Naruse-kun Is Bad at Smiling

Naruse-kun Is Bad at Smiling, or 'Warai-kata ga Heta na Naruse-kun,' is a shojo manga series created by the mangaka Inoue Kyouhei. The series emerged from the Japanese manga industry's ongoing interest in character-driven school romances, focusing on the social anxieties of its titular character, who struggles with the perception of his own expressions. It fits within the tradition of manga exploring the gap between a character's internal intentions and their outward social presentation.

Inoue Kyouhei crafted the series to balance humorous misunderstandings with the earnest development of the central relationship. The visual style leans into clean, expressive character designs typical of contemporary shojo, emphasizing the subtleties of facial expressions—or the lack thereof—that drive the narrative conflict. Upon its release, the work was received as a gentle, slice-of-life exploration of communication, appreciated by readers for its focus on vulnerability and the slow building of trust between two high school students.