two years of servitude are over. After learning that the emperor's newborns and concubines are critically ill, she begins to investigate the cause. Using her experience as an apothecary, she successfully solves the mystery of their illness. Even though she intended to remain anonymous, her actions catch the attention of Jinshi, an influential eunuch. Then, consequently, she undertakes the solving of mysteries for the royal court.
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Characters
Main characters
- Maomao (猫猫)
- Voiced by: Aoi Yūki[3][4] (drama CD, anime) (Japanese); Emi Lo[5] (English)
- The be-freckled plain-looking daughter of an apothecary and doctor who lives in the red-light district of the capital city. She was born and raised in the Verdigris House, a renowned brothel. She and her dad also provide their services to a number of other brothels in the capital and its courtesans. After being kidnapped by bandits who sell her contractually as a servant to the Imperial Palace, she is accidentally dragged into palace intrigue. Maomao uses her knowledge of poisons, medicine, plants, and basic chemistry to become an unofficial forensic pathologist, in addition to becoming a lady-in-waiting and food taster for one of the Emperor's concubines. While Jinshi is quickly enamored with her, she does not reciprocate at all, often finding him very creepy and looking down at his attempts to ingratiate himself, initially resenting his ways of involving her in palace intrigue. Instead she prefers to spend time attempting to avoid Jinshi at all costs, and testing out different poisons and medicines, sometimes on herself. Even so, she often helps him solve whatever mystery he brings to her attention.
- Jinshi (壬氏)
- Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai[3] (drama CD), Takeo Ōtsuka[6] (anime), Megumi Han (young)[7] (Japanese); Kaiji Tang,[5] Mikaela Krantz (young)[8] (English)
- A eunuch who runs most of the administration of the rear palace, where the Emperor's concubines and their respective staff reside. Both men and women alike are attracted to his physical appearance, but he finds himself attracted to Maomao, the only person he has met who is not immediately enamored by him. Later it is revealed that Jinshi is not a eunuch, he merely is using suppressants (anaphrodisiacs) to appear as one, in order to hide his identity as the Emperor's younger brother. Behind his face lies a shrewd mind that tries to balance his duties to the Emperor while improving life within the Imperial Palace.
Imperial Palace
The Emperor and his Concubines
- Gyokuyō (玉葉)
- Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa[3] (drama CD), Atsumi Tanezaki[9] (anime) (Japanese); Molly Zhang[5] (English)
- Known as the Precious Consort, she is one of the Emperor's four high-ranking concubines and is the emperor's favorite. She has bright red hair and brilliant jade green eyes and is the mother of an infant daughter and, later, a son. She took Maomao as a Lady-in-waiting as thanks for warning her about the poisoned makeup. She is also one who supports Jinshi and Maomao. She resides in the Jade Pavilion in the Rear Palace.
- Lihua (梨花, Rifa)
- Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa[9] (Japanese); Trina Nishimura[5] (English)
- Known as the Wise Consort, she is one of the Emperor's four high-ranking concubines. She has dark blue hair and gave birth to his heir. However, when her head lady-in-waiting disregarded Maomao's warning about her poisoned makeup, her infant son died and she herself nearly died. After Maomao later nursed her back to health, she became more friendly to her. She later gave birth to a healthy son. She resides in the Crystal Pavilion in the Rear Palace.
- Lishu (里樹, Rīshu)
- Voiced by: Hina Kino[9] (Japanese); Reshel Mae[8] (English)
- Known as the Virtuous Consort, she is the youngest of the Emperor's four high-ranking concubines. Due to political reasons, she becomes the mother-in-law of the older Pure Consort. She has food allergies but her ladies-in-waiting think she is just picky with her food, making it one of the reasons to subtly bully her (along with the fact that she is the consort of two emperors) until Maomao suggests death from food allergies is as bad as poisoning and could lead to the execution of those responsible. She resides in the Diamond Pavilion in the Rear Palace.
- Ah-Duo (阿多, Ā Duo)
- Voiced by: Yūko Kaida[9] (Japanese); Monica Rial[5] (English)
- Known as the Pure Consort, she is one of the Emperor's four high-ranking concubines, who resides in the Garnet Pavilion in the Rear Palace. She has a close relationship with Lishu. It is implied that she is the mother of Jinshi. She would later leave the rear palace to live in a detached palace in the south.
- Loulan (楼蘭, Rouran) / Shisui (子翠)
- Voiced by: Asami Seto[10] (Japanese); Suzie Yeung[11] (English)
- Ah-Duo's replacement as the Pure Consort. Behavior-wise, she is aloof and seems not to care, and has the most number of ladies-in-waiting, seemingly overshadowing the emperor's favorite concubine. She masquerades as a girl dressed in servant's clothing and has a fascination for plants and insects.
- The Emperor
- Voiced by: Daichi Endo (Japanese); Alex Mai[8] (English)
- The emperor is a kind-hearted and reasonable man in his thirties, who seeks to erase the ill reputation his predecessors made.
Other members
- Gaoshun (高順)
- Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda[3] (drama CD), Katsuyuki Konishi[9] (anime) (Japanese); Alex Hom[5] (English)
- Jinshi's loyal attendant, often supporting him and Maomao more quietly.
- Guen (虞淵)
- Voiced by: Mitsuru Ogata[3] (drama CD), Mitsuaki Kanuka[9] (anime) (Japanese); Jim Foronda[5] (English)
- Guen is the palace's doctor, whom Maomao refers to as a quack. Though he was a bit hesitant around Maomao, he comes to accept and befriend her later. His family is a purveyor of high-quality paper to the palace.
- Jiaojiao (嬌嬌)
- Voiced by: Mari Hino[3] (drama CD)
- Lihaku (李白, Rihaku)
- Voiced by: Kenji Akabane[9] (Japanese); Seth Fuentes[8] (English)
- A soldier who happened to give Maomao a hairpin during the garden party. She requested him to escort her outside the palace walls in exchange for time at the Verdigris, which caused a misunderstanding on Jinshi's part.
- Xiaolan (小蘭, Shaoran)
- Voiced by: Misaki Kuno[9] (Japanese); Bree Han[5] (English)
- A servant at the rear palace who is Maomao's close friend. Whenever she and Maomao comes together, she sometimes shares the latest gossip and intel from all over the palace.
- Hongniang (紅娘, Hon'nyan)
- Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese); Giovannie Cruz[8] (English)
- Hongniang is the dutiful head lady-in-waiting in the Jade Pavillion.
- Yinghua (桜花, Infa)
- Voiced by: Rie Hikisaka (Japanese); Kelsey Cruz[8] (English)
- Yinghua is a young and cheerful lady-in-waiting in the Jade Pavillion, who quickly befriends Maomao.
- Basen (馬閃)
- Voiced by: Tatsumaru Tachibana (Japanese); Edward Michael Escamilla[5] (English)
- Basen is Gaoshun's straight-laced second son and one of Jinshi's most reliable attendants.
- Kanan (河南)
- Voiced by: Umeka Shōji (Japanese); Kat Lozano[8] (English)
- Kanan is Lishu's former food taster, her newly promoted head lady-in-waiting, and her only ally in the Diamond Pavilion.
- Fengming (風明, Fonmin)
- Voiced by: Noriko Hidaka[12] (Japanese); Sally Vahle[8] (English)
- Ah-Duo's lead lady-in-waiting whose family owns an apiary. Despite her showing as an exemplary and respected lady-in-waiting, there is a secret behind her, which could be the reason Lishu fears her, even with just the mention of her name.
- Suiren (水蓮)
- Voiced by: Mika Doi; Yūko Kaida (young) (Japanese); Kenneisha Thompson[8] (English)
- Suiren is Jinshi's diligent chief lady-in-waiting, and previously Empress Anshi's most trusted lady-in-waiting. She is the mother of Ah-Duo.
- Lakan (羅漢, Rakan)
- Voiced by: Takuya Kirimoto[13] (Japanese); Ricco Fajardo[8] (English)
- He is the tactician of the emperor's army. He is a face-blind, monocle-wearing official and the head of the La clan, to which Maomao belongs, as he is her biological father. He is Luomen's nephew.
- Suirei (翠苓)
- Voiced by: Kaori Nazuka[13] (Japanese); Veronica Laux[8] (English)
- Suirei is a former court lady in the outer court. She is Loulan's half-sister, the first daughter of Shishou.
- Rikuson (陸孫)
- Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama[14] (Japanese); Charles Nguyen[8] (English)
- A subordinate of Lakan who is sent to become Gyokuyou's aide.
- Shin (杏)
- Voiced by: Sayaka Kinoshita (Japanese); Morgan Lauré Garrett[8] (English)
- Shin is the head lady-in-waiting of the Crystal Pavilion and Lihua's jealous cousin. She discarded Maomao's warning to Lihua about the poisoned face powder, causing Lihua's son's death and Lihua's near-death.
- Shenlu (深緑, Shenryu)
- Voiced by: Masako Katsuki (Japanese); Leslie Marie Collins[8] (English)
- Shenlu is an older maid who works in the Rear Palace Clinic and possesses limited medical knowledge. She is one of a few who knows of Maomao's ability to make medicine.
- Taihou (大宝, Taihō)
- Voiced by: Aya Hisakawa (Japanese); Anastasia Muñoz[8] (English)
- Taihou was a lady-in-waiting of the concubine Shenmei during the time of the previous Emperor, who assaulted her, which led to her illegitimate daughter, and eventually her granddaughter Suirei.
- Anshi (安氏)
- Voiced by: Mamiko Noto[15] (Japanese); Cassie Ewulu[8] (English)
- The empress dowager and a victim of the previous emperor's tendencies. She gave birth to the current emperor.
- Haku-u (白羽), Koku-u (黒羽) and Seki-u (赤羽)
- Voiced by: Satomi Satō[16] (Japanese); Kara Edwards[8] (English) (Hakū)
- Voiced by: Hitomi Ueda[16] (Japanese); Natalie Haruka Ewe[8] (English) (Kokū)
- Voiced by: Miku Itō[16] (Japanese); Lily Gast[8] (English) (Sekiu)
- Haku-u, Koku-u, and Seki-u are Gyokuyou's latest addition to her staff of ladies-in-waiting, who are also sisters. They are from the same hometown as Gyokuyou. Haku-u is the eldest, while Seki-u is the youngest. Maomao often cannot tell them apart due to their identical appearances, so they wear differently colored headbands.
- Lahan (羅半, Rahan)
- Voiced by: Toshiyuki Toyonaga[17] (Japanese); Caleb Yen[8] (English)
- Lahan is Lakan's biological nephew and Maomao's cousin, whom Lakan adopted as his official heir. He is a shrewd, observant and cunning young man, like his uncle.
Verdigris House
- Madam (やり手婆, Yarite Baba)
- Voiced by: Kimiko Saitō[9] (Japanese); Wendy Powell[11] (English)
- An old woman who owns the Verdigris House brothel and offered Maomao a place to work, treating her like a granddaughter. She has a deal with Maomao not to make her a courtesan as long as she sends the princesses plenty of rich customers from the rear palace and is implied to be Fengxian's biological mother, thus making her Maomao's actual grandmother.
The Three Princesses
- The "Three Princesses" are the most famous courtesans of the Verdigris House (緑青館, Rokushō-kan) brothel where Maomao grew up. Maomao views all three as her sister figures due to the three of them raising her since she was a child.
- Pairin (白鈴)
- Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu[9] (Japanese); Ciarán Strange[5] (English)
- Pairin is the eldest and most prominent of the Three Princesses, renowned for her unrestrained sensuality and fiery demeanor. A skilled dancer, she eventually forms a romantic relationship with Lihaku; however, she will often pounce on fellow courtesans and even manservants if her appetite is not satisfied. Having once served as Maomao's wet nurse during the latter's infancy, Pairin has a more motherly attitude towards her, which Maomao reciprocates.
- Meimei (梅梅)
- Voiced by: Megumi Han[9] (Japanese); Rebecca Danae[5] (English)
- The second-youngest of the Three Princesses, much more emotional than her sisters and skilled in poetry. Due to her role as Fengxian's former apprentice, she is also talented at playing board games.
- Joka (女華)
- Voiced by: Hiroki Nanami[9] (Japanese); Monica Flatley[5] (English)
- The youngest of the Three Princesses, much more aloof, reserved and colder than her sisters. Despite her profession, she dislikes men and refuses to sleep with them, instead preferring to entertain them with music and poetry, although she is still warm and friendly with Maomao.
- Fengxian (鳳仙, Fonshen)
- Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima[18] (Japanese); Caitlin Glass[8] (English)
- Formerly the Verdigris's most valuable courtesan, she contracted a disease due to the nature of her profession, which made her of no use to the brothel. She is Maomao's biological mother, who once chopped off the tip of Maomao's pinky finger while she was an infant, resulting in Maomao's crooked little finger, in order to place a curse on her former lover and Maomao's biological father. Maomao visits her regularly to help manage her disease through Luomen's medicine.
Others
- Luomen (羅門, Rwomen)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka[9] (Japanese); Stephen Miller[5] (English)
- Maomao's adoptive father. She later discovers from court records that he was a former court doctor who was banished from the rear palace. He is revealed to be one of a rare few to have been sent abroad by the empire to study medicine. He is Lakan's uncle, and Maomao's biological grand uncle.
- Shishou (子昌)
- Voiced by: Chō,[15] Go Inoue (young)[7]
- Loulan's father who is also an influential politician. A Shi clansman from a branch family adopted into the main family to become Shenmei's fiance.
- Ayla (姶良, Aira)
- Voiced by: Lynn[19] (Japanese); Madeleine Morris[8] (English)
- One of the two foreign envoys who came to establish relations with the empire, with the aim of becoming a concubine; but is thwarted. She is colluding with the Shi Clan in their rebellion against the empire.
- Aylin (愛凛, Airin)
- Voiced by: Yumi Hara[19] (Japanese); Hayden Daviau[8] (English)
- The other of the two envoys and Ayla's cousin. She is more quiet and calmer than her cousin.
- Kyō-u (響迂)/Chou-u (趙迂)
- Voiced by: Natsumi Fujiwara[20] (Japanese); Anne Yatco[8] (English)
- Kyō-u, later Chou-u, is a young and cheerful child of the Shi clan, who grew up close to Suirei and later gets taken in by Maomao.
- Shenmei (神美)
- Voiced by: Rika Fukami[21] (Japanese); Jessica Calvello[8] (English)
- Shenmei was a shrewd concubine of the previous emperor. Kept as a hostage by the Empress Regnant to ensure the Shi clan's good behavior, she was later bestowed back by the previous emperor after Shishou kept his promise to wed his illegitimate daughter, and raise her child as a Shi clan member.
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Media
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Perspective
Novel
Originally, the series was published by Natsu Hyūga on the user-generated web novel site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in October 2011. The publisher Shufunotomo acquired the series and then published it on their Ray Books imprint as a novel with a single volume on September 26, 2012, illustrated by Megumi Matsuda.[22]
Light novel
In 2014, Shufunotomo began to publish the series again, illustrated by Touko Shino. This time, it was published as a light novel in their Hero Bunko imprint, which is mostly made of acquired Shōsetsuka ni Narō titles. Since then, the series continued to get more volumes with the story continuing, unlike the previous novel version which had just one volume. J-Novel Club announced in November 2020 that it had licensed the light novel series.[23] In October 2023, Square Enix announced that it would release the light novels in print starting in May 2024.[24]
Manga
A manga adaptation by Itsuki Nanao and illustrated by Nekokurage began in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan on May 25, 2017.[25] Square Enix has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on September 25, 2017.[26] As of March 25, 2025, 15 volumes have been published.[27]
In November 2019, Square Enix announced the English language release of the manga in North America and began publishing it in December 2020.[28]
An alternative manga adaptation, titled The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Notes from the Inner Palace (薬屋のひとりごと～猫猫の後宮謎解き手帳～, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Mao Mao no Kōkyū Nazotoki Techō), illustrated by Minoji Kurata, began in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X on August 19, 2017.[29] Shogakukan has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on February 19, 2018.[30] As of May 19, 2025, 20 volumes have been published.[31] The manga has been licensed in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia.[32]
A spin-off manga centered around Xiaolan's point-of-view illustrated by Itsuki Nanao, titled The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan's Diary, began serialization on Square Enix's Manga Up! manga service on March 23, 2025.[33] The spin-off is also published in English on the Manga Up! Global website and app.[34]
Anime
An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM was announced on February 16, 2023. It was directed and written by Norihiro Naganuma, with Akinori Fudesaka serving as assistant director for the first season and later replacing Norihiro as director of the second season. Yukiko Nakatani designed the characters, and Satoru Kōsaki, Kevin Penkin, and Alisa Okehazama all composed the music.[35][4] The two consecutive-cours series aired from October 22, 2023, to March 24, 2024, on Nippon TV and its affiliates.[6][36] The first opening theme song is "Hana ni Natte" (花になって; lit. 'Be a Flower') performed by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, while the first ending theme song is "Aikotoba" (アイコトバ; lit. 'The Spell') performed by Aina the End.[9] The second opening theme song is "Ambivalent" (アンビバレント) performed by Uru, while the second ending theme song is "Ai wa Kusuri" (愛は薬; lit. 'Love is Medicine'), performed by Wacci.[37]
Following the conclusion of the first season broadcast, a second season was announced. It aired from January 10 to July 4, 2025, on the Friday Anime Night programming block on Nippon TV and its affiliates.[38][39][40] The first opening theme song is "Hyakka Ryōran" (百花繚乱; lit. 'Splendid Bounty') performed by Lilas Ikuta,[10] while the first ending theme song is "Shiawase no Recipe" (幸せのレシピ; lit. 'The Recipe for Happiness') performed by Dai Hirai.[41] The second opening theme song is "Kusushiki" (クスシキ; lit. 'Mysterious') performed by Mrs. Green Apple, while the second ending theme song is "Hitorigoto" (ひとりごと; lit. 'Soliloquy') performed by Omoinotake.[42]
Following the conclusion of the second season broadcast, a sequel to the anime series was announced.[43]
International release
Crunchyroll is streaming the series worldwide outside Asia, in addition to the Middle East, the CIS, and South Asia.[44][45][46] The first cours of the first season was released on Blu-ray on January 28, 2025,[47][48] while the second cours was released on March 25, 2025.[49] Netflix streams the series in select regions of Asia.[50]
Other media
An animation exhibition featuring 3D recreations of the famous scenes in the series, original drawings, storyboards, art settings, and other production materials, is set to run in various cities in Japan from March to September 2025.[51] From July 1, 2025, to January 4, 2026, Universal Studios Japan is set to host an attraction based on the series. An attraction will feature Maomao and Jinshi where participants help them solving the mystery behind a mysterious panacea.[52][53]
A browser game, titled The Apothecary Diaries Palace Chronicles, was announced in July 2025 on Japanese browser games platform G123, operated by CTW Inc. In the simulation game, players train Maomao and take on various cases around the palace. The game will be free-to-play and feature in-game purchases, and is playable on smartphone, tablet, or PC.[54]
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Reception
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Sales
The Apothecary Diaries was the sixth best-selling light novel series in 2019, with 461,024 copies sold;[55] the fifth best-selling light novel series in 2020, with 527,950 copies sold;[56] and the third best-selling light novel series in 2021, with 496,626 copies sold.[57]
By November 2023, the franchise (including the light novel and its two manga adaptations) had over 27 million copies in circulation.[58] By January 2024, the franchise had over 31 million copies in circulation.[59] By September 2024, the franchise had over 38 million copies in circulation.[60]
Critical response
In her review of the first novel for Anime News Network, Rebecca Silverman gave it an overall grade of B, writing: "It's an enjoyable read, one that gets better as it goes on, and if its pacing is a little too fast, it makes up for it in the way the characters interact and the story unfolds", though she criticized it for lacking in mystery elements despite being of the mystery genre.[61] Silverman also gave the second novel a B grade, describing it as being "still an engaging read" and writing: "Maomao is a wonderful, if at times abrasive, heroine who takes no garbage from anyone, and watching her become more and more involved in the life of the court is interesting."[62]
In his review of the first volume of the manga adaptation for Anime News Network, Theron Martin gave it an overall grade of B+. He praised the art, characters and the use of historical details, and noted several similarities with The Story of Saiunkoku.[63] Silverman gave the second manga volume an overall grade of A−, writing: "The Apothecary Diaries' manga adaptation continues to be an excellent read. The art is beautiful, Maomao's the sort of female character who's actually strong rather than just being a Strong Female Character, and the story has nice continuity."[64]
Accolades
In 2019, the manga adaptation by Nekokurage ranked ninth on AnimeJapan's "Most Wanted Anime Adaptation" poll.[65] The manga adaptation won the Next Manga Award in the print category.[66] It also ranked fifth on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2020".[67] In 2024, the light novel and manga adaptation by Nekokurage won the Piccoma Award in their respective categories.[68] The manga adaptation by Minoji Kurata was nominated for the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2024.[69] It has also been nominated at the Japan Society and Anime NYC's second American Manga Awards for Best Continuing Manga Series in 2025.[70]
The anime ranked sixth in Anime News Network's "Top 10 Anime of 2024". Furthermore, Caitlin Moore praised the series' plot, as well as Aoi Yūki's voice acting.[71] In 2025, the anime was nominated for 13 categories including Anime of the Year at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Aoi Yūki, for her work as Maomao, won its only award for Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese).[72]
The anime was also nominated for Best Anime Series at the 5th Astra TV Awards.[73] It won the 2025 Animage's Anime Grand Prix with Maomao and Jinshi taking first and fourth places in Best Character category. Aoi Yūki and Takeo Ōtsuka taking first and fifth places in Best Voice Actor for their respective roles as Maomao and Jinshi.[74]
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See also
- The Failure at God School, a manga series also written by Natsu Hyūga
Notes
References
External links
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