My Little Monster (となりの怪物くん Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun, lit. "The Monster Sitting Beside Me"?) is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Robico about the relationship between a girl named Shizuku Mizutani and a boy named Haru. It was serialized in Kodansha's Dessert magazine from August 23, 2008, to June 24, 2013. An anime adaptation by Brain's Base aired from October 2 to December 25, 2012. It was also simulcast onCrunchyroll.
My Little Monster focuses on the relationship between Shizuku Mizutani, who has absolutely no interests except in studying and her plans for the future, and a boy named Haru Yoshida, who sits next to Shizuku in class but rarely attends school. After Shizuku is tasked with delivering class printouts to Haru's home, she meets Haru, who immediately greets her as a friend, starting their new relationship.
Shizuku Mizutani (水谷 雫 Mizutani Shizuku?)
Voiced by: Mariya Ise (drama CD), Haruka Tomatsu (anime)Shizuku is the female protagonist of the story. She is very diligent in her studies, dedicating the majority of her attention and time to focus on her academics. She met Haru Yoshida when delivering classroom printouts. She maintains a distant and passive demeanor, only changing slightly after her meeting with Haru. He expanded her circle of relations and extended her view and experience of emotions. She falls in love with him later on. She is rejected after confessing her feelings, being able to engage in a romantic relationship only after Haru's feelings are certain. She does not like losing her no. 1 rank, displaying much disdain when Haru continually beats her in exams. Haru sometimes ends up hurting her when he gets jealous or tries to protect her. She has had trouble in communicating with her mother, often worrying of the bother she would impose upon her work. Haru helped close the distance, and her intimacy with her mother has increased to the point where she could phone her, albeit nervously, about love problems. Shizuku and Haru officially become a couple in volume 8, although in the bonus comic at the end of the issue they realize that they had pretty much already been a couple before, just never officially putting a label on their relationship. Although very serious and considered cold by many for her no-nonsense and blunt attitude, Shizuku nevertheless allows for Asako to affectionately call her "Mitty" (ミッティMitti?), a nickname which sprung up when Shizuku helped her learn the right things to study for the midterm retest which resulted in Asako considering Shizuku her first true and best friend.
Haru Yoshida (吉田 春 Yoshida Haru?)
Voiced by: Kenichi Suzumura (drama CD), Tatsuhisa Suzuki (anime)Haru is the male protagonist of the story. He is seated next to Shizuku in their first year, although initially absent from the majority of the arrangement until his meeting with Shizuku. Despite being a trouble maker, he is passionate boy willing to help others. He was able to memorize all the high school material during his absence from school, with this being reason for his performing academically well. He did not like going to school, with his classmates fearing his delinquent-like demeanor and glare. After meeting Shizuku, he takes her as his first real friend and starts to attend school, falling in love with her in the process. His statement is retracted a bit, though, as feelings were only bordering on "like," but not yet "love," as unaware as he was. It is only after a bit later in the story that he falls in love with her for certain and become an official couple in volume 8. Haru sometimes ends up hurting Shizuku when he gets jealous or tries to protect her. He also keeps a rooster, later bringing and housing it in school (with the reluctant approval from his teacher). If he presents effort, he attains a great popularity with those around him, the majority of it being with girls. He has somewhat of a perverted mind, openly saying to Shizuku that he would "do" her and confiding his "dirty thoughts" about her, but this seems to be more extended in the anime. He is in a different class from Shizuku in the second year, but this does not change their romantic intimacy. He is also feared by his teacher Saeko, and is always frustrated by her interference in his activities.
