You're my daytime shooting star.
Suzume Yosano is an ordinary 15-year-old girl who just started high school. She's always lived peacefully in her small village on the countryside, skipping classes to look for the shooting star she once saw while it was still daytime and that helped her get home after being lost as a kid. However, after the sudden transfer of her father to Bangladesh and the decision of her mother to go with him, Suzume has to move to Tokyo to live with her uncle. In her new life, she'll have to deal with friends, exams and newfound feelings...
A series about love, friendship and getting over past relationships, Hirunaka no Ryusei (lit. Daytime Shooting Star) is a shoujo manga by Mika Yamamori. It was serialized in Margaret from May 2011 to November 2014 at 78 chapters (not counting extras) and 12 volumes, although a extra volume containing unpublished extras and one-shots was later released. It was released in English by VIZ Media under the Shojo Beat imprint. The manga also has been licensed in Italy, France, Spain and Germany. A Live-Action Adaptation was released on March 24, 2017.
See Tsubaki Chou Lonely Planet and In the Clear Moonlit Dusk for the mangaka's follow up work.
Daytime Shooting Star provides examples of:
- The Ace: Despite being short, Inukai is good at sports and academics to the point that his teachers and classmates are always asking him for help. He only messes up when he's thinking about Tsurutani, the girl he likes.
- A Day in the Limelight: Minor characters Inukai and Tsurutani's romantic relationship is the plot of volume 8's extra chapter. Suzume's country friend Yasuo also gets an extra chapter centered on his character, as well as Sarumaru, who received a special centering about his crush on Kameyoshi.
- Age-Gap Romance: Suzume and Shishio have a 9-year difference between their ages, with the added trouble of being student and teacher.
- All There in the Manual: The result pages for Margaret's poll about who the fans' favourite boy in the series was explained that Shishio has a younger sister and that Mamura has an older brother. Neither of them make an appereance (although Mamura's big brother does get mentioned at one point)
- Almost Kiss:
- Shishio tries to kiss Suzume when she visits him at his flat - he stops when he sees Suzume's nervous.
- In Chapter 74, Mamura tries to kiss Suzume, but can't bring himself to do it after a group of children interrupts them.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Suzume looks aloof but it's because she's not good at showing her expressions.
- Amicable Exes: Tsubomi and Shishio seem to still be on friendly terms despite breaking up.
- Anger Born of Worry: When a distressed Suzume travels back to her hometown without telling anyone, after three days Mamura, Yuyuka, Tsurutani, Kameyoshi and even her uncle Yukichi show up on her doorstep; Mamura discloses his annoyance that she's been skipping school, Yukichi is crying with relief, Tsuru and Kame are just happy to see that she's okay, and Yuyuka is pissed. Really shows how far they've come.
- Anguished Declaration of Love: Mamura gives one to Suzume (with a Cooldown Hug, even) right after she gives one to Shishio.
- Animal Motifs: Every character's name or surname is inspired by animals. For example, Suzume means "sparrow", while Shishio contains the kanji for "lion". Yuyuka's surname contains the kanji for "cat," Mamura uses the "horse" kanji, Kumamoto (Yukichi) has "bear," Kameyoshi has "turtle," Inukai has "dog," Kashima (Tsubomi) has "deer," Sarumaru has "monkey," Tsurutani has "crane", Minagawa has "cow" and latecomer Samejima has "shark".
- Armor-Piercing Question: Yukichi gives Shishio a few after he discovers his relationship with Suzume.
Yukichi: With your status right now, do you think you can make her happy? What would happen if I'm not the one who found out about your relationship? Can you really come and comfort her immediately when she needs you the most, or when she's sad or in pain?
- Beach Episode: In Chapter 73, Suzume and her friends go to the beach as part of their visit to Okinawa.
- Beta Couple:
- Tsurutani and Inukai suddenly start going out in the middle of the series. Volume 8's extra chapter is dedicated to this pairing.
- After the sports festival, Minagawa and Yuyuka have started going out together.
- Betty and Veronica: Mamura is the Betty and Shishio is the Veronica to Suzume's Archie. At the same time, Suzume's the Betty and Yuyuka the Veronica to Mamura's Archie. Suzume is also briefly the Betty to Tsubomi's Veronica for Shishio's Archie.
- Big Damn Kiss: Between Suzume and Mamura on chapter 78.
- Big Eater: Suzume.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Yuyuka: she acts deliberately cute to get what she wants, but has a dark side of her personality. Later in the series, she learns to control both sides, and she becomes much nicer.
- Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Yuyuka is the blonde, Tsurutani the brunette, and Kameyoshi the redhead.
- Book Ends: Both the first and the last pages show a shooting star.
- Break His Heart to Save Him: Gender-flipped version. Shishio breaks up with Suzume a couple of months after they begin a relationship, right after Yukichi reminds Shishio of how dangerous it could be.
- Bumbling Dad: Mamura's dad comes off as one. He loves his family a lot, but he's bad at picking groceries, and the first time we meet him, he had forgotten his wallet to pay for his purchases.
- But Not Too Foreign: Tsurutani is a quarter Spanish, which explains her unusual curly hair.
- Cannot Spit It Out: Shishio cannot come clean about how he feels and opts to defend himself with asking hypothetical questions first to test the waters, mostly because he is afraid of being hurt. In addition, he's in a situation where it would be difficult to date Suzume while keeping his job at the same time, so to protect both of them, he never tells her upfront that he loves her. Yuyuka is also to this degree about her feelings for Mamura, and both Suzume and Togyuu have said that she's not honest about what she feels numerous times.
- Cat Fight: Suzume and Yuyuka have one when Yuyuka reveals that she was being a False Friend to her. When Shishio and the class find them, Suzume lies about their fight to protect Yuyuka's reputation, and that's how they became friends.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Suzume.
- Comic-Book Fantasy Casting: Yamamori modeled Mamura off of model Kentaro Sakaguchi, who also got to portray Mamura in a collaboration photoshoot. Shishio also has a model, though Yamamori won't reveal who he is.
- The Confidant: While Suzume and Yuyuka are this to each other, Yuyuka fits the trope more, as in the beginning she finds it hard to believe that she's willingly telling Suzume all her secrets.
- Continuity Nod: In the author's following series, Tsubakichou Lonely Planet, we eventually discover that Katsura the book store manager is Yukichi's future wife, effectively making both series belong to the same universe.
- Conveniently Seated: When Suzume joins her new class, her new seat is at the back of the class, next to the window. Mamura sits next to her.
- Cooldown Hug: Mamura gives two to Suzume—one after he confesses to her, the second in Chapter 75, after Suzume finds out Shishio's at the hospital, and Mamura lets her go.
- Cool Teacher: Shishio is rather popular with his students because he looks out for them, and is young and good-looking.
- Country Mouse: Suzume hails from the countryside.
- Crossover:
- Hirunaka Shikkaku, a special crossover with the main series and Yamamori's Heterosexual Life-Partner Momoko Kouda's Heroine Shikkaku, was drawn in honor of Margaret's 50th anniversary.
- There's also a crossover between this series and Shuu Morishita's Hibi Chouchou.
- The Cutie: Yuyuka, though it's an act some of the time.
- D-Cup Distress: In her profile data, it's stated that Tsurutani's biggest fear is her breasts getting bigger.
- Did Not Do the Bloody Research: When Suzume fails one of her exams, she exclaims, "Jesus Christ!", a phrase she had learned when studying English. Saying "Jesus Christ" in this context would be considered offensive via blasphemy, depending on whether you're religious.
- Did Not Get the Girl: Shishio gets rejected by Suzume at the last chapter.
- Embarrassing First Name: Shishio doesn't like his first name, Satsuki, because it sounds like a girl's name.
- Expository Hairstyle Change:
- Suzume changes between Braids of Action and Tomboyish Ponytail through the series. She ties her hair in a Samurai Ponytail when she gets serious.
- Shishio has messier hair when he isn't in school. His hair length changes throughout the series to show how much time has gone by.
- In the time skip specials, we see that Suzume has shorter hair.
- Family Theme Naming: Mamura's first name is Daiki, and he has two brothers named Daichi and Daishi.
- The Fashionista: Yuyuka.
- Four-Girl Ensemble: Suzume is the wild one. Kameyoshi is the mannish one. Tsurutani is the sweet one. Yuyuka is the sexy one.
- Gender-Blender Name: Shishio's first name is "Satsuki". It sounds like a girl's name, which he doesn't like.
- Gratuitous English: "Jesus Christ!"
- Hair Color Dissonance: Shishio is supposed to have black hair, but it's coloured grey in some covers. Happens to Yuyuka as well: she's supposed to be strawberry blonde, but her hair is coloured auburn in some covers.
- Happily Married: Yukichi in the specials. Mamura and Suzume become engaged but don't tie the knot just yet.
- Headphones Equal Isolation: Mamura constantly has his headphones on, and wears them in every volume cover he appears in. When Suzume gets Mamura a pair of Beats By Dr Dre for his birthday, he starts wearing them all the time, making him seem even more aloof.
- He-Man Woman Hater: Mamura dislikes women, his reasons being "90% because they're annoying, 10% because I don't understand them". Later we learn that since his parents divorced he barely sees his mother, so he doesn't know women very well. Although, through the manga he's starting to realize his rude behavior towards girls, and slowly tries to change for the better, specifically, stating in chapter 42, that "it was never his intention to hurt girls. But he learned his lesson"; all these thanks to Suzume's influence.
- Heroic BSoD: Suzume has one when Shishio breaks up with her. It got so bad that she ran away to her hometown without telling anyone and stayed there for three days.
- Important Haircut: Shishio cuts his hair when he returns to class after the summer holidays. This is also when he starts going on dates with Suzume.
- In-Series Nickname: Shishio calls Suzume "Chunchun", while some of her classmates call her "potato girl". They're both affectionate, though.
- Likes Older Men: Suzume has a crush on her teacher, Shishio. Kameyoshi has a big crush on Yukichi, Suzume's uncle, as well as Mamura's father.
- Love Triangle: Mamura is in love with Suzume, but she's in love with Shishio, whose feelings are unclear. At the moment, Shishio has admitted having feelings for Suzume, but she's starting being interested in Mamura after being rejected by her teacher, and asks him to go out with her in Chapter 61.
- Luminescent Blush:
- Mamura gets an adorable one whenever a girl touches him.
- Manipulative Bitch: Yuyuka takes advantage of Suzume in the beginning of the series to the point that she deliberately gives Suzume the wrong directions to a class get-together just so she could talk to Mamura alone. She does get better though, and becomes Suzume's best friend in the series.
- Meet Cute: Shishio and Suzume meet when he grabs her and avoids her fall; he later helps her reach her uncle's house. Also Mamura, when she touches him and asks him to be her friend and his blushes.
- Meido: Suzume dresses as one in her class' cafe at the school festival.
- Messy Hair: Part of Shishio's image out of school. Mamura's also everyday hair.
- Samejima's usual hairstyle too.
- Missing Mom: Mamura has issues dealing with girls because his parents divorced when he was little and he's avoided women since then.
- Mistaken for Gay: Yukichi is often mistaken for gay because he's obsessed with buying frilly, girly things, which are for Suzume. He however later gets married to a woman in the specials.
- The Mourning After: Shishio stayed single for 2 years after Tsubomi dumped him, extremely wary of new relationships. Then in the special, we discover he did the same after Suzume rejected him... but during 6 years. The ending leaves open the possibility of him and Samejima getting together.
- Naïve Newcomer: Suzume - since she's always lived in the country, she gets impressed by very simple things, such as going to summer festivals and working on the school fair.
- New Old Flame: Tsubomi gets introduced as Shishio's ex-girlfriend, a photographer that left him without comment, and that suddenly wants to resume his relationship with him. Shishio refuses, but both keep being friends.
- New Transfer Student: Suzume as well, at the beginning of the series.
- Nosebleed: Inukai gets one when he accidentally faceplants into Tsurutani's chest when saving her from an oncoming ball.
- No Romantic Resolution: We never find out if Kameyoshi had an actual crush on Mamura's dad or Yukichi, nor we get any progress between Samejima and Shishio on the specials, outside of a single kiss and the premise of a possible relationship. Also, Sarumaru confesses to Kameyoshi on the last special, but we never find out if she reciprocates his feelings or not.
- Official Couple: Mamura and Suzume.
- Opposites Attract: Mamura and Suzume.
- Replacement Goldfish: Samejima is quite The Stoic and has dark hair. She's essentially a replacement of Suzume for Shishio.
- Romantic Fake–Real Turn: Suzume and Mamura start faking a relationship so Mamura isn't bothered by his Instant Fanclub. Later they start going out for real, and confess their love for each other in the last chapter.
- Satellite Character: Sarumaru doesn't do much other than being Inukai's best friend.
- School Play: In the school festival they put on one. It's Romeo and Juliet, with Togyuu and Yuyuka in the titular roles.
- Second Act Break Up: Shishio breaks up with Suzume a couple months into dating.
- Second Love: A big theme in the series. Minagawa is this for Yuyuka after being rejected, while Suzume is this for Shishio after his breakup with Tsubomi. Mamura and Suzume start going out in chapter 61, although Suzume isn't sure about her feelings for both Mamura and Shishio. It is in the last chapter where Suzume finally hears Shishio's confession and acknowledges that Shishio was her first love but has already realized that her current feelings remain with Mamura.
- Secret-Keeper: When Yuyuka accidentally finds out that Togyuu works part-time, she's asked by him to keep it a secret to protect his reputation at school.
- Yuyuka is also the only one (besides Mamura and Uncle Yukichi) who knew about Suzume's relationship with Shishio, since she was also giving her advice on how to go about it.
- Secret Relationship: Suzume and Shishio try to keep their friendship a secret, since it is forbidden for a teacher to have a relationship with one of his students, with Shishio possibly getting fired and Suzume getting suspended/expelled.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Suzume is already pretty cute, but she becomes stunning when she lets down her hair and has make up on.
- Shout-Out:
- In chapter 3, a student lends Shishio a copy of what is obviously Donkey Kong Country Returns.
- Shishio introduced himself as "Shishio T. Kaburagi, the Wild Tiger" once, and in chapter 25, refers to Suzume as "Barnaby."
- In chapter 22, Suzume is wearing an AC/DC t-shirt.
- Suzume mentions she shares the same birthday with Fujiko Fujio and also compares Shishio to Shizuka when he takes a long shower.
- Shishio is a fan of The Rose of Versailles and owns all the manga volumes. It's one of the things that made him interested in becoming a history teacher.
- Shishio compares Suzume's injury in chapter 70 to Gori's from Slam Dunk.
- Smoking Is Cool: Shishio certainly thinks this.
- The Stoic:
- Suzume is mostly expressionless, but certain things will set her off.
- Also Mamura, who later turns out to be more of Sugar-and-Ice Personality.
- Teacher/Student Romance: Suzume and Shishio, at least on the first's side. Later they start going on dates, but Shishio decides that it's better to stop seeing each other.
- Title Drop: Suzume mentions the "daytime shooting star" she saw in her childhood in Chapter 1. She also refers to Shishio as her "daytime shooting star." Later, Shishio also calls her his "daytime shooting star." Bu in the final chapter though, it is proven, that the real "daytime shooting star" of the story is Suzume, when states that she wants to be Mamura's "daytime shooting star". Suzume is the "daytime shooting star" who made better everyone she met, including Mamura, Shishio and Yuyuka.
- Third Place Is For Winners: Suzume and Shishio win first place on a special quiz on fishes at the aquarium, but Suzume refuses the prize, which are travel tickets. She is more interested in the third place's prize: a "products of the sea" gift set.
- Those Two Guys: Sarumaru and Inukai are played straight, with Tsurutani and Kameyoshi being a female example.
- Time Skip: The special chapter focused on Shishio is set 6 years after the main series.
- Tsundere: Mamura is one.
- Unwanted Harem: Mamura gets one when the protagonists become sophomores.
- We Used to Be Friends: Yukichi stops being friends with Shishio after discovering his relationship with Suzume. However, in Chapter 74 Shishio visits him and explains his feelings properly, in an attempt to restore their friendship.
- What If?: In Hibi Ryusei, the Crossover with Hibi Chouchou, there's a What If? scenario where Suzume and Suiren switch places. If Suzume had been the heroine of Hibi Chouchou, she would have joined the karate team, whereas if Suiren were the heroine of Daytime Shooting Star, she would have shied away from both Shishio and Mamura and fall in love with Yukichi.
- Wheel o' Feet: Suzume has one for her event relay in Chapter 70.
- When He Smiles: Mamura gets such a moment in Chapter 22, when he smiles for the first time.