Kyō no Kira-kun is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Rin Mikimoto. It is published by Kodansha on Bessatsu Friend. The first volume was published on 13 January 2012. A live-action adaptation was released on February 25, 2017.
Plot
Ninon Okamura is an introverted high schoolgirl who cannot talk with anyone other than her parents and Kansai dialect-speaking pet parrot, Sensei, due to the trauma of being bullied when she was in elementary school. However, her life changes when her mother requests her to befriend her next-door neighbor and classmate, Yuiji Kira, who suffers from a heart disease and likely only has one year left to live. Ninon encourages Kira to abandon his lewd lifestyle and instead fill his life with happiness, vowing to always remain on his side. The two become fast friends and ultimately fall for each other, though both are aware that their relationship likely has no future. In the meantime, Ninon and Kira's relationship is rocked by several events, including Kira's brief relationship with the school nurse, Mio Shitara, who seeks solace after her fiance's death, Kira's estrangement from his tsundere friend Kazuhiro Yabe who once became the ringleader of Ninon's bullies until he humbles himself and falls in love with her, as well as Kira's ambiguous relationship with Rei Uchida, although she is revealed to be a mere sociopath who does not like indecisive people and later befriends Ninon after the misunderstanding is cleared. Yabe and Rei later develop feelings for each other and become a couple. As time goes on, Kira's illness grows worse and he has to go overseas to find medication that can finally cure it. While his illness ultimately subsides after several tense months, the Kira family is left in great debt and have to move to Osaka to find work, separating Kira from Ninon just as the two are reunited. Meanwhile, Sensei grows a tumor and loses his ability to talk, ultimately dying a few months after Kira's return. Ninon's depression is prevented, though, with a video recorded by Sensei telling her to lift her face and move on with her life. Several years afterward, Ninon and Kira are shown visiting Tokyo Tower with their son, who speaks in the Kansai dialect.
Characters
;Ninon Okamura ;Yuiji Kira ;Sensei ;Kazuhiro Yabe ;Rei Uchida ;Tiara ;Mio Shitara ;Takahiro and Kanon Okamura ;Hyakuta and Ikigoma ;Yuki Yabe
Reception
Volume 1 reached the 25th place on the Japanese weekly manga chart, and, as of 15 January 2012, has sold 18,537 copies. Volume 2 reached the 23rd place and, as of 15 April 2012, has sold 27,310 copies. Volume 3 reached the 15th place and, as of 23 September 2012, has sold 61,839 copies. Volume 4 reached the 16th place and, as of 20 January 2014, has sold 74,504 copies. Volume 5 also reached the 16th place and, as of 21 April 2013, has sold 74,825 copies. Volume 6 reached the 14th place and, as of 22 September 2013, has sold 78,396 copies. Volume 7 reached the 19th place and, as of 19 January 2014, has sold 83,417 copies. Volume 8 reached the 9th place and, as of 25 May 2014, has sold 84,396 copies.
Film adaptation
A live-action adaptation was released on February 25, 2017. It is directed by Taisuke Kawamura and stars Taishi Nakagawa as Kira and Marie Iitoyo as Ninon.
