A review of the first volume & first impressions
Serialized in Monthly Comic Gene since 2020, Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture (Junkyouju Takatsuki Akira no Suisatsu; aka Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Inference) by Mikage Sawamura and Toji Aio is a supernatural mystery manga series based on the light novel of the same name. The manga and light novel are still ongoing in Japan, and both have been licensed and published in English by Yen Press. Yen Press published the first volume of the manga in August 2023, and the company published the first volume of the light novel in May 2023. As of this review, Yen Press has released the 5th volume of the manga in November 2024, and the company has published the 4th volume of the novel in July 2024. Besides being adapted to manga, the series has been adapted to a live-action TV show. The show ran for 2 seasons from 2021 to 2022, and as of this post (and as far as I know), it's not available to stream legally in the USA and other similar markets.
Yen Press describes the story:
“The mystical is nothing but phenomena plus interpretation, Fukamachi-kun.”
Naoya Fukamachi’s ability to unerringly detect lies has left him friendless and isolated all his life. It certainly isn’t helping him meet new people in college. But when he catches the interest of the handsome but eccentric associate professor of folklore studies, Akira Takatsuki, he finds himself with a part-time job- research assistant in charge of common sense, on a mission to help catalogue the supernatural!
Alright, first try saying Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture ten times fast. XD I've gotten the title of this manga mixed up a dozen times by now. For my sanity, I'm just going to shorten Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture to Assoc. Professor. That aside, I really enjoyed this first volume. The first volume covers 1 full case and the start of a second case. Yep, this volume ends with a cliffhanger, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
The book is named after the titular professor, but the story is told from Naoya's pov. Naoya Fukamichi is a college student cursed with the ability to hear lies. He is an introverted, distant, aloof kid with a good sense of direction and common sense. In spite of having the supernatural ability to detect lies, Naoya is a skeptical kid. Lastly, he doesn't like sweets. (Yes, that's a very important detail.)
On the other hand, the titular professor Akira Takatsuki is Naoya's opposite. Akira is a smart, outgoing, eccentric, and mysterious gentlemanly character. He can talk your ears off about folklore. He has a good photogenic memory. He can remember the names and faces of the kids in his big lecture class. He even remembers their reports and can quote them verbatim. He encourages his students to submit their encounters with folklore so he could investigate them. It's these reports he gets from his students and his website that kicks off the series and leads him to team up with Naoya.
Why Naoya? Well, besides having a good sense of direction and common sense, both of which our good professor lacks, Naoya lets slip that he can detect lies. Even though Naoya doesn't explain how he can detect lies, it's heavily implied that Akira might know more than he leads on. Also, it's heavily implied that Akira has some mysterious powers of his own and close encounters with the supernatural kind. His eyes even change blue. (I felt this part wasn't drawn well in the manga. I think a spot color effect would have been cool and help make the art pop out more.)
By the end of the first volume, we learn a lot about these characters, but we certainly don't know everything. There's enough room to speculate and try to figure out what sort of powers (and knowledge) the professor has. Also, there's enough mystery left to speculate where the series will go. Will the episodic mysteries take a turn and lead to an overarching plot with big arcs or will it just be episodic? Will the cases get even darker? Speaking of...
This volume has just two cases following a very long introductory chapter. The first case is goofy and feels like it was pulled straight out of a Scooby-Doo episode. A young woman is terrorized nightly by a ghost in her apartment complex, and Akira and Naoya go investigate. Is this really a stigmatized property? A sleepover reveals the real culprit. The second case is a lot more dramatic and sinister and clashes just slightly with the book's lighthearted and humorous tone. In the second case, Akira's student is terrorized by cursed dolls and needles. The needles are appearing where they shouldn't, like in her food. I'll have to pick up the second volume to see the conclusion, and I can't wait to read it.
In spite of the tone shift with the second case, I really enjoyed this first volume mainly due to the characters. I am a sucker for these sorts of characters and their dynamic. I love the nutty professor teaming up with the reluctant and skeptical student. I love how the pov character, in this case Naoya, is the "straight-man" to the detective's antics. I love eccentric and smart refined characters, and I can enjoy episodic mysteries as much as overarching, plot-driven mystery stories. I just love mystery, y'all, which brings me to the big elephant in the room...
Are these characters gay? Will they start a romantic relationship with each other?
I honestly don't know. (And frankly, I don't care. I'm good either way.) This topic probably deserves it's own rant down the road when I can voice my thoughts in a coherent and cohesive matter with the thesis being: the mystery genre is pretty gay/queer, actually. For now, I'll just say this. This is a mystery story through and through. If you're waiting for them to get together, if they get together, you may be waiting for a millennium. Shipping is always a-okay. (This is a plea for fan art. Send me some.)
If you're looking for confirmed BL goodness and supernatural mystery, then I highly suggest reading and watching The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window by Tomoko Yamashita. (The anime is on Crunchyroll.) Definitely different vibes than Assoc. Professor as it's more action-packed; however, it shares the supernatural mystery and character dynamic, albeit Rihito Hiyakawa is not a refined gentlemanly character, but he is an eccentric, mysterious and powerful person. Also, the story stretches the bounds of "what is BL?"
If you're looking for a supernatural BL light novel, then try The Contract Between a Specter and a Servant by Michiru Fushino. The series spans four volumes, and it's published by Yen Press and recommended by them for fans of Assoc. Professor. (The Assoc. Professor novel and The Contract Between a Specter and a Servant are on my tbr.)
Finally, have you read Usotoki Rhetoric by Ritsu Miyako? If you're a fan of the historical mystery series with a slight supernatural twist, then Assoc. Professor is an obvious next read. Urabe and Naoya can hear lies. (And, the text changes to signal which part is a lie, which is pretty neat.) Soma and Akira are eccentric, charming, and outgoing men who take on an assistant to help solve crimes and mysteries. (They both even have a very protective and uptight childhood friend.) Lastly, the romantic potential is one big question mark a volume in. Assoc. Professor might not have the same charm as Usotoki Rhetoric or other similar episodic mystery stories from volume 1, but I implore that you give Assoc. Professor a chance to breathe. There are some mysteries (and shenanigans) a foot.
Conclusion
Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture is a tongue-tying title about an affable (associate) folklore professor teaming up with his skeptical student to solve supernatural mysteries. This first volume was really chill and lighthearted up till the last chapter when it changes tone. Will the mysteries get darker? Will Naoya open up to sensei and tell him the real story behind his mysterious ability? What's up with sensei's eyes? Find out in the next volume or 5+. I reccomend it to fans of supernatural mystery stories and anyone who enjoyed Usotoki Rhetoric by Ritsu Miyako. I'm excited to read and learn more, and I hope you will too.
Happy Reading!
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