Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian (時々ボソッとロシア語でデレる隣のアーリャさん), 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 app and website in October 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by Doga Kobo premiered in July 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 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 her native Russian language. However, she does not realize that Masachika understands Russian, and her flirty comments towards him constantly leave him appalled, even though he also harbors secret feelings towards her that he refuses to admit.

Characters

 * Masachika Kuze (久世 政近)
 * 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 is a sleepyhead who tends to stay up late most nights and lacks motivation 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 younger sister. Though he seems constantly annoyed by Alya's flirting in Russian, he secretly has feelings for her, but refuses to admit it, believing he's not good enough for her.
 * 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 is a sleepyhead who tends to stay up late most nights and lacks motivation 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 younger sister. Though he seems constantly annoyed by Alya's flirting in Russian, he secretly has feelings for her, but refuses to admit it, believing he's not good enough for her.


 * Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou (アリサ・ミハイロヴナ・九条) / Alya (アーリャ)
 * 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. Though she is popular and attracts the attention of many boys and girls at school, because of her cold demeanor, Alya doesn't have many friends and isn't very experienced at social interaction, though that slowly changes the more she spends time with Masachika. She gets bothered by her seatmate Masachika's laziness and 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.
 * 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. Though she is popular and attracts the attention of many boys and girls at school, because of her cold demeanor, Alya doesn't have many friends and isn't very experienced at social interaction, though that slowly changes the more she spends time with Masachika. She gets bothered by her seatmate Masachika's laziness and 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.


 * Yuki Suou (周防 有希)
 * A first-year who serves as the student council public relations. 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 and straightforward girl, and enjoys teasing both Masachika and especially Alya. 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.
 * A first-year who serves as the student council public relations. 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 and straightforward girl, and enjoys teasing both Masachika and especially Alya. 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) / Masha (マーシャ)
 * Alya's older sister, a second-year and the student council secretary.
 * Alya's older sister, a second-year and the student council secretary.


 * Ayano Kimishima (君嶋 綾乃)
 * 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.
 * 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)
 * She competed with Yuki for the position of student council president in the middle school and currently is a public morals committee member.
 * 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)
 * 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.
 * 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)
 * She is a first-year high school student and Sayaka's best friend. She has blond hair with a loose perm.
 * 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)
 * He is the charismatic student council president of the high school section. A second year and Chisaki's boyfriend.
 * He is the charismatic student council president of the high school section. A second year and Chisaki's boyfriend.


 * Takeshi Maruyama (丸山 毅)


 * Hikaru Kiyomiya (清宮 光瑠)

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 would 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.

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

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 17, 2023. It is produced by Doga Kobo and written and directed by Ryota Itoh, with character designs handled by Yūhei Murota, who also served as chief animation director, and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi. Ryō Kobayashi served as the producer. The series was originally scheduled for April 2024, but was later delayed, and eventually premiered on July 3, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks, and is set to run for 12 episodes. The opening theme song is "Ichiban Kagayaku Hoshi" (1番輝く星), while each episode features a different ending theme song based on covers of different famous songs, all performed by Sumire Uesaka as her character Alya. Crunchyroll licensed the series. Medialink licensed the series for streaming in Southeast Asia and Oceania (except Australia and New Zealand) on its Ani-One Asia YouTube channel.

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 category, and fifth overall among the other new series of that year. It also ranked fifth in the 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. By April 2022, the series has 500,000 copies in circulation.