The characters pull you in to the story as they meet and quickly help each other become more comfortable existing in the world. Keisuke seems to be an autistic character, which is the first time I've seen representation, especially accurate representation, in manga! I say seems because he doesn't use that word to describe himself, but the traits he displays seem to be very similar to the autistic experience. I found myself wrapped up in how the two main characters began to bond and improvements caused by their friendship immediately occurred. It's a very engaging story, and I'm excited to see where the story goes, particularly with Astronomy Club and the development of the "Spacewalking" theme!

"Can a dot really turn out to be more than just a dot?"

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the opportunity to read this ARC. This was a very sweet first entry in a manga series about growing into yourself and making friends in high school following Kobayashi, a 2nd year delinquent who has begun to think of himself as a failure, and new transfer student Uno, a neurodivergent 2nd year that Kobayashi befriends. The art style was not entirely my fave and could be hit or miss in some panels but overall I really enjoyed this story. It deals with neurodivergency in a way manga (at least in English translation) doesn't often touch on which was refreshing to see portrayed. Seeing Kobayashi come out of his shell after getting to know Uno and grow in his own ways outside of their friendship was really nice character growth. I look forward to reading future volumes to find out how Kobayashi and Uno's friendship develops over time.

I absolutely loved this story. It’s a cute and moving tale about two high school boys who seem like they couldn’t be any more different, becoming friends and growing up.

Uno seems odd at first but you quickly find out he’s a quirky and good hearted boy. Kobayashi looks like a delinquent but he is a kind and good person.

Goodreads
11 May 2025
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7560441550

A cute story of friendship between a cool guy and a cast off. They’re both seemingly very different, but underneath the facades they are very similar. They learn to trust each other and help one another grow. The drama is not high; it’s a rather relaxing story that shows the growth of a friendship. It can be boring for some, but it’s a good manga for when you want a break from the action and drama.

Would I recommend: yes.
Four stars because it’s above average but not the best manga ever

Thank you, Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this manga!

Kobayashi (Koba) seems to be a typical cool high school student who doesn’t care about anything. Koba is a part-timer at Second House that sells used DVDs, CDs, Comics and other stuff. He’s struggling to keep a job, and it looks like he tried it all by now. One day, his classmate and childhood friend, Saku, announced they were to have a new transfer student. Little did they know this boy will change their lives forever.

Keisuke Uno who’s born on June 20, definitely made an appearance on his first day in the new school. Soon we discover that he has a struggle of his own.

One of the scenes put a big smile on my face. My friends and I also used to hide headphones in the sleeve to be able to listen to the music in the classroom. It was such a cute detail.

“Sometimes people just need a little something extra, so they can live like everyone else”

As someone who always struggled with pretty much every subject except world literature and history, I always thought of myself as someone lesser, because I couldn’t keep up with the rest of the class. “Spacewalking With You” definitely stroke a nerve. I remembered skipping university classes, because I didn’t want to feel stupid and hated seeing professors’ disappointed faces. Everything seems to be so fast, while I was so slow and was falling behind. I just needed more time to get there.

To sum this all up, it was a pleasant surprise, and although the art style was not really my cup of tea, but the underlying message is beautiful and I loved it. Will be looking forward to Chapter 2. I want to learn more about Mikawa-senpai, about their soon-to-be retired sensei and, of course, the main characters.

P.S.
There’s a playlist in the end!

A really sweet (beginning to) story! I absolutely loved the different neurodiversity/mental health rep and how those things can affect teenagers in really powerful ways. Such a wonderful story of friendship as well. I'm looking forward to reading more and watching the characters grow and gain confidence.

Being understood is truly a wonder on its own, and the blooming friendship between Kobayashi and Uno made me tear up in how dear they became to each other within moments. The series covers heavy topics like depression, anxiety, and social anxiety alongisde how it is to be neurodivergent and how it feels to discover that you might be neurodivergent yourself.

As an autistic person myself, I was pretty scared as for how the depiction of neurodivergence would be as it can easily go very wrong. The first few pages kept me on edge for that very reason but made me really happy and teary for the rest of the volume.

While it is not outwardly said, it reads as though we are seeing the story of two friends who are on the spectrum going through life as they learn things from each other. We see Kobayashi, who is a "delinquent" that is seen to be "careless" and "useless in jobs." Even his friends bet on the time he will spend in a part-time before getting fired. He wants to know what's "wrong" with him and what exactly he is cut for. On the other end, we see Uno, a transfer student who is seemingly different from the other kids.

Kobayashi becomes the first person to see Uno as a friend and bring his "safety net" notebook back to him. Uno becomes the first person to look at Kobayashi without thinking of him as a failure and just talk to him.

Needless to say, I cried a little by the end of the volume. I saw myself in Kobayashi a little more than I thought I would.

There is a feeling of not understanding what's going on with himself that drags him down. Why can't he function like other people? Why doesn't he get things the way others do? Is he stupid? Is there something wrong with him? Uno becomes an answer to these questions, reminds him that maybe he needs a different way than most people to function. Kobayashi has the struggles of many undiagnosed neurodivergent people who don't have the words to describe themselves, and it felt pretty calming to read. He has issues asking for help but doesn't want to just so he doesn't seem "dumb," he can't grasp some stuff when it is told the way most people understand but gives up once he gets bad comments about his skills cause he doesn't want to feel bad like that anymore... It all hit close to home.

The artist did a pretty great job depicting these things that used to feel like alienating experiences. I am very glad to have picked this up and will surely be picking the rest of the series up soon!

It's really such a joy to see complex and diverse neurodivergent representation like this. Two unlikely kids become friends and learn new ways to comfortably be themselves from each other. There's a vulnerability and openness between the two that's definitely not been a defining feature in either of their lives prior to now. Can't wait to see where this story goes! Definitely a very unique and expressive art style.

It's a very adorable slice of life manga set in highschool, about two neurodivergent boy becoming friends. It's doing a very nice job at making them relatable and vulnerable. The art-style was not really to my liking at first but I quickly adjusted to it, and I found the manga enjoyable overall.

Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for this ARC!

So adorable. Two unlikely high schoolers who become friends.
Kobayahi feels like the stupid one who doesn't get anything and doesn't ask people for help until he meets Keisuke, the new student transfer who changes the way Kobayashi thinks and does things, and vice versa.
Keisuke loves space and astronomy, and I love it too... can't wait for the next volume!
This manga shows the importance of owning up to the mistakes we make and learning from them.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for this awesome manga!

3.75 stars

‘Spacewalking with You’ was my first manga! I thought the translation was well-done and appreciated the footnotes.

Perhaps a spoiler, but I did think part of this would take place in space.

The story was not quite as whimsical as I had expected, but I found it to be meaningful. I do look forward to seeing where this story goes.

Thank you to Inuhiko Doronoda and Kodansha Comics for granting me an eARC through NetGalley.

Though it is hard to watch the main characters go through their struggles its heartwarming to see them get to the other side of them, learn from them and each other.

A beautiful, heartfelt collection of stories showcasing the beginning of a friendship between an unlikely duo. The main characters are both neurodivergent (though in different ways), and while watching their struggles was painful, seeing how they help each other overcome obstacles and grow was heartwarming.

I read this in one sitting and cannot wait for the next volume. 5/5, an immediate recommendation to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the ARC!

A refreshing and heartwarming look at how neurodivergence makes us different but also similar.

Koba and Uno are the most unlikely friends but they just work. Koba helps Uno in social situations. Uno helps Koba realize with a little routine, he can be more than he is now.

Absolutely just a warm hun of a manga.

Super cute friendship story for neurodivergent + anxious people. I really enjoyed this. Recommended for fans of Komi Can’t Communicate.

I didn't know what to expect, but I really liked it! It's amazing that this is Inuhiko Doronoda's first manga.

Both winner of the Manga Taishō 2024 award and top 1 in the Kono manga ga sugoi: 2025 selection in the category aimed at a male audience, that was already a guarantee of quality!

I loved the relationship between Uno and Yamato and the way they support and understand each other in their own ways, with their differences. It's not mentioned in Volume 1, but Uno is clearly neuroatypical or on the autistic spectrum.
Neurodivergence is dealt with intelligently and without unrealistic or disrespectful clichés.
It's really adorable, heartwarming and human. I want more of their adventures!

Spacewalking With You is a feel-good slice of life that brings a breath of fresh air to the manga landscape!

I loved this so much! I'm neurodivergent myself and I saw myself so much in these characters, which is something that doesn't usually happen in mangas, because the representation tends to be a bit off most of the time... So glad that in this manga the representation was exactly what I was hoping it would be!
It felt so real and authentic, it actually made me tear up at one point...

Can't wait to read more volumes of this! And if there is a physical release of this series in English, I'll definitely buy it! I need a manga series with good neurodivergent representation in my personal library!

A story centering one two highly different characters that find common ground. While they are very different and have very different styles of communicating they try and understand one another without asking the other to change. A wholesome story on friendship and understanding. Love it and can’t wait for the next one.

"When I don't understand something, it feels like I'm floating in space."

Spacewalking with You feels like an absolute breath of fresh air in the shounen world. It showcases neurodivergent characters in a way I've never seen before in the manga medium. A lot of care has gone into the creation of this story. There were multiple times where I teared up, not only because of the characters themselves, but also the way Doronoda accurately portrays what it feels like to feel like an outsider, different from everyone else.

"... sometimes people just need a little something extra... ...so they can live like everyone else."

At its core this manga is a beautiful coming of age story. The art style is somewhat rudimentary, but overall Spacewalking with You has a lot of heart. This manga will appeal to readers who love rich slice-of-life stories with a good dose of comedy. Doronoda has created something truly special with this first volume and I'm excited to see where it leads.

Vey heartwarming! It's nice to see the characters growth and bond! This is what friendship should be!