| Happy of the End | |
| Ja Kanji: | ハッピー・オブ・ジ・エンド |
| Ja Romaji: | Happī Obu Ji Endo |
| Genre: | Romance, thriller, boys' love |
| Type: | manga |
| Author: | Ogeretsu Tanaka |
| Publisher: | Takeshobo |
| Magazine: | Qpa |
| Imprint: | Bamboo Comics Qpa Collection |
| Volumes: | 3 |
| Type: | drama |
| Studio: | NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan |
| Episodes: | 8 (scheduled) |
| Portal: | yes |
is a Japanese manga series by Ogeretsu Tanaka. It was serialized in the monthly boys' love digital manga magazine Qpa from January 24, 2020, to October 24, 2023. A live-action television drama adaptation premiered on Fuji TV on September 3, 2024.
Disowned by his family for being gay and rejected by his recently married ex-boyfriend, Chihiro Kashiwagi meets Keito, a beautiful and mysterious man, at a bar, and suggests they have a one-night stand. However, at the hotel, Keito beats Chihiro unconscious. The next morning, Keito reveals that he was sent by Matsuki, Chihiro's former patron, to take back his cards after Chihiro had stolen them upon being evicted for sleeping with other men. With no place to live, Chihiro ends up staying with Keito.
While living with each other as friends with benefits, Chihiro and Keito grow closer to each other and open up about their pasts: Chihiro tells Keito about his family and his failed aspirations of becoming a photographer. Meanwhile, Keito reveals that his real name is Haoran and that his drug-addicted mother is a prostitute who came from China; in addition, when he was 15, he worked as a prostitute with violent clients. Later, when Chihiro's ex-boyfriend tries to convince Chihiro to start dating again, Chihiro realizes he treasures his relationship with Haoran more, and that his ex-boyfriend never loved him. Haoran goes into his slump after his mother dies and contemplates, but he realizes he wants to live because Chihiro is with him. After finding closure with their pasts, Chihiro and Haoran decide to live together happily as a couple.
Chihiro and Haoran's happiness is short-lived when Maya, an abusive pimp who Haoran previously worked for, begins stalking them. Haoran fears Maya is targeting him after the former had previously gotten the latter arrested. The two begin moving houses until one day, Maya kidnaps Chihiro and has him brutally beaten. Haoran avenges him by stabbing Maya, but he becomes shaken up upon realizing his intent to kill him. Chihiro offers to run away with him, and they escape to Enoshima. At the end of their date, Haoran announces to Chihiro that he will turn himself into the police, and the two go their separate ways.
Years later, Chihiro has become a successful photographer, while Haoran becomes a construction worker after being released from prison. Maya dies by suicide in a train crossing accident. With encouragement from Kaji, Chihiro uploads his photography work to Instagram, to which Haoran finds one day. Realizing how much he misses him, Haoran attends Chihiro's photography exhibit, where he finds a photo of himself at the venue, and reunites with Chihiro.
Happy of the End was written and illustrated by Ogeretsu Tanaka. It was serialized in the monthly boys' love digital manga magazine Qpa from vol. 98 released on January 24, 2020,[1] to vol. 141 released on August 24, 2023.[2] The chapters were later released in three bound volumes by Takeshobo under the Bamboo Comics Qpa Collection imprint.[3] Kuma publishes the series in English for North American distribution.
Happy of the End was Tanaka's first comic published with Takeshobo. In 2021, Tanaka stated through an interview with that she came up with the story when she was walking around in Shinjuku one morning and wanted to write a story featuring its scenery.[3] Tanaka often walked around places in Shinjuku to get reference material for her illustrations, and for the cover illustrations, she walked around back alleys at night.[3]
An audio drama adaptation produced by Crown Works was released on CD. The first CD, adapting volume 1, was released on October 29, 2021.[4] [5] The second CD, adapting volume 2, was released on July 15, 2022.[6] [7]
Takuya Eguchi, who provides the voice to Chihiro, described Chihiro as "pure" while also expressing concern about his carelessness.[8] He focused on portraying that part of him while recording.[8] Shinnosuke Tachibana, who provides the voice to Keito, described him as "inhuman" at first, only regaining his humanity after meeting Chihiro.[8] Tachibana also expressed interest in an anime adaptation being developed for the series.[8] For the second drama CD, Eguchi, Tachibana, and Matsuda recorded their lines together apart from the rest of the cast members.[9]
A live-action television drama adaptation of Happy of the End was announced on August 5, 2024.[10] [11] The series was produced by NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan and premiered on September 3, 2024, on Fuji TV with a total of 8 episodes.[10] Fuji TV On Demand, the channel's online streaming service, also broadcasts two episodes every week.[10]
The series stars as Chihiro and member as Keito/Haoran.[10] The supporting cast includes Yuki Kubota as Kaji, as Keito's mother, Yosuke Asari as Maya, and as Matsuki.[12] Additional cast members include Shu Watanabe as Chihiro's older brother.[12]
The television drama adaptation was directed by Tomoyuki Furumaya (episodes 1 - 5, 7, and 8) and Takahiro Komura (episode 6).[10] The screenplay was written by Furumaya and Miako Tadano.[10] The soundtrack was composed by .[10] The opening theme was "2Colors" by featuring (Rize/).[13] [14]
As of August 2024, the series has sold a consecutive total of 310,000 physical copies.[10] It won the BL Awards 2022 in the Deep category, and ranked no. 4 for Best Series in the Chil Chil BL Awards 2024.[10]