Spacewalking With You is a heartwarming, coming-of-age manga with humour and an unlikely friendship between two high schoolers. We follow Kobayashi, a loner struggling with focus and self-worth, and Uno, a bright-eyed transfer student who sees the world a little differently.
The story explores neurodivergence, social acceptance, and a reminder that we can learn from and find support in the most unexpected people.

Vol. 1 was such a wholesome read and will be relatable to anyone who’s ever felt a little out of place. The messaging can be straightforward at times, but sometimes we need that! I will easily be recommending this to several younger family members and am looking forward to where the series goes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

Spacewalking With You it´s a deeply emotional story that does not leave you indifferent.
In a limited amount of pages it is easy to become attached to and care about the characters, it is undoubtedly a story destined to impact many readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

Thank you for this book!


I thought it was a BL manga from the cover, however the luck of romance did not disappoint as this is one of the best slice of life manga I have ever read, something about it just made me cry without feeling sad, even if I couldn't relate to all the characters struggles I will still recommend this book to everyone because it is simply too touching, emotional without being depressing, it feels honest and I could read another 20 copies, so I was super excited to see it has a sequel.

I will certainly be buying the next book!

Wow! What a wonderful story about two high schoolers who inexplicably bond and become friends. I absolutely fell in love with the friendship between Uno and Kobayashi. They each have something to teach the other and their personal growth is so heart-touching. I can’t wait to read Volume 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book in return for an honest, thoughtful review.

This manga is a gorgeous tale of the budding friendship between a loner student, Kobayashi, and a young autistic teen, Uno. As their bond slowly forms, it begins to heal them both; Uno unintentionally draws Kobayashi back into school life, while Kobayashi offers Uno a chance at friendship and understanding. The story shines in its compassionate portrayal of Uno’s social challenges, with Kobayashi responding to his quirks with curiosity rather than irritation. A beautiful slice-of-life manga, it’s a thoughtful addition to any high school or middle school library looking to diversify its collection.

A wonderful story about autism and being different. Kobayashi has trouble at school and his part-time jobs. No matter how he tries, he always messes up, so he’s stopped trying. Then a new kid comes to his class. Uno is obviously different, loud and clueless about social norms, and he’s always scribling something into a notebook. He gets instantly bullied.

Kobayashi doesn’t really pay attention to Uno, until he sees how the other boy reacts to his notebook being stolen by a bully—who happens to be Kobayashi’s friend. The notebook is full of instructions about how to behave in various situations and Uno refers to it constantly. Kobayashi finds it interesting. He tries it at his job too, writing down instructions and how to react in different situations. His coworkers don’t really believe in him, but his boss does. And for once, he thinks he can hold onto a job.

At school, Kobayashi and Uno slowly become friends, with Kobayashi being the only one who really understands why Uno freaks out about loud noises or anger. And he even joins the astronomy club so that Uno has a friend with whom to talk about his hyperfocus topic, space.

This is a good series starter, perfect for those who want to know what it is to be autistic or neuroatypical. There’s some bullying and upsetting things, but little by little, understanding grows. And it turns out other people around the two boys might not exactly be neurotypical either. Art is good.

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

Spacewalking With You is a fun, heartfelt story about two neurodivergent high schoolers who form an unlikely friendship. It offers a thoughtful, nuanced portrayal of neurodiversity, particularly in the way it contrasts two very different experiences—Kobayashi, who’s been masking and struggling alone without support, and Uno, who has embraced his needs and built a system around himself that helps him feel safe in the face of a world that is often cruel and confusing to him.

Watching their friendship grow was *everything*. Kobayashi learns that it’s okay to struggle, to ask for help, and to lean on someone else. Uno, in turn, begins to open up more and form a deeper connection than he’s used to. Their differences highlight each other’s strengths, and their dynamic is tender, a little awkward, and irresistibly sweet in that opposites attract kind of way.

The artwork is expressive and full of emotion, and the storytelling is impactful, despite the lack of significant plot. I found myself smiling, laughing, and tearing up more than once. It’s a lovely blend of introspection, humour, and emotional growth that made me feel seen.

I’ll definitely be recommending this one to anyone looking for tender, affirming neurodivergent rep, and I can’t wait for volume two!

This manga is so sweet I think I got a cavity! Kobayashi and Uno's relationship throughout this volume had me sobbing and wishing I had someone like that.

Kobayashi is seen as a slacker and a delinquent both at school and at his part-time job, but his life begins to change when a new student transfers into his class. Uno has a difficult time with volume control, loud noises, and unfamiliar situations but luckily his notebook keeps him calm and helps him know how to handle these things. Being in the same class and sitting near each other helps change their views of each other, life, and not being the same as everyone else is okay.

Uno and Kobayashi have such a heartwarming friendship, sure they might not understand each other all of the time and there may be some hiccups but they are always able to reconnect. To me Uno reads as having autism which is really great to see in a manga, I notice some of his habits I can relate to or know that people I know with autism have. It is really great that Uno isn't always the one in distress, even helping (though unknowingly) Kobayashi improve at his job by being able to ask for support.

I could gush about this for hours but I'll leave it with this: READ THIS MANGA!

While I heard this was a great new debut, this surpassed my expectations completely! This is such a healing story and I really want to keep following the emotional journey forward for these characters.

Spacewalking With You is a slice-of-life and coming of age story that follows Kobayashi, a delinquent who has given up on trying and has an apathy towards his life until he meets Uno, a new transfer student who struggles to be understood by others. Both are very different people but find themselves bonding over their struggles to meet others' expectations and wanting to grow as people.

What I especially loved was that this is a manga crafted with such a deep level of care and respect for its characters. Uno is heavily implied to be autistic, and his needs are always taken very seriously even when they differ from what the allistics around him might be used to. Even when his needs are "unusual" or requires something from others, the story takes its time showing why it is so important for Uno to have, and that he isn't just being "difficult."

Kobayashi also struggles with school and at work, and his struggles really capture just how isolating and alone you can feel when you fall behind your peers. Through his connection with Uno, Kobayashi finds ways of coping with his problems even when they might look different than what most people need, showing just how vital it is to have people that are there for you non-judgmentally and completely.

Likewise, I appreciated that there are several moments when characters aren't understanding and might casually say or do hurtful things, even when they don't have bad intentions. There's such a realism and honesty to how the author writes interactions that is such a treat to read.

Overall, this feels like such a warm hug of a book, and I think would appeal to fans of Skip and Loafer, Bocchi the Rock, and even Mob Psycho 100. I would especially recommend it to neurodivergent readers as well.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics for my ARC provided through Netgalley.

If I could give more than 5 stars then I would. This is genuinely one of the most touching and inspiring mangas I've ever read. What happens when two forces do their best to better themselves? When they accept they can live "normal" lives when they accept who they are and find ways to accommodate themselves? I felt this story in my soul. I honestly don't think I can phrase it any stronger than that.

The characters, Uno and Kobayashi, are unlikely friends who navigate their youth together. I don't think I've ever seen a more accepting and heart-warming friendship in any story. These are big claims, I know, but I really do feel like they ring true.

The synopsis might seem a little trope-y, but it really truly doesn't do the actual story justice.

I cried multiple times during my read, and took some time to reflect on myself and my life too. I really, really resonate with Uno as someone who also had to learn to socialise step-by-step as a teenager through notetaking and unwavering routine. I think everyone would relate to some aspect of this story despite it being a high school coming of age manga. After all, we're always growing and are in a constant state of "coming of age" - it's just that the age is undetermined. I think all the characters show a little of this idea, actually.

This publishes in a few days I believe, and I will be purchasing it immediately. This is critical reading for everyone.

Absolutely astounding.

This was a weirdly touching story. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started it, but I am pleasantly surprised by the experience.

As someone neurodivergent with a lot of neurodivergent friends, this manga really felt like a representation of a lot of people on similar spectrums, yet at different ends of it, and that was deeply refreshing.

The characters were extremely endearing, and I even found myself tearing up a little in that first scene where the main character cries, which took me completely off guard as I barely knew anyone at this point. I got attached very quickly to their different personalities and the way they interact with each other. It was also heartwarming to see someone figure out a way to help himself, and kind of see life in a new way that makes him want to live. More healthy boys friendships in media please!

The art is quite fun, and sometimes definitely takes a trippy direction to help carry the story, which I thought was quite relevant.

My only critic would be that I thought the very quick redemption of the friend, a bit too easy, but honestly most of the story is very simple, which is agreeable in it's others aspects, so I will let this character development slide (lol).

All around, I really enjoyed that and it definitely stroke a cord in me. Cannot wait to read the next installation!

Spacewalking With You is a wonderful manga featuring two neurodivergent characters who become friends and save each other. Kobayashi's frustration with himself and admiration of how Uno has learned to deal with his quirks and get by in life was really touching. This is definitely a title that I will be recommending to everyone, and one that should be in classrooms.

I really liked this Manga. As someone who doesn’t always “get it” I felt seen in this book. I loved the friendship the two boys had, it was a pretty wholesome story.

Spacewalking with You by Inuhiko is a shonen manga series that will appeal to all types of readers. The unlikely friendship that develops between the two lonely protagonists is both sweet and engaging. Readers will want to read the next volume.

3.75⭐️

I've been binging mangas lol, anyways,
despite the fun cover, this was amazing.

We follow Kobayashi, former 'bad' boy, whose life changes when Uno, a sensitive (possibly neurodivergent) person, joins his class.

They become acquainted and eventually friends, Kobayashi learns a lot of different things that I absolutely loved!

I didn't mark any quotes but some people have left one of my favorite quotes in their review so I'm copying it (sorry not sorry);
"Sometimes people just need a little something extra so they can live like everyone else."

I think Uno's autistic so love the neurodivergence representation. His struggles were shown clearly, his overwhelming, shutting down, struggling with upfront confrontation and sudden events...

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy of this manga.

Spacewalking With You has the kind of "boys will be boys" energy that we need more of in the world. This is a slice-of-life/character-driven story. You've got Uno who's on the autism spectrum somewhere and Kobayashi the delinquent-coded guy who comes to terms with the fact that he's not that smart but is definitely gaining emotional quotient points as he somehow befriends Uno. This sets off a chain of events such as Kobayashi's newfound self-awareness affecting his current friends, meeting Uno's older sister, and even these two getting involved in a club at school. The supporting cast is also very promising and I look forward to how things work out in volume 2.

I really wasn't sure what to expect based on the series' title (would it be like Space Brothers? Laid Back Camp? Insomniacs After School?), but was happily charmed by the book's content and now see why it was the recipient of the 17th Manga Taisho award.

This volume covers the budding relationship between Kobayashi, a high school student struggling both at school and his part-time job, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with the neurodivergent-coded (although I don't believe it's ever explicitly stated) Uno, a astronomy fanatic who has struggled to connect with his peers in the past and, as a response, has created a detailed notebook of best-practices to navigate social situations. Although Kobayashi is initially put-off by Uno's straight-forwardness and lack of social decorum, watching Uno develop coping mechanisms to overcome hurdles in their life encourages Kobayashi to be more proactive in asking others' for help and to find success strategies of his own.

It's a unique narrative in manga and its presentation is top notch (one standout moment for me is a full one-page spread that visualizes an anxiety attack expertly). Spacewalking’s tone is also an incredible tightrope act of buddy comedy, teenage angst, intergalactic awe, and mental wellness exploration, which makes it a major recommend for any library looking to expand their manga selection beyond action shonen fare and include something teens and adults will both get something out of.

Thank you to Netgalley, Inuhiko Doronoda, and Kodansha Comics for this early release!

This series follows two boys who feel out of place and struggling with the social aspects of life. Despite being very different, they quickly grow to understand each other and become friends who grow with the help of the other.

This introduction to the series was so so good. Yes I might’ve teared up a little at one point. The author did a great job interpreting the characters struggles and their frustrations while connecting the reader to understand and feel what they felt.

Overall I really enjoyed this and am excited to read more of this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing me with a digital arc. All opinions are my own.

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

Life is too hard for Kobayashi, so why should he bother to keep trying? He should really just give up, but that's hard to do now that he's seen inside of new student Uno's worn-out notebook. It's filled with notes and tips for everything from riding the bus to emotional regulation during conflict; it's Uno's 'safety tether'. Since seeing it, Kobayashi finds himself beginning to be able to name the emotions he feels when he fails and choose to work to overcome them. Life isn't suddenly easy, and there is a lot more to learn, but a friend like Uno certainly makes it easier to try.

This is excellent. It's a joy to see neurodivergent characters depicted in a non-pathologizing way, and with a strong visual language to lend weight to the mental and physical experiences of existing in a world that isn't built for you. I appreciated seeing accessibility depicted as also being personal actions you take and accommodations you request for yourself; realistically, there are not always structures in place that can be relied upon. The emotions feel earnest, and the laughs feel earned. Story beats felt well-paced, and the art and paneling assisted with that flow. I adjusted to the art after not liking it initially and found myself enjoying the distinct style, especially in regard to character design.

I would recommend this to younger teens, late middle to early high school, especially those who like realistic fiction and comedy. I cannot wait to get this on our shelf!

A really sweet story about trying to navigate life when you don’t feel like you fit in. I loved this and I can’t wait to read the next one. The art isn’t especially pretty but the story has a lot of heart.