Nighttime for Just the Two of Us

ARC provided by Netgalley

Our heroine, whose name no one in school can remember, can’t decide what’s weirder—that the most popular guy in school, Koga-Kun, wants to be her friend...or that he insists he’s an alien. But one thing’s for sure—he knows her name, and doesn’t seem ready to let her go through high school anonymous!

Look at that cover it is just the most precious thing imaginable. I am such a sucker for cute covers. And then the premise… well I was certainly intrigued. And let's just say that this was not exactly what I was hoping for. I quite liked the first part of the book but as we got future along I was starting to lose interest. I was just not enamored by the male lead and just could not get into the relationship. I think the story is fine and could definitely be liked more by someone else. I might give the next volume a try but at this moment I am not convinced for this series.

To the most introverted, making connections is an alien concept. Having to bond with other people, attend parties, and collaborating just doesn’t mesh well with those who prefer to be alone. So when a literal alien reaches out to be their first friend, it should send some shockwaves into your brain right? That’s what kind of happens to our main character in Maki Miyoshi’s Nighttime for Just Us Two.

Nikaido is an outsider at school, with her fellow classmates unable to get her name right. Her favorite time of day is late at night, where she can gaze at the stars alone while watching cute pet videos. One night, class heartthrob Koga appears next to Nikaido, and says something otherworldly: he’s an alien. After watching the #1 guy in school literally glow, Nikaido has no choice but to believe this weird circumstance.

But because the alien only comes out when the actual Koga’s asleep, it makes for some awkward moments between Nikaido and him. She tries to tell Koga about the situation, but he thinks it’s crazy talk. However, when the alien makes a video recording to explain the situation, Koga has also has no choice but to believe it and Nikaido. Even if he has accepted this new aspect in his life, Koga still doesn’t quite trust this new alien, whom Nikaido has dubbed “Chiro-chan”.

One of the things that Nighttime for Just Us Two does well is develop its characters. It’s clear that Nikaido has a hard time socializing with others, and having her first friend will certainly help with giving her more confidence to speak. But such a thing doesn’t happen overnight, as Nikaido struggles to talk with others at school and a party soon after meeting Chiro-chan. Seeing Miyoshi allow Nikaido to evolve at a baby step speed is the right way to allow an introvert to grow, rather than simply change their personality with a mere snap of one’s fingers.

The character of Koga/Chiro also has a good yin/yang relationship with themselves. While Koga is a fairly nice guy, one can understand his frustrations of having an alien living inside of him. Chiro understands this, and while he promises to never be too much of a burden to Koga, the student still is wary about its existence. Him lashing out on Nikaido for not knowing enough to know if Chiro’s a threat or not may seem like overkill, but it’s his rough way of trying to protect his fellow classmate.

Of course, Nighttime for Just Us Two does give us plenty of awkward moments between Nikaido and Koga. Her chatting with Chiro in the men’s bathroom results in a rumor spreading about her and Koga dating. She tries to fix the misunderstanding, only to dig herself deeper and become someone whose constantly ridiculed by her classmates. Koga fortunately clears up the hubbub, but not before having to make a risky-yet-humorous sacrifice.

Perhaps my only complaint with this manga is its visual style. I get that Miyoshi is appealing to a certain shojo crowd, but it looks like every other manga in the genre I’ve read these last few years. It does well with being expressive and pretty, but it doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to its art. Thankfully, it has a better story than most of the generic shojo series I’ve recently come across!

Nighttime for Just Us Two has a pretty solid story with likable characters and a good sense of humor. While it doesn’t do anything new from a visual perspective, Miyoshi makes up for it with its solid pacing and relatability. Sure, it might not take an alien to get an introvert out of their shell, but it certainly will require someone less out of the ordinary. With that said, Nighttime for Just Us Two is shaping to be a good friendship story that’s out of this world!

First, my gratitude to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this series in exchange for an honest review.

This is fun until it gets weird. We have here social-outcast character in Nikaido's shape and form. She believes that she metaphorically does not exist and is invisible in everyone's eye because no one can even get her name right or see her eye to eye. And then there's Koga-kun, the popular man of few words who remembers her from middle school.

I was ready to sail my ship until this quiet guy suddenly became all creepy. From the alien who uses Koga's body when he's asleep, all the way to Koga showing his true self. So, that's why I'm taking the other star back.

I did enjoy the first half because was convinced that Koga-kun will make my heart flutter. But he didn't. Now, I like the alien more than him. Wished the author didn't resort to fake dating too, but yea, I guess we gotta use clichés because they're life. And it's a fun read, just that other things didn't do it for me.

Nighttime for Just Us Two is actually really good and surprising! Our heroine is Nikaido, but no one remembers her name and she's practically invisible at school. Oddly enough at night Nikaido wanders to a field to spend some time alone and there she meets the most popular guy of the school, Koga. Except it's not Koga per se, but an alien residing inside Koga's body when he's asleep. Nikaido names the boy and they become friends, but Koga isn't so happy about that, since he now knows about the alien that leaves him messages. The setting is super interesting and well constructed. In it's weirdness it's credible and Nikaido is such a normal girl and we get inside her head too. The manga felt so refreshing! The most I liked the fact that no one seems to be what they pretend to be and there's no real evil in this either and yet this is not just happiness and roses.

The art looks simple, which works. It isn't out of this world (pun intended), but the characters are lively and have facial expressions a lot. Points for that. In a way I hope there won't be a romance and instead this would be a friendship series, but it will eventually go there, I think. Gladly it's nonexistent now!

This title held a retro sort of charm for me. I really liked the alien/ body-sharing aspect of this series, as well as the themes of identity present throughout these early chapters. The body-sharing plotline brings out an interesting dynamic between our three main players and the budding relationships between them. The art is also pleasant to look at. This is a fun start to a cute series!

ARC Copy...Bit on split side on this one. On one hand the high school drama is working and the ambiguous nature of the guy's "alien" status but romance seems abit forced at times.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for a review

Picture this, the attractive boy from your class runs into you one night and tell you he is an alien… how would you react? It’s crazy, right? To prove to you that he is an alien, he glows! I would die. Pretty much, that is the premise of this story.

It was such a fun read to be honest and I can not wait for the next book and see what other crazy things Chiro-chan is up to. The artwork is pretty and my heart swoons for Chiro-chan.

This manga volume begins an interesting (albeit strange!) story.

Nikaido-chan is a young girl who 'blends into the background', and whose name people forget constantly. She went to middle school (and now high school) with popular but quiet Koga-kun. When she is hanging out in the outdoors in the middle of the night and enjoying the quiet, she sees her classmate, who tells her that he is actually an alien (<i>or, more accurately, he is cohabiting the same body and borrowing his body when he sleeps</i>).

Is he actually an alien? Is he insane? Is she the one who is insane? All questions I want answered and will have to continue to read on to find out!

I don't want to spoil anything by saying too much, so I just want to say this story is one that I was surprisingly taken in by. A lot of mystery surrounding the characters and their motivations, and it's something I look forward to reading more of.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review</i>.

Nighttime for Just Us Two is a hilarious shoujo following a girl who no one can remember the name of. Her classmates call her everything under the sun but her name, but everything changes when the most popular boy in school Koga remembers her name! ... Well, and also when he reveals he's actually an alien borrowing Koga's body and wants her to be his first friend.

I absolutely adored this manga. The art style is a bit simpler than what I'm normally drawn to, but I loved the way the mangaka used facial expressions and pacing to convey the humor. I definitely had to cover my mouth a few times so I wasn't so loud. Koga's actual personality flip flops in an endearing way, and you can really feel his emotions underneath them. It's very silly and I definitely see this series becoming a comfort read since I'm definitely continuing with it.

Whilst highly contrived, this was a fun read and I'm curious to know where the story goes. The lettering and line work is very good and the panels are clean and easy to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is definitely one of the cutest and hilarious manga i have read recently. An alien stuck in a teen boy's body and flirting with his classmate. I loved the concept of it.
The alien is super cute and cheerful whereas the teen boy has a grumpy personality. The female classmate keeps herself low profile yet with the alien she a sunshine.
This was so cute, I will definitely pick up the next volume of it.

This is seriously the funniest manga ever.
I wasn't sure what to make of it from the description and title alone, but it's absolutely bonkers. Miyako is a quiet girl who keeps to herself. She spends the very early mornings outdoors. One day, she meets an alien who looks like her classmate. This alien only emerges when her classmate is asleep. Cue countless funny situations,

The drawings are fun, the comedic timing is impeccable, and I really really really want to read the next volume. It's unique in the best of ways. I could also see this being a really fun live drama or anime.

Going into this blind I didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be such a fun read.

Miyako is a high school student who tries to blend in. Her classmates don't ever get her name right and for the most part she is ignored. One of her favorite things to do is go outside around 3 a.m. to watch dog videos and be alone. One night however she sees her popular classmate Koga, but he is acting strange and claims to be an alien who possesses Koga's body when he sleeps. Koga has no clue about this.

This is a cute read...you get to see Miyako make a friend but have to deal with the high jinks of interacting with a boy who doesn't remember hanging out with her the night before. It is nicely paced and the art is adorable. It's a joy to see her relationship with Koga and the sweet alien grow.

Thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I had thought of a story like this several times, but I had never found one that was so cute!!
It's the beginning of a new story, so I hope to see the character development in the future. I like the proposal that the author presents us with these characters, being the first book it was a little more introductory to what awaits us, but if there were some things that seemed a little rushed or a little forced and I would have seemed more if the characters would have already had a little more development together.

Finally, the drawing is beautiful, the cover is beautiful, what more can we ask for.

I went into this manga completely blind and with no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised that it involved an alien inhabiting the main guy's body when he is asleep. Definitely a creative twist that I have never seen before and I find that refreshing. I hope the characters continue to grow and develop after this first volume. They do appear quite one dimensional at the moment, but it is just the first volume!

Overall, 4/5 stars! Very light and sweet read - I'd definitely read the next volume because I'd love to see how the story progresses since it is such a unique plot that I haven't read!

The art is great and very aesthetically pleasing. Again, I do love the fake dating trope so I'm glad for a sprinkle of it in there.


Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review!

I had no idea what to expect from a shoujo manga involving aliens but I'm pleasantly surprised by this first volume! Genuinely funny, endearing, and highly entertaining. A perfect quick read for those who enjoyed Monthly Girls Nokzaki Kun, Not So Shoujo Love Story, and Wolf Girl and Black Prince.

Review to come April 22nd on blog/goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley/Kodansha in exchange of an honest review.

Well, this went from chill and vibing to WTH am I reading Higurashi/Mirai Nikki? Because seriously, Koga is fucking creepy and a big fat NOPE and his expressions, his actions, they just ruined the book. I went from a happy and vibing 4 star to 2.5 star, maybe even closer to 2 stars.

In this book we meet a girl who is apparently pretty invisible. No one can remember her or her name. Imagine her delight when someone remembers! However.. it is not her classmate Koga, instead it is an alien who can pop up as main guy when Koga is deep asleep. And so begins a friendship between a girl who just wants to have friends and peeps to remember her and an alien who is confused about this Earth he is stuck on now. The first parts of the manga were just so cute and I loved how Chiro was trying to learn all there is. From Splatoon (he is not good at that) to figuring out food and other things. I had a laugh at how he convinced Miyako he was an alien. I guess the dude also makes for a good night-light. XD

I really loved Chiro and Miyako's conversations and loved that he spoke up for her in class when her name was misspoken again. I love how he is always radiant and sweet. And I love how he accepted her and she accepted them.

In the mean time we see how different Koga and Chiro are. And they are really night and day.

As I said, not a fan of Koga. I wasn't already that vibing with the boy. Not a big fan of popular kids. However, when he learns of the alien... he just goes full psycho. And yes, I can understand that you are scared, that you are worried, angry that someone entered your body. But WTF at this. He threatens our MC, blackmails her, makes fun of her, corners her, makes sure she indebted to him, and more. His facial expressions, well just check out this thread on Twitter that I made while reading: https://twitter.com/Mehsi_Hime/status/1512009650979409920
As you can see we are going full Higurashi/Mirai Nikki/insert another scary anime. Again, I can somehow understand it, but I think I would have liked it better if he was a bit more chill with it. Especially since Chiro is totally a sweetiepie and even tries to make Koga OK with him. Writing diary entries, making videos, trying to explain he isn't doing harm, that he is just stuck and also wants to get out. That he is now respecting Koga more because he saw that his curiosity got Koga to be too tired. Plus, Koga's expressions just totally don't fit with the vibe the earlier parts had and with the cover. It really ruined the mood and the story for me.

And really the art was for most really good. I loved the parts with Miyako and Chiro at night, they were so pretty. But sadly, the facial expressions for Koga and several other parts just weren't my thing.

I am still very confused by everything. And unhappy with how things went from vibing and sweet to dark and deredere. I am not going to be reading this manga any further, sadly.

I really enjoyed this one!

Miyako is a sweet, introverted girl that is basically invisible at school . No one can remember her name correctly or cares to hear her or see her. She drifts through the school days with her own thoughts for company.

Until she meets the alien, Chiro-Chan. He is taking over Koga-Kun's body while he sleeps and they become friends. Koga-Kun is a popular guy, followed around by his flock of admirers. But he does remember Miyako's names.

This was a fun, quick read. At first I was like mehhhhhhh with the whole alien thing, but I ended up enjoying that aspect. Koga-Kun can be a jerk, but there's something in him (other than an alien) that is heart melting.

Enjoyable, funny, sweet...I'm definitely curious for more.

My favorite part are those hand grabs. They absolutely clutch at my heart, every time.

Miyako is a shy loner who enjoys sneaking out at night because she doesn't like to interact with others. That is, until one night, she meets an alien nicknamed Chiro and finally discovers what it's like to have a friend.

Problem is, Chiro is only awake while his human host, Koga, is asleep. Moreover, Koga has no memories of what the alien does with his body and acts coldly towards her during the day, leaving her heart torn.

Nighttime for Just Us Two, Vol. 1 by Maki Miyoshi is a cute and quirky rom-com that takes the classic trope of a wallflower coming out of her shell and gives it an extraterrestrial twist.

This manga doesn't have as much emotional depth that I typically gravitate towards, and both Chiro and Koga are quite one-dimensional as of now, but I'm hoping their characters get more complex as the story progresses.

Flaws aside, it's still a wholesome and sweet manga if you're looking for a lighter read.

Ho trovato questo manga davvero davvero adorabile! E' divertente e ben disegnato (anche se in maniera semplice) e i protagonisti sono davvero fantastici. Adoro l'alieno perchè è solare, divertente e si preoccupa sia della protagonista che di Koga di cui occupa il corpo. Koga invece è abbastanza inquietante con quel suo doppio volto da amicone e malefico approfittatore per vendetta. Lei invece è davvero molto dolce. Sebbene sia abituata a stare sola, quando finalmente accetta di avere un'amicizia da tutta se stessa per proteggere il legame tra lei e l'alieno.
Mi piacerebbe davvero continuare a leggerlo!

----------------------------

I found this manga really adorable! It's fun and well designed (albeit in a simple way) and the protagonists are really cool. I love the alien because it is sunny, funny and cares about both the protagonist and Koga of which occupies the body. Koga, on the other hand, is quite disturbing with his double face as a buddy and evil profiteer for revenge. She is really very sweet. Although she is used to being alone, when she finally agrees to have a friendship of her own she will do anything to protect the bond between her and the alien.
I'd really like to keep reading it!