Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian,[b] often abbreviated to Roshidere (ロシデレ) in Japanese, is a Japanese light novel series written by SunSunSun [ja] and illustrated by Momoco [ja]. It was originally published online as two short stories on the novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on May 6 and May 27, 2020, respectively, before being acquired by Kadokawa Shoten, who have published the series since February 2021 under their Sneaker Bunko imprint. The story follows a beautiful and talented young Russo-Japanese girl who is a popular transfer student at her new high school in Japan, often sporting a cold shoulder with a lazy and unmotivated boy while earning high marks in class.
A manga adaptation by Saho Tenamachi began serialization online in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket app and website in October 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by Doga Kobo aired from July to September 2024, with a second season being announced.
By August 2024, over 500,000 light novel copies have been sold in circulation.
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, but her aloof and cold demeanor makes people around her feel uneasy. Masachika Kuze, who sits next to Alya, is an unmotivated student who just stays up late at night and is a sleepyhead at school. Alya often complains about Masachika but seems to be secretly in love with him, and occasionally makes flirtatious remarks in Russian. However, she does not realise that Masachika also harbours a secret crush for her and understands Russian, and her flirty comments towards him constantly leave him perplexed and flustered.
The main male protagonist of the series, Masachika, holds a position in high school envied by many boys: the seat next to Alisa. He is a sleepyhead who tends to stay up late most nights and lacks motivation in class. Whenever Alisa makes remarks in Russian, Masachika pretends not to understand, but secretly he does, thanks to his paternal grandfather, who was a great lover of Russia, and from watching television programmes. It is later revealed that he was originally the heir of the Suou family, a position he renounced after leaving the estate with his father, with his younger sister Yuki inheriting the position. He was allowed to leave the Suou household on the condition that he could never disclose his connection with the household or that anyone from the household was his relative, including his own biological sister Yuki Suou, and his mother as well. He secretly has a crush on Alisa and is always willing to help in any way he can, but deems himself unworthy for her and thinks she only flirts with him as a way to tease him.
Back in the days when his surname was still Suou, he was considered the prodigy of the Suou house. Therefore, he received elite education from his maternal grandfather Gensei. He was also a skilled piano player. Yet, as Yuki got asthma and his mother Yumi ignored him, Masachika felt more stressed and eventually collapsed. Following his parents' divorce, he followed his father Kyoutarou and left the Suou family. Owing to the fact that he 'gave up' Yuki and Yumi ignored him, he started to feel unmotivated and sorry.
He loves his little sister Yuki, treating her as the most important person in existence.
He is a Student Council General Affairs Officer, and is running for the next Student Council election as the proposed Vice-President, with Alisa being the President.
Alisa is a beautiful and 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. Though she is popular and attracts the attention of many boys and girls at school, because of her cold demeanour, Alisa doesn't have many friends and isn't very experienced at social interaction, though that slowly changes the more she spends time with her classmate Masachika. She disapproves of Masachika's lack of motivation, but at the same time, she seems to be in love with him, and constantly flirts with him in Russian. She is Maria's younger sister. She spent part of her life in Vladivostok, where she had difficulties making friends. She is the Student Council Treasurer, and is running to be the next Student Council President, with Masachika as her running mate.
Her cold attitude could be rooted to her experiences in Vladivostok. One time, when she was doing a project work with her groupmates, she realised that her groupmates were too lazy to start working early. Her groupmates, however, then quarrelled with Alisa since she was working too hard. The project work later came as a failure, so she decided to work hard on her own and avoid working with others, leading to her cold attitude.
She likes to eat sweet food, and is afraid of eating spicy food.
A first-year who serves as the Student Council Public Relations. She is Masachika's younger sister who serves as the eldest daughter of the Suou house, whose origin was a former noble family and has shouldered the role of a diplomat for generations, becoming the heir after Masachika and their father left the family. She is a genuine, beautiful and straightforward girl, and enjoys teasing Alisa over her romantic feelings for Masachika, as Yuki's relation with him is not public knowledge. She and Alisa are rivals, and she occasionally torments Alisa for her performance to attend the Student Council. She has a follower, Ayano Kimishima, who becomes her running mate when she runs for Student Council President as Alisa's challenger.
She and Masachika are forced to hide their true relations in public by pretending to be childhood friends, and like Alya and Masha, she's among the most popular girls in school. Yet, when only Masachika and Ayano are around, she displays her another face: Otaku and cuteness. She sometimes makes sexual remarks due to her otaku nature. She loves Masachika the most. She often comes to Masachika's home to stay overnight.
She used to have asthma when she was small, but claims that she has recovered and has never caught a cold since middle school.
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)
Alisa's older sister, a second-year and the Student Council Secretary. She has a sweet and gentle personality, and is always caring of these around her, especially Alisa and Masachika. She is just as beautiful and popular as her little sister.
She likes to make black tea for herself and other Student Council members. She also likes cute things, once attempting to buy several dolls to be put inside the Student Council room.
She is Masachika's childhood friend and first love. They used to play together when they were young, and he became sad when she moved away. Because Maria's Japanese was not as fluent as her Russian, his knowledge of Russian allowed them to form a bond.
She is a follower of Yuki, who is naturally silent and expressionless. She is a Student Council General Affairs Officer. She was previously a follower of Masachika, but after Masachika relinquished his position as the heir of the Suou household, she became a follower of his younger sister, Yuki, when Yuki was chosen to become the heiress of the Suou household due to Masachika's decision to give up that role.
She is a masochist and respectfully loves Masachika and Yuki. Moreover, she is sweet and cares for others a lot.
She keeps a low profile at school. When she speaks on stage during the End of Year Service, most schoolmates do not know who she is, and are surprised by her beauty.
She is running for the next Student Council election as the proposed Vice-President, with Yuki being the President.
The Student Council Vice-President 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. She is bad at paperwork, but is good at dealing with quarrels, especially by means of threat.
He is the charismatic Student Council President of the high school section. A second year student and Chisaki's boyfriend. He used to be obese and have bad grades back when he was in the middle school section, but changed himself in order to win Chisaki's heart, whom he had always been in love with.
A beautiful but stoic girl who competed with Yuki for the position of Student Council resident in the middle school and currently is a public morals committee member. She once looked up to Masachika and Yuki for their teamwork and mutual honesty, but was left crushed when she found out Masachika decided to partner with Alya for the upcoming student council elections against Yuki. Nevertheless, she reluctantly decides to become their subordinate along with her closest friend Nonoa Miyamae.
She is a first-year high school student and Sayaka's best friend. She has blond hair with a loose perm.
She could not feel other people's emotion, but only acknowledge. Therefore, she only act as what others would like to see for her benefit. Moreover, she could analyse things around her rationally.
She planted several shills during the Student Congress in order to place Alisa in disadvantage, but eventually decided to stop and partner up with Alisa and Masachika, alongside Sayaka.
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.[13]
In an interview with Japanese magazine Da Vinci in 2021, SunSunSun told that he initially wanted the series to take place in an isekai setting where the heroine gets transported to another world where no one could understand the Japanese language, except for the protagonist who was planned to be reincarnated as well. The idea was scrapped since he felt that it would be troublesome to explain the new environment, so he went with a real-world setting instead. Regarding Alya's half-Russian heritage, the author stated that he was influenced by the beauty of Russian women.[14]
Light novel
The light novel series is written by SunSunSun [ja] and illustrated by Momoco [ja]. In June 2020, SunSunSun first received an invitation from Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko for whether the imprint could publish the work.[15] On December 22, 2020, it was announced the short stories published on Shōsetsuka ni Narō would be published by Kadokawa Shoten under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint after being adapted as a series.[13] The title of the series follows the title of one of the two short stories.[13] The first volume was published on February 27, 2021. As of November 2024, nine volumes and two short story volumes have been released.[16]
At Sakura-Con 2022, Yen Press announced that they licensed the series for English publication.[17]
A manga adaptation with art by Saho Tenamachi began serialization in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket app and website on October 29, 2022.[35][36] The first tankōbon volume was released on March 9, 2023.[37] The series is published in English on Kodansha's "K Manga" app.[38] On December 16, 2024, Yen Press announced that they also licensed the manga for English print publication.[39]
An anime television series adaptation was announced in March 2023.[4] It is produced by Doga Kobo, with series direction and screenplay by Ryota Itoh, character designs handled by Yūhei Murota who also serves as chief animation director, and music composition by Hiroaki Tsutsumi.[8] Ryō Kobayashi serves as a producer.[6] The anime series was originally scheduled for April 2024,[47] but was later delayed,[48] and eventually aired from July 3 to September 18, 2024, on Tokyo MX and various other networks.[49][50] The opening theme song is "Ichiban Kagayaku Hoshi" (1番輝く星, "The Brightest Star"), while each episode features a different ending theme song which are covers of pre-existing Japanese songs, all performed by Sumire Uesaka as her character Alya.[51]Crunchyroll streamed the series.[52]Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania (except Australia and New Zealand).[53]
Following the first season finale, a second season was announced.[54]
Half-Russian teenager Alisa (Alya) Kujou is popular at school for her beauty and aloof personality. When around her classmate, Masachika Kuze, she criticizes his slacker personality. Occasionally, she will claim to insult him in Russian, unaware Masachika learnt basic Russian so he could talk to a Russian girl he knew as a child. Masachika knows full well Alya is flirting with him in Russian, assuming he cannot understand her. Masachika has secretly had a crush on Alya since she started attending the same school as him, but believes he is not worthy of her and decides to push his feelings aside. However, Alya seems to have fallen in love with him and constantly flirts with him in Russian, which often leaves him flustered and perplexed, but he forces himself to just roll with it and pretend to not understand her. Alya is on the Student Council with her older sister Maria and her rival Yuki Suou. Alya is jealous of Yuki who has known Masachika since childhood and keeps trying to get him elected to the council. One morning while alone in class, Alya has to change her wet socks and dares Masachika to help her put on dry ones. Accepting her dare, he does so but accidentally puts his hand up her skirt, so she kicks him in the face, leaving Masachika with a new leg fetish. She eventually forgives him, only to learn he also saw her panties when she kicked him, so she punches him and runs away, but Masachika chases after her until she runs out of breath. Realizing she's embarrassed from him looking at her panties, Masachika apologizes for this mishap, and she accepts it, admitting it was her fault too and that she needed a moment for herself to cool off. She resumes flirting with him in Russian, much to his annoyance.
2
2
"So Much For Childhood Friends" Transliteration: "Osananajimi to wa?" (Japanese: 幼馴染とは？)
Yuki introduces Masachika to council president Touya Kenzaki as part of her plot to get Masachika on the council. Masachika learns Alya plans to be council president next year. At his home, it is revealed Yuki is actually Masachika's younger sister with a different family name. She has no plan on revealing this to Alya or anyone else since she enjoys teasing people. While shopping together, Yuki and Masachika realize Alya is spying on them. Yuki invites Alya to lunch with them at the spiciest ramen restaurant in the city which the siblings both enjoy, and Alya stubbornly accepts despite the ramen making her want to pass out, all while Yuki teases her suggestively about her closeness to Masachika in his bedroom. In Russian, Alya expresses a wish Masachika would support her as her vice president. Yuki leaves on an errand so Alya takes Masachika clothes shopping where she bravely tries on outfits for his approval. She ends up enjoying his compliments so much she tries on increasingly more daring outfits, hoping for more compliments, only to embarrass herself in a short skirt when Yuki unexpectedly returns. Her shock lasts for the entire train ride home, only to snap out of it when she realizes Masachika and Yuki got off at the same station, implying they live close to each other.
3
3
"And So They Met" Transliteration: "Soshite Futari wa Deatta" (Japanese: そして二人は出会った)
Alya returns home where Maria teases her about Masachika. Alya's childhood in Russia is shown where her effort in school caused conflict with her classmates who did the bare minimum to get by. Moving to Japan, she first encountered Masachika, but immediately disliked his laziness until the announcement of a school festival. Alya was surprised when Masachika took a full part in preparing for the festival and even convinced other slacker students to help. With Masachika's effort, the school approved the students staying at school all night to get the festival ready, including a bonfire and dance. With the preparations over, Alya admits she hates the nickname "Princess" everyone calls her due to the implication she was born privileged. She thanks Masachika for his hard work and allows him to use her personal nickname "Alya" instead of her full name Alisa. Maria is certain Alya and Masachika will soon be lovers. The next day, Maria arranges to go shopping with Masachika on council business and cannot help feeling she knows him from somewhere else. While shopping, Masachika is unexpectedly reminded of his parents' divorce, so Maria hugs him. Masachika cannot help feeling her hug is somehow familiar, but it ends abruptly when she accidentally spills hot tea on him.
4
4
"An Outpouring of Emotion" Transliteration: "Afure Dasu Omoi" (Japanese: 溢れ出す想い)
Masachika tells Touya he is unworthy of joining the council since he joined the council in middle school for a selfish reason. Touya claims it doesn't matter since he himself only became council president to impress Chisaki. Masachika decides to consider joining, but only to help Alya become president. Alya is sent to mediate a dispute between the soccer and baseball clubs, which doesn't go well due to her inexperience and she starts to doubt she could ever be a good president, even regrets the way she treated everybody with her need to become perfect. Masachika, having heard her crying in Russian, steps in and tricks the club managers who happen to be dating into settling the dispute themselves. Alya is impressed. Despite knowing Touya manipulated him, Masachika agrees to join the council and to help Alya become president. Falling even deeper in love, Alya tells him she likes him without using Russian. Something about her confession reminds him of the Russian girl from his childhood, ruining the moment, so she slaps him for thinking about another woman. She immediately forgives him and even kisses the cheek she slapped, but when she leaves without saying anything in Russian, Masachika is left unsure about what any of their conversation really meant. Alya is likewise unsure why she told him she likes him. Maria states that it's because she's in love with Masachika, which she stubbornly denies. Maria openly advises her to confess to him before another girl gets to him first, hinting at a possible love triangle, but Alya remains oblivious to what she means.
5
5
"Different People, Common Undercurrent" Transliteration: "Sorezore no Ketsui" (Japanese: それぞれの決意)
Masachika wrestles with the idea Alya might really like him, but concludes it must have been a plot to get him on the council, pushing aside his own feelings for her. Returning home, he walks in on Yuki naked, but rather than get in trouble, Yuki explains she planned the whole thing as a bizarre apology for forcing him onto the council. Yuki is disappointed Masachika plans to help Alya become president and, believing he did it because Alya has large breasts, declares they are rivals both for Masachika's love and for the presidency. Secretly, she is glad Masachika has his motivation back. Alya notices changes to Masachika's behavior and wonders if it is because he is serious about his support for. Ever since her semi-confession, Masachika has begun noticing more of Alya's "subtle-sexiness" moments, making him crush on her even more. This is made worse when she starts showing open concern for him, until she learns his odd behavior was mostly caused by skipping breakfast that morning. Alya returns to treating him coldly, which Masachika approves. They attend their first council meeting where Maria notices Masachika and Alya do seem to be closer than before. Masachika is made the councils General Affairs Officer, but openly admits his main focus will be making Alya the next president.
6
6
"A Kiss of the Indirect Variety" Transliteration: "Iwayuru Hitotsu no Kansetsu Kisu" (Japanese: いわゆるひとつの間接キス)
Yuki and Alya are paired up for council work where Yuki tells Alya she loves Masachika and pressures Alya to embrace her own love for him. Alya cannot bring herself to accept her feelings, but still declares she won't let Yuki steal Masachika away from her, much to Yuki's amusement. They return to the council where Alya sits much closer to Masachika, which embarrasses him. Maria jokes about marriage and Masachika notices that while Alya denies it in Russian, it is only because she thinks she is too young, which hurts him slightly. Masachika notices tension between Alya and Yuki, and believes them to be fighting over him. While at a café working on her campaign to be president, Masachika reassures Alya that Yuki enjoys teasing people. He also warns her about General Meetings where council members are expected to solve serious issues through debate. Yuki is already popular but if Alya beats her in a General Meeting it will improve her odds of winning. Alya can't focus and instead pressures him into an indirect kiss by insisting he try her ice cream using her spoon. This embarrasses them both in front of the whole café, but nevertheless Masachika manages to advice her to somehow get the voters sympathy like President Touya who, during his own campaign, lost weight and improved his grades. Masachika solves the spoon issue by ordering food for himself with separate utensils. Alya stubbornly tries it, despite his meal containing chillies, and him warning her beforehand, and spends the rest of the evening in pain. The next day, Yuki introduces her potential vice-president, Ayano Kimishima, which worries Masachika and amuses Yuki.
7
7
"A Storm Arrives" Transliteration: "Arashi, Kitaru" (Japanese: 嵐、来たる)
Ayano works for the Suou family and informs Masachika that helping Alya compete against Yuki has angered Masachika and Yuki's grandfather, who exiled Masachika and his father years ago. Not caring about his grandfather’s opinion, Masachika repeats his support for Alya. Later, Masachika accidentally angers Alya, who believes he prefers her beauty over her personality. Yuki is glad Masachika still loves her like a sister. Ayano suggests she too is drawn to Masachika, but purely for sexual reasons as she despises his slacker personality. Yuki looks forward to facing Masachika in competition as he is secretly the greatest prodigy of the Suou family. During a council party, Masachika quickly notices Ayano's new interest in him. Maria is happy Alya has someone she can trust since as her sister her own support for Alya has to be more subtle. Masachika reveals to her his slacker personality is just an act to hide what he is capable of. Sayaka of the Public Morals Committee, another presidential candidate, accuses Alya of conspiring to steal Masachika from Yuki for the competition, most likely by blackmail or other immoral means. When Masachika denies this, Sayaka challenges them both to a General Meeting to force them out of the competition.
Masachika admits Sayaka likely hates him for supporting Yuki against her for president in middle school. They learn Sayaka's teammate Nonoa has useful connections. Sayaka begins by claiming presidents typically select friends to join the council; therefore teacher screenings would ensure only appropriate students join. Alya counters by claiming this would give teachers inappropriate power over the council, which impresses the audience. However, in support of her best friend, Nonoa uses friends among the audience to whisper against Alya for being foreign, upsetting her. Masachika takes over and points out students voted for President Touya, who due to his poor past grades never would have made it through a teachers screening. Unable to respond, Sayaka flees in tears. Alya follows and Sayaka admits she accepted losing to Yuki in middle school because Yuki and Masachika were a perfect team, but seeing Masachika with Alya makes her loss unbearable and refuses to accept Alya as his partner. Alya admits she doesn't know why Masachika supports her, but hopes to be worthy of it and for Sayaka to see her in a better light. Yuki is disappointed Masachika let the debate last so long when he could have won at any time, but is still impressed to know her brother is skilled. Masachika admits to Alya he partnered with Yuki due to guilt, but supports Alya because he wants to, and genuinely likes spending time with her. Alya is happy to have his support and reveals in Russian that she chose Masachika because of who he is and how nice he is to her. However, she is still angry at Masachika's earlier comment about her breast size, which embarrasses him.
9
9
"Rom-commy with a Chance of Hypnosis" Transliteration: "Rabukome nochi Saiminjutsu" (Japanese: ラブコメのち催眠術)
Yuki's grandfather warns her she must become president as he will not tolerate her losing to Masachika since he left the family. Alya feels guilty Sayaka was humiliated and people talking bad about her so Masachika agrees to help her clear her name. Alya is touched, but Masachika panics when it looks like a romantic atmosphere is developing and quickly points out Touya and Chisaki hiding nearby, their own romantic moment having been interrupted by Alya and Masachika. Masachika asks Nonoa to spread a rumour justifying Sayaka running off stage without it looking like she ran away. Unconcerned with her own reputation, Nonoa spreads the story Sayaka left because she was mad at her for planting her friends in the audience to distract Alya. While studying with Masachika, Alya is annoyed they are disturbed by Yuki, Ayano and Maria, but is unable to do anything about it. Maria finds a book on hypnosis. Alya is skeptical and insists Masachika try hypnotizing her to prove it is nonsense. Unsurprisingly, both Alya and Maria end up hypnotized. Yuki takes advantage and orders them to abandon their inhibitions. Both girls start removing their clothes and cannot be stopped even using the book. Fortunately, Chisaki appears and wakes them up, having read more of the book than Masachika. As both girls panic at waking up half-naked, Chisaki attempts to punish Masachika for looking at their half-dressed state.
10
10
"Birthday Party, Much Belated" Transliteration: "Okurebasenagara, Tanjōkai" (Japanese: 遅ればせながら、誕生会)
As exams are soon done, Alya bets Masachika if he makes it to within the top 30 she will do any one thing he asks. Masachika happens to mention it was his birthday 3 months previously and Alya is disappointed he didn't invite her. After exams are over, Masachika explains that birthdays aren't celebrated in his family. As she seems upset by this, he impulsively offers to throw a party just for the two of them. During the party, they discuss the closing ceremony where presidential candidates give speeches, and the audience reaction is usually a good indicator of the likely winner. Yuki is already incredibly popular so Masachika advises Alya to aim just high enough to be considered a viable opponent. Masachika notices not only does she compliment him without using Russian, she even accepts an indirect kiss via a fork without any reaction. She also gifts him a teacup and subtly hints she kept a matching cup for herself. Touya announces he is hoping to get the school to update the uniforms. Maria gets revenge on Masachika for the hypnosis incident. Masachika's other grandfather accompanies him to parent-teacher conference and encounters Alya and her mother, and immediately takes a liking to Alya, leaving Masachika humiliated. Masachika is deeply upset to also encounter Yuki with their mother Yumi. Before he could say anything, his other grandfather manages to ease the tension by initiating a conversation with his mother.
11
11
"An Unexpected Curtain-Raiser" Transliteration: "Yoki Senu Zenshō-sen" (Japanese: 予期せぬ前哨戦)
Masachika has a nightmare of being unable to impress his mother. He also finds the stress has given him a cold. He is exasperated when Yuki sends Alya to his apartment to nurse him, but still enjoys having her take care of him. Masachika falls asleep until late and awakens to Alya competing with Ayano to nurse him overnight. In the end, Alya has to leave as she has an event the next morning. Masachika does not awaken until the following afternoon and realizes Yuki deliberately gave Alya cold medicine for him that causes drowsiness, while also sending Ayano in a maid disguise to make sure the medicine works on him. Realizing Yuki schemed to keep him off school longer, he rushes to school and finds during his absence, Yuki pressured Alya into doing a radio broadcast but right before the broadcast, she told Alya about her genius older brother, and implies he died. Unsettled by this, Alya performed terribly during the broadcast, and is left devastated. Masachika cheers her up and points out Yuki's goal was to get in Alya's head and depress her before the closing ceremony speeches. As Masachika starts to scheme against Yuki himself, Alya notices him smiling like an evil mastermind over his sister's underhanded trick and thinks it makes him look attractive, but doesn't put two and two together that he is Yuki's brother. Sayaka and Nonoa interrupt to properly apologize for the General Meeting and announce Sayaka is quitting the contest to become president. Masachika asks her not to announce it publicly yet as he just thought of a way Alya can defeat Yuki during closing ceremony with Sayaka's help.
12
12
"Chin Up and Face Forward" Transliteration: "Mae o Muite" (Japanese: 前を向いて)
Masachika tells Alya a trick to engage the audience. In her speech, Yuki shares her plan to resurrect the student suggestion box and references her past experience as president in middle school. Masachika admits it was a good speech despite containing only empty promises. Ayano gives a speech on becoming Yuki’s vice-president in which she praises Yuki shamelessly. Alya confuses the audience by starting her speech in Russian, and then amuses them by claiming she did it accidentally due to being nervous. This has the effect Masachika wanted of calming the audience down after Yuki’s speech, refocusing them as Alya genuinely impresses them on stage. Alya admits to her lack of experience, but promises to work harder than everyone to gain that experience. In his speech, Masachika deliberately makes a fool of himself to make the audience laugh, but also explains that he chose Alya for her charisma and earnest nature. He also reveals if Alya becomes president her former opponents Sayaka and Nonoa will join the council as her subordinates, leaving everyone, including Yuki and Ayano, surprised. Albeit frustrated, Yuki admits defeat with a smile on her face, but promises to beat Alya and Masachika the next year. Later that day, Masachika points out he didn’t make it into the top 30 exam results, and Alya has no idea what to ask as a forfeit as she never thought he’d lose. Remembering something she said earlier in Russian, Masachika suggests they should start calling each other by their first names. Alya agrees, but both of them are left flustered as their feelings for each other grow stronger. As they leave the school, Masachika shyly suggests that he and Alya should spend the summer together, preparing for the actual student election the following year, as Yuki and Ayano will be doing the same, to which Alya happily accepts.
Audiobooks
An audiobook adaptation based on the light novel series was first produced and published in Japanese with Sumire Uesaka and Kōhei Amasaki voicing the main characters Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou and Masachika Kuze respectively.[70][71]
In March 2024, Yen Audio, a subsidiary of Yen Press, announced to produce an English-languaged audiobook based on the light novels.[72] The first audiobook was published on August 13, 2024, with Taylor Meskimen as narrator.[73]
Smartphone game
On July 17, 2024, the production of a smartphone game titled Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian: Puzzle Party! (時々ボソッとロシア語でデレる隣のアーリャさん パズルパーティ！, Tokidoki Bosotto Roshiago de Dereru Tonari no Ārya-san Pazuru Pāti!) for Android and iOS devices was announced and the pre-registration phase started.[74] Developed by Poppin Games Japan, the puzzle game was released on September 19, 2024.[75][76]
Other
A VTuber model of Alya debuted in July 2021 to promote the release of the second light novel volume.[77]
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.[78] It also ranked fifth in the bunkobon category of the 2023 edition,[79] and third in the 2024 and 2025 editions.[80][81] 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.[82] By April 2022, the series has 500,000 copies in circulation.[83] In August 2024, it has reported that the series became the first to reach five million copies in the history of Kadokawa Shoten's Sneaker Bunko imprint's romantic comedy stories.[84]
According to Kadokawa Corporation, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian was the fifth most successful franchise of the company in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2024. The company stated that the franchise managed to accumulate around 1 billion yen in revenue based on manga and light novel licensing, manga and light novel sales as well as streaming revenue for the anime series.[85]
The first season of the anime series received eight nominations, including Anime of the Year at the 11th Anime Trending Awards.[86]
^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, lit. Alya, Who Sits Next to Me, Sometimes Whispers Sweet Nothings in Russian
^Ending theme song information is taken from the ending credits of each episode
