TOP MANGA OF THE MONTH

A time-rewind anthology from ZERO-SUM focusing on stories published on Syosetu. Cover Illustrator: Takamatsu Tsubasa.

‎Zeal had a strange dream—a nightmare that clung to him like a shadow. ‎In a torch-lit chamber steeped in darkness, he saw a woman in a long, flowing gown, her silhouette flickering like smoke. She lay on a cold stone floor, her body writhing in agony. A searing pain twisted through her as strange, ink-black roses began to bloom across her chest—spreading like living tattoos, crawling over her skin, devouring her inch by inch. ‎She cried out—desperate, broken—but her voice faded into silence. ‎The dream felt too vivid, too familiar, as though he weren’t just watching… but remembering. ‎Zeal jolts awake, breathless, the sound of her cry still echoing in his ears. His heart pounds in his chest as he reaches instinctively for it—trying to ground himself, to shake the chill creeping through his bones. ‎He tells himself it’s just a dream. ‎He tries to believe it. ‎But the nightmare returns, night after night, unchanged in its horror. ‎

Satya, whom always wondered if his thoughts about Sebastiaan for the past 14 years were made just because of pure hatred or because of his regrets. Satya thought it will eventually fade as the time pass, but as if his wishes are against his fate, they meet again after a long decade, and it seemed like Sebastiaan did not remember him at all. How will Satya handle it?

Before I died, I was reincarnated into my favorite novel as Iena, a supporting character and an actress — a profession scorned in the Empire. After reincarnating, I had to “discipline” a few pests who kept bothering me. Then one day, the Crown Prince approached me with a strange proposal… “I heard there’s no man who doesn’t fall from just one of your gestures.” I think we’re imagining very different kinds of gestures here. “They say no one can meet your eyes when you smile.” That’s because they’re scared of me… “Use whatever means necessary to make the Duke fall for you.” Excuse me, Your Highness… I think you’ve come to the wrong person!!! The Duke is the male lead, and he already has a destined female lead he’s supposed to fall in love with!! I agreed to the Crown Prince’s plan, deciding to just hang in there until the real female lead shows up. ... but something’s gone off track? “Your Grace, desire isn’t inherently bad. If you want something, speak up confidently. But if the other person says no, you step back. That’s all it takes.” “Is that so?” “Yes.” “Then allow me to be bold. Iena, I wish to hold you.” …Are you being serious right now?

The two childhood friends who has amnesia at the same day

My true identity and these feelings are a secret. Lily is an unidentified influencer who is causing a stir in the world. Her true identity is Shirayuri Sakio, an ordinary second-year middle school student who is invisible at school! This is an absolute secret, but Sena-kun, a popular boy in her class, is about to find out...? Secret feelings overflow. A miracle Cinderella story.

Kozu Ippei, a high school boy with a scary-looking face but mature (motherly) personality, runs into Yayoi, a cute but devious college girl. Misunderstandings lead to more misunderstandings, as they fall in love.

From a very early age, Yunsan and Haegyung had known one another. But when Haegyung’s manifestation occurred, they both retreated into memories of their childhood. Yunsan, manifested as an Omega, unexpectedly reunites with Haegyung at an amusement park. They secretly resume contact—far from the eyes of others. In their adolescence, when their pheromones were still unstable, they sensed one another through DMs and the scent left on clothing. Eventually, they mature into full adults. They meet again in Jeju Island…

Rui is pissed after losing his home and going completely broke! Luckily, his boss at work offers Rui a place to stay. Rui thinks of his boss as a total pushover yet complies with his idea to move in. Rui thinks it’ll be a piece of cake to take over Hikaru’s place. But maybe Hikaru doesn't seem as fragile and weak as Rui initially thought. Will Rui survive staying at his boss’s place?!

Hinanoi Haruki is a third-year high school student. During his final summer in high school, he reunites with freshman college student Hachiya Banri after a long time. Standing before his idolized senpai, Hina's heart pounds, but his joy is short-lived as he learns the person Banri has a crush on... The person Banri secretly has feelings for is a man. And it turns out he's his younger brother's boyfriend...?! Hina is confused, but before he knows it, he realizes his true feelings lie deep within his admiration... A youthful graffiti story where the arrows of love intertwine!

"I'm going to start living with an elf!" Oribe Eiichi, a young man without a job and at the bottom of his life, picks up a mysterious stone in the park one day. When he opens his eyes, he finds himself on top of a giant tree with a beautiful elf in his arms! Eichi tries to save her, but he falls from the tree and loses consciousness. When he wakes up in the hospital a short time later, he finds Kurokawa, who claims to be a public security officer, and the elf Tia. There he learns a shocking truth...

Akira is a normal guy who gets transported to another world summoned by wizards who call him "Master Sage". This world is threatened by a strange happening called the "Great Catastrophe" and now Akira must leader the 21 unique and different wizards who fight against it while understanding their worries and connects with their hearts.

Theo, an aspiring dancer, is suddenly summoned in another world where magic exists. But the place he arrives in is attacked by a dark force, and he has to run away with the pretentious Prince Eliott! While taking the road to get their lives back, they realize that what they are facing is more than they could have ever imagined.

A dull university student, Sousuke-kun’s only comfort lies in messaging Tsubasa-chan, a girl he met on a dating app. A cute and kind girl, talking to her only leads to good things for Sousuke. But who is Tsubasa-chan, really? During their messaging, by chance when sending a casual message, Sousuke opened the curtains to the play of his own hell. The fated girl, “Tsubasa-chan”, has set out to destroy his everything. So begins the unpredictable suspense story!

"Maybe I've been waiting for such a moment for a long time!" While being estranged by his daughter and being blamed by his wife, middle-aged office worker Iwashita lived modestly in his own way. This was his norm at least until he met a girl, Shiina, who suddenly appeared one day in front of him. She approached Iwashita as a 'customer' for "a meal for 20,000 yen". A story of a small escape begins with a painful and dazzling 15-year-old girl seeking her own value and a 40-year-old middle-aged man struggling between reason and desire.

While reminiscing about the good old days at a middle school reunion, Kusui is unable to stop thinking about his first love: his middle school boyfriend Chizuwa, a petite classmate with a shy smile. A special guest crashes the party, and this confident man in a suit turns out to be none other than Chizuwa, who’s here to confront Kusui about the end of their relationship. The debut work of promising author Shinachaso!

Harin is left in critical condition after a car accident. However, her loving husband, Dokyung, ruthlessly removes her heart to save his mistress, who suffers from heart disease. Miraculously, Harin is reincarnated as a girl with intellectual disabilities and marries Kwon Dokyung once more. Seeking perfect revenge, Harin resolves to capture Kwon Dokyung's heart...

Office lady Haru frequents the arcade daily to distract from her discontent with her company. There she easily crushes a delinquent high school boy in a game and somehow, he becomes attached to her. From acquaintances who just met at the arcade to gaming buddy, and beyond that, their relationship is...!? A heart-pounding and heart-warming exchange between an office lady and a delinquent high school boy begins!

Updating

Even Noblewomen with a “Dark Past” Deserve Happiness! An anthology manga featuring a collection of heartwarming stories about noble ladies who were unfairly branded as “villainesses.” Despite their harsh circumstances, each of them finds a path toward a life filled with love, warmth, and gentle indulgence.

High-school student Teruaki Kittaka had a secret crush on his classmate, Kenji Yoshino. After a scarring experience in middle school, Teru was sure to keep the secret to himself... Or so he thought. What will happen if Kenji finds out...?! Sumako Kari presents this and a collection of other touching tales of love and affection that will resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.

“An Unexpected Marriage… A Fated Destiny or a Chance for Happiness?” Since childhood, a noble girl lived under neglect in the governor’s mansion, treated as if she didn’t exist—without ever understanding why. But her life takes a sudden turn when she is summoned by the governor, who reveals a shocking truth—she is his true daughter, a noble by blood! Yet, this revelation was only the beginning. She is then informed of an irreversible decision—she must marry the third prince, a man infamous for his reckless and domineering nature. As she struggles to come to terms with her new fate, the governor’s wife unveils an even crueler secret, one that shatters everything she thought she knew. Is this marriage just a political deal, or is there something more behind it? And if love finds its way into her heart, will it be real, or just another illusion? A journey full of twists and surprises, as the heroine stands at a crossroad between truth and deception, searching for the love and happiness she never knew before!

Ilarion Svarov is the embodiment of perfection—appearance, talent, status, everything. Treasured by the populace as a “national treasure-level heir”, the king pushes a marriage plan linking him to a princess. But Ilarion has other ideas. He seeks a bride who truly stirs his heart—not for duty or alliance, but for love. His choice falls on Teril Crujette, a noblewoman with a hidden past and secret burdens. Though politically distant, she carries her own mysteries. Ilarion pursues her relentlessly, not as a duty, but with earnest affection. But can their genuine feelings survive court intrigue, the shadows of past betrayals, and the weight of expectations?

The count’s daughter, Liligen, grieving deeply over her mother’s death, suddenly has a flash of memory from her previous life. She realizes that she has been reborn into the world of her absolute favorite novel, a world she adored so much that she collected all the setting materials, illustration books, and even watched the anime adaptation. But then she notices something shocking. In this world, she isn’t the villainess, but rather a mob character! The illegitimate half-sister of the villainess. Images of the novel’s story race through her mind like a kaleidoscope, showing her where her fate is headed… Yes, a future where she’s continually mistreated by her family, and in the end, forced to take responsibility for a fallen noble house and care for her feeble, ailing father, just as the family stands on the brink of ruin. —Absolutely not! That’s way too awful! Upon awakening with her memories from her past life, she discovers a new power: healing magic. “This power, more than for anyone else, it’s for my dear brother, Theobald!” Determined to defy her miserable fate, Liligen chooses to save Theobald and the frontier lands from a massive monster invasion rather than await her family’s downfall. Abandoning her home, she hurries to her uncle, Margrave Ashgile, where she finds her cousin, Theobald, on the brink of death after exhausting his magical power…?! A faint feeling in her heart awakens a mad, all-consuming love. Once caught, there’s no escape! Love wrapping love, accelerating into passionate devotion! A sweet, melting, honey-colored pure romance where affection overflows and hearts are bound together.