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 began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website in March 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ aired from July to September 2023.
Synopsis
Wataru Sajō has been pestering and asking Aika Natsukawa, a beautiful girl in his class, to go out with him and get turned down. One day, a flying soccer ball swiftly changes his personality and comes to the conclusion he is not worthy of her and begins 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, but he suddenly came to his senses and tries to distance himself from her. During summer vacation he starts working part-time at a bookstore. They went to the same middle school and he has had feelings for her since then, but kept getting rejected.
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 is bewildered by Wataru Sajō's sudden change of his 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 a positive girl who joins the Volleyball Club.
Kaede Sajō (佐城 楓, Sajō Kaede)
Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu
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
Kaede's best friend. She is level-headed and the Moral Public Committee President of Kōetsu High School.
Mina Ichinose (一ノ瀬 深那, Ichinose Mina)
Voiced by: Iori Saeki
Wataru's classmate and junior at part-time job. She is a literature buff with a quiet personality. Since the Light Novel Volume 8, she has feelings for Wataru.
Voiced by: Karin Nanami (Japanese); Kimberly Yates (English)
The half-Japanese half-French female student, and Hayato's fiancé.
Hiyori Sonoda (園田ひより, Sonoda Hiyori)
Voiced by: Takagishi Miria
One of Marika's friends. The character's name first revealed in the anime adaptation.
Kaoruko Isogawa (五十川薫子, Isogawa Kaoruko)
Voiced by: Hikari Sonoyama
One of Marika's friends, she is dubbed "Mobile Student Handbook" by Wataru.
Store Manager (店長, Tenchō)
Voiced by: Susumu Akagi
The owner of the second-hand bookstore, where Wataru and Mina work part-time.
Yū Ichinose (一瀬優, Ichinose Yū)
Voiced by: Masayuki Akasaka
Mina's big brother and a member of the Moral Public Committee.
Hiroto Tabata (田端博人, Tabata Hiroto)
Voiced by: Tetsushi Niwa
One of Wataru's classmates who's not part of any clubs or committees.
Yuri Hanaoka (花岡由梨, Hanaoka Yuri)
Voiced by: Emiri Iwai
Yū's girlfriend and fellow Moral Public Committee member.
Store Manager's Wife (奥さん, Oku-san)
Voiced by: Shinobu Sato
The store manager's wife. She is a woman who cares about others, especially her husband's employees and customers.
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. 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 began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website on March 26, 2021. As of March 2024, it has been collected in five volumes.
The manga adaptation will end with the release of its fifth volume on 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.
See also
I Kissed My Girlfriend's Little Sister?!, another light novel series illustrated by Saba Mizore
The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio, another light novel series illustrated by Saba Mizore
Notes
References
External links
Official website at Shōsetsuka ni Narō(in Japanese)
Official light novel website(in Japanese)
Official manga website(in Japanese)
Official anime website(in Japanese)
The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia