- Spacewalking With You, vol. 1
- by Inuhiko Doronoda
- Kodansha Comics / Penguin Random House
- Publication Date: May 27, 2025
- ISBN-13: 9798888774380
High school student Yamato Kobayashi is struggling. He can’t seem to keep a job and has almost given up entirely on school. When Kobayashi meets transfer student Keisuke Uno, a sometimes loud and talkative student who keeps a notebook of rules to make his life easier, his life starts to change. Soon, the two are friends, Uno helping Kobayashi to focus better and Kobayashi helping Uno to take chances and go for what he wants.
Spacewalking With You features teens who are coded neurodivergent, but do not have a diagnosis (the author addresses this in the author’s note). Kobayashi and Uno are as different as can be, but their friendship strengthens both of them. The artwork is whimsical with exaggerated expressions. The storyline is heartwarming and handles tough topics such as mental health and learning how to thrive in a world not built for you in a gentle way.
Hand this manga to fans of comical slice of life stories like Komi Can’t Communicate or Hirayasumi. Those who appreciate the friendships forged in A Silent Voice will also appreciate Spacewalking With You.
—Kim Keown Farnsworth