Followers of the original rom-com manga series More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers (also commonly known as Fuukoi) will unfortunately have to wait a while for the series’ next installment. Fuukoi creator Yuki Kanamaru recently confirmed that her hit manga is officially on “long-term hiatus” until further notice.

Fuukoi publisher Kadokawa Shoten published an official note regarding the manga’s serialization on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Though it is sudden, starting with the May issue of Young Ace [magazine], released on April 4, More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers will be on hiatus for a while. We sincerely apologize to all the readers who have been awaiting the continuation of the serialization.” Shortly thereafter, Kanamaru used the platform to reach out to disappointed fans. “To everyone who has always supported me, I’m truly sorry for making you wait for the continuation of the story,” she wrote.

Hit Romance Series ‘More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers’ Goes on Indefinite Hiatus

Initially released in March 2018, More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers chronicles the lives of Jiro Yakuin and Akari Watanabe — two high school students who are enrolled in their school’s “couple’s training” program. As a fashionable gyaru, Akari is initially dismissive of the introverted, video game-obsessed Jiro. In spite of their oppositional personalities, the two pretend to get along in order to graduate from the program and pursue their actual crushes. However, the two eventually start to develop romantic feelings for one another. The situation is complicated further when Jiro’s crush, Shiori, reveals that she has feelings for him.

While many prominent manga authors have taken breaks for health-related reasons, Kanamaru explained that the purpose behind this hiatus is to plot out the remainder of Fuukoi‘s story. “I myself am doing well and staying healthy. This decision comes from my renewed desire to cherish the fact that each monthly story becomes part of one, grand narrative,” she wrote. “I continue to face this with the aim of meeting your expectations. I humbly ask for your continued support.”

Fuukoi‘s inventive take on the “opposites attract” love story has earned it a significant following over the years. Studio Mother (Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest Season 2, As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World) adapted the manga into an anime in 2022. The series was helmed by director Junichi Yamamoto (Armor Shop for Ladies and Gentlemen) and chief director Takao Kato (To-Love-Ru, ZOIDS). Naruhisa Arakawa, a screenwriter known for his work on the fantasy-romance anime Spice & Wolf, was in charge of series composition. The anime ran for a total of 12 episodes during the Fall-Winter 2022 anime season. While many chapters of the manga have yet to be animated, Studio Mother has not yet revealed any information regarding a potential second season (as of March 2025).

More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers is available in English from Udon Entertainment. The series’ anime adaptation is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Source: X (formerly Twitter)