"Hakusensha Next Award 2025" Award Winners Announced & E-book Fair Held!

The winners of the "Hakusensha Next Award 2025," which recognizes new works with particularly high sales during the year, have been decided. We will honor 13 works—10 from the General category and 3 from the BL category—that achieved the highest initial sales for their first volumes and single e-book titles distributed by Hakusensha in 2025. We extend our deepest gratitude to the award-winning authors, all the wonderful authors who write for our company, and all the readers who support us.

To commemorate this, an e-book fair has also been decided! For two weeks, from **Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to Tuesday, April 14, 2026**, free trial reads and discounts will be offered at **Hakusensha e-net! and other major e-bookstores**. Please take this opportunity to read them.

### ＼Now Trending!! Introducing Hot Topics／ Hakusensha Next Award 2025

**Campaign Period: April 1 (Wed) - April 14 (Tue), 2026**

Hakusensha e-net! page here: https://www.hakusensha-e.net/store/special/260401awd *The 30% OFF coupon is an exclusive offer for Hakusensha e-net!.

●List of Award-Winning Works *In alphabetical order

### **[General Category]**

**"The Melancholy of the Beloved Empress" by Kei Kiyone** Meika became the empress of Emperor Seiran of the Akatsuki Empire. Meika, who had decided to become a soldier to protect Seiran, whose life was constantly targeted, was displeased, believing Seiran had decided to marry her as a prank. However, Seiran had his own intentions of not wanting to put Meika in danger. What will become of their mismatched married life—!? A palace romance featuring childhood friends who are a bickering couple♪

**"I Want to Be Loved by Inukai-san" by Yuki Hino** Ito Ayase, who moved from the city to a local printing company, met Inukai-san, who seemed intimidating at first glance with his artisan spirit. Her heart flutters at his dedicated work ethic! She wants to get closer but can't, and he seemed uninterested in romance... but then an adult relationship suddenly began! Huh? Am I being misunderstood!? A love story starting from a misunderstanding for a woman who, even as an adult, wants her heart to flutter and be doted on! I just want to be loved by Inukai-san! That's all!

**"In Such a Small World" by Natsuki Takaya** Sui Onodera (23) quit her job and left home. Her apartment neighbor, Iku Seto (21), suddenly barges into her house. He claims his dog, Tino, got onto Sui's balcony. This encounter gently melts into Sui's life—. "You're the only one I want to impress, Onodera-san."

**"The Silent General-sama Loves His Magic-Zero Wife Too Much ~Why Can I Hear My Husband's Thoughts!?~" Original Story by Denkyu Umino, Art by Miwa Naomoto** Meishun, born with zero magic in the Kinran Kingdom where magic power determines everything, lived her days scorned by those around her. However, she was one day discovered for her potential and married to the powerful demon general, Ryu. Meishun was terrified by rumors of Ryu being "cruel and cold-hearted," but during their first meeting, she accidentally tripped and kissed Ryu. As she was prostrating herself to apologize, she suddenly heard Ryu's thoughts: "Is it a dream that such a cute girl is my wife?" The curtain rises on a heart-pounding doting fantasy featuring a new wife who can read minds and a demon general whose thoughts are completely exposed!

**"March Thunderclap" by Junko Ike** "Did you forget your boyfriend's face?" Yori, a lonely high school girl who was held back a year due to an accident. While enjoying her daily routine of supporting her favorite idol alone, a handsome man suddenly appeared and stepped on her handmade fan. Yori was furious, but this ethically challenged handsome man was none other than Yayoi-kun, her childhood friend whom she used to dote on like a younger brother! Yayoi-kun, who was supposed to be small, cute, and always crying, is now intensely pressuring her to marry him "as promised" after 10 years apart...!? Her childhood friend, reunited after 10 years, is somehow dangerous!?

**"I, Called the Poisonous Woman of Society ~Since the Wonderful Border Count's Son Broke My Arm, He Must Take Responsibility~" Manga by Kairi Shimotsuki, Original Story by Mikan Kurusu** I've always been good at reading the room. That's why I play the villain, just as my stepsister Marine, who wants to be a tragic heroine, wishes. If I don't, my father, who dotes on Marine, will make me skip meals. Marine's target at tonight's ball is Rio, the son of Count Balgoa. —Alright, alright, I'll pour wine over your head as Marine wishes, so you two just hurry up and get together and flirt... I thought, but then the Border Count's son grabbed my wrist, and it made a dull *crack* sound—?

**"Therefore, I Think I'll Get a Divorce" Manga by Mita Kurumi, Original Story by Hibiki Sayama** "So, I think I'll get a divorce. I still don't even know my husband's face." Tiese Nortec, the protagonist, married into the ducal family to pay off a debt. However, her husband, Ian, consistently avoided Tiese, and five years passed without them ever meeting. Reaching her limit, Tiese decided to repay the debt to divorce her husband. The condition for the job she was offered was to fix something for Ian's friend, Baron Servan—!? Why does Ian not appear before Tiese? And will Tiese successfully (or not?) get her divorce!? A mismatched romance between a handsome baron with a secret and a duke's ornamental wife!

**"Landmine Glico" Manga by Akira Akatsuki, Original Story by Yugo Aosaki** Masato Imoriya, a high school girl who desires peace. She is unusually strong in competitions. Asked by her friend Koda-chan, Masato decides to challenge the battle for rooftop usage rights at the school festival, commonly known as the "Guen Match." The opponent in the final is Senior Kunugi, the student council representative and consecutive winner of the "Guen Match." The referee's challenge was an arrangement of that game everyone has experienced...?

**"Tsukumogomi" by panpanya** Includes over 15 works, starting with the title work, and arrangements of early works from 10 years ago, such as "Invited by Crabs 2," "Remembered Understanding," "Don't You Know Pineapple," and "decoy'23 spring," which were featured in "Rakuen" Spring panpanya Festival commemorating the 10th anniversary of her debut. Also includes works depicting the intersecting daily lives of animals and humans unique to panpanya's world. A diary is also included.

**"The Case of Becoming King After Eating Monster Meat" Manga by Karin Suzuragi, Original Story by Daken, Character Design by Shiba** Prince Mars, 12 years old, fears assassination. He survived by eating monster meat because his meals were poisoned. Then one night, a red-haired beauty appeared and declared, "You have potential. Become my disciple." From a single misunderstanding, the boy (who didn't want it at all) rises to become the strongest king—! The first comic adaptation of a new author, Daken, who gained attention with "Who Killed the Hero"!!

### **[BL Category]**

**"The Way Home is Always With You" by Shirori** Second-year high school student Tsubasa has a crush on his best friend, Yushi, who is the complete opposite of his own laid-back personality—manly and cool. He thought it would be enough to just stay good friends and walk home together every day without confessing his feelings, but then he saw Yushi being confessed to by a girl!? A heart-pounding youth BL love story that starts with a kiss!