We Never Learn: Exploring the Manga and Anime Series

"We Never Learn," also known as "BokuBen," is a Japanese manga series that has captivated audiences with its blend of humor, romance, and academic challenges. Written and illustrated by Taishi Tsutsui, the series was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from February 2017 to December 2020. Its popularity led to an anime television series adaptation and other related media.

Overview of the Series

We Never Learn is centered around Nariyuki Yuiga, a diligent senior high school student at Ichinose Academy. Driven by the need to support his poor family and inspired by his late father, Nariyuki aims to secure a special VIP nomination-a scholarship that would waive all his future university tuition fees. He earns the nomination but is tasked with tutoring three female geniuses in subjects they struggle with.

The Trio of Geniuses

Nariyuki's tutoring subjects include:

Fumino Furuhashi: A genius in humanities and social sciences but struggles with science and mathematics. She dreams of studying astronomy despite her weakness in math.
Rizu Ogata: A genius in science and mathematics but is terrible at humanities. Rizu seeks to understand emotions better and wishes to study psychology.
Uruka Takemoto: A prodigy in athletics but performs poorly in academics. Uruka aims for an athletic scholarship and needs help with her English skills.

As Nariyuki tutors these girls, they grapple with their academic goals and develop feelings for him.

Manga Publication

Written and illustrated by Taishi Tsutsui, We Never Learn debuted in Weekly Shōnen Jump on February 6, 2017. The manga series concluded on December 21, 2020, after running for nearly four years. Shueisha compiled the individual chapters into twenty-one tankōbon volumes.

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Story Arcs

The manga featured several story arcs, including the "Ephemeral Mermaid Princess" arc, which concluded in March 2020. Following this, the series introduced the "Parallel Story" arc, exploring alternative endings where Nariyuki ends up with different characters.

Anime Adaptation

The manga's popularity led to an anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Silver and Arvo Animation. The first season aired from April to June 2019, followed by a second season from October to December of the same year.

Streaming Platforms

The anime series was available for streaming on platforms such as Hulu, Crunchyroll, and FunimationNow.

Characters

Nariyuki Yuiga: The protagonist, a hardworking student striving to secure a scholarship. His dedication to studies is rooted in his father's influence.
Fumino Furuhashi: A humanities genius with a passion for astronomy. She has a strained relationship with her father due to her mother's death.
Rizu Ogata: A science and math genius who struggles with emotions. She is passionate about board games and seeks to understand human feelings better.
Uruka Takemoto: An athletic prodigy with dreams of competing in the Olympics. She has harbored feelings for Nariyuki since middle school.
Mafuyu Kirisu: A teacher at Ichinose Academy and the first tutor of Rizu and Fumino. She was formerly a figure skater and was inspired by Nariyuki's father to become a teacher.
Asumi Kominami: An alumna of Ichinose Academy and a rōnin student. She aims to attend medical university and often teases Nariyuki.

Story and Themes

The storyline revolves around Nariyuki's efforts to tutor Fumino, Rizu, and Uruka, each with unique academic strengths and weaknesses. As they work together, the characters confront their personal challenges and develop romantic feelings.

The School Festival

A significant event in the story is the Ichinose School Festival. According to a rumor, individuals touching when the first firework goes off are destined to become a couple. This event sets the stage for various romantic developments among the characters.

Parallel Endings

The manga is notable for featuring five separate endings, each depicting Nariyuki ending up with one of the main female characters. These alternative endings provide closure for fans who support different pairings. The final chapter introduces another continuity where all the girls, including secondary characters, end up touching Nariyuki during the festival.

Additional Media

Besides the manga and anime, We Never Learn has also spawned other media, including:

Light Novels: Two light novel spin-offs were released in 2019, further expanding the story and characters.
Video Anime: The series received video anime (OVA) bundled with the manga's 14th and 16th volumes.

Reception

We Never Learn has been well-received for its engaging characters, humor, and exploration of academic and romantic themes. The series has garnered a significant following both in Japan and internationally.

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