This review is of The Delinquent Girl Suddenly Dyed Her Hair Black?!, Volume 1, original story by Teika, manga by Waka Sanada, and character design by Hamu, and contains spoilers. One Peace Books provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Why is the toughest girl in school trying to be my type?! “My type? A girl with long black hair who carries herself well.” That’s what I told my friends during a casual conversation about romance. The very next day, Shimizu―the blonde delinquent who sits next to me―suddenly shows up with her hair dyed black. From then on, every time I mention my ideal girl, she starts doing things she normally wouldn’t―showing up to cooking class (which she used to always skip), packing me homemade lunches, etc. This is the heartwarming slice-of-life high school rom-com about the awkward advances of the school’s most intimidating delinquent girl. Readers can enjoy a character-driven fantasy adventure featuring exciting action, clean language, and content that remains free of sexual material, nudity, and fan service. The series emphasizes humor, adventure, and world-building, with stylized action that is thrilling without being graphically violent. Appropriate for ages 12 and up.
The Delinquent Girl Suddenly Dyed Her Hair Black?! opens with Daiki and Shimizu chatting—but before we get comfortable, another guy cuts in. We later learn his name is Shunya, and he’s warning Daiki that Shimizu is a delinquent. Despite her teacher’s constant nagging, Shimizu flat-out refuses to dye her hair black.
Elsewhere, a classmate asks Daiki if he likes anyone, then volunteers that he’s interested in Seto. Daiki muses that he doesn’t really have ambitions—he just goes through the motions of an ordinary life. (Same.) If he had a type, he figures it’d be someone who carries herself well, looks neat, and has long black hair.
The next day, Shimizu shocks everyone by showing up to school with—you guessed it—black hair. Daiki has an internal flashback and realizes she’s the spitting image of the ideal type he just described to Shunya.
The two get partnered up for a class event where they have to draw each other. Now that he knows she’s his ideal type, Daiki can’t help but check Shimizu out—she is beautiful, after all. She scolds him for being lecherous. He denies it, but eventually admits he had an impure thought or two. Maybe because of his honesty, she immediately forgives him.
They refocus on the task and start talking to ease the tension. Daiki asks why she dyed her hair, and she responds that she thought he didn’t notice—prompting a chuckle from him. He says he has fun talking with her, and she brushes it off, saying he probably says that to everyone. He thinks about it and says she’s the first person ever. At this point, it’s clear to anyone with eyes that they like each other. After a brief break, they switch roles—Daiki models, Shimizu draws. The chapter ends with Shimizu looking incredibly pleased.
We meet Shunya again, who poses the question: “What if the girl you like were to make you one?”—in reference to homemade bento. Daiki says it would be a dream come true, while Shimizu appears to nonchalantly absolutely not be listening. He also shares that he usually makes his own food at home because his sister doesn’t help around the house. Shimizu is furiously taking notes on her phone—just like I am writing this review. Lol.
Shimizu shocks everyone by attending culinary arts class, but she double shocks everyone by offering to help Daiki chop vegetables. They split up the work, and Shimizu looks mighty dangerous with a knife. After being brought to a stop, we learn it was a misunderstanding—she thought she was supposed to shred the cabbage instead of chop it. The duo draws a small crowd, but in the end, things work out. Shimizu asks how he felt about cooking with her, and he expresses happiness.
At home, Shimizu relives the day while taking a bath. This is such a mood for anyone who’s ever interacted with their crush. As she’s bathing, her sister bursts in asking if she needs help, and Shimizu seemingly confesses her thoughts about Daiki. Her sister tries to help her with cooking, but Shimizu goes ham with her knife skills again. Her sister encourages her not to rush, but Shimizu is determined to get better quickly so she can surprise Daiki. After a week, Shimizu’s cooking has not improved.
Still, she wants to bring him lunch, so she packs two meals—one for him prepared by her mom, and one she cooked herself. Unfortunately, she gives him the wrong meal. The box lunch she hands him appears charred AF, but he doesn’t complain. He actually loves what she made (ginger pork). Daiki praises her, commenting on each item until she asks him to shut up. LMAO. Still, he was happy she made him lunch. And guess what? That happiness was doubled for her.
Shimizu gets back to the grind trying to perfect her cooking. Her sister approaches her and wants to know more about the boy she likes. She describes him as kind but weird, always willing to help people out. Initially, she thought he was spineless—but after a boy who liked her tried to attack her after she turned him down, we learn it was Daiki who stepped in to protect her. In the end, the would-be attacker, having been talked down by Daiki, apologizes to Shimizu.
She questions why he would get involved, and Daiki reveals he saw them leaving together and knew that guy had a short fuse, so he decided to keep an eye on them. She calls him kind, and he shares that more than anything, he did it for himself—because he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if something happened to her.
Shimizu tells her sister that she never thanked him for saving her, but when they meet again in high school, he doesn’t recognize her because of her blonde hair. She wants to thank him but doesn’t know how. Her genius wingman of a sister suggests inviting him on a date and completely breaks her brain.
The next part shows us that Shimizu had been very popular in middle school, but everyone only liked her for her looks—so she dyed her hair blonde for high school. Unfortunately, that meant Daiki didn’t recognize her. Her sister takes her out to grab an outfit to help prepare her for the potential date.
In the final chapter of the volume, we meet Daiki’s little sister, who sends him on a mission to the mall. She asked him to pick up a game she wants but can’t go herself. Of course, this sets the duo up for a chance run-in. Hehe. Shimizu’s sister asks Daiki to join them on a date, and in true sister fashion, she tells him all the tea about how they talk about him at home and asks what he thinks of her sister. Daiki shares his genuine thoughts, calling her kind and serious. This pleases Shimizu’s sister, who asks him to watch over her. To her shock, Daiki says no… but it’s only because he wanted to do it anyway, not because she asked him to.
The volume ends with Shimizu’s sister declaring they need to continue their date.
I loved this manga. Although we really only get to know Shimizu and Daiki, it feels real. In a real-life scenario, you only know what’s going on with you and those in your immediate circle. In this case, Shimizu’s immediate circle is Daiki. LOL. The artwork is lovely and the content is wholesome. Shimizu wanting to be liked for who she is on the inside, not what she looks like, is praiseworthy. Daiki, although mildly bland for a love interest, is genuine and quietly observant. I appreciate that he doesn’t need to be a loud savior—instead, he quietly helps people out from the kindness of his heart.
The table of contents is very cute and creative, featuring a Shimizu character shouting on it. The lettering and layout are almost perfect. I noted a few issues with negative space, but nothing serious. Moreover, it seems One Peace Books took the time to edit the bubbles to actually show who is speaking, rather than just leaving them as circles. Super highly appreciated.
This manga costs $13.96 and released on October 13, 2026. You can purchase it from your favorite bookseller or on Amazon.
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