The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist

The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist (夢見る男子は現実主義者) is a Japanese light novel series written by Okemaru and illustrated by Saba Mizore. It was initially serialized as a web novel on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in December 2018. It was later acquired by Hobby Japan, who began publishing it as a light novel in June 2020 under their HJ Bunko light novel imprint. A manga adaptation illustrated by Popuri Yoshikita began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website in March 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ aired from July to September 2023.

Synopsis
Wataru Sajō has been pestering and asking Aika Natsukawa, a beautiful girl in his class, to go out with him and get turned down. One day, a flying soccer ball swiftly changes his personality and comes to the conclusion he is not worthy of her and begins to distance himself from her. However, Aika mistakenly thinks he now dislikes her, and she starts to get involved with him. This is the start of a romantic comedy when two classmates struggle to convey their feelings, especially when other girls begin to take notice of Wataru.

Main characters

 * Wataru Sajō (佐城 渉)
 * The main protagonist who passionately approaches his classmate, Aika Natsukawa, but he suddenly came to his senses and tries to distance himself from her. During summer vacation he starts working part-time at a bookstore. They went to the same middle school and he has had feelings for her since then, but kept getting rejected.
 * The main protagonist who passionately approaches his classmate, Aika Natsukawa, but he suddenly came to his senses and tries to distance himself from her. During summer vacation he starts working part-time at a bookstore. They went to the same middle school and he has had feelings for her since then, but kept getting rejected.


 * Aika Natsukawa (夏川 愛華)
 * The female lead, a beautiful girl in her class. She is bewildered by Wataru Sajō's sudden change of his attitude, which left her a feeling of confusion.
 * The female lead, a beautiful girl in her class. She is bewildered by Wataru Sajō's sudden change of his attitude, which left her a feeling of confusion.


 * Kei Ashida (芦田 圭)
 * Aika's best friend. She is a positive girl who joins the Volleyball Club.
 * Aika's best friend. She is a positive girl who joins the Volleyball Club.


 * Kaede Sajō (佐城 楓)
 * Wataru's older sister. She is the Vice President of the Student Council of Kōetsu High School.
 * Wataru's older sister. She is the Vice President of the Student Council of Kōetsu High School.


 * Rin Shinomiya (四ノ宮 凛)
 * Kaede's best friend. She is level-headed and the Moral Public Committee President of Kōetsu High School.
 * Kaede's best friend. She is level-headed and the Moral Public Committee President of Kōetsu High School.


 * Mina Ichinose (一ノ瀬 深那)
 * Wataru's classmate and junior at part-time job. She is a literature buff with a quiet personality. Since the Light Novel Volume 8, she has feelings for Wataru.
 * Wataru's classmate and junior at part-time job. She is a literature buff with a quiet personality. Since the Light Novel Volume 8, she has feelings for Wataru.


 * Fuka Sasaki (笹木 風香)
 * A mature junior high school girl who met Wataru after a certain incident. She has feelings for Wataru, but he didn't notice.
 * A mature junior high school girl who met Wataru after a certain incident. She has feelings for Wataru, but he didn't notice.

Supporting characters

 * Rena Aizawa (藍沢レナ)
 * A cute girl who approached Wataru for ulterior motives.
 * A cute girl who approached Wataru for ulterior motives.


 * Yuyu Inatomi (稲富ゆゆ)
 * A cute member of the Moral Public Committee of Kōetsu High School.
 * A cute member of the Moral Public Committee of Kōetsu High School.


 * Takurō Yamazaki (山崎拓郎)
 * A classmate of Wataru and Aika, and a Basketball Club member.
 * A classmate of Wataru and Aika, and a Basketball Club member.


 * Kazuki Arimura (有村和樹)
 * The ex-boyfriend of Rena and a student of Class 2-B.
 * The ex-boyfriend of Rena and a student of Class 2-B.


 * Megumi Otsuki (大槻めぐみ)
 * The homeroom teacher of class 1-C, the class of Wataru and Aika. The nickname first and only revealed in the web novel version chapter 5.
 * The homeroom teacher of class 1-C, the class of Wataru and Aika. The nickname first and only revealed in the web novel version chapter 5.


 * Hayato Yūki (結城颯斗)
 * The Student Council President of Kōetsu High School, and a member of K4.
 * The Student Council President of Kōetsu High School, and a member of K4.


 * Renji Hanawa (花輪蓮二)
 * The Student Council member, and a member of K4.
 * The Student Council member, and a member of K4.


 * Takuto Kai (甲斐拓人)
 * The Student Council member, and a member of K4.
 * The Student Council member, and a member of K4.


 * Takaaki Sasaki (佐々木貴明)
 * Wataru's classmate and a member of Soccer Club of Kōetsu High School. He has a young sister named Yuki.
 * Wataru's classmate and a member of Soccer Club of Kōetsu High School. He has a young sister named Yuki.


 * Airi Natsukawa (夏川愛莉)
 * Aika's beloved little sister.
 * Aika's beloved little sister.


 * Nonoka Shirai (白井乃々香)
 * Aika and Mina's classmate and friend. She has crush on Takaaki.
 * Aika and Mina's classmate and friend. She has crush on Takaaki.


 * Aoi Okamoto (岡本葵)
 * Aika and Mina's classmate and friend. She also has a crush on Takaaki.
 * Aika and Mina's classmate and friend. She also has a crush on Takaaki.


 * Seina Ihoshi (飯星聖奈)
 * The class representative of 1-C, the class of Wataru, Aika, Kei and Mina.
 * The class representative of 1-C, the class of Wataru, Aika, Kei and Mina.


 * Yuki Sasaki (佐々木有希)
 * The younger sister of Takaaki and a middle schooler.
 * The younger sister of Takaaki and a middle schooler.


 * Arisa Koga (古賀亜里沙)
 * Wataru and Aika's female classmate known for her bad mouth and attitude.
 * Wataru and Aika's female classmate known for her bad mouth and attitude.


 * Ayano Mita (三田綾乃)
 * Yuyu's childhood friend and a member of Moral Public Committee of Kōetsu High School.
 * Yuyu's childhood friend and a member of Moral Public Committee of Kōetsu High School.


 * Marika Shinonome-Claudine (東雲クロディーヌ茉莉花)
 * The half-Japanese half-French female student, and Hayato's fiancé.
 * The half-Japanese half-French female student, and Hayato's fiancé.


 * Hiyori Sonoda (園田ひより)
 * One of Marika's friends. The character's name first revealed in the anime adaptation.
 * One of Marika's friends. The character's name first revealed in the anime adaptation.


 * Kaoruko Isogawa (五十川薫子)
 * One of Marika's friends, she is dubbed "Mobile Student Handbook" by Wataru.
 * One of Marika's friends, she is dubbed "Mobile Student Handbook" by Wataru.


 * Store Manager (店長)
 * The owner of the second-hand bookstore, where Wataru and Mina work part-time.
 * The owner of the second-hand bookstore, where Wataru and Mina work part-time.


 * Yū Ichinose (一瀬優)
 * Mina's big brother and a member of the Moral Public Committee.
 * Mina's big brother and a member of the Moral Public Committee.


 * Hiroto Tabata (田端博人)
 * One of Wataru's classmates who's not part of any clubs or committees.
 * One of Wataru's classmates who's not part of any clubs or committees.


 * Yuri Hanaoka (花岡由梨)
 * Yū's girlfriend and fellow Moral Public Committee member.
 * Yū's girlfriend and fellow Moral Public Committee member.


 * Store Manager's Wife (奥さん)
 * The store manager's wife. She is a woman who cares about others, especially her husband's employees and customers.
 * The store manager's wife. She is a woman who cares about others, especially her husband's employees and customers.

Light novel
Written by Okemaru, the series began serialization as a web novel on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on December 7, 2018. It was later acquired by Hobby Japan who began publishing it as a light novel with illustrations by Saba Mizore under their HJ Bunko imprint on June 1, 2020. As of April 2023, eight volumes have been released. The novels are licensed in English by Monogatari Novels.

Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Popuri Yoshikita began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website on March 26, 2021. As of March 2024, it has been collected in five volumes. The manga adaptation will end with the release of its fifth volume on March 26, 2024.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 18, 2022. It is produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ, and directed by Kazuomi Koga, with scripts written by Michiko Yokote, character designs handled by Masaru Koseki and music composed by Ryōhei Sataka. The series aired from July 4 to September 19, 2023, on TV Tokyo and other networks, including ABEMA. The opening theme song is "Paraglider" by Kaori Ishihara, while the ending theme song is "Yume wa Mijikashi Koiseyo Otome" (夢は短し恋せよ乙女) by Akiho Suzumoto. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series, and will be streaming it on Hidive. Medialink licensed the series in South, Southeast Asia and Oceania (except Australia and New Zealand) and will stream it on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.