The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist (夢見る男子は現実主義者, Yumemiru Danshi wa Genjitsushugisha) is a Japanese light novel series written by Okemaru and illustrated by Saba Mizore. It was initially serialized as a web novel on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in December 2018. It was later acquired by Hobby Japan, who began publishing it as a light novel in June 2020 under their HJ Bunko light novel imprint. A manga adaptation illustrated by Popuri Yoshikita was serialized on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website from March 2021 to March 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ aired from July to September 2023.
Contents
Synopsis
Wataru Sajō has been continually rejected by Aika Natsukawa, a beautiful girl in his class. After a narrow miss by an errant soccer ball, he suddenly has a change in personality, coming to the conclusion that he is not worthy of her and beginning to distance himself from her. However, Aika mistakenly thinks he now dislikes her, and she starts to get involved with him. This is the start of a romantic comedy when two classmates struggle to convey their feelings, especially when other girls begin to take notice of Wataru.
Characters
Main characters
Wataru Sajō (佐城 渉, Sajō Wataru)
Voiced by: Naoya Miyase (Japanese); Gabriel Regojo (English)
The main protagonist who passionately approaches his classmate, Aika Natsukawa. After getting hit by an errant soccer ball, he has a change in personality and tries to distance himself from her. During summer vacation, he starts working part-time at a bookstore.
Aika Natsukawa (夏川 愛華, Natsukawa Aika)
Voiced by: Akiho Suzumoto (Japanese); Alyssa Marek (English)
The female lead, a beautiful girl in her class. She went to the same middle school as Wataru and rejected his advances since then. She is bewildered by Wataru's sudden change in attitude, which left her a feeling of confusion.
Kei Ashida (芦田 圭, Ashida Kei)
Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori (Japanese); Chaney Moore (English)
Aika's best friend. She is an upbeat, cheerful girl who joins the Volleyball Club.
Kaede Sajō (佐城 楓, Sajō Kaede)
Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu (Japanese); Luci Christian (English)
Wataru's older sister. She is the Vice President of the Student Council of Kōetsu High School.
Rin Shinomiya (四ノ宮 凛, Shinomiya Rin)
Voiced by: Kaori Ishihara (Japanese); Elissa Cuellar (English)
Kaede's best friend. She is level-headed and the Moral Public Committee President of Kōetsu High School.
Supporting characters
Rena Aizawa (藍沢レナ, Aizawa Rena)
Voiced by: Sara Matsumoto (Japanese); Hilary Haag (English)
A cute girl who approached Wataru for ulterior motives.
Yuyu Inatomi (稲富ゆゆ, Inatomi Yuyu)
Voiced by: Yukari Anzai (Japanese); Kelley Peters (English)
A cute member of the Moral Public Committee of Kōetsu High School.
Takurō Yamazaki (山崎拓郎, Yamazaki Takurō)
Voiced by: Kenta Hosoda (Japanese); Blake Shepard (English)
A classmate of Wataru and Aika, and a Basketball Club member.
Kazuki Arimura (有村和樹, Arimura Kazuki)
Voiced by: Kanda Yu (Japanese); Bobby Haworth (English)
The ex-boyfriend of Rena and a student of Class 2-B.
Megumi Otsuki (大槻めぐみ, Ōtsuki Megumi)
Voiced by: Seira Ryū (Japanese); Patricia Duran (English)
The homeroom teacher of class 1-C, the class of Wataru and Aika. The nickname first and only revealed in the web novel version chapter 5.
Hayato Yūki (結城颯斗, Yūki Hayato)
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Someya (Japanese); Scott Gibbs (English)
Media
Light novel
Written by Okemaru, the series began serialization as a web novel on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on December 7, 2018. As of August 2023, 210 chapters have been published. It was later acquired by Hobby Japan who began publishing it as a light novel with illustrations by Saba Mizore under their HJ Bunko imprint on June 1, 2020. As of April 2023, eight volumes have been released. The novels are licensed in English by Monogatari Novels.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Popuri Yoshikita was serialized on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website from March 26, 2021, to March 18, 2024. It was collected in five volumes from September 25, 2021, to March 26, 2024.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 18, 2022. It is produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ, and directed by Kazuomi Koga, with scripts written by Michiko Yokote, character designs handled by Masaru Koseki and music composed by Ryōhei Sataka. The series aired from July 4 to September 19, 2023, on TV Tokyo and other networks, including ABEMA. The opening theme song is "Paraglider" by Kaori Ishihara, while the ending theme song is "Yume wa Mijikashi Koiseyo Otome" (夢は短し恋せよ乙女; "DREAMS are fleeting, fall in LOVE, girls!") by Akiho Suzumoto. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series, and will be streaming it on Hidive. Medialink licensed the series in South, Southeast Asia and Oceania (except Australia and New Zealand) and will stream it on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.