I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 2

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. The second volume of the hit manga series about the complications of first love, friendship, and what it truly means to be an ally. 
 
 Hime and Akira have been best friends since childhood. But since Akira's transition, Hime's constant need to speak out on her behalf is becoming a problem. Akira doesn’t want to stand out, she just wants to enjoy school and make memories, like everyone else. And Hime is only making that harder. 
When Akira becomes the manager for the school’s football team because of a crush on a boy, Hime feels the rift with her friend growing wider. She’s desperate to save her relationship with Akira, but whatever Hime tries just seems to make things worse. What if Akira decides she’s done with her completely? 
 
 This manga adaptation of a hit Japanese webtoon is a joyous celebration of acceptance – both by others and oneself. Tackling universal teen themes of friendship, identity, sexuality and social pressures with a gentle story filled with thoughtful (though imperfect) characters, this series is brilliantly inclusive and has clear crossover appeal.

Umi Takase (Author, Illustrator) 
Umi Takase was born and is still living in the Toyama Prefecture of Japan. In 2016, she won an honorable mention at the 78th Shogakukan Newcomer Comic Awards where she debuted with her standalone short story 'Ethnic Mirror' in the special issue of Flowers.

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. 
 
Hime and Akira have been best friends since childhood. But since Akira's transition, Hime's constant need to speak out on her behalf is becoming a problem. Akira doesn’t want to stand out, she just wants to enjoy school and make memories, like everyone else. And Hime is only making that harder. 
 
When Akira becomes the manager for the school’s football team because of a crush on a boy, Hime feels the rift with her friend growing wider. She’s desperate to save her relationship with Akira, but whatever Hime tries just seems to make things worse. What if Akira decides she’s done with her completely? 
 
This manga adaptation of a hit Japanese webtoon is a joyous celebration of acceptance – both by others and oneself. Tackling universal teen themes of friendship, identity, sexuality and social pressures with a gentle story filled with thoughtful (though imperfect) characters, this series is brilliantly inclusive and has clear crossover appeal.

Umi Takase

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. 
 
Hime has secretly been in love with Akira for as long as she can remember. Childhood best friends, Hime was the first to know that Akira identified as a girl, and she's made it her mission to protect Akira from the world. 
 
So, when Akira decides to begin secondary school as her true self, Hime is thrilled. But as Akira attracts all kinds of attention at school, Hime’s protective instincts go into overdrive. Not wanting Akira to be singled out, Hime decides that her only option is to put herself in Akira’s shoes and dress like a boy . . . too bad her plan backfires on them both 
 
This manga adaptation of a popular Japanese webtoon is a joyous celebration of acceptance – both by others and one's self. Tackling universal teen themes of identity, sexuality, social pressures and friendship with a gentle story filled with thoughtful (though imperfect) characters, this series is brilliantly inclusive, with clear crossover appeal.

Umi Takase

Books by Umi Takase

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter