The author of Higehiro called not to imitate the actions of the novels

The hit anime Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway is not the escapist fantasy many viewers perceive. Author Shimesaba is aggressively correcting the audience, asserting that the series depicts active criminality rather than a wholesome romance.

Despite Crunchyroll streaming this thirteen-episode Kadokawa adaptation—where a heartbroken office worker shelters a runaway minor—the creator drew a hard line on social media. Shimesaba equates joking about “picking up” high school girls to joking about murder, emphasizing that harboring a minor remains a statutory offense in modern Japan, regardless of fictional framing.

In fact, since the title was chosen, the author seems to disagree and has currently published some publications about it. On Twitter, March 25th, the author Shimesaba wrote: “When I’m on Twitter, I get a little painful when readers make comments like “I want to pick up a girl from high school too!” I wish they would stop making jokes like that. Things like “I’ll kill you!” or “I swear I’ll kill this guy!” They are not things to joke around with.».

ツ イ ッ タ ー や っ て て 一番 ヒ ヤ ッ と す る の が 読 者 さ く を す め め で を て め め め め め め め め
「僕 も 人 殺 し ま ー す！」 っ て 言 っ て る の と 同義 と 思.

– @ め さ @ (@shimesaba_novel) March 26, 2021

The author stated in another publication: «I’ve also seen some people defend the Higehiro novels and say, “In real life it would be a crime, but we’re talking about a fiction, so don’t take it too seriously.” But even in fiction, as long as it takes place in modern Japan, placing a minor is still a criminal offense. “Higehiro” is a story about criminal activity, make no mistake. Do not argue with others based on incorrect information».

ま た, 「ひ げ ~」 に つ い て 「現 実 だ と 犯罪 だ け ど こ れ 創作 な ん だ だ で す が, 創作 内 で あ っ て も 現代 日本 を 舞台 に し て い は か れ た物語 で す。 間 違 っ た 情報 で 他人 に 反 論 し て は い い ま せ

– @ め さ @ (@shimesaba_novel) March 26, 2021

He added: “Criminal activity is something that should not be committed for any reason with the aim of living under the rule of law. They are evil acts. While there’s nothing wrong with describing crimes on paper in a story, I hope you can tell the line between fact and fiction.».

犯罪 行為 は 、 法 の 下 で 生 き る う え で は 何 何 が っ っ も 、 犯罪 り 自 く で で せ あ 犯罪 り く く こ き あ し で り り て い た だ け と

– @ め さ @ (@shimesaba_novel) March 26, 2021

The series has been airing in Japan since April 5 and is confirmed with a total of thirteen episodes on the platform. Crunchyroll takes care of sales in the west. On the other hand, light novels by Shimesaba and illustrated by Booota are published via the publisher’s label Bunko sneaker of Kadokawa since February 2018.

A Disturbing Gap Between Fiction and Reality

This friction exposes a dangerous dissonance in consumer reception. The tropes of the genre shield audiences from the gravity of the depicted acts. By stating that the protagonist’s actions constitute an offense that should not be committed, the author dismantles the defense of “it’s just fiction”.

The premise—Sayu Ogiwara trading sexual favors for shelter—is not a backdrop for a healing arc. It is, according to Shimesaba, evidence of a crime that is evil and inexcusable. The domestic tranquility of washing dishes and doing chores is juxtaposed against the looming threat of law enforcement and moral decay.

Shifting the Critical Lens

As the series continues, the focus must shift from shipping the leads to understanding the author’s warning about the rule of law. The work is a character study on the edge of societal norms, not a manual for real-world emulation or justification for grooming behaviors.

Ignoring Shimesaba’s clarification disrespects the creator’s intent. The text is a depiction of transgression, not an endorsement of the taboo. How are viewers supposed to enjoy the heartwarming moments knowing the creator sees the situation as a crime scene in progress?

Synopsis of Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou (Higehiro)

The employee Yoshida has been in love with his colleague Airi Gotou for five years. Although he finally goes on a date with her, his confession is quickly denied. Drunk and disappointed, he stumbles home only to find a high school girl on the side of the road. The girl, who needs a place to stay, tries to seduce Yoshida, who, although he rejects her proposal, he invites her to his apartment.

The next morning, the girl, who introduces herself as Sayu Ogiwara, reveals that she has fled Hokkaido to Tokyo. During his six-month stroll, she constantly traded sexual favors to have a place to sleep. However, Yoshida is not convinced of her seduction. Instead, he asks her to do another type of job that involves doing dishes and washing clothes. And so begins a heartwarming relationship between a heartbroken adult and a runaway high school girl.

Source: Official Twitter account

(c) KADOKAWA