New manga announcements are always a thrill for fans of romantic drama and complicated relationships — and the recently launched Watashi-tachi no Koto wa Nanto Yobeba (What Should We Call Our Relationship?) promises to deliver exactly that. Created by story-and-art duo Atari Katagiri and Makoto Kisaragi, the series premiered on Square Enix’s Manga UP! on August 2, 2026 and immediately caught attention for its emotional premise: two former lovers forced to navigate life as step-siblings when their parents remarry. Below we break down the creators, premise, themes to expect, and where to read the series.
【新連載開始！】
「わたしたちのことはなんと呼べば」原案・作画:@atari_katagiri
構成:@makotopannomimi高校時代、お互いを世界で一番の理解者だと感じ恋人同士だった美禰子と侃。
だが、親同士の再婚によりある日突然きょうだいになった。→https://t.co/UKj8nBLwHt #マンガUP pic.twitter.com/NiVTtXrVlq
— マンガＵＰ！ (@mangaup_PR) August 2, 2026
Table of Contents
Premise: Forbidden Feelings, Familiar Faces
At the heart of Watashi-tachi no Koto wa Nanto Yobeba is a tender and tense emotional dilemma: Mineko and Kan were once high school lovers who felt like each other’s greatest confidants. Their lives change dramatically when their parents remarry, turning them overnight into step-siblings. The story explores the awkward, painful, and often bittersweet moments that follow when romantic history collides with newly created family bonds.
About the Creators
Atari Katagiri — Story & Art
Atari Katagiri handles both the original concept and the artwork for this series. Katagiri previously worked on the manga adaptation of Manimani Ononata’s light novel Tensei Shitara 15-sai no Ōhi Deshita, which ran on Manga UP! from 2020 until its conclusion in July 2023 and was compiled into multiple volumes. Katagiri’s art is known for its expressive character work and emotional storytelling — qualities well suited to this series’ delicate subject matter.
Makoto Kisaragi — Composition
Makoto Kisaragi contributes the composition, bringing structural and pacing strengths to the collaboration. Kisaragi has prior experience adapting light novels to manga format, including work on The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids (Saikyō Tank no Meikyū Kōryaku) manga, which began serialization on Manga UP! in 2019 and expanded into multiple volumes and an anime adaptation. That background in serialized storytelling and adaptation makes Kisaragi a strong partner for Katagiri on this romantic drama.
Themes to Expect
- Emotional Ambiguity: The series will likely dwell on the gray areas between love and family — how past romance resurfaces under new circumstances and how characters reconcile conflicting loyalties.
- Identity and Boundaries: Mineko and Kan must renegotiate who they are to each other as their official relationship label shifts from lovers to siblings overnight.
- Slice-of-Life Realism: Given the creators’ experience, expect grounded character moments, everyday conflicts, and quiet scenes that reveal interior life.
- Social and Moral Tension: The narrative will probably probe societal perceptions around step-sibling relationships and the internal ethics the characters confront.
Release & Availability
The manga launched on Square Enix’s Manga UP! service on August 2, 2026. For English-speaking readers, Comikey has previously handled English releases for works by Katagiri and others; keep an eye on Manga UP!’s English version and Comikey announcements for official translations and licensing. As with many serialized manga, early chapters will appear on the Manga UP! platform, with collected tankōbon volumes planned depending on the series’ reception.
Where to Read (Official Sources)
For the original Japanese release, visit the Manga UP! listing. For potential English releases and licenses, check official storefronts and publishers. Below are helpful official sources:
How This Series Fits into Current Romantic-Drama Trends
Recent years have seen a surge in romance manga that focus on complicated, boundary-pushing relationships — from ex-lovers reconnecting to unconventional family arrangements. Watashi-tachi no Koto wa Nanto Yobeba slots into that trend while dialing up personal stakes by making the protagonists siblings by marriage. The set-up invites intimate character studies over melodrama, and given the creators’ track records, readers can expect a balance of emotional intensity and nuanced pacing rather than sensationalism.
What Fans Should Watch For
Character Dynamics
Pay attention to how Katagiri designs the characters’ expressions and body language — small visual cues will communicate much about unresolved feelings. Kisaragi’s composition choices will be key in revealing internal conflict through panel rhythm and scene transitions.
Long-Term Story Arcs
If the story follows common serialized manga patterns, early chapters will set up the characters’ emotional baseline and slowly escalate dilemmas: family reactions, external pressures, and choices that force the protagonists to define their relationship on their own terms.
Final thoughts
Watashi-tachi no Koto wa Nanto Yobeba is a promising new addition to Manga UP!’s lineup that blends heartfelt artwork with a fraught romantic premise. Fans of emotionally-driven romance and character-focused storytelling will likely find a lot to love here: a delicate handling of taboo-adjacent themes, strong creative voices behind the project, and the slow-burn tension of two people who must once again define their place in each other’s lives. Keep an eye on official Manga UP! and licensed English platforms for new chapters and announcements.
