SHY - Teru x Iko are so cute together! Pepesha was nice too.

SHY is a superhero manga series written and illustrated by Bukimi Miki that is completed with 33 volumes released between 2019 and 2025. I have currently read the first 25 volumes and plan on reading the remaining ones in the coming weeks while making regular posts about them.

The story follows 14-year-old Teru Momijiyama, who possesses superpowers and was recently appointed as Japan's hero representative under the nickname SHY. This name is a result of her incredible shyness around others. Teru tries her best, but her efforts do not always end with the best possible result, such as when she saves people from a broken roller coaster.

She manages the rescue, but one of the girls on the ride, Iko Koishikawa, suffers severe injuries in the process. The media, as usual, quickly jumped on the bandwagon by hating on Teru for failing to properly rescue everyone. This inevitably hit the poor girl hard, as she was just trying her best. Teru was at the point of actually giving up and ceasing to be a hero altogether.

Thankfully, Iko transfers to the same school as Teru and, after discovering her identity, personally thanks her for what she did. Teru regains some of her courage to continue her journey as a hero, but villains lie in wait, preparing something big. Will she be able to fight back and save the world?

The main villain of the series is an organization called Amarariruku, which is composed of various child-like entities that try to wreak havoc on the population under the control of an enigmatic leader called Stigma. It is revealed early on that all the Amarariruku members are actually dead, having died in circumstances that caused them to harbor deep regrets that were then enhanced and used by Stigma.

One example is the mother of Pepesha (another hero), who was killed by a thug throwing her off a bridge while she was trying to get home to her daughter. Her wish is to create a world where all children can live a happy life, a desire fueled by the poor and struggling life she led. Of course, this wish is warped in a way that makes it dangerous to the world.

Lines blur as the series progresses because some of the villains actually switch sides and help the heroes, such as Kufufu Kekerakera, who becomes quite close with Pepesha. The theme of the series is centered on regret and past trauma, and there is often no real "good end" for all the characters.

I am very fond of the relationship between Iko and Teru. They are very close friends who care for each other and, at times, their bond involuntarily activates my yuri goggles. It could just be me, but the two really make a great couple. In recent volumes, Iko has even started exploring new ways she can be useful to SHY.

In the volumes I have reached, the real identity of the villain has been made clear. I won't discuss it in this specific article, but I will talk more about it in the next one. Things are quickly moving toward a resolution. I am still unsure how the series will end, however, as the situation is not an easy one to fully solve.

If I had to mention one negative thing about the series, it would be that many heroes were added late in the story. I had a bit of trouble remembering who was who, especially since they didn't have enough screentime to be as memorable as the older characters like Pepesha, Davie, or Piltz.

SHY is a great manga series that I really suggest you give a shot. The combination of action and drama is well-coordinated, and the characters really shine whenever they are given the spotlight. I look forward to reading the remaining volumes and seeing how the story ends in the coming weeks.