Like a Heart-Pounding Rom-Com Manga... "Himmel is Blushing~!" Reactions to Yu Yabuuchi's Support Illustration for "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End"

The official X account for "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" has published a support illustration by Yu Yabuuchi, the author of "Uesugi-kun Wants to Quit Being a Girl," which has become a hot topic.

The published illustration depicts Frieren and Himmel rendered in soft, translucent colors. From beside Himmel, who is gazing at what appears to be an old map in his hands, Frieren leans in closely, peering over and asking, "Where?" Himmel, with her frien's face brought so close to his, murmurs "Too close..." while blushing with reddened cheeks, and the two's adorable exchange is expressed in a touch reminiscent of romance manga.

"Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" is a fantasy work based on the manga with original story by Kanehito Yamada and artwork by Tsukasa Abe, depicting the journey of Frieren, a long-lived elf mage, as she sets out on a journey to understand people in a world after the defeat of the Demon King. Additionally, Yabuuchi, who created the support illustration, is a popular manga artist who has produced numerous masterpiece shojo manga such as "Aqua Age," and is currently gaining popularity with "Uesugi-kun Wants to Quit Being a Girl" through careful psychological portrayal and charming art style.

In response to this illustration, fans have expressed praise such as "It's wonderful as a romance manga-style illustration!" "It's just like a heart-pounding rom-com manga," "Himmel is blushing~!" "This height difference is so good," and "I love how Frieren is oblivious, or rather, doesn't notice Himmel's feelings..." The voices of acclaim have been directed at the distance and expressions between the two as drawn by a master of the shojo manga world.

(C)Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe/Shogakukan/ "Frieren"Project