Fans of My Dress-Up Darling manga find themselves in a strange position. As they grapple with the news of the manga ending in the next chapter, Square Enix has made an unexpected announcement that is sure to stir up some debates.
Manga Up!, Square Enix’s very own manga app, announced on Feb 21, 2025 that it will start simultaneously publishing the chapters of My Dress-Up Darling in English. This decision is particularly noteworthy given that the simulpub will encompass merely two chapters, starting with the penultimate one that released on Feb 21.
Prior to this development, overseas readers had to rely on fan-translations for the English versions of the manga. While the availability of an official, simultaneous release is typically positive news, the timing of this announcement begs an important question: was the ending of My Dress-Up Darling not a planned one?
Is there more to the abrupt conclusion of the manga?
The implementation of simulpub at this juncture of My Dress-Up Darling naturally leads to questions surrounding the abrupt ending of the manga.
The announcement that chapter 115 would be the finale came as a surprise to many readers, particularly due to the lack of any prior indication of a final arc or a narrative wind-down.
Naturally, this has left many wondering if the ending was not a planned one.
Unconfirmed rumors of potential health issues affecting author Shinichi Fukuda have been circulating within fandom circles for some time. Although no official reports have validated these claims, the timing of the ending has prompted some to consider health-related factors as a possible explanation for the premature conclusion.
Speculations centering on the author’s health, or their personal situations are quite common at such times. When Demon Slayer manga ended, there were rumors that Koyoharu Gotouge was forced to end the series due to personal reasons.
However, such speculations always remained just that – speculations.
On the other hand, it may be premature to view this development solely in a negative light. There are precedents within the manga industry for series to conclude and subsequently be revived or extended in different forms.
For instance, Teasing Master Takagi-san got a sequel which focused on the protagonists’ married life. Could Square Enix be considering a similar path for My Dress-Up Darling? Is it possible that the current “ending” will facilitate a transition into a new narrative phase, perhaps centering on Gojo and Marin as an established couple?
If that is true, then it would inadvertently fix one of the biggest gripes that fans have of My Dress-Up Darling‘s sudden ending.
My Dress-Up Darling was widely regarded as being in a strong narrative phase, particularly with the developing romantic relationship between Gojo and Marin. And a primary concern among fans regarding the premature ending was the fact that the manga won’t be exploring the relationship of this newly formed couple.
Getting a sequel would mean that the manga would be able to fulfill its narrative potential, atleast in the eyes of its fans.
It remains plausible that the simulpub announcement, despite its oddly timed nature, simply coincides with the conclusion of the manga series as originally intended. Regardless, the present situation surrounding My Dress-Up Darling is undeniably peculiar for its fans.
Fukuda’s My Dress-Up Darling has been serialized in Square Enix’s Young Gagan magazine since January 2018. The manga’s chapters have been collected into 14 volumes as of November 2024.
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