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My Monster Secret
My Monster Secret
My Monster Secret
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My Monster Secret
Japanese cover of the first volume of My Monster Secret, featuring Yōko Shiragami.
実は私は
(Jitsu wa Watashi Wa)
GenreRomantic comedy[1]
Manga
Written byEiji Masuda
Published byAkita Shoten
English publisher
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Champion
Original runJanuary 31, 2013 – February 16, 2017
Volumes22 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed byYasutaka Yamamoto
Produced by
  • Mika Shimizu
  • Toshiaki Tanaka
  • Masahiro Sugasawa
  • Shunsuke Matsumura
  • Jun Nakajima
  • Shinobu Satō
  • Shingo Takegawa
  • Yūsuke Kubo
Written byKenichi Yamashita
Music byAkito Matsuda
StudioTMS/3xCube
Licensed by
Original networkTV Tokyo, TVO, TVQ, TVh, TVA, TSC, AT-X
Original run July 6, 2015 – September 28, 2015
Episodes13 (List of episodes)

My Monster Secret, known in Japan as Actually, I Am... (実は私は, Jitsu wa Watashi wa), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiji Masuda. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion from January 31, 2013, to February 16, 2017. Akita Shoten collected the series in 22 tankōbon volumes.

An anime television series adaptation ran from July to September 2015.[2] AnimeLab has secured streaming rights in Australia and New Zealand.[3]

Seven Seas Entertainment acquired the rights to translate and distribute the manga for North America, with the first volume being released in January 2016.[4][unreliable source?]

Plot

[edit]

Asahi Kuromine, a normal high school student who supposedly cannot keep a secret, finds his demeanor quickly challenged when he spots his classmate and crush, Youko Shiragami, unfurling a large pair of wings from her back when he tries to propose. He learns Youko is a vampire, and she is only able to attend a normal school on one condition: no one must discover her true identity. This secret becomes difficult to maintain, as Youko herself is an airhead and Asahi's childhood friend Mikan keeps bullying the two of them. Love is blooming between Asahi and Youko but things are not very easy. Later on, Asahi discovers more girls in his school with secrets of their own: a tiny alien who rides a human-sized exoskeleton of herself, a werewolf capable of switching gender at any depiction of a moon, a thousand-year-old demon who secretly runs the school, and more who not only pose a challenge as Asahi tries to maintain Youko's secret, but also secretly like Asahi and despise the idea of Asahi and Youko being a couple, thus trying to separate them.

Characters

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Main characters

[edit]
Asahi Kuromine (黒峰 朝陽, Kuromine Asahi)
Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae
Asahi is a second year high school student who seems to be unable to keep a secret, so much his nickname is "leaky basket". He often acts as the narrator through his inner monologues. Asahi is also susceptible to projectile nosebleeds when confronted with perverse situations, earning the nickname "Eromine" from Yōko. He has a younger sister named Mei, who is barely mentioned in the story until much later on.
Yōko Shiragami (白神 葉子, Shiragami Yōko)
Voiced by: Yū Serizawa
Yōko is a classmate of Asahi and the daughter of a human and a vampire. Although she has long canine teeth, many other typical vampiric characteristics are downplayed, such as only getting tanned in sunlight or feeling guilty when entering a room uninvited. Yōko speaks in Kansai dialect, using honorifics to not expose her teeth. Despite initially coming across as haughty, she is bubbly and absent-minded on the outside.
Nagisa Aizawa (藍澤 渚, Aizawa Nagisa)
Voiced by: Inori Minase
Nagisa is a classmate of Asahi and Yōko as well as small alien riding a human-sized robotic exoskeleton of herself. She is usually meticulous and serious with her actions, though loses her composure when dealing with embarrassing situations. Nagisa has an older brother, Ryo, whom she initially respects and draws inspiration from, before learning he is less reliable than she initially realized.
Mikan Akemi (朱美 みかん, Akemi Mikan)
Voiced by: Reina Ueda
Mikan is a childhood friend of Asahi who always bullies him. She is president of the Newspaper Club and has used her position to turn it into a supermarket tabloid. However, most of the time, the newspaper club members do all the work for her. Mikan secretly likes Asahi, but perceives her lack of femininity as a barrier she cannot overcome, and prefers instead to bully and tease him. She has two younger brothers who occasionally appear in the series.
Shiho Shishido (紫々戸 獅穂, Shishido Shiho)
Voiced by: Aya Uchida
Shiho is the dominant personality, and is aware of everything occurs when Shirou is in control of her body. While Shirou has a crush on Yōko and attempts to discover if Asahi is aware of her secret, Shiho is more playful and amorous, deriving enjoyment from being perverse. She often tries to force Youko into admitting her true feelings towards Asahi, and having a perverted crush on Asahi, and tries to expose herself to him. While her father is also a wolfman, her mother is only shown in silhouette and is referred to as the "Charismatic Female Pervert".

Supporting characters

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Shirō Shishido (獅狼)
Voiced by: Kenichi Miya
Shishido is Yōko's childhood friend and a wolfman. Initially appearing as Shirō, an intimidating man with sharp teeth. Upon seeing any depiction of The Moon, he transforms into Shiho, a busty, self-proclaimed pervert.
Akane Kōmoto (紅本 茜, Kōmoto Akane)
Voiced by: Mao Ichimichi
Principal of Asahi's high school and a thousand year-old demon who has the body of a young girl with demonic horns. Despite her age, she is often quick to exhibit childish tendencies, such as playing large-scale pranks on the people at school and quickly getting excited whenever she believes sweets are nearby. She takes special delight in ruining Akari's life when given the chance. As a demon, Akane is capable of magically transforming herself and others around her, as well as multiplying herself.
Akari Koumoto (紅本 明里, Kōmoto Akari)
Voiced by: Emi Nitta
Asahi's homeroom teacher and former delinquent known as "Akari of the Hundred Visits" due to responding violently after apparently being rejected by 100 boys across different schools. She is Akane's great-great-granddaughter. Her short temper and strong fighting ability allows her to rein in Akane's misbehavior.
Rin Kiryuin (黄龍院 凜, Kiryūin Rin)
Rin is a first high school student. She is secretly Asahi's and Mikan's time traveling granddaughter from the future. Rin is protective of Asahi, whom she treats like a grandfather, not adapting her behavior to his younger appearance.
Okada (岡田), Sakurada (桜田), and Shimada (嶋田)
Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa, Wataru Hatano and Hiro Shimono
Okada, Sakurada, and Shimada are Asahi's three male friends.
Genjirō Shiragami (白神 源二郎, Shiragami Genjirō) and Tōko Shiragami (白神 桐子, Shiragami Tōko)
Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama (Genjirō), Yōko Hikasa (Tōko)
Yōko's father and mother who had a high school romance similar to Yōko and Asahi. Genjirō is over-protective of his daughter, while Tōko often ends up reigning in his behavior through serious situations.
Karen Shirogane (銀 華恋, Shirogane Karen)
Introduced as a demon, Karen is a fallen angel who lost her halo, which Akane uses as a light bulb without her knowledge. Honest and gentle to a fault, her attempts to be demonic are often seen as angelic yet annoying. She was Genjirō and Tōko's classmate, as well as current student council president, having retained the position for over 20 years at the request of Akane. Her feathers can invoke one of the seven deadly sins in whoever gets stuck with them.

Ryo Aizawa (藍澤 涼, Aizawa Ryō)

Nagisa's older brother, Ryo moves around in an exoskeleton in is the size of a human body. His exoskeleton is the body of a girl 'ghost' so Nagisa would not know he was in there. He is usually the victim of Shimada's continual flirtation, even to the point of almost kissing him.

Yuika Momochi (桃地 結香, Momochi Yuika)

Yuika is a ninja from a different time-period who tends to fall in love with the first guy she bumps into, including Asahi and Okada. However, her use of ninja equipment usually intimidates anyone she tries to attract. Revealed to be Shimada and Shiho's time traveling granddaughter.

Mei Kuromine (黒峰 鳴, Kuromine Mei)

Mei is Asahi's younger sister who is Yuika's somewhat supportive friend.

Saki Minagawa (水奈川 咲, Minagawa Saki)

A student representative of Mei and Yuika's class, Saki is a succubus who drains men's energy when seducing them. However, Saki herself has little in the way of skills or experience doing so.
Sen Kiryuin (Kiryūin Sen)
Sen is Vampire-Hunter who has no intention of actually hunting vampires. He occasionally imparts some advice to Asahi on how to deal with Yōko's vampire problems.
Shirayuki (白雪姫)
The principal of Morobare high school from Genjirō and Tōko's past, Shirayuki is a cruel person who feels absolute disgust at the thought of human and non-human species can coexist, believing it goes against the pride of non-humans.

Media

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Manga

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Written and illustrated by Eiji Masuda, My Monster Secret has been serialized in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Champion from January 31, 2013, to February 16, 2017, and collected into 22 volumes by Akita Shoten. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the manga for North America under the title My Monster Secret and published the first volume on January 12, 2016.[5]

Volume list

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No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
01June 7, 2013[6]978-4-25-322168-9January 12, 2016[7]978-1-62-692238-9
  • Chapters 1-7
02August 8, 2013[8]978-4-25-322169-6April 19, 2016[9]978-1-62-692259-4
  • Chapters 8-16
03October 8, 2013[10]978-4-25-322170-2July 19, 2016[11]978-1-62-692291-4
  • Chapters 17-25
04December 6, 2013[12]978-4-25-322171-9October 18, 2016[13]978-1-62-692345-4
  • Chapters 26-34
05February 7, 2014[14]978-4-25-322172-6January 10, 2017978-1-62-692385-0
  • Chapters 35-43
06May 8, 2014[15]978-4-25-322173-3April 25, 2017978-1-62-692455-0
  • Chapters 44-52
07July 8, 2014[16]978-4-25-322174-0July 25, 2017978-1-626925-03-8
  • Chapters 53-61
08September 8, 2014[17]978-4-25-322175-7November 14, 2017978-1-626925-81-6
  • Chapters 62-70
09December 8, 2014[18]978-4-25-322176-4January 16, 2018978-1-626926-75-2
  • Chapters 71-79
10February 6, 2015[19]978-4-25-322177-1April 10, 2018978-1-626927-24-7
  • Chapters 80-88
11April 8, 2015[20]978-4-25-322521-2June 26, 2018978-1-626928-06-0
  • Chapters 89-97
12July 8, 2015[21]978-4-25-322522-9August 28, 2018978-1-626928-52-7
  • Chapters 98-106
13September 8, 2015[22]978-4-25-322523-6October 30, 2018978-1-626929-20-3
  • Chapters 107-115
14November 6, 2015[23]978-4-25-322524-3December 18, 2018978-1-626929-71-5
  • Chapters 116-124
15January 8, 2016[24]978-4-25-322525-0March 26, 2019978-1-642750-13-3
  • Chapters 125-133
16April 8, 2016[25]978-4-25-322526-7May 28, 2019978-1-642750-81-2
  • Chapters 134-142
17June 8, 2016[26]978-4-25-322527-4August 6, 2019978-1-642751-20-8
  • Chapters 143-151
18August 8, 2016[27]978-4-25-322528-1November 12, 2019978-1-642757-28-6
  • Chapters 152-160
19October 7, 2016[28]978-4-25-322529-8January 28, 2020978-1-645051-88-6
  • Chapters 161-169
20December 8, 2016[29]978-4-25-322530-4April 21, 2020978-1-645052-38-8
  • Chapters 170-178
21February 8, 2017[30]978-4-25-322801-5September 1, 2020978-1-645055-03-7
  • Chapters 179-187
22March 8, 2017[31]978-4-25-322802-2December 22, 2020978-1-645057-41-3
  • Chapters 188-196

Anime

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The anime adaptation of My Monster Secret premiered on July 6, 2015, in Japan and streaming to North American audiences via Crunchyroll as Actually, I am.... the same day. The opening theme is "Himitsu o Chōdai" (ひみつをちょーだい, Give Me Secrets) by Ars Magna and the ending theme is "Ienai Ienai" (言えない言えない, Can't Say It, Can't Say It) by Hilcrhyme. Additionally, three character song volumes were released: Volume 1 featuring Yōko Shiragami (Yū Serizawa) and Shiho Shishido (Aya Uchida), Volume 2 featuring Nagisa Aizawa (Inori Minase) and Mikan Akemi (Reina Ueda), and Volume 3 featuring Akane Kōmoto (Mao Ichimichi) and Akari Kōmoto (Emi Nitta).

The anime is licensed by Discotek Media. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray in February 2017.[32]

Episode list

[edit]
No. Title Original air date
1"I'll Confess!"
"Kokuhaku Shiyō!" (告白しよう!)		July 6, 2015 (2015-07-06)
Asahi Kuromine, a high school boy who has trouble keeping a secret from anyone, has a crush on his cool and reserved classmate, Yōko Shiragami. Yōko admits to Asahi that she is a vampire, but could only come to school if she hid her true identity from everyone. Asahi swears that he will be her friend and keep her secret safe. Meanwhile, Newspaper Club head Mikan Akemi plans to see how Asahi's confession went, and Nagisa appears to be spying on Asahi from afar.
2"I'll Keep This Secret!"
"Himitsu o Mamorō!" (秘密を守ろう!)		July 13, 2015 (2015-07-13)
Asahi tells his friends that he decided to be just friends with Yōko for now. Meanwhile, Nagisa reflects on how she brutally rejected Asahi the previous summer to prevent him from getting too close to her, but soon acts jealous after seeing him with Yōko. When Yōko accidentally reveals her wings as Nagisa steps into the room, Nagisa also accidentally reveals herself to be a tiny alien, stepping out of her human-sized "External Unit" while holding a tiny raygun at Yōko.
3"Beware Childhood Friends!"
"Osananajimi o Kiotsukeyō!" (幼馴染に気をつけよう!)		July 20, 2015 (2015-07-20)
Asahi decides to stop for a brief visit at Yōko's student apartment, but gets a call from Nagisa that Mikan managed to get past her and run to Yōko's house. Mikan is accidentally knocked unconscious after being buried under a pile of Yōko's junk from the closet, but decides to photoshop a romantic encounter between Asahi and Yōko and threatens to display it throughout the school. Asahi confronts Mikan on the rooftop and begs her not to do it, but the pleading only makes her stronger, so Asahi takes the opposite route and decides to let her put up the pictures.
4"Help the Class Rep!"
"Iinchō o Tasukeyō!" (委員長を助けよう！)		July 27, 2015 (2015-07-27)
After taking shelter in a gym storage shed, Nagisa mysteriously grows to human size and is embarrassed about revealing her antenna to Asahi while Mikan, Shimada, Yōko hunt them down. A mysterious horned lady magically returns Nagisa to her normal size, while Asahi and Yōko clear up their misunderstanding after school.
5"Let's Go on a... Date?"
"Dēto? Shiyō!" (デート？しよう！)		August 3, 2015 (2015-08-03)
After discovering that UV rays from sunlight cause Yōko's skin to instantly tan, Nagisa decides to train her into dodging sunlight on her route to and from school. Asahi studies about vampire weaknesses while Nagisa encourages Yōko to do a field test with her new training. Later that evening, Yōko notes that their outing was similar to the relationship that her own parents had with each other, to the point where they even attended her current school together. Meanwhile, Yōko's father is suspicious of Yōko's new boyfriend, and tasks the werewolf Shiro Shishido with bringing her back home if her secret has been revealed.
6"Beware of the Wolf Man!"
"Ookamiotoko ni Chuui Shiyō!" (狼男に注意しよう！)		August 10, 2015 (2015-08-10)
While returning home from the amusement park, Asahi and Yōko encounter a scary wolfman with fangs. Yōko recognizes him as her childhood friend Shiro, but he threatens Asahi anyway. When Shiro sees the moon in the evening sky, he ends up transforming into a sexy lady named Shiho, who claims the dominant personality in the body she shares with Shiro. The next day, Shiho appears in Nagisa's class as a transfer student, introducing herself as "a pervert".
7"Let's Get Sexy!"
"Sekushī ni Narō!" (セクシーになろう！)		August 17, 2015 (2015-08-17)
Akane and Akari decide to have a "sexy" contest in the empty school gym, where Shiho acts as the host while Asahi is forced to be the judge through his nosebleed reactions. Meanwhile, Nagisa starts tracking mysterious demonic energy from her cat-like spacecraft elsewhere in the city. In multiple contests, Yōko and Akane try to one-up each other to prove their sexiness, except Asahi keeps getting the strongest reaction from Shiho's actions. The contest ends with Yōko and Akane blowing up the gym in a large explosion and sending Nagisa's spacecraft flying from the shockwave.
8"Let's Save the World!"
"Sekai o Sukuou!" (世界を救おう！)		August 24, 2015 (2015-08-24)
Asahi finds out he has to retake a cooking class, having missed the previous one. He is delighted to find out that Yōko, Nagisa, and Shiho are joining him in making curry. However, Asahi soon finds out that those three girls have trouble making it. Nagisa's directions lead her to make a chocolate cake, which is accidentally tossed out a nearby window where Akane catches it with her horn. After taking a bite, she falls in love with it. Even as Akane tries copying herself to reach Nagisa's chocolate, the other girls eventually fought her clones off until she loses enough focus that Nagisa's comrades in outer space force the asteroid to make a U-turn, saving Earth from destruction.
9"Let's Put On Our Swimsuits!"
"Mizugi ni Kikaeyō!" (水着に着替えよう！)		August 31, 2015 (2015-08-31)
Asahi gets up the nerve to invite Yōko to the pool, where he teaches her how to swim. Yōko tells Asahi about how her parents learned to swim and how her life has changed for the better since she and Asahi met.
10"Let's Be Honest!"
"Sunao ni Narō!" (素直になろう！)		September 7, 2015 (2015-09-07)
Okada, Sakurada, and Shimada invite Asahi and Yoko to join them at a buffet restaurant. When Yōko is reluctant for fear of revealing her secret, Asahi convinces her to eat.
11"Let's Go to the Summer Festival!"
"Natsumatsuri ni Ikō!" (夏祭りに行こう！)		September 14, 2015 (2015-09-14)
Asahi and Nagisa were invited by Yōko, Shimada, Oka, and Sakura to the Summer Festival. However, Yōko tricked them into together on them spending an exciting time "alone together". She and Shiho follow Asahi and Nagisa around to watch what they do together. While trying to make the atmosphere less awkward, Asahi invites Nagisa to play at the shooting gallery. Yōko becomes flustered while watching the two of them play, and loses track of where they went.
12"Let's Stop This Confession!"
"Kokuhaku o Soshi Shiyō!" (告白を阻止しよう！)		September 21, 2015 (2015-09-21)
After the incident at the Summer Festival, Yōko has been avoiding Asahi, unaware of how she felt about it. He continues to do things together with her, but she runs away before they could. Shiho talks with Youko about being more honest about her own feelings.
13"Let's Go Home Together!"
"Issho ni Kaerō!" (一緒に帰ろう！)		September 28, 2015 (2015-09-28)
Asahi, Akari, Nagisa, Shiho, and Akane are hampered by Akari's refusal to exceed the speed limit and risk damaging her new car. Akane knocks out Akari and uses her powers to take control of the car, but ends up destroying it in the process. Asahi, Nagisa, and Shiho break into the mansion, and are confronted by Yōko's father Genjirō. The next morning, Akari and Akane pick up the students (Akari made Akane pay for a new car in full). Genjirō pretends that he does not care that Youko is leaving, but runs after the car waving goodbye.

Reception

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The manga had 1.5 million copies in print as of March 2016.[33]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

My Monster Secret

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
My Monster Secret, known in Japan as Jitsu wa Watashi wa (実は私は, "Actually... I Am..."), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiji Masuda. It is a romantic comedy centered on high school student Asahi Kuromine, who cannot lie and accidentally discovers that his crush, the quiet Youko Shiragami, is a vampire; he must keep her secret to avoid her expulsion from school while encountering other supernatural beings like aliens and mermaids. The series was serialized in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine from January 31, 2013, to February 16, 2017, and collected into 22 volumes. It blends humor, romance, and elements in a high school setting, featuring a diverse cast of monster characters who hide their true natures from humans. licensed the manga for English release under the title My Monster Secret: Actually, I Am..., with volumes published from January 2016 to December 2020. An television , produced by , aired from July to September 2015, consisting of 13 episodes and streamed internationally on . A stage play ran from May 11 to 15, 2016.

Synopsis

Plot Summary

The story centers on high student Asahi Kuromine, who has a reputation for being unable to keep secrets, discovering that his classmate and crush, Youko Shiragami, is a when he witnesses her fangs after . Despite his natural tendency to blurt out truths, Asahi vows to protect her identity from humans, as exposure could lead to severe consequences under the rules governing monster-human interactions. This initial discovery sets the stage for a series of comedic mishaps as Asahi navigates daily life while guarding Youko's secret. As romantic tension builds between Asahi and Youko through shared moments and awkward encounters, the narrative expands to include complications from other supernatural students at the school, such as the alien Nagisa Aizawa and the werewolf Shiho Shishido, who each harbor their own hidden monstrous natures. These additions create layers of secrecy and humor, as Asahi becomes inadvertently involved in protecting multiple identities amid typical high school activities like classes, clubs, and festivals, along with the demon Akane Koumoto. A major turning point occurs with the revelation of the school's policy allowing monsters to attend while concealing their identities to promote coexistence, overseen by a that includes beings. This disclosure escalates the stakes, as conflicting secrets among the group lead to increasingly chaotic and comedic romantic entanglements, including misunderstandings, rival affections, and near-exposures that test loyalties and relationships. The overall narrative unfolds across the series, emphasizing Asahi's struggles with secret-keeping and budding romance with Youko, the dynamics of an expanding ensemble of monsters and their collective efforts to maintain normalcy, and the climax and resolution of interpersonal conflicts, where revelations and decisions solidify bonds, culminating in the series' conclusion after 196 chapters.

Setting and Themes

The series is set at Morobare Senior High School, a typical Japanese high school that functions as a central hub for beings integrating into while concealing their true identities. Monsters attend classes alongside humans under a strict "no revealing secrets" policy, enforced by the to prevent exposure and maintain coexistence. This environment highlights the everyday challenges of blending in, from navigating school routines to avoiding accidental disclosures during social interactions. The lore incorporates various mythical creatures with defined abilities and limitations, often adapted for comedic effect within the high school context. Vampires exhibit classic traits such as aversion to , resulting in severe sunburn rather than instantaneous , and a need to consume blood for sustenance, though hybrids experience moderated effects. Werewolves transform involuntarily upon sighting the —or even images of it—altering their physical form, including shifts in some cases, which complicates efforts to hide during lunar cycles. Aliens possess advanced technology for disguise and abilities like size manipulation, while mermaids contend with aquatic dependencies that hinder terrestrial mobility, alongside other beings like demons with reality-bending powers but ethical constraints on their use. These elements create a rich world-building framework where rules intersect with adolescent life, amplifying the stakes of secrecy. Central themes explore the conflict between secrecy and normalcy, as characters grapple with the pressures of hidden identities amid the vulnerabilities of high school. Romantic misunderstandings frequently arise from near-reveals and the of rejection, underscoring the challenges of forming genuine connections while upholding . The also delves into of differences, portraying how trust and bridge divides between humans and monsters, fostering growth in relationships. Humor emerges from awkward monster-human interactions, such as failed concealment attempts, yet the series balances these with poignant moments on , reliance, and the value of authenticity in a deceptive world.

Characters

Main Characters

Asahi Kuromine serves as the protagonist, an ordinary second-year high school student renowned for his extreme and inability to conceal emotions or secrets, earning him the nickname "hole sieve" among peers. Despite his reluctance, he becomes entangled in a web of secrets after discovering Youko Shiragami's true nature, developing romantic feelings for her that propel the story's comedic and romantic tensions. Over time, Asahi evolves from a bumbling secret-keeper into a reliable ally, supporting the monster girls in navigating their hidden lives while grappling with his own vulnerabilities. Youko Shiragami is the central female lead, a who transfers into Asahi's class and must conceal her monstrous identity to attend under a special arrangement. Elegant and poised in demeanor, she often appears as a "cool beauty" but internally battles her vampiric instincts, such as blood cravings, leading to humorous mishaps that underscore her clumsy side. Her budding romance with Asahi forms the emotional backbone of the narrative, blending vulnerability with determination as she balances secrecy and budding relationships. Nagisa Aizawa functions as the strict class representative, an alien from the planet Galhax whose aggressive and traits mask her extraterrestrial heritage as she uses a human-sized bio-machine suit to blend in. Known as the "Iron Lady" for her no-nonsense attitude, she frequently clashes with Asahi in a bid for his attention, injecting rivalry and comedic tension into the dynamics while fiercely guarding her alien secret. Her development highlights a softer side emerging through interactions that challenge her tough exterior. Mikan Akemi, the shy president of the school newspaper club, is Asahi's human childhood friend who harbors an unrequited crush on him, often using her journalistic pursuits to probe secrets and insert herself into the group's antics, providing comic relief amid her timid personality. Her role emphasizes themes of acceptance, as she navigates everyday high school life with quiet resilience while oblivious to the supernatural elements around her. Shiho Shishido, Youko's energetic childhood friend, is a wolfman () capable of transforming into her male alter ego Shirou, adding layers of gender-bending comedy and support to the group. Cheerful and bold with a penchant for mischief, she contributes tech-savvy gadgets in some scenarios and fuels jealousy-driven rivalries, particularly toward Asahi, while concealing her dual-natured identity. Her presence enriches the story's blend of romance and hijinks through her unwavering loyalty and playful provocations.

Supporting Characters

Akari Kōmoto, a (part ) teacher at the school, acts as a laid-back ally to the monster students, frequently teasing them while assisting in maintaining their hidden identities. As the great-great-granddaughter of the principal Akane Kōmoto, she contributes to world expansion by bridging the gap between faculty and students in episodes focused on school rules and mishaps. Her relaxed demeanor contrasts with the high-stakes secrecy, adding lighthearted moments to subplots involving lore and interpersonal teasing. Karen Shirogane, the long-serving president and a , enforces school regulations with a kind yet enigmatic approach, often pursuing her own mysterious objectives related to the monster society's hierarchy. She has served as president for over 20 years despite her youthful appearance, using her "sin feathers" to influence events, supporting the central narrative through interventions in romantic conflicts and rule-breaking antics without overshadowing the protagonists. Her ditzy traits provide humorous relief while highlighting themes of and hidden agendas in the hidden monster world. The series features a variety of minor monsters who appear in episodic roles to expand the school's hidden society, such as Yuika Momochi, a time-traveling whose temporal origins lead to comedic scenarios and diversity in supernatural types; Saki Minagawa, a struggling with her lack of seductive appeal, contributing to self-discovery subplots; and Ryo Aizawa, Nagisa's older alien brother who is too lazy to attend school regularly, adding layers of familial alien dynamics and food-stealing gags. These characters collectively illustrate the breadth of beings coexisting covertly, enhancing humor and world-building through brief but memorable contributions.

Production

Development and Serialization

My Monster Secret, known in Japan as Jitsu wa Watashi wa, was created by Eiji Masuda, a mangaka whose prior works include the series Toumei Ningen no Tsukurikata (serialized 2009–2010 in ) and the school romance Sakura Discord (serialized 2011–2012 in the same magazine). The series debuted in Akita Shoten's on January 31, 2013 (issue #9), and ran until its conclusion on February 16, 2017 (issue #12), comprising 196 chapters collected into 22 volumes. A significant milestone occurred on January 26, 2015, when the was announced, leading to its premiere in July of that year. The series concluded naturally at its planned endpoint, wrapping up the central plotlines without abrupt cancellation.

International Licensing

acquired the license for the English-language release of the manga in , retitling it My Monster Secret: Actually, I Am… from the original Japanese Jitsu wa Watashi wa. The first volume was published on January 12, 2016, with the series completing its run of all 22 volumes on December 22, 2020. In addition to the North American print editions, the has been licensed for publication in other regions, including Traditional Chinese in by Tong Li Publishing Co., Ltd. and French by Ki-oon. Digital versions of the English edition are available through platforms such as and BOOK☆WALKER, providing accessible formats for international readers. Localization efforts for the English edition involved translating the title to emphasize the supernatural secrecy theme while retaining the subtitle for fidelity to the original phrasing, ensuring the elements, including cultural humor around high school dynamics and monster tropes, resonate with Western audiences without major alterations to the narrative structure. As of 2025, all 22 volumes of the English edition remain in print through , with no announcements for reprints, special editions, or expansions beyond the completed series.

Adaptations

Manga Publication

My Monster Secret, known in Japanese as Jitsu wa Watashi wa, was collected into 22 volumes published by under their Shōnen Champion Comics imprint. The volumes were released from June 7, 2013, to March 8, 2017, compiling the chapters from the serialization in . Each volume typically includes 7-9 chapters, along with bonus content such as author notes, color illustrations, and short stories that expand on side characters or provide comedic interludes. The cover art maintains a consistent motif, depicting characters in school uniforms with subtle hints at their monster identities through silhouettes, shadows, or symbolic elements like fangs or wings partially obscured, emphasizing the theme of hidden secrets. No official spin-off manga series were produced, though individual magazine issues occasionally featured short bonus chapters not included in the main volumes. Limited editions were not released for the , but select volumes incorporated extra color pages and exclusive to enhance the reading experience. The following table lists the volumes with their release dates, ISBNs, and representative chapter contents:
VolumeRelease DateISBNChapters Included
1June 7, 2013978-4-25-322168-91–7
2August 8, 2013978-4-25-322169-68–16
3October 8, 2013978-4-25-322170-217–25
4December 6, 2013978-4-25-322171-926–34
5February 7, 2014978-4-25-322172-635–43
6May 8, 2014978-4-25-322173-344–52
7July 8, 2014978-4-25-322174-053–61
8September 8, 2014978-4-25-322175-762–70
9December 8, 2014978-4-25-322176-471–79
10February 6, 2015978-4-25-322177-180–88
11April 8, 2015978-4-25-322521-289–97
12July 8, 2015978-4-25-322522-998–106
13September 8, 2015978-4-25-322523-6107–115
14November 6, 2015978-4-25-322524-3116–124
15January 8, 2016978-4-25-322525-0125–133
16April 8, 2016978-4-25-322526-7134–142
17June 8, 2016978-4-25-322527-4143–151
18August 8, 2016978-4-25-322528-1152–160
19October 7, 2016978-4-25-322529-8161–169
20December 8, 2016978-4-25-322530-4170–178
21February 8, 2017978-4-25-322801-5179–187
22March 8, 2017978-4-25-322802-2188–196

Anime Series

The television anime adaptation of My Monster Secret (known in Japan as Jitsu wa Watashi wa) is a 13-episode series produced by in collaboration with animation studio 3xCube. Directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto, the series aired weekly from July 7 to September 29, 2015, on and its affiliates. It faithfully adapts the manga's early story arcs, covering approximately the first 80 chapters while incorporating original comedic scenes to amplify the romantic and supernatural humor, such as exaggerated secret-keeping mishaps and character interactions not directly from the source material. The voice cast features as the protagonist Asahi Kuromine, Yuu Serizawa as Youko Shiragami, as Nagisa Aizawa, and as Shiho Shishido, among others, bringing dynamic energy to the ensemble of high school students hiding supernatural identities. The opening theme, "Himitsu o Chōdai" (Tell Me Your Secret) by Ars Magna, sets a playful tone, while the ending theme, "Ienai Ienai" (I Can't Say, I Can't Say) by hilcrhyme, underscores the theme of unspoken secrets. The episodes focus on episodic comedic scenarios drawn from the , emphasizing Asahi's struggles to maintain the group's secrets amid life, crushes, and revelations, with added original elements like sight gags and timing-based humor to enhance pacing for television. Below is a list of titles and original air dates:
EpisodeTitleAir Date
1I'll Confess!July 7, 2015
2I'll Keep This Secret!July 14, 2015
3Beware Childhood Friends!July 21, 2015
4Help the Class Rep!July 28, 2015
5Let's Go on a... Date?August 4, 2015
6Beware of the Wolf Man!August 11, 2015
7Let's Get Sexy!August 18, 2015
8Let's Save the World!August 25, 2015
9Let's Put On Our Swimsuits!September 1, 2015
10Let's Be Honest!September 8, 2015
11Let's Go to the Summer Festival!September 15, 2015
12Let's Stop This Confession!September 22, 2015
13Let's Go Home Together!September 29, 2015
In North America, Discotek Media released the complete series on Blu-ray (Region A) and DVD (Region 1) on February 28, 2017, with English subtitles. The series is also available for streaming on Crunchyroll, where it simulcast during its original Japanese broadcast.

Stage Play

A live-action stage play adaptation of My Monster Secret (titled Jitsu wa Watashi wa in Japanese) was announced on March 11, 2016, and performed from May 11 to 15, 2016, at Shinjuku Village LIVE in Tokyo, consisting of eight shows over five days. The production, a 2.5-dimensional musical, was scripted and directed by Ichidai Matsuda, who incorporated song and dance sequences to heighten the comedic elements of the original manga's romantic comedy plot, where high school student Asahi Kuromine discovers that his crush Youko Shiragami is a vampire amid a cast of supernatural classmates. The main roles were played by Ryo Oshima as Asahi Kuromine and Rin Asuka as Youko Shiragami, with a total cast of 18 actors portraying supporting characters such as Nagisa Aizawa (Rurika Wakabayashi), Mikan Hoshimi (Asuka Nagayoshi), and Shihu Shishido (Kosei Shibasakou). Monster transformations and supernatural traits were depicted through practical effects, including elaborate costumes, props, and choreography to convey the series' humorous secrecy-keeping scenarios without relying on digital enhancements typical of the anime adaptation. The play focused primarily on the early story arcs, emphasizing the budding romance and comedic misunderstandings central to the narrative. Contemporary reports highlighted the energetic performances and faithful of the manga's lighthearted tone, with audience feedback praising the cast's chemistry and the integration of musical numbers for enhanced humor. As of 2025, no additional stage productions or sequels have been announced.

Reception

Critical Response

Critics have praised My Monster Secret for its innovative blending of supernatural monster elements with the tropes of high school romance, creating a that balances whimsical fantasy with emotional depth in character relationships. reviewers highlighted how the series exploits the romantic potential of its central couple, portraying their interactions as both charming and supportive, even as comedic chaos ensues from hidden identities. The manga's witty dialogue, often delivered through humorous running commentary from supporting characters, enhances the lighthearted tone, while Eiji Masuda's expressive artwork—featuring dynamic facial expressions and confident character designs—elevates the visual appeal of these romantic and comedic moments. Despite these strengths, some critiques have focused on the series' reliance on tropes and pacing inconsistencies in its later volumes. On , where the holds an average score of 7.96 out of 10 based on user reviews, commentators have pointed out how the accumulation of romantic interests around the can feel formulaic, deviating from the initial focus on the core relationship and introducing repetitive comedic setups. Reviews also note pacing issues, such as filler chapters that dilute the overall story progression after the early arcs, leading to a sense of stagnation despite the ongoing humor. Regarding the 2015 anime adaptation, reviewers commended its faithfulness to the manga's early comedic spirit and character dynamics, capturing the supernatural rom-com essence through vibrant and voice performances. However, the 13-episode format was critiqued for limiting depth, as it primarily adapts initial volumes and rushes conclusions, omitting much of the manga's evolving character development and later thematic layers.

Commercial Success

The manga series My Monster Secret experienced notable commercial success during its serialization, reaching over 1.5 million copies in circulation by 2015 and a total of 2.5 million copies by the end of its run in 2017. Volumes regularly appeared on weekly manga rankings, with examples such as volume 9 selling 26,359 copies in its debut week. The 2015 anime adaptation aired on and was internationally on , where it garnered a user rating of 4.5 out of 5 from over 2,700 viewers. Blu-ray volumes were released in starting in 2015, though specific sales figures remain limited; one partial-week ranking showed 309 units for an early volume. The adaptation contributed to heightened franchise visibility and sustained interest. Merchandise tied to the series, including collaboration T-shirts from brands like Livertine Age and character song CDs, generated additional revenue through fan engagement. Items such as pass cases and clear files further expanded the product's market presence. Post-2017, the series maintained steady digital availability on platforms like , supporting ongoing accessibility without reported declines in engagement as of 2025.

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