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A Vampire in the Bathhouse

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A heartwarming and hilarious comedy manga about a hot vampire who just wants to unwind and the family who runs the bathhouse where he crashes. Escape to a world of steam and relaxation...and get the blood flowing!

A full story in one volume!

Luka is your picture perfect vampire--he’s good looking, he’s regal... He’s also usually incredibly hungover and exhausted, and wants nothing more than a change of pace from his routine! When he takes a peek into the human world, he finds just the cure he’s looking for--a relaxing bathhouse that will surely cure him of his hangover and rejuvenate him from head to toe. To blow his fatigue out of the water, Luka pays a visit to Mangetsu no Yu bathhouse where he meets the bathhouse’s eldest son, Sakura. But between the bathhouse being short staffed and taking care of his little brother, Sakura has enough to worry about without a bougie vampire being added to the mix!

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

12 people are currently reading
490 people want to read

About the author

Niko Izuki

1 book10 followers

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5 stars
193 (27%)
4 stars
351 (49%)
3 stars
134 (18%)
2 stars
28 (3%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
Profile Image for Ricarda.
517 reviews343 followers
March 21, 2025
Once upon a time Spirited Away altered my brain chemistry and now I'm automatically drawn to every story that promises a somewhat magical bathhouse time, so here I am. I got a wholesome manga about a vampire who decides on a whim to go to a human bathhouse for some healing and relaxation, and he finds it in form of the family that owns the bathhouse. The story is truly nothing groundbreaking, but it was some cute fun and I enjoyed reading it a lot. There are some classic manga moments, like the summer festival or the sports event, and mixed with the demon/vampire theme it makes for an interesting enough story. The art is nice too, with the vampires being especially fancy.

It's marketed as "a full story in one volume", but I think it becomes pretty clear that this was supposed to be a series that got cancelled early on. There was a cliffhanger in the final chapter that was then quickly resolved in the extra chapter at the very end. It works well enough as a single volume, and I'm not sure if this would have held my attention until a second volume anyway, so I'm not too mad about it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Shawna Finnigan.
754 reviews362 followers
October 4, 2025
A Vampire in the Bathhouse is a super cute standalone manga. It has tons of charm and funny moments that kept me entertained the whole time I was reading.

The characters were the strongest part of this story. They are all extremely loveable. The two main characters, Luka and Sakura, have wonderful chemistry that makes it so easy to ship them.

I’d love to see this series made into a short anime some day.
Profile Image for Chantaal.
1,303 reviews263 followers
April 26, 2025
Look, I'm going to say this right here at the top: this manga felt like it was written exactly for me, with every single thing I love about this type of slice-of-life cozy story.

Luka is a perfectly pretty prince of a vampire who discovers a bathhouse on the human realm. Curious, he magics his way there, finds out he really, really likes the bathhouse and the human running it, and decides to stay. Very simple opening and setup for what turned out to be an incredibly cute slice-of-life cozy found family story.

Running the bathhouse is Sakura and his grandfather, and his very young brother Umenosuke. Luka's appearance is weird, but they all kind of roll with it and he stays in the bathhouse, helping them run it and bring in more business. Each chapter is its own little slice-of-life story as we watch Luka grow into being part of the bathhouse's core family, and experience life in the human realm.

The art is fantastic across the board. Each main character is very distinct, and the creator is great at both beautiful characters and cute characters.

It's all so cute. I loved it. It may not be for everyone, especially if you require plot and stakes and some tension, but if you just want something along this vein, it's a great read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eARC, and you can sample Chapter 1 on Kodansha's website. This will be available on April 29th, 2025!
Profile Image for hannah⁷.
174 reviews
June 9, 2025
Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this!!

I enjoyed this a lot!! I loved how there were a lot of genres tied into the story (magical realism, a bit of fantasy, slice of life, and comedy) and I thought it worked really well. I loved the characters too, overall it was a great cast and the art style was beautiful (I love pretty vampires). The dialogue was also super enjoyable. The banter, sarcasm, overall humor was a 10/10.
Profile Image for Martina.
376 reviews23 followers
January 16, 2026
3.5 ⭐

this was a nice and heartwarming manga.
I requested it blindly and was a bit disappointed because it's not a colored graphic novel, but the characters are very likable and cute.
It hints to romance, but is actually a very family centered story.
It might have a continuation in the future, and I would enjoy reading it..


Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

This is my first manga ARC 💛
It seems cute and funny... It's just a pity it's not a colored one because the art is beautiful. Still in excited for this

❁ Thank you to Netgalley, Niko Izuki and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read the ARC of this in exchange of my honest opinion ❁
Profile Image for Brooke.
853 reviews573 followers
April 3, 2025
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

“This will be the first time in my whole demon life that I, Luka Edelmondt Finsternis… Will cook lunch!”


A vampire decides to visit a human bathhouse…and stays there.

This was super silly and fun, a wholesome comedy manga with a cutesy art style and equally cute characters. The Full Moon Baths had such a magical energy to it, and the slice-of-life style made this a quick but wholesome read. It seems as it’s only one volume, which is such a shame because I would’ve loved to see more of Sakura & Luka and the rest of the family.

“My, my, Sakura. Jealous, are we?
But worry not. I will only ever bite you.”


I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Profile Image for daph pink ♡ .
1,310 reviews3,299 followers
October 21, 2025
Vampire in the Bathhouse is a surprisingly charming slice-of-life manga with a supernatural twist. The premise is delightfully quirky—a vampire navigating the human world via the most mundane yet intimate setting: a bathhouse. The interactions between the vampire and the regular patrons are often heartwarming, occasionally hilarious, and sometimes genuinely touching.

The artwork is solid, with expressive character designs and a cozy atmosphere that makes the bathhouse feel like a character in itself. I especially appreciated the little visual gags and the way the panels captured the warmth of the steam-filled baths.

That said, the plot can feel a bit meandering at times. Some chapters rely heavily on repetitive humor or slice-of-life beats, which slows the pacing, and the vampire’s abilities aren’t always fully explored, leaving some curiosity unfulfilled.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read for fans of light supernatural comedy and quiet, character-driven stories. It isn’t groundbreaking, but it has charm, humor, and moments of genuine warmth that make it worth a look.

Rating: ★★★½
Profile Image for Liralen.
3,355 reviews280 followers
April 27, 2025
Sakura has enough to handle between working at his family's bathhouse and taking care of his brother—he doesn't need a powerful and entitled (if good-natured) vampire added to the mix. But nobody asked what he needed...

I'm not one much for manga, but I can't resist something that promises this kind of silliness. The cover also brought to mind Rubber Duckie Shifter Next Door, so in a way I guess I'm just doubling down on the weird.

The story is a bit madcap—Luka turns up and wreaks some unintentional havoc, and then when that havoc is pretty much played out a new villain is introduced. There were some things that I couldn't quite follow (e.g., Pequeño getting sick), and I'm not sure that the plot always made all that much sense, but considering that this started as a one-shot comic that seems to have grown somewhat of its own volition, that makes sense.

The art is super pretty—I did have to remind myself repeatedly that both Luka and Sakura are written as male characters, because Sakura is quite delicate and they're both, well, pretty, but I think the only problem there is my lack of experience with manga. I can't draw anything beyond a stick figure, but I wish I could draw Sakura...or Luka's hair.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Sandali ♥️.
106 reviews5 followers
July 4, 2025
I absolutely devoured this. Wish we could have more of Luka and Sakura 😭♥️ Those two were the cutest couple on Earth. And Umeno-suke and Pequeño 😭 I NEED a Pequeño for myself. So hekkin adorable. The stories were all adorable and I can’t get enough of that family.

I got the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for lauraღ.
2,357 reviews181 followers
May 8, 2025
Wherever our hopes are, is where the Full Moon Baths will be!

This was absolutely delightful! Like, all the way through reading this, I had a huge smile on my face. It has its faults and its flaws, no doubt, but when faced with the things about it that I enjoyed, those flaws seem so insignificant. It was cute and hilarious in a really simple way, and it's exactly what I needed. We're following a posh vampire from another realm, who decides that a visit to the human realm, and specifically to a Japanese bathhouse, is just what he needs to cure his ennui. There, he meets Sakura, the grandson of the owner, and through a series of complicated events, starts living and working at the bathhouse.

I adored this. The art was really lovely; sometimes super intricate, especially when we get scenes of Luka's home, and his elaborate outfits. And I really love the way the mangaka drew people and expressions. It's a style that's slightly reminiscent of Spy Family, or other manga in that vein. There's a certain expression characters would make when they're being deadpan or sarcastic, and I just love it. This is kinda slice of life, showing us life at the bathhouse, but mostly Sakura taking care of his little brother Umenosuke, and how Luka ends up helping with that. Listen to me: I would die for Umenosuke. I LOVE THAT KID SO MUCH; HE'S SUCH A SWEETHEART. He's definitely the reason why my rating is this high. He's such a little darling, with his determination and care and love for his brother and friendship with his lil demon buddy! I wanna cry just thinking about him. 

There's also a hint of romance between Luka and Sakura; mostly just Luka flirting and Sakura being flustered and annoyed. I am who I am, so I would have really preferred if there had been MORE romance? And I'm kinda disappointed that this is apparently a standalone. There's definitely more to be done and said in this universe, and the way it ends makes this feel kind of incomplete. (Which is the biggest of the flaws that I alluded to.) But I can't bring myself to complain too much, because I just loved the substance of this so much. Definitely recommended, if you're in the mood for something cute and light-hearted.

☆ Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing a review copy! I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kate Dash.
137 reviews8 followers
March 30, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Tropes:
✔ Found family – A fancy vampire and a human bathhouse crew? Yes, please!
✔ Fish out of water – Luka struggling to fit into human life is hilarious.
✔ Wholesome slice of life – Cute daily moments, festival scenes, and friendships.
✔ Soft supernatural vibes – Vampires, demons, and magical elements without the usual gloom.

I absolutely loved this manga! A Vampire in the Bathhouse is a heartwarming and comedic take on the supernatural slice-of-life genre. Luka, our bougie vampire, just wants to relax and escape his exhausting life. Enter the Mangetsu no Yu bathhouse, where he meets Sakura and his family, who take him in despite his over-the-top vampire antics.

The characters are where this manga really shines. Luka is dramatic but loveable, Sakura is the perfect mix of responsible and flustered, and Ume and Pequeno? Adorable. The found family dynamic was the highlight for me—watching Luka go from an exhausted, out-of-place vampire to someone who genuinely cares about the humans around him was such a satisfying journey.

The art style is gorgeous, with detailed character designs (Luka in his fancy outfits? Stunning) and beautifully drawn bathhouse scenes that make you feel like you’re right there. The humor is on point, with classic manga moments like summer festivals, misunderstandings, and chaotic bathhouse shenanigans.

If you love low-stakes, cozy supernatural manga with a big heart, this is a must-read. I only wish it had more volumes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!
Profile Image for Pooja Peravali.
Author 2 books111 followers
June 4, 2025
Vampire Luca, seeking rest and respite, decides to visit a Japanese bathhouse in the human world, where he is an immediate convert to the benefits of hot springs. Sakura, the eldest son of the family that owns the bathhouse, is more stressed about being short-staffed than anything else. Luca decides to get a job. Hijinks ensue

That's the premise, and that's what you get - nothing more, nothing less. Despite being shelved as a LGBT manga, the romance is minimal and the sexual content kept far off the page. Instead it's more family feels you get, between Sakura and his brother and Luca and his minions. Mostly it's just a cute read. I thought the art was lovely, and conveyed the relaxing atmosphere and the little town quite well. 

However, the scenarios the characters get into are trope-y enough to tip toward cliche, and Sakura becomes overshadowed by all the magical antics and his adorable little brother. I was also surprised that the cliffhanger at the end of the volume was resolved with a hand-wave away in the bonus chapter - what was the point of it? I guess the next volume might show some of the time covered between the cliffhanger and that bonus strip, but I'm not really compelled to read on.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Peppa.
1,204 reviews100 followers
November 18, 2025
I really wanted to like it but it was actually so boring to me😭

The story is cute and all, but it feels like as if nothing is happening and if I’m honest, the whole magical thing was also a bit too much for me.
Profile Image for Angharad.
526 reviews17 followers
March 20, 2025
An extremely cute slice of life comedy/fantasy/romance about a vampire who decides to come to the human world and try out a bathhouse. Complete with a cast of very sweet and funny characters, it oozes charm. It's just sugary sweet all over, I can't wait to read more volumes in the series as they become available in English.

There's a lot of male nudity so keep that in mind, its probably going to get that T for Teen sticker or 16+ rating on it. There's no gore or violence, some sexual innuendos, but no "spice." The tone reminded me of Yuri on Ice out of the admittedly limited amount of mangas and animes I've engaged with.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for yueting ♡.
293 reviews11 followers
May 22, 2025
five stars

a vampire in the bathhouse is such a cute, sweet, and hilarious manga filled with unserious hijinks and a surprising amount of warmth. luka is a pompous, arrogant, but entirely thoughtful and curious vampire who teleports straight into the middle of no-nonsense, kind sakura's bathhouse! completely enchanted with the healing properties of the hot spring and the irreplaceable bond of the people who frequent it, luka decides to stay—causing much-needed havoc in sakura's life.

the supporting cast of characters, including sakura's adorable baby brother umenosuke and a seductive demon king of the night, make each of the chapters sparkle with humor, wit, and heartwarming tenderness. it's a brilliant blend of comedy and slice of life, and my only qualm is that i wish there was more of it.

thank you to kodansha comics for the e-arc via netgalley to review!
Profile Image for Katie Hall.
231 reviews67 followers
March 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a complimentary early release copy of A Vampire In The Bathhouse by Niko Izuki.

A Vampire In The Bathhouse art style is pretty, I especially liked Yomi, Luka, and Pequeno character designs. I also liked the scenes where we got to see Luka and Sukura with more detailed outfits. Luka looked absolutely stunning and Sukura was so cute. I mainly enjoyed the friendship/family relationships from this story, my favorite had to be the bond between Ume (Sakura little brother) and Pequeno (Lukas familiar) the two of them were just the cutest together and I was happy we got lots of cute scenes between the two.

I really wouldn’t say there is much of romance in A Vampire In The Bathhouse, there aren’t any cute scenes between Luka or Sakura, the little romance that is there feels forced. I liked Sakura more than Luka and honestly I wasn’t routing for them at all during my reading time. This was a quick read but I would say I mainly stuck around to see where things were going to go with the characters rather then where the plot went. I would have liked to have seen more of a storyline between Yomi, Sakura, Pequeno, and Ume. If more cute scenes like the bonus chapter was included I think I would have enjoyed it more. The characters make a good friend group/found family type of thing but I didn’t like the romance in.
Profile Image for anzhelika ୨ৎ.
206 reviews146 followers
April 20, 2025
⋆ ˚。⋆୨୧˚ 3.75 stars ˚୨୧⋆。˚ ⋆

this was such a fun manga to read! i loved the characters, and the story was so unique. if you're looking for a quick, funny and lighthearted read, i absolutely recommend reading this manga! wish we got more though!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Niko Izuki for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
Profile Image for káliná.
172 reviews2 followers
April 18, 2025
thank you netgalley for the arc! the only thing that makes me click “open” faster than a manga about bathhouses, is a manga about vampires in bathhouses! the niche content we all need and love <333 gorgeous art style, the story was heartfelt and wholesome, all the characters were fun and the jokes were spot on. the only downside is that this is a standalone, and i wish there had been more about both the demons and sakura’s family. needless to say, i’d be keeping an eye out on any other titles by this mangaka.
Profile Image for Heather.
1,009 reviews72 followers
April 1, 2025
This was only a one-shot?! SAD! There go my hopes for an anime series. ***EDIT: There IS an anime series with a very similar plot (literally a vampire in a bathhouse), but it's not as good as this.***

*Review based on an arc.*

This manga is absolutely charming. It's a light-hearted little comedy about the demon world discovering bathhouses on Earth and demons deciding they must experience these bathhouses for themselves. As you might expect, the demons (who take the form of various otherworldly creatures, including the titular vampire) are exceptionally beautiful. The art in this manga is gorgeous. The vampire makes several passes at the young man whose family owns the bathhouse so this is a sort of tongue-in-cheek romance that never really feels like queer-bait, even though things are kept PG between them. The vampire is so irresistible that the young man gets blushy and agrees to let the vampire drink his blood to regain his energy, but he draws the line at letting the vampire have sex with him to refill his magic supply, which is the only way he can regain his powers, and it becomes a running gag between them.

There are lots of colorful, interesting characters in the story, most notably a little spy-bat that clings to the vampire instead of doing his job, and the human youth's adorable little brother. Not all of the story is spent at the bathhouse, as the demons go out and explore other experiences the small, modern Japanese village has to offer. I cannot tell you how devastated I was to realize this was just a one-shot manga and not a whole series, because it has the potential to be so much more and run indefinitely! Still, I enjoyed it so much for what it is. It's one I will definitely purchase and reread in the future.
Profile Image for Natalie.
575 reviews145 followers
May 17, 2025
Luka & Sakura
Rating: 3.7⭐

- Vampire/Human
- Paranormal
- Found Family
- Manga
- Blood Pact
- Wonky Magic

This was cute and fun to read! When the bored and hungover vampire, Luka, needs a remedy he views some bathhouse customers talking about the benefits of the waters there. He's intrigued so he leaves the demon realm and goes to check it out in the human realm. Sakura is the one running the bathhouse, even though his uncle is the GM, and he takes care of his younger sibling. Well, he gets a big surprise while finishing morning duties when Luka appears inside the bathhouse...naked since his assistants magic wasn't quite right (you don't see anything FYI). These two enter into a pact where Sakura will show Luka around and teach him new things while Luka helps him with the bathhouse. There's also a pesky blood pact involved. The other demons that come to visit are a hoot and bring some minor chaos with them.

This is marketed as "a full story in one volume" but honestly I wish it was split out into a series. There's several time jumps and you miss out on details of events that happen throughout the story, especially the resolution with the villain. While sex is mentioned in the story as a way to fully replenish Luka's magic, they don't actually have sex in this.

I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Verse: N/A
HEA: HFN
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheat: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Profile Image for Ark.
324 reviews4 followers
April 1, 2025
Just a really cute slice-of-life Manga, very lighthearted, and the characters were such a joy. I really enjoyed the banter between Sakura and Luka, but my favorite was probably the relationship between Umenosuke and Pequeño. They are just so heartwarming together, really capturing that essence of childlike wonder.

The art was also incredibly beautiful, especially the vampire/demon designs shined. Luka and Yomi especially really stood apart from Sakura, they just had that ethereal, otherworldly beauty to them.

I do think the ending was a little sudden. It feels like there should have been a few chapters, maybe even a volume or two more. I would actually enjoy having more volumes of this series! The characters are very charming, and it was such a refreshing read.

I really recommend checking this one out when it releases on April 29th, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a digital arc in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Frank Chillura (OhYouRead).
1,705 reviews77 followers
April 11, 2025
I really wanted to love this, but it just felt long for no reason and nothing happened at all. There was/is a lot of potential, but I need something… anything to happen. A purpose for me reading it.

The art style is really aesthetically pleasing, so I did enjoy that portion. I also really loved the characters, but those didn’t save the story.
Profile Image for Vee.
116 reviews19 followers
May 12, 2025
This was a really cute read, thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review.

Firstly the artwork was really lovely, I liked the individual styles each character had and how expressive the artists made them. The panels were really nicely put together, the speech and text really easy to navigate and brought the story to life.

I really enjoyed the characters, they were all different and had their own quite distinct personalities which was nice. I did love the chemistry between them all as well, it felt quite flushed out and was easy to appreciate.

The story itself was cute and easy to follow along, though we did seemingly lose the vampire/magic element part way through so that lost a bit of a touch for me. I also think it left on a very odd note, as I actually thought it may have been a series (which would’ve been great) but after reading on realised it was a standalone. I definitely could’ve seen this progressing into more.

I’m not sure I’d recommend people to buy it, as it unfortunately didn’t stand out as something that will be super memorable for me in time but I definitely enjoyed reading it in the moment.
Profile Image for Kathryn .
193 reviews3 followers
March 20, 2025
What a cute manga! The art had a lot of humor to it, while also being very warm and cozy. All of the characters were loveable, with varying personalities that made for an interesting found-family dynamic. There was just enough of a conflict to keep things fresh, but without losing the cozy, lighthearted quality of the work overall. I just wish there was more of this story to read. It's a very enjoyable read! I would definitely read more from Izuki Niko.

Thank you to Kodansha and Netgalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for kristiana.
187 reviews22 followers
December 13, 2025
Cute, sweet and genuinely wholesome! And I really enjoyed the hidden details on the physical cover!!

However, it didn't deliver as much as it subtly promised, specifically in the romance and the *action* department.
Profile Image for Autumn Rose Dearborn.
364 reviews41 followers
April 25, 2025
I received the ARC from NetGalley.

This was so silly and unserious, but the characters are all so lovable. I laughed out loud a lot while reading this. It was a really fun read. I highly recommend checking this out if you want a light fluffy read with goofy characters.
Profile Image for Nerdelika.
80 reviews5 followers
March 24, 2025
3.5 stars
A delightful slice of life manga about a vampire who decides to enjoy a bathhouse so he crashes one!
I quite enjoyed the calmness and peaceful atmosphere. Characters were lovely, but their relationship could use some more development.
The art was clear and beautiful, so it was an easily readable manga.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC for this manga.

Profile Image for Helene Black.
425 reviews29 followers
May 11, 2025
I’m not quite sure how to rate this one. On the one hand, the art is gorgeous. The characters are all beautifully drawn and they all have unique designs, which meant I never struggled to tell them apart. 5 stars for the art alone.

But on the other hand, the story is not quite there. The pacing is slow, which made me think this would be a longer series, but it seems this is actually a single volume. And for a single volume, the ending is far too abrupt … There is a bonus chapter which tries to answer a few questions, but it’s not enough. So, so disappointing.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ art
2 ⭐️⭐️ story
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ overall

Get this if you like BL and vampires/demons and you like platonic romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for granting me access to the ARC. All my opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Elle.
96 reviews4 followers
June 16, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha Comics foe this ARC!

I enjoyed this manga - very lighthearted and cute stories. I always like the stories where a supernatural creature intrudes on everyday life and makes it more interesting. Nod to the food references because I think that's one of the best parts of manga. And Pequeño is adorable!
Profile Image for Heather.
186 reviews1 follower
May 1, 2025
2.5 Stars Rounded Up

Sadly, this didn’t work for me. It felt very disjointed and not like a cohesive story (especially with the rather abrupt ending). The description stated this was a full story in one volume, but it felt more like random pieces of a larger story strung together. Also, I wonder if there were issues with the translation as there were several places I had to reread to understand what was happening.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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