My Little Monster Manga Volumes: Full 13-Book Guide

My Little Monster Manga Volumes at a Glance — A Complete 13-Book Shoujo Romance

My Little Monster is a completed shoujo manga by Robico (ろびこ). Shoujo is a category of manga aimed at a young female audience, though readers of any background enjoy these stories. The series was originally published chapter by chapter in Kodansha’s Dessert magazine in Japan from 2008 to 2013 — a process called serialization, where a story rolls out in installments before being collected into book form. The 13 collected volumes were published between January 2009 and January 2014. The series runs 48 chapters across 13 volumes, and the English edition — published by Kodansha Comics — is fully available in both print and digital formats.

The premise is a classic opposites-attract setup: Shizuku Mizutani is a studious, emotionally guarded girl who cares about grades above all else. Haru Yoshida is the unpredictable boy who sits next to her — brilliant but socially clueless, prone to outbursts, and utterly unfiltered. When Shizuku is tasked with delivering class printouts to the perpetually absent Haru, a strange and reluctant connection forms between them.

What makes this pairing work isn’t just the contrast between their personalities — it’s the way both characters genuinely struggle to understand emotions, each in their own way. Shizuku isn’t a typical blushing heroine. She’s calculating, sometimes cold, and openly prioritizes her ambitions. Haru isn’t a brooding bad boy — he’s awkward, intense, and genuinely doesn’t understand how to interact with people. Together, they make for a romance that feels earned rather than inevitable.

A note on Haru’s behavior: Early in the series, Haru can be physically aggressive and emotionally overwhelming in ways that some readers find uncomfortable. He grabs Shizuku, gets into fights, and doesn’t understand personal boundaries. The series treats this as a flaw he needs to grow past rather than romanticizing it, and his character development is central to the story. But if aggressive behavior from a male lead is a dealbreaker for you, it’s worth knowing this going in.

The final volume — Volume 13 — is an extra-long concluding installment that wraps up every character’s story. No loose threads, no rushed ending, no unresolved setup designed to tease a sequel. Just a complete romance from start to finish.

Story Progression by Volume

My Little Monster doesn’t have formally named story sections, but it flows through natural phases as Shizuku and Haru’s relationship evolves. Here’s a spoiler-light breakdown of what to expect as you read through all 13 volumes.

Volumes 1–3 — First Encounters and Reluctant Feelings

The series wastes absolutely no time. Within the very first volume, Haru confesses his feelings to Shizuku — a bold move that flips the pacing you’d expect from a typical romance manga. Instead of spending dozens of chapters building up to a confession, My Little Monster uses it as a starting point. The real question isn’t will they get together but can these two deeply awkward people figure out what a relationship even means?

Volumes 1 through 3 establish the core push-and-pull dynamic. Shizuku is thrown off balance by someone who doesn’t play by social rules, and Haru latches onto the first person who treats him without fear. The school setting fills in around them, and the supporting cast starts to take shape — including Natsume, a girl who becomes Shizuku’s first real friend, and Sasayan, the easygoing classmate who balances out the group.

These early volumes are funny, a little chaotic, and surprisingly honest about how confusing emotions can be when you’re not used to having them.

Volumes 4–6 — Growing Closer and Growing Apart

This is where the series starts digging deeper. The initial spark between Shizuku and Haru hits real complications — not because of simple misunderstandings or romantic rivalry (though a rival character does appear), but because both characters have genuine emotional limitations they need to confront.

Shizuku’s central conflict becomes clearer in these volumes. She’s someone who has always measured her self-worth through academic achievement, and letting another person matter to her feels like a threat to everything she’s built. It’s a surprisingly relatable internal struggle, and Robico handles it without melodrama.

Haru, meanwhile, deals with the consequences of his volatile behavior. He wants to be closer to people but doesn’t always know how to do it without scaring them. The supporting cast expands here too, with the introduction of Yamaken — a romantic rival for Haru who is smart enough to genuinely catch Shizuku’s attention. His presence adds real tension, though the series doesn’t devolve into a drawn-out love triangle. Yamaken serves more as a catalyst that forces both Shizuku and Haru to confront what they actually want.

These three volumes represent the series at its most emotionally complex. The comedy is still there, but it’s balanced with real drama about what it costs to let someone in.

Volumes 7–9 — Deepening Bonds and Personal Growth

The middle stretch of My Little Monster shifts focus toward character development in a big way. Haru’s backstory and family situation come to the forefront, giving readers a much fuller picture of why he is the way he is. Without spoiling specifics, his home life is complicated, and the series treats those complications with care rather than using them purely for dramatic effect.

Shizuku also continues to grow. She’s not suddenly a warm and open person — that would betray her character — but she starts making conscious choices about what she values, and those choices feel meaningful because of how much internal resistance she’s had to overcome.

The supporting characters get their own romantic threads in these volumes too. Natsume and Sasayan’s relationship develops, and the wider friend group starts to feel like a real ensemble rather than just background to the main couple. This is something Robico does well — the side characters have their own emotional journeys that complement the main story without overshadowing it.

Volumes 10–13 — Resolution and the Extra-Long Finale

The final stretch brings everything together. Shizuku and Haru’s relationship reaches its most mature form as both characters face decisions about their futures — individually and together. The tension here isn’t whether they’ll end up as a couple, but whether they can reconcile their personal goals with their feelings for each other.

Volume 13 deserves special mention. It’s an extra-long final volume that gives Robico the space to wrap up not just the main couple’s story, but every significant character thread in the series. Side characters get their moments. Loose ends get tied up. The ending is warm and satisfying in a way that feels proportional to the journey — not overblown, not rushed.

For a 13-volume series, that kind of complete resolution is genuinely rare. A lot of manga either end too abruptly or drag on past their natural conclusion. My Little Monster hits that sweet spot where the story feels like it’s exactly as long as it needs to be.

What Kind of Romance Is My Little Monster?

If you’re trying to figure out whether this series is for you, here’s the vibe:

• Opposites-attract core. Studious, emotionally reserved girl meets wild, emotionally transparent boy. The contrast drives everything.
• Grounded tone. This isn’t pure sugar-sweet fluff. It’s a shoujo romance that takes its characters’ emotional struggles seriously, balances comedy with genuine drama, and doesn’t shy away from showing that relationships are messy.
• Unconventional leads. Neither Shizuku nor Haru fits neatly into the character molds you often see in romance manga for a young female audience. Shizuku isn’t sweet or nurturing — she’s blunt and self-interested. Haru isn’t cool or mysterious — he’s loud and socially inept. That’s exactly what makes them interesting.
• Character-driven pacing. The plot isn’t built around dramatic events or shocking twists. It’s built around two people slowly learning how to be honest with themselves and each other. The romance develops gradually over many volumes rather than rushing to big dramatic peaks — if you enjoy watching characters change over time, this delivers.
• Great entry point for newcomers. At 13 volumes, it’s a manageable length for someone who’s never read manga before. The completed status means no waiting for new releases, and the story is self-contained. Manga reads right to left, but you’ll adjust within just a few pages.

Fans of Kimi ni Todoke (another slow-paced school romance manga about a shy girl coming out of her shell) will find familiar ground here, though My Little Monster has a sharper comedic edge and a female lead who’s less traditionally sympathetic — which is part of the appeal.

Manga vs. the Anime Adaptation

My Little Monster received a TV anime adaptation in 2012. Anime is the Japanese term for animation, and popular manga series are often adapted into animated TV shows. The anime covers only the early portion of the manga’s story — roughly through Volume 4. The full romance — including everything from the mid-series character development through the resolution and finale — exists only in the manga.

This is important to know because the anime essentially stops at a point where the relationship is still unresolved. If you watched the anime and felt like the story was incomplete, that’s because it is. The manga is where the full story lives.

If you watched the anime and want to continue in the manga, you have two options:

• Start from Volume 1. This is the recommended approach. The manga has nuance and details that the anime condensed or skipped, and starting from the beginning gives you the complete experience. Since the early volumes are fast reads, it won’t feel like a slog.
• Pick up around Volume 5. The anime roughly covers material through Volume 4. Starting at Volume 5 gets you to new material quickly, though you’ll miss some manga-only details from the early chapters.

Either way, the manga is the definitive version of this story. The anime is a nice introduction, but it’s essentially a preview of what the full series offers.

Which Edition to Buy

The English release of My Little Monster — published by Kodansha Comics — consists of 13 individual volumes that match the Japanese release one-to-one. There’s no omnibus edition (a single book collecting multiple volumes into one) or box set currently confirmed, so collecting the series means picking up the standard single volumes.

Here’s what to know about the available formats:

• Physical single volumes. The standard way to collect the series. All 13 are widely available through major retailers and bookstores. Volume 13, the final installment, is extra-long compared to the rest. Each volume has a list price in the typical range for manga singles — your total investment for the full 13-book set will depend on where you shop and whether you find any volumes on sale.
• Digital editions. Available through digital manga platforms and major e-book stores like Kindle and Kobo. These are a good option if shelf space is a concern or if you want to start reading immediately.

Since this is a completed series, all volumes are already out — no waiting for future releases. You can read at your own pace and know that the ending is already there waiting for you.

A practical note on collecting: because My Little Monster has been out for a while, individual physical volumes occasionally go in and out of stock. If you’re building a complete set, it’s worth checking availability across multiple stores rather than relying on a single source. Digital editions sidestep this issue entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many My Little Monster manga volumes are there?

There are 13 volumes total. The series is complete — all volumes have been published in both Japanese and English.

Is My Little Monster finished?

Yes. The manga was serialized from 2008 to 2013 in Kodansha’s Dessert magazine, with volumes published from 2009 to 2014, and is complete at 13 volumes and 48 chapters. There’s no sequel or continuation.

Who is the author of My Little Monster?

The manga is by Robico (ろびこ). Robico also created other manga works, but My Little Monster remains the most well-known title internationally.

Should I read the manga if I watched the anime?

Absolutely. The anime adaptation aired in 2012 and covers only material through roughly Volume 4. The majority of the romance — including the full resolution and ending — is only available in the manga. Starting from Volume 1 is recommended for the best experience, but you can also pick up around Volume 5 if you prefer to jump ahead to new material.

Is there a box set available?

No box set or omnibus edition is currently confirmed. The standard way to collect the series is through the 13 individual volumes, which are available in both physical and digital formats.

Is My Little Monster good for someone new to manga?

It’s a great pick for beginners. The series is short enough to feel approachable (13 volumes versus 30+ for some manga series), it’s complete so there’s no waiting, and the story is easy to follow even if you’ve never read manga before. One thing to know: manga reads right to left — the front cover of a manga volume is what you’d think of as the back cover of a Western book. You’ll get used to it within a few pages, and it quickly feels natural.