Naoya Mukai

For better or worse, Naoya is ridiculously honest and sincere to a fault.

He has a bad habit of overthinking things to an unnecessary degree, which often leads him to take strange actions and stir up trouble.

He is also a bit of an airhead and can be very indecisive, especially when he's trying to be considerate of others' feelings.

A key part of his charm is his tendency to see the good in everyone, and he isn't shy about openly praising people or expressing his gratitude, which is a major reason the heroines are drawn to him.

However, Naoya also has an incredibly loose tongue and is easily tricked into spilling secrets.

Sometimes he doesn't even need to be tricked; he'll just blurt things out on his own, leading to many verbal blunders and awkward situations.

Despite his bizarre lifestyle, he has a surprisingly serious and common-sense side, bordering on old-fashioned.

Readers sometimes refer to him as "Aho Boy," a nod to the author's previous work, which perfectly captures his well-meaning but foolish nature.

Naoya's parents are away on a work transfer, leaving him in charge of the house due to his impressive life skills.

He was living by himself before his two-timing relationship began and the heroines eventually moved in with him.

As an only child, he has always admired people who have siblings and yearns for that kind of connection.

Naoya takes his studies seriously, but his inefficient methods mean his hard work doesn't translate to great results.

His test scores have never placed him in the top five of his class, and he is also a notoriously poor tutor.

To cover the costs of dating two girlfriends, he works multiple part-time jobs, including early morning and late night shifts.

He is also very capable when it comes to household chores and general life skills, which is why his parents trust him to live alone.

Naoya's approach to romance is born from a desire to sincerely answer the feelings of anyone who loves him.

His decision to two-time wasn't about being greedy or lustful but was his genuine, albeit bizarre, answer to cherishing both girls who confessed to him.

He has a normal sex drive and even honestly admitted he wanted to be intimate with both Saki and Nagisa together.

After Saki rejected the idea, he has since practiced immense self-control, using his powerful willpower to resist temptation even in compromising situations.

Saki Saki

Naoya has been in love with his childhood friend, Saki, since they were in elementary school.

He confessed to her once a month for years, and she finally agreed to date him when they entered high school.

Nagisa Minase

Almost immediately after he started dating Saki, his classmate Nagisa confessed her love for him.

Naoya found himself genuinely attracted to her as well, which threw him into a state of indecisive panic and led to his wild proposal.

Rika Hoshizaki

Naoya is also attracted to the popular streamer Rika, acknowledging her beauty and hardworking personality enough to realize his own feelings.

However, for the sake of Saki and Nagisa, he has firmly rejected the idea of a three-timing relationship.

He treats her aggressive advances with annoyance, internally wishing she would give up, and has even reported her to the police as a malicious stalker.

Naoya is terrified of flying and became extremely agitated during a flight to Okinawa for a group trip.

His paranoia about the plane crashing ("What if we crash?!") was so intense that it unsettled the entire group.

"I don't think it's right for a man and woman who aren't dating to live under the same roof." (To Rika Hoshizaki)

"I'd rather touch the chest of a girl I love than a G-cup." (In response to Rika's offer)

As the protagonist of "Girlfriend, Girlfriend," Naoya's romantic journey is anything but ordinary.

The Beginning of a Relationship

After confessing to his childhood friend, Saki Saki, as often as once a month for a total of 108 times since elementary school, she finally accepts, and they become a couple.

Just as his long-held dream came true, his life was about to take a sharp, comedic turn.

A Second Confession and an Unprecedented Proposal

Another girl, Nagisa Minase, suddenly confesses her feelings to him, and he finds he wants to date her too.

Unable to choose, Naoya comes up with the absurd idea of asking Saki for her permission to date both of them at the same time.

The Two-Timing Promise

He is an earnest young man who goes as far as getting on his hands and knees to beg both heroines.

He passionately declares that he will make them both so happy that they'll be glad they agreed to his two-timing proposal.

A Harem-Protagonist Anomaly

His willingness to openly declare his two-timing intentions, rather than hiding them, makes him a highly unusual protagonist in the harem rom-com genre.

This, combined with the series' comedic tone, sets him apart from nearly every other lead character.

The Manga's Conclusion

In the final chapter of the original manga, Naoya's journey culminates in a truly unbelievable and fitting conclusion.

Related Tags

Saki Saki, Nagisa Minase, Rika Hoshizaki, Shino Kiryū, Girlfriend, Girlfriend, Aho-Girl, A Handsome Man (But a Shame).