Yu Muraoka's Adventure Series Hōkago Fantasy Concludes
Written by Yu Muraoka, one of the prolific names in the manga world, and focusing on the secret adventures of a high school student, Hōkago Fantasy (Afterschool Fantasy) has concluded its publication. The series, which met readers through Champion Buzz, the digital supplement of Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine, ended with its 17th chapter published on May 6, 2026. The manga, which began with great anticipation in February 2025, completed its journey of approximately one and a half years on the shelves.
Hōkago Fantasy centered on the story of Hoshino Hibiki, a first-year high school student who dreams of becoming a voice actor. While trying to join the school's manga club, Hibiki finds a mysterious manga in the club room and suddenly finds herself in another world. After this incident, Hibiki begins to lead a dual life: an ordinary student in the mornings and a brave adventurer in a fantasy world after school. The series quickly garnered interest among fans of the genre, especially with its "after-school adventure" theme.
The creator of the manga, Yu Muraoka, is actually known for his sports-themed works. In particular, his judo-themed manga Mou Ippon! (Ippon! again), which was published between 2018 and 2023 and achieved great success, also received an anime adaptation in 2023. Muraoka's transition from sports dramas to a fantasy world with Hōkago Fantasy was an important step in demonstrating the author's versatility in storytelling. However, its conclusion in a relatively short period of 17 chapters is interpreted either as the series being planned as a short and concise story from the beginning or that the author will start working on a new project.
Although this farewell may seem a bit early for the series' fans,
