Machigitsune to Hito no Ko  

The Waiting Fox and the Human Child, 待ち狐と人の子, 기다리는 여우와 인간의 아이, เด็กหนุ่มกับจิ้งจอกแทนคุณ

During the Taisho era, Kiyo Fukasaku relocates to Tokyo in order to attend Imperial University. While wandering through the city's labyrinthine streets, he encounters a man named Ozaki who appears to recognize his last name. In exchange for performing household tasks, Ozaki offers Kiyo a place to stay, and the two of them begin sharing an apartment. Over time, their days become increasingly indistinguishable until Kiyo discovers Ozakis astonishing secret: he is actually a kitsune spirit who has lived for several centuries. Moreover, Ozaki had agreed to allow Kiyo to reside with him solely in order to repay a debt owed to Seishirou Fukasaku, Kiyos grandfather. Given the complex relationship between a human and a spirit who claims to detest humans, as well as the emotional turmoil that arises from awakening old memories, can there be a contented conclusion?

Machigitsune to Hito no Ko was published in English as The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait by Kodansha USA on May 21, 2024.