Nikurashii Kare (translated as "Hateful Him" or "The Hateful Boyfriend") is the highly anticipated second volume in Yuu Nagira's critically acclaimed Japanese Boys' Love (BL) light novel series, Utsukushii Kare (My Beautiful Man). Following the massive global success of the live-action television adaptation and theatrical films, finding a Nikurashii Kare novel English translation has become a top priority for international fans eager to experience the unfiltered, deeply psychological source material.
Whether you are looking to purchase the official English editions or locate dedicated fan-translated projects, navigating the landscape of Utsukushii Kare translations takes a little guidance. 📚 The Source Material: What is Nikurashii Kare?
Written by master storyteller Yuu Nagira and featuring stunning illustrations by Rikako Kasai, the series subverts typical romance tropes. While the first book establishes the lopsided high school dynamic between the self-deprecating Kazunari Hira and the "king" of the classroom, Sou Kiyoi, Nikurashii Kare moves the story forward into their complex adult life. Key Plot Dynamics in Volume 2:
The New Reality: Hira and Kiyoi are finally dating, moving past the intense pining of their high school years.
Societal Pressures: The narrative explores the intense world of the professional Japanese creative industry as Kiyoi builds his acting career.
Lopsided Devotion: Hira still struggles to view Kiyoi as a human partner rather than a flawless, untouchable deity, creating massive communication gaps.
The Job Hunt: While Kiyoi earns money and finds success, Hira battles deep insecurities and his speech impediment while trying to find his footing in the professional world. 🛒 How to Read the Nikurashii Kare English Translation
Depending on your preference for physical books or digital community translations, there are a few established avenues to read the second volume in English. 1. Official English Publications
For many years, the series remained unlicensed in the West. However, following the surge in popularity of the live-action drama, official localizations were greenlit.
The Publisher: The English translations of the light novels are handled by specialized publishers like LoveLove / Seven Seas.
Where to Buy: You can find the physical and digital copies available through major global retailers like Amazon or specialized manga and light novel storefronts.
A Note on Translation Choices: Some readers have noted in community discussions on platforms like the Boys' Love Reddit Community that official localizations sometimes vary in how they translate culturally heavy slang. For example, the infamous descriptor "kimoi" (gross/creepy) is used heavily by Kiyoi to describe Hira's intense devotion. 2. Dedicated Fan Translations
Before and alongside the official release, dedicated fan translators kept the community alive by translating the dense Japanese text.
Nagira Yuu “Utsukushii kare” and “Nikurashii kare” - Juzi Reads
Beyond the Screen: Navigating the English Release of Nikurashii Kare If you’ve spent any time in the Utsukushii Kare
(My Beautiful Man) fandom, you know the struggle: finishing the live-action series and immediately needing more of Hira and Kiyoi’s beautifully messy internal monologues. While the drama captured their electric chemistry, Yuu Nagira’s original light novels offer a level of psychological depth—and let’s be honest, hilarious absurdity—that only text can provide.
The question on everyone’s lips: Where is the official Nikurashii Kare English translation? The Official Roadmap
For a long time, international fans relied on passionate fan translators like those at Chrysanthemum Garden or Lollipop Sub to bridge the gap. However, the landscape has changed. Recent community updates indicate a tiered official release schedule for the core trilogy: Book 1: Utsukushii Kare – Released July 16 Book 2: Nikurashii Kare – Expected October 15 Book 3: Nayamashii Kare – Expected December 17
Having an official English release means we can finally support the author directly while getting a polished look at the series' intricate world-building. Why Nikurashii Kare Hits Different
Nikurashii Kare (Utsukushii Kare 2) Sample Lines Translation
The second volume of the Utsukushii Kare (My Beautiful Man) series, titled Nikurashii Kare
, follows Hira and Kiyoi as they transition from high school infatuation to the messy reality of their adult relationship during university. English Translation Availability
Official Release: According to Reddit community updates, Tokyopop is scheduled to release the official English translation of Nikurashii Kare on October 15, 2026. nikurashii kare novel english translation
Fan Translations: Before the official license, fan groups like Lollipopsub and White Lotus provided partial English translations on platforms like Tumblr and Chrysanthemum Garden, though many were taken down due to licensing or copyright issues. Why It's an Interesting Read
Readers and critics from Juzi Reads and the r/boyslove forum highlight several unique aspects of this sequel:
The Power Dynamic Shift: While Hira worships Kiyoi like a "God," Nikurashii Kare explores how this lopsided idolization becomes a burden for Kiyoi. The "King" actually wants a partner, not a servant, leading to a complex push-pull as they try to find a healthy balance.
Career and Reality: Unlike many BL novels that stay focused solely on romance, this volume dives into the Japanese creative industry. Kiyoi begins his ascent as an actor, while Hira struggles with his identity as a "social outcast" with a stutter, facing the harsh realities of job hunting.
Hira's Hidden Assertiveness: One of the most fascinating traits noted by reviewers is Hira's "attack mode." Despite his low self-esteem in daily life, he becomes surprisingly bold and dominant when given permission, often embarrassing the more confident Kiyoi.
Pure but Messy Intentions: Author Nagira Yuu is praised for creating two "broken people" who fight their own toxic instincts to be together. Their love is described as "pure and selfless," even as they make constant mistakes in how they communicate.
Nagira Yuu “Utsukushii kare” and “Nikurashii kare” - Juzi Reads
It sounds like you're looking for the English translation of a novel titled Nikurashii Kare (憎らしい彼) — which roughly translates to "That Hateful Guy" or "The Detestable Him."
As of now, there is no widely known official or complete fan translation of a novel by that exact title available on major platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or fan translation sites (e.g., Novel Updates, Baka-Tsuki). The title is quite generic in Japanese, so it may be:
If you are trying to find or request a translation, here’s what you can do:
Would you like help finding the original Japanese version of Nikurashii Kare (author, synopsis, or where to read it)? Or are you looking for translation services / tools? Let me know, and I’ll refine the guidance.
Nikurashii Kare (Hateful Him) is the second volume in the Utsukushii Kare
(My Beautiful Man) light novel series by Yuu Nagira. An official English translation is handled by Official Translation Details English Title: My Beautiful Man Nikurashii Kare Release Dates: Volume 1 ( Utsukushii Kare July 16, 2024. Volume 2 ( Nikurashii Kare October 15, 2024. Volume 3 ( Nayamashii Kare December 17, 2024. Availability:
The series is available in physical and digital formats through major retailers like Content & Adaptation
This volume follows Hira and Kiyoi as they navigate the challenges of their relationship and adulthood. While Hira struggles with his place in the world, Kiyoi focuses on his growing acting career. Drama/Film Adaptation: The second season of the live-action drama adapted parts of Nikurashii Kare , while the sequel movie, My Beautiful Man -Eternal- , adapted the remaining content. Fan Translations & Alternatives Fan Translations:
Unofficial "fan-tl" projects for the novels have existed on platforms like Chrysanthemum Garden
Nikurashii Kare" (He, Who is Hateable) , the second volume in Yuu Nagira's Utsukushii Kare
(My Beautiful Man) series, serves as a poignant exploration of the "after-ever-after" in a relationship defined by intense obsession and social disparity. While an official English translation has been highly anticipated by the global fandom, the narrative's depth provides rich material for analysis. The Complexity of Mutual Misunderstanding The core of Nikurashii Kare
lies in the shift from the "god and devotee" dynamic of the first book to the messy reality of a domestic partnership. Hira’s Stagnation
: Despite being in a relationship with the man he worships, Hira Kazunari continues to view Kiyoi Sou as a divine being rather than a human partner. This "fan-like" devotion becomes a source of friction, as it prevents genuine intimacy and equality. Kiyoi’s Vulnerability
: Kiyoi, now a rising actor, struggles with the loneliness of being loved for his "image" rather than his true self. His frustration in the novel stems from a desire for Hira to look at him as a man—flaws and all—rather than an untouchable icon. Navigating Career and Identity
A significant portion of the novel deals with the external pressures of their professional lives. Social Disparity Nikurashii Kare (translated as "Hateful Him" or "The
: The gap between an aspiring actor and a seemingly aimless college student creates a tension that is both external (paparazzi and industry standards) and internal (Hira’s feelings of inadequacy). Professional Growth
: Hira’s journey toward finding his own passion—photography—mirrors his emotional journey. He must learn to view the world (and Kiyoi) through his own lens, literally and metaphorically, to move past his role as a passive observer. The "Hateable" Aspect Nikurashii Kare
(Hateful/Irritating Him) reflects the intense, often irritating friction of their coexistence.
Kiyoi finds Hira’s stubborn lack of self-worth "hateful" because it devalues the person Kiyoi has chosen to love.
Conversely, the "hate" is a form of deep affection; it is the irritation of two people who are desperately trying to synchronize their vastly different heartbeats. Translation and Global Impact
The absence of an official English publication has led to a vibrant community of fan-translators and international readers who rely on secondary media (like the live-action drama and film) to bridge the gap. The demand for an English version highlights the universal appeal of Nagira’s subversion of the "Happily Ever After" trope, choosing instead to portray a "Difficult Ever After" that feels more rewarding because of its hard-won progress. In conclusion, Nikurashii Kare
is less a romance about falling in love and more a psychological study on how to
in love when your foundations are built on obsession. It challenges the reader to consider whether true love can exist without the destruction of the pedestal. or more information on where to find fan-translated versions
Since you did not specify the exact title, I am assuming you are referring to the popular light novel often translated as "My unhappy marriage with my boyfriend" (Japanese title: Kare to no Shiawase wa Mada KIMI ni wa Hayasugiru or similar variants involving "Nikurashii" in fan translations).
However, if you are referring to the specific viral short story/novel "Nikurashii Kare" (The Hateful/Detestable Boyfriend) by Yoru Sumino (author of I Want to Eat Your Pancreas)—which is the most common association with that specific romaji title—here is a review of that work and its English translation availability.
"I don’t love him. I just can’t stop watching him fall."
When Saki Teshigawara transfers to Tokyo’s most competitive prep school, she expects cold ambition. What she finds instead is Ren Natsume — a boy who seems designed to infuriate her. Perfect grades, effortless charm, and a smile that never quite reaches his eyes. Every classmate adores him. Every teacher trusts him.
Saki sees through it in one week.
But she doesn’t expose him. She watches. She takes notes. She begins to collect his masks.
Soon, their relationship becomes a silent duel of control: Ren manipulates everyone into thinking they’re dating; Saki pretends to fall for it, using his own arrogance as a mirror. The more he tries to own her, the more she dissects his loneliness.
Until one night, Ren whispers against her ear in the school library:
"You don’t hate me, Saki. You’re just terrified that I’m the first person who actually sees you."
And for the first time, she doesn’t have a clever reply.
Nikurashii Kare is not a love story. It is a slow, psychological dismantling of two people who mistake control for intimacy — and hatred for the only honest thing left.
Original title rendered as: Love to Hate Him
Sample (imagined passage capturing likely tone): "I catch myself memorizing the angle of his jaw like it's a map I shouldn't know. Every time he strides into the room—shoulders too relaxed, that lazy grin—my chest tightens in a way I'm not proud of. He leaves coffee rings on the table and apologies half-finished, and still I find excuses to cross paths with him. Hate is too grand a word; better: he's delightfully unbearable. Exactly the kind of person who makes me roll my eyes and stay."
Notes on choices: short bursts express irritation; the "map" metaphor hints at unwanted intimacy; "delightfully unbearable" preserves affectionate contradiction.
The office of the Third Sales Division was a battlefield. Phones rang incessantly, the clatter of keyboards was like machine-gun fire, and the air was thick with the smell of stale coffee and stress. A lesser-known web novel from a site like
I sat at my desk, my eyes burning from staring at the spreadsheet for too long. It was 8:00 PM. Everyone else had gone home.
Everyone except him.
From the glass-walled office at the end of the room, a light still burned. Saijou-san was in there. He was always in there. He was a machine that ran on the suffering of his subordinates and high-octane espresso.
"Miharu."
I flinched. His voice came from right behind me. I spun around in my chair. He was standing there, holding a stack of documents. He looked impeccable, not a hair out of place, despite the fact that he had been working for twelve hours straight.
"Saijou-san. You startled me."
"Startled? You were staring at the screen like a zombie. It's pathetic," he said, his words sharp enough to cut glass.
I bristled. This was why I called him detestable. He had no filter. He was brutal.
"I was just resting my eyes," I lied.
"Rest them at home. Here." He dropped the file on my desk. "Review this contract before you leave. There’s a discrepancy in the third clause. Fix it, then email it to the client. Don't mess it up."
He turned to leave, then paused.
"Have you eaten?"
The question was so soft I almost missed it. It didn't match his harsh demeanor.
"I... I had an onigiri earlier."
He sighed, a sound of deep exasperation. He reached into his pocket and placed a chocolate bar on top of the documents.
"Your blood sugar is probably low. Eat. A starving employee is a useless employee."
He walked back to his office without another glance.
I looked at the chocolate bar. It was a simple, cheap brand—the kind you grab at a konbini. I picked it up.
Why does he do this?
He yells at me. He piles work on me. He calls me pathetic. And then he gives me his umbrella, or buys me a chocolate bar, or fixes my tie when I'm rushing to a meeting.
It was his kindness that was the cruelest part. It gave me false hope. It made me think that perhaps, underneath that icy shell, there was a man who cared. But I knew the truth. I