Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
First light novel volume cover, featuring Alya
時々ボソッとロシア語でデレる隣のアーリャさん
(Tokidoki Bosotto Roshiago de Dereru Tonari no Ārya-san)
GenreRomantic comedy
Novel series
Written bySunSunSun
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runMay 6, 2020May 27, 2020
Light novel
Written bySunSunSun
Illustrated byMomoco
Published byKadokawa Shoten
English publisher
ImprintKadokawa Sneaker Bunko
DemographicMale
Original runFebruary 27, 2021 – present
Volumes8
Manga
Written bySunSunSun
Illustrated bySaho Tenamachi
Published byKodansha
MagazineMagazine Pocket
DemographicShōnen
Original runOctober 29, 2022 – present
Volumes3
Anime television series
Directed byRyota Itoh
Produced byRyō Kobayashi
Written byRyota Itoh
Music byHiroaki Tsutsumi
StudioDoga Kobo
Original run April 2024 scheduled

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian (Japanese: 時々ボソッとロシア語でデレる隣のアーリャさん, Hepburn: Tokidoki Bosotto Roshiago de Dereru Tonari no Ārya-san), abbreviated as Roshidere (ロシデレ), is a Japanese light novel series written by SunSunSun and illustrated by Momoco. It was originally published online as two short stories on the novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from May 6 to May 27, 2020, respectively. It was then acquired by Kadokawa Shoten, who have published the series since February 2021 under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. A manga adaptation by Saho Tenamachi began serialization online in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket website and app in October 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by Doga Kobo is set to premiere in April 2024.

Premise

Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou, nicknamed Alya, is a high school girl with silver hair who looks so beautiful that she turns heads wherever she goes. Masachika Kuze, who sits next to Alya, is an unmotivated student who just sleeps at school. Alya often complains about Masachika but occasionally makes flirtatious remarks in her native Russian language. However, she does not realize that Masachika understands Russian.

Characters

Masachika Kuze (久世 政近, Kuze Masachika)
Voiced by: Kōhei Amasaki (drama CD, comic, PV, anime)
The main male protagonist of the series, Masachika has held the position in high school envied by many boys, the seat next to Alya. He tends to doze off and not pay attention in class. Whenever Alya makes remarks in Russian, Masachika pretends to not understand, but secretly he does because of his paternal grandfather, who was a great lover of Russia, and from watching television programs. It is later revealed that his childhood friend Yuki is actually his sibling.
Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou (アリサ・ミハイロヴナ・九条, Arisa Mihairovuna Kujō, Russian: Алиса Михайловна Кудзё) / Alya (アーリャ, Arya, Russian: Аля)
Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka (drama CD, comic, PV, anime)
Alya is a talented first-year student who is popular for her looks and cold attitude. She was born to a Russian father and a Japanese mother. She occasionally makes remarks in Russian, which confuse her teacher and her classmates. She gets bothered by her seatmate Masachika's laziness, but also finds him interesting. She is Maria's younger sister.
Yuki Suo (周防 有希, Suō Yuki)
Voiced by: Wakana Maruoka (anime)
A first-year who serves as the student council public relations, and her name was Suo Yuki. She is the eldest daughter of the Suo house, whose origin was a former noble family and has shouldered the role of a diplomat for generations. She is a genuine young lady. At first, Alya is jealous of her because Yuki and Masachika are childhood friends, but it is later revealed that Yuki is Masachika's younger sister.
Maria Mikhailovna Kujou (マリヤ・ミハイロヴナ・九条, Mariya Mihairovuna Kujō, Russian: Мария Михайловна Кудзё) / Masha (マーシャ, Māsha, Russian: Маша)
Voiced by: Yukiyo Fujii (anime)
Alya's older sister, a second-year and the student council secretary.
Ayano Kimishima (君嶋 綾乃, Kimishima Ayano)
Voiced by: Saya Aizawa (anime)
She is a follower of Yuki, who is silent and expressionless by default. She is the general affairs of the student council. She used to be a follower of Masachika.
Sayaka Taniyama (谷山 沙也加, Taniyama Sayaka)
Voiced by: Ikumi Hasegawa (anime)
She competed with Yuki for the position of student council president in the middle school and currently is a public morals committee member.
Chisaki Sarashina (更科 茅咲, Sarashina Chisaki)
Voiced by: Maki Kawase (anime)
The vice president of the student council and a second-year student at the high school. She is feared by some male students and is extremely popular among female students. She's currently dating the student council president, Touya Kenzaki. Her hobby is kendo.
Nonoa Miyamae (宮前 乃々亜, Miyamae Nonoa)
Voiced by: Yoshino Aoyama (anime)
She is a first-year high school student and Sayaka's best friend. She has blond hair with a loose perm.
Touya Kenzaki (剣崎 統也, Kenzaki Tōya)
Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa (anime)
He is the charismatic student council president of the high school section. A second year and Chisaki's boyfriend.
Takeshi Maruyama (丸山 毅, Maruyama Takeshi)
Voiced by: Kōdai Sakai (anime)
Hikaru Kiyomiya (清宮 光瑠, Kiyomiya Hikaru)
Voiced by: Taichi Ichikawa (anime)

Media

Web novel

Before the light novel's publication, two short stories were published on Shōsetsuka ni Narō on May 6 and May 27, 2020. However, the stories and characters in the web version are completely different from the published novel.

Light novel

The light novel series is written by SunSunSun and illustrated by Momoco. In June 2020, SunSunSun first received an invitation from Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko for whether the imprint could publish the work. On December 22, 2020, it was announced the short stories published on Shōsetsuka ni Narō will be published by Kadokawa Shoten under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint after being adapted as a series. The title of the series follows the title of one of the two short stories. The first volume was published on February 27, 2021. As of February 2024, eight volumes and one short story volume have been released.

At Sakura-Con 2022, Yen Press announced that they licensed the series for English publication.

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 February 27, 2021978-4-04-111118-5November 22, 2022978-1-97-534784-0
2 July 30, 2021978-4-04-111119-2February 21, 2023978-1-97-534786-4
3 December 1, 2021978-4-04-111955-6May 23, 2023978-1-97-536757-2
4 April 1, 2022978-4-04-111956-3October 17, 2023978-1-97-536759-6
4.5 July 29, 2022978-4-04-112780-3March 19, 2024978-1-97-536761-9
5 December 1, 2022978-4-04-112781-0
6 April 1, 2023978-4-04-113544-0
7 September 1, 2023978-4-04-114062-8
8 February 1, 2024978-4-04-114592-0

Manga

A manga adaptation with art by Saho Tenamachi began serialization in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket website and app on October 29, 2022. The first tankōbon volume was released on March 9, 2023.

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 March 9, 2023978-4-06-531091-5
2 June 8, 2023978-4-06-531880-5
3 November 9, 2023978-4-06-533550-5

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 17, 2023. It will be produced by Doga Kobo and written and directed by Ryota Itoh, with character designs handled by Yūhei Murota, who will also serve as chief animation director, and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi. Ryō Kobayashi will serve as the producer. The series is set to premiere in April 2024.

Other

A VTuber model of Alya debuted in July 2021 to promote the release of the second light novel volume.

Reception

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian ranked ninth in the 2022 edition of Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! in the bunkobon category, and fifth overall among the other new series of that year. It also ranked fifth in the bunkobon category of the 2023 edition. At the 2021 Next Light Novel Awards, the series placed first in the Librarian's Choice category. It also ranked second in the Web Publication category, and ninth in the overall category. As of April 2022, the series has 500,000 copies in circulation.