Haimiya Is Scary Cute Celebrates First Anniversary with New Sumu Kamiyama Illustration

Haimiya Is Scary Cute (灰宮先輩は怖くてかわいい), the romantic comedy manga by Sumu Kamiyama (神山すむ), officially celebrated one year of serialization on November 6, 2026. The manga's official @haimiya_senpai X account marked the occasion with a new illustration drawn by Kamiyama, depicting Haimiya and Kurose together in a cheerful scene and thanking readers for their support since the series began on Square Enix's Manga UP! platform.

The anniversary also coincided with the release of Haimiya Is Scary Cute Volume 4 on November 6, 2026. Square Enix published both a standard edition and a special edition containing a full-color illustration booklet, while the manga continues its regular serialization on Manga UP!. The school romantic comedy about an intimidating-looking senior girl who shows a surprisingly affectionate side is also available internationally through Manga UP! Global.

Quick Summary

• Official English title: Haimiya Is Scary Cute
• Japanese title: 灰宮先輩は怖くてかわいい
• Romanized title: Haimiya-senpai wa Kowakute Kawaii
• Format: manga
• Genres: romantic comedy, school life
• Creator: Sumu Kamiyama / 神山すむ
• Writer and illustrator: Sumu Kamiyama
• Publisher: Square Enix / スクウェア・エニックス
• Serialization platform: Manga UP! / マンガUP！
• Book imprint: Gangan Comics UP!
• International platform: Manga UP! Global
• Official English title: Haimiya Is Scary Cute
• Serialization began: November 6, 2025
• First anniversary: November 6, 2026
• Milestone: one year of serialization
• Manga status: ongoing
• Update schedule: Thursdays
• Anniversary material: new creator illustration
• Illustrated characters: Haimiya and Kurose
• Illustration theme: appreciation for readers
• Female lead: Mio Haimiya / 灰宮美桜
• Male lead: Kurose / 黒瀬
• Supporting character: Koyuki / 恋雪
• Haimiya's appearance: gray wolf-cut hair and multiple piercings
• Haimiya's speech: Kansai dialect
• Premise: a feared senior girl who is unexpectedly gentle toward Kurose
• Latest manga volume: Volume 4
• Volume 4 release: November 6, 2026
• Volume 4 editions: standard and special
• Standard edition price: 792 yen including tax
• Special edition price: 1,518 yen including tax
• Special edition bonus: full-color illustration booklet
• Booklet length: 44 pages
• Booklet illustrations: more than 45
• Physical format: B6
• Standard Volume 4 ISBN: 9784301008668
• Special Volume 4 ISBN: 9784301008675
• Volume 1 release: February 6, 2026
• Volume 2 release: May 7, 2026
• Volume 3 release: August 6, 2026
• Anime adaptation: unannounced
• Volume 5: release date unannounced

Haimiya Is Scary Cute First Anniversary Illustration

Haimiya Is Scary Cute Marks One Year of Serialization

On November 6, 2026, the official Haimiya Is Scary Cute team celebrated one year since Sumu Kamiyama's manga began serialization.

The series originally launched on Manga UP! on November 6, 2025. Since then, the relationship between Haimiya and Kurose has continued to develop through the digital manga platform operated by Square Enix.

To commemorate the occasion, Kamiyama created a special illustration shared through the manga's official X account. The artwork serves as a thank-you to readers who have supported the series throughout its first year.

The announcement specifically celebrates the first serialization anniversary. It does not announce an anime adaptation or the conclusion of the manga. The series remains ongoing, with its fourth collected volume released on the same date as the anniversary.

New Artwork Features Haimiya and Kurose Together

The first-anniversary illustration depicts Haimiya and Kurose wearing dark school uniforms with white trim and school emblems on their jackets.

Haimiya appears with long silver-gray hair and a bright smile while putting her arms around Kurose from behind. Kurose, recognizable by his dark blue hair, smiles with a slightly embarrassed expression.

The upper portion of the artwork includes the Japanese anniversary message 「連載1周年！」. Kamiyama also added a thank-you message, a personal signature, and the date November 6, 2026.

The illustration highlights the central relationship that defines the manga: a senior girl whose intimidating appearance contrasts with the warmth she shows her younger schoolmate. It is special commemorative artwork created by the manga's author, not a new book cover or an anime key visual.

A Romantic Comedy About a Scary-Looking but Sweet Senior

Haimiya Is Scary Cute follows Kurose, a high school boy who attends the same school as an older student named Mio Haimiya.

Haimiya is widely regarded as intimidating. She stands out because of her gray wolf-cut hairstyle, multiple piercings, and blunt Kansai dialect, giving other students the impression that she is difficult to approach.

Kurose, however, experiences a very different side of her. Haimiya treats him with unexpected kindness and attention, leading him to gradually realize that her personality is far more nuanced than her reputation suggests.

The manga builds its romantic comedy around the contrast between outward appearances and genuine feelings. Everyday encounters, embarrassment, and the characters' changing emotions shape their developing relationship throughout the story.

Volume 4 Releases on the First Anniversary

Alongside the anniversary celebration, Square Enix published Haimiya Is Scary Cute Volume 4 on November 6, 2026, under the Gangan Comics UP! imprint.

According to the official Volume 4 synopsis, Kurose begins questioning his feelings toward Haimiya. Koyuki, one of Haimiya's classmates, directly asks whether he has romantic feelings for the older student.

Although Kurose feels his heart race whenever he is around Haimiya, he remains uncertain whether those feelings amount to love. Encouraged by Koyuki, he starts searching for a way to attract the senior's attention.

Meanwhile, Haimiya finds herself in an unexpected situation that requires her to wear a maid outfit. This is one of the developments highlighted by the publisher, although readers will need to follow the original manga for the complete sequence of events.

The standard edition is priced at 792 yen including tax, uses a B6 format, and carries ISBN 9784301008668.

Volume 4 Special Edition Includes a Full-Color Booklet

For the first time in the series, Square Enix also released a Haimiya Is Scary Cute Volume 4 special edition featuring an additional full-color illustration booklet.

The booklet contains 44 full-color pages and more than 45 illustrations by Sumu Kamiyama. The contents include new artwork created specifically for the special edition, alongside color illustrations that had not previously appeared in the collected manga volumes.

The illustrations feature Haimiya in different outfits, including her school uniform and street-style clothing. The booklet also comes with newly drawn cover art featuring decorative silver details.

The special edition costs 1,518 yen including tax, uses a B6 format, and has ISBN 9784301008675. The booklet is an exclusive feature of this edition and is not automatically included with the standard Volume 4 release.

Manga Continues with an Official English Edition

Haimiya Is Scary Cute remains in serialization through Manga UP!, Square Enix's official digital manga platform.

The Japanese series page lists Thursday updates, allowing readers to follow the continuing relationship between Haimiya and Kurose. Early chapters are accessible through the official service, while later chapters are available according to its reading system.

The manga also has an international release under the official English title Haimiya Is Scary Cute on Manga UP! Global, giving English-language readers access to the story through Square Enix's digital platform.

Since serialization began in November 2025, the series has produced four Japanese collected volumes within its first year. As of the anniversary announcement, neither an anime adaptation nor a Volume 5 release date has been officially confirmed.

Why This Matters

1) Four collected volumes coincide with the first anniversary

Since launching in November 2025, Haimiya Is Scary Cute has reached four printed volumes. Its first anniversary and the release of Volume 4 represent two distinct milestones occurring on the same day.

2) The artwork emphasizes the central relationship

Kamiyama's illustration shows Haimiya affectionately embracing Kurose, highlighting the warm interactions that define the romantic comedy. It offers new celebratory artwork without implying an unannounced anime or media adaptation.

3) The special edition showcases the creator's illustrations

The full-color booklet containing more than 45 illustrations gives readers access to additional Kamiyama artwork beyond the standard manga pages, including illustrations not previously collected in the regular volumes.

Haimiya Is Scary Cute Manga Information

For now, the additional important information currently known includes:

• the official English title is Haimiya Is Scary Cute
• the Japanese title is 灰宮先輩は怖くてかわいい
• the romanized title is Haimiya-senpai wa Kowakute Kawaii
• Sumu Kamiyama is the manga's creator
• Square Enix is the official publisher
• Japanese serialization takes place on Manga UP!
• serialization began November 6, 2025
• the first anniversary was celebrated November 6, 2026
• the official @haimiya_senpai account shared anniversary artwork
• the illustration was drawn specifically by Sumu Kamiyama
• the artwork depicts Haimiya embracing Kurose
• both characters are wearing their school uniforms
• the illustration features an anniversary message, a thank-you note, and the creator's signature
• the image is not an anime adaptation key visual
• the main female character is Mio Haimiya
• the male protagonist is known as Kurose
• Haimiya is recognized by her gray hair, multiple piercings, and Kansai dialect
• Kurose experiences a gentler side of Haimiya than her reputation suggests
• the story focuses on romantic comedy and school life
• Manga UP! lists Thursday updates
• an official English edition is available on Manga UP! Global
• Volume 1 was published February 6, 2026
• Volume 2 was published May 7, 2026
• Volume 3 was published August 6, 2026
• Volume 4 was published November 6, 2026
• Volume 4 is available in standard and special editions
• the standard edition costs 792 yen including tax
• the special edition costs 1,518 yen including tax
• the special edition includes a 44-page full-color booklet
• the booklet contains more than 45 illustrations
• some illustrations were created for the special edition
• some artwork had not previously appeared in regular volumes
• the standard edition ISBN is 9784301008668
• the special edition ISBN is 9784301008675
• the manga remains ongoing
• Volume 5 has no confirmed release date
• no anime adaptation was announced in the anniversary post

• the anniversary illustration is available through Official Haimiya Is Scary Cute Anniversary X Announcement
• Japanese serialization is available through Official Manga UP! Manga Page
• the English edition is available through Official Manga UP! Global
• standard Volume 4 details are available through Square Enix Official Volume 4
• special edition details are available through Square Enix Official Volume 4 Special Edition

Closing

Haimiya Is Scary Cute celebrated one year of serialization on November 6, 2026, with a new illustration by Sumu Kamiyama depicting Haimiya and Kurose. On the same day, Square Enix released Volume 4 in standard and special editions, the latter including a full-color illustration booklet.

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The manga continues through Manga UP! and is also available internationally through Manga UP! Global. Although four volumes have been published during its first year, the Volume 5 release schedule and any possible anime adaptation remain officially unannounced.