# Boy's Abyss

Boy's Abyss (Japanese: 少年のアビス, Hepburn: Shōnen no Abisu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryō Minenami. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump magazine from February 2020 to July 2024, with its chapters collected in 18 tankōbon volumes. A television drama adaptation aired from September to October 2022.

## Plot

Reiji Kurose lives with his brother, his mother, who works as a nurse, and his grandmother in a rural town. He is childhood friends with Sakuko Akiyama. One day, Reiji meets Nagi Aoe, a member of the idol group Acrylic who is working as a convenience store clerk. Nagi tells Reiji of a place in the town known as the "Lover's Abyss", which is claimed to be a place where lovers commit suicide. Reiji and Nagi attempt suicide but fail, and Reiji is rescued by his teacher Yuri Shibasawa, who then vows to protect him.

## Characters
### Reiji Kurose (黒瀬 令児, Kurose Reiji)

    Portrayed by: Towa Araki
    The main character, who plans on leaving the town but is conflicted by the circumstances he is facing. He considers going to university in Tokyo.

### Nagi Aoe (青江 ナギ, Aoe Nagi)

    Portrayed by: Hinako Kitano
    A member of the idol group Acrylic, who had gone on hiatus and moved to Reiji's town, where she works as a convenience store clerk. She is married to Kosaku Esemori. Following her suicide attempt, she quits her job and returns to Tokyo to resume her idol activities.

### Sakuko Akiyama (秋山 朔子, Akiyama Sakuko)

    Portrayed by: Miyu Honda
    Reiji's childhood friend who studies at a private all-girls' school and is aiming to go to university in Tokyo. She wants to be an author, in particular admiring Esemori's work, and is a fan of the idol group Acrylic. She is nicknamed Chako (チャコ) due to her chubby looks. She offers to be Esemori's editor but later ends the agreement after he attempted to sexually harass her.

### Yuri Shibasawa (柴沢 由里, Shibasawa Yuri)

    Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa (PV)
    Portrayed by: Rena Matsui
    Reiji's teacher who appears to have developed feelings for him and wishes to protect him, to the point of letting him stay at her house. She was a table tennis champion during her high school years.

### Gen Minegishi (峯岸 玄, Minegishi Gen)

    Portrayed by: Natsuki Hori
    Reiji and Sakuko's childhood friend, whose family owns and operates a construction company.

### Yuko Kurose (黒瀬 夕子, Kurose Yūko)

    Portrayed by: Reiko Kataoka
    Reiji's mother, who works as a nurse at the local hospital. She separated from Reiji's father prior to the events of the series, and is secretly having sex with Gen's father. She went to the same high school as Esemori and is implied to have had a romantic relationship with him.

### Kosaku Esemori (似非森 耕作, Esemori Kōsaku)

    Portrayed by: Sōkō Wada
    A popular author and Nagi's husband, who moved back to his hometown to take care of his mother. He is implied to have had a romantic relationship with Yuko, who went to the same school as him. His real name is Akira Nozoe (野添 旭, Nozoe Akira).

## Media
### Manga

Written and illustrated by Ryō Minenami, Boy's Abyss was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump magazine from February 27, 2020, to July 25, 2024. Shueisha collected its chapters in eighteen tankōbon volumes, released from July 17, 2020, to October 18, 2024.
In June 2022, Viz Media announced that they licensed the series for English publication.

#### Volumes

| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | July 17, 2020 | 978-4-08-891601-9 | April 25, 2023 | 978-1-9747-3668-3 |
| 1. "A Boy In Town" (その町の少年, Sono Machi no Shōnen) 2. "Secret Date" (お忍びデート, Oshinobi Dēto) 3. "Nagi Aoe" (青江ナギ, Aoe Nagi) 4. "Someone In The Way" (邪魔者, Jamamono) 5. "That Man" (件の男, Kudan no Otoko) 6. "Mad Dash" (疾走, Shissō) 7. "Abyss" (深淵 -アビス-, Shin'en -Abisu-) |||||
| 2 | September 18, 2020 | 978-4-08-891667-5 | July 18, 2023 | 978-1-9747-3742-0 |
| 8. "What Happened That Night" (その夜の出来事, Sono Yoru no Dekigoto) 9. "The Typhoon Arrives" (あらしのよるに, Arashi no Yoru ni) 10. "High School Teacher" (高校教師, Kōkō Kyōshi) 11. "The Typhoon Passes" (台風一過, Taifū Ikka) 12. "An Adult In Town" (その町の大人, Sono Machi no Otona) 13. "Setting Sun" (落日, Rakujitsu) 14. "Red Spider Lily" (ヒガンバナ, Higanbana) 15. "Ambush" (まちぶせ, Machibuse) 16. "Dark Night" (暗夜, An'ya) 17. "Cemetery Hill" (墓のある丘, Haka no Aru Oka) |||||
| 3 | December 18, 2020 | 978-4-08-891798-6 | October 17, 2023 | 978-1-9747-4056-7 |
| 18. "Waiting for the New Moon" (朔に待つ, Tsuki ni Matsu) 19. "Seducer" 20. "Confessional" (告解, Kokkai) 21. "A Happy Future" (未来のある幸福, Mirai no Aru Kōfuku) 22. "Light" (光, Hikari) 23. "Aversion" (嫌悪, Ken'o) 24. "Silent Night" (静の夜, Sei no Yoru) 25. "Lust Redux" (再びの欲望, Futatabi no Yokubō) 26. "Lover's Abyss" (情死ヶ淵, Jōshigafuchi) 27. "Corrupted Sadness" (汚れた悲しみ, Yogoreta Kanashimi) |||||
| 4 | March 18, 2021 | 978-4-08-891818-1 | January 23, 2024 | 978-1-9747-4281-3 |
| 28. "An Outsider's Soliloquy" (部外者の独白, Bugaisha no Dokuhaku) 29. "Illusion Of Death" (幻想の死, Gensō no Shi) 30. "Contract" (契約, Keiyaku) 31. "Years And Years" (積年, Sekinen) 32. "Decision" (決断, Ketsudan) 33. "Two Fences" (2つの囲い, Futatsu no Kakoi) 34. "Return" (回帰, Kaiki) 35. "A Night With Mom" (母と夜と, Haha to Yoru to) 36. "Date" (デート, Dēto) 37. "A Guide" (指導者, Shidōsha) |||||
| 5 | June 18, 2021 | 978-4-08-892006-1 | April 23, 2024 | 978-1-9747-4337-7 |
| 38. "Hand Of Salvation" (救いの手, Sukui no Te) 39. "Lifeline" (よすが, Yosuga) 40. "Lamplight" (灯火, Tōka) 41. "Drowned Body" (水死体, Suishitai) 42. "Bubble" (泡沫, Utakata) 43. "Criminal" (咎人, Toganin) 44. "Means" (手段, Shudan) 45. "The Holy Mother From That Meeting" (その町の聖母, Sono Machi no Seibo) 46. "Secret Meeting" (密会, Mikkai) 47. "From the End" (果てより, Hate yori) |||||
| 6 | September 17, 2021 | 978-4-08-892071-9 | July 23, 2024 | 978-1-9747-4597-5 |
| 48. "The Boy Who Came To Town" (その町に来た少年, Sono Machi ni Kita Shōnen) 49. "Waiting For Spring" (春を待つ, Haru o Matsu) 50. "First Love" (初恋, Hatsukoi) 51. "A Heroine In Hell" (少女と修羅, Shōjo to Shura) 52. "Rift" (罅, Hibi) 53. "Maneuvering" (蠢動, Shundō) 54. "Farce" (茶番, Chaban) 55. "Embrace" (抱擁, Hōyō) 56. "Bonds" (絆, Kizuna) 57. "Death" (死, Shi) |||||
| 7 | December 17, 2021 | 978-4-08-892163-1 | October 22, 2024 | 978-1-9747-4895-2 |
| 58. "Cradle" (ゆりかご, Yurikago) 59. "The Boy's Sin" (少年の罪, Shōnen no Tsumi) 60. "Hollow" (虚, Uro) 61. "Hollow Victor" (虚しき勝者, Munashiki Shōsha) 62. "Swallowed By The Town" (町に沈む, Machi ni Shizumu) 63. "Twilight" (黄昏, Tasogare) 64. "The Boy's Curse" (少年の呪詛, Shōnen no Juso) 65. "Moonlight" (月光, Gekkō) 66. "Hand" (手, Te) 67. "For Your Sake" (きみのために, Kimi no Tame ni) 68. "Gravekeeper's Confession" (墓守の告白, Hakamori no Kokuhaku) |||||
| 8 | March 18, 2022 | 978-4-08-892244-7 | January 28, 2025 | 978-1-9747-5150-1 |
| 69. "Chalice of Iniquity" (罪悪の杯, Zaiaku no Hai) 70. "A Town Frozen" (凍てる町, Iteru Machi) 71. "She Who Laughs" (笑う女, Warau Onna) 72. "You Good?" (「元気?」, "Genki?") 73. "Our Failures" (ボクたちの失敗, Boku-tachi no Shippai) 74. "Kindred Spirits" (似たもの同士, Nitamono Dōshi) 75. "Reformation" (改心, Kaishin) 76. "Key" (鍵, Kagi) 77. "Suffocating Brother" (窒息する兄弟, Chissoku Suru Kyōdai) 78. "Childhood Friends" (幼馴染, Osananajimi) |||||
| 9 | June 17, 2022 | 978-4-08-892339-0 | April 22, 2025 | 978-1-9747-5244-7 |
| 79. "Since That Day" (あの日から…, Ano Hi kara...) 79.5. "Sensei Extra Chapter" 80. "The Room Of Answers" (正解の部屋, Seikai no Heya) 81. "A Woman of This Town" (この町の女, Kono Machi no Onna) 82. "Silently…" (しんしんと…, Shinshin to...) 83. "A Dark Gray Town" (鈍色の町, Nibiiro no Machi) 84. "Beautiful, Fleeting, Dark and Cold" (美しくて儚くて暗くて冷たい, Utsukushikute Hakanakute Kurakute Tsumetai) 85. "Goodbye Adults" (さよなら、オトナたち, Sayonara, Otona-tachi) 86. "The Teens from That Town" (あの町の少年たち, Ano Machi no Shōnen-tachi) 86.5. "I Was Born and Raised In Tokyo, and I Still Live There" 87. "Before and After the Dream" (夢のあとさき, Yume no Atosaki) 88. "Old Acquaintance" (旧知, Kyūchi) |||||
| 10 | September 16, 2022 | 978-4-08-892428-1 | — | — |
| 89. "The Mother and The Son's Abyss" (母と子のアビス, Haha to Ko no Abisu) 90. "Tale in the Night" (夜に語る, Yoru ni Kataru) 91. "The Day Before the Storm" (嵐の前日, Arashi no Zenjitsu) 92. "Festival" (祭り, Matsuri) 93. "In The End" (挙句, Ageku) 94. "The Girl Laughs Gracefully" (少女は嫋やかに笑う, Shōjo wa Taoyaka ni Warau) 95. "Festival of Portents" (痕の祭り, Ato no Matsuri) 96. "Scattering First Love" (散りゆく初恋, Chiri Yuku Hatsukoi) 97. "On the Night of the Eve" (イヴの夜, Ivu no Yoru) 98. "Shimmering Heat" (陽炎, Kagerō) |||||
| 11 | December 19, 2022 | 978-4-08-892563-9 | — | — |
| 99. "The Midnight Disease" (筆が走る, Fude ga Hashiru) 100. "Sublimation" (昇華, Shōka) 101. "Impatience and, Rain" (焦燥と、雨, Shōsō to, Ame) 102. "Amid the Overflowing Water" (溢れる水の中で, Afureru Mizu no Naka de) 103. "Karma" (業-カルマ-, Gō -Karuma-) 104. "Muddied Waters" (濁流, Dakuryū) 105. "Devil" (悪魔, Akuma) 106. "Saying Goodbye to That Town" (町との別れ, Machi to no Wakare) 107. "Reiji" (レイジ, Reiji) 108. "A Fish Tank of Eternal Recurrence" (永劫回帰の水槽, Eigōkaiki no Suisō) |||||
| 12 | March 17, 2023 | 978-4-08-892628-5 | — | — |
| 109. "Farewell to the Novelist" (小説家との別れ, Shōsetsuka to no Wakare) 110. "The Kurose Family" (黒瀬家, Kurose-ke) 111. "The Opposing Shore" (対岸, Taigan) 112. "Patch" (鎹, Kasugai) 113. "The Ocean" (海, Umi) 114. "Twin Angels of Death" (二人の死神, Futari no Shinigami) 115. "Brother" (お兄ちゃん, Oniichan) 116. "Dawn" (夜明け, Yoake) 117. "Dregs" (澱, Ori) 118. "Vortex" (渦, Uzu) |||||
| 13 | June 19, 2023 | 978-4-08-892717-6 | — | — |
| 119. "Cornered Rat" (窮鼠, Kyūso) 120. "People Come, People Go" (去る者、来る者, Saru Mono, Kuru Mono) 121. "Embraced" (抱かれて, Idakarete) 122. "Together Again" (また、一緒, Mata, Issho) 123. "An Antlion's Home, An Ant's Hell" (蟻地獄, Arijigoku) 124. "Sunset" (日没, Nichibotsu) 125. "Teacher and Student" (先生と生徒, Sensei to Seito) 126. "The Line" (境界, Kyōkai) 127. "Aimless Love" (彷徨う愛, Samayou Ai) 128. "Where Gen Minegishi Waits" (峰岸玄のいる場所, Minegishi Gen no Iru Basho) 129. "I'll Wait for You Forever" (いつまでもキミを待つ, Itsumademo Kimi o Matsu) |||||
| 14 | September 19, 2023 | 978-4-08-892819-7 | — | — |
| 130. "Silent River" (沈黙の川, Chinmoku no Kawa) 131. "Nothing" (無, Mu) 132. "The Rising Sun Inevitably Falls" (日はまた昇る、沈むために, Hi wa Mata Noboru, Shizumu tame ni) 133. "Girls" (少女たち, Shōjo-tachi) 134. "Questions" (質疑, Shitsugi) 135. "Anger" (怒り, Ikari) 136. "Bewilderment" (惑い, Madoi) 137. "Severance" (断絶, Danzetsu) 138. "A Fading Person" (消えゆく人, Kieyuku Hito) 139. "Too Late Now" (いまさら, Imasara) 140. "Utter Contempt" (心底からの軽蔑を, Shinsoko kara no Keibetsu o) |||||
| 15 | December 19, 2023 | 978-4-08-893052-7 | — | — |
| 141. "Building Bridges" (橋渡し, Hashiwatashi) 142. "Truth and Fiction" (嘘と本当, Uso to Hontō) 143. "A Perfect Story" (上出来の物語, Jōdeki no Monogatari) 144. "Heroine" (主人公, Shujinkō) 145. "A Letter from Akira Nozoe" (野添旭からの手紙, Nozoe Asahi kara no Tegami) 146. "Eyes" (目, Me) 147. "Husband and Wife" (夫婦, Fūfu) 148. "What's Wrong with Love?" (愛で悪いか, Ai de Warui ka) 149. "Downfall" (瓦解, Gakai) 150. "Birthday" (バースデイ, Bāsudei) |||||
| 16 | March 18, 2024 | 978-4-08-893163-0 | — | — |
| 151. "Dreams" (夢幻, Mugen) 152. "Empty Night" (空の夜, Sora no Yoru) 153. "Face to Face" (面会, Menkai) 154. "Amidst the Mist" (霧の中, Kiri no Naka) 155. "Unsatisfying" (あっけなく, Akkenaku) 156. "Brothers by Blood" (血の兄弟, Chi no Kyōdai) 157. "Disappearance" (消失, Shōshitsu) 158. "Whereabouts" (行方, Yukue) 159. "The Devil and the Angel of Death" (死神と鬼, Shinigami to Oni) 160. "Wish" (願い, Negai) |||||
| 17 | July 18, 2024 | 978-4-08-893206-4 | — | — |
| 161. "Muddled" (混濁, Kondaku) 162. "Comedy" (喜劇, Kigeki) 163. "Upstream" (上流, Jōryū) 164. "Shadow" (影, Kage) 165. "Awareness" (気づき, Kidzuki) 166. "Fumbling" (手探り, Tesaguri) 167. "The Girl and the Kid" (女と子供, On'na to Kodomo) 168. "A Fishtank for Two" (水槽の二人, Suisō no Futari) 169. "The Girl from That Town" (その町の少女, Sono Machi no Shōjo) 170. "Confession" (告白, Kokuhaku) 171. "Blessed with a Curse" (詛, Noroi) 172. "Last Wish" (最後の願い, Saigo no Negai) |||||
| 18 | October 18, 2024 | 978-4-08-893384-9 | — | — |
| 173. "The Flame of a Righteous Life" (正しい命の火, Tadashī Inochi no hi) 174. "Shadow" (共犯, Kyōhan) 175. Yuusui (誘水) 176. Kaihō (解放) 177. Bukimina Shōnen (不気味な少年) 178. Ōjōgiwa no Saikai (往生際の再会) 179. Anata (あなた) 180. Anata ga Kyō o Ikite iru to iu Koto (あなたが今日を生きているということ) 181. Nukarumi (泥濘) 182. Dare mo Inai (誰もいない) 183. Sono Machi no, Shōnen Shōjodatta-sha-tachi (その町の、少年少女だった者たち) |||||

### Drama

A television drama adaptation was announced in July 2022. It was directed by Misato Kato with scripts by Kyoko Inukai and Towa Araki performing the lead role. The series aired for eight episodes on MBS's Drama Tokku [ja] programming block from September 2 to October 21, 2022. RIM performed the opening theme "Inner Child" (インナアチャイルド, In'nāchairudo), while SpendyMily performed the ending theme "Iris".

## Reception

In 2021, the series was placed eleventh in the 7th Next Manga Award in the print category. By July 2022, the series has over one million copies in circulation.