SA - MangaUpdates

Description

Her whole life, Hikari Hanazono has been consumed with the desire to win against her school rival, Kei Takishima--at anything. He always comes out on top no matter what he does, and Hikari is determined to do whatever it takes to beat this guy!

At age 6 Hikari lost to Kei in an impromptu wrestling match. Now, at 15, Hikari joins "Special A," a group of the top seven students at a private academy, for the opportunity to trounce the guy who made her suffer her first defeat. However, Kei's feelings towards Hikari are different.

Included are the following unrelated short stories:
V.1 - Mikansei Chorus
V. 11 - Shoku no Miyako

Type

Manga

Related Series

SA - Jougai Rantou (Sequel)

Associated Names

Mikansei Chorus

S.A特优生

Special A

S•A

S・A Lớp học ưu tú

S・A スペシャル・エー

S・A(スペシャル・エー)

Спецкласс «А»

Groups Scanlating

Café Scanlation

Divine Sanctuary

Entropy

Irhene Gakuen Community

More...

Latest Release(s)

c.Oneshot by Café Scanlation 10 years ago

v.17 c.99 (end) by Potato-Otaku 16 years ago

v.17 c.98 by Potato-Otaku 16 years ago

Search for all releases of this series

Status in Country of Origin

17 Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1

Ends at Vol 7, Chap 39 (Skips Chap 2-3, 8, 12, 24-25, 27, 29, 31, 34-35, 38)

User Reviews

Special A by PrincessVera

Forum

19 topics, 239 posts

Click here to view the forum

User Rating

Average: 8.2 / 10.0 (2028 votes)

Bayesian Average: 8.17 / 10.0

33%

18%

19%

12%

Last Updated

June 29th, 2025 12:27am PDT - 2 months ago

Image [Report Inappropriate Content]

Genre

Comedy Drama Romance School Life Shoujo
Search for series of same genre(s)

Categories

Log in to vote! Show all (some hidden)

Category Recommendations

Ouran Koukou Host Bu

SA - Jougai Rantou

Mochiron, Isharyouseikyuu itashimasu! (Novel)

Childe and Sweet Wife

The Monster Duchess and the Contract Princess (Novel)

Recommendations

Ouran Koukou Host Bu

Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Hakusensha

Serialized In (magazine)

Hana to Yume (Hakusensha)

The Hana to Yume (Hakusensha)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

Chuang Yi (17 Volumes - Complete)

Viz (17 Volumes - Complete)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #767

(-25)

Monthly Pos #1396

(-418)

3 Month Pos #2491

(-241)

6 Month Pos #2839

(-375)

Year Pos #3378

(+24)

List Stats

On 2491 reading lists

On 1158 wish lists

On 4340 completed lists

On 406 unfinished lists

On 615 custom lists

Note: You must be logged in to update information on this page.

Forum Posts Click to view the forum

SA finale !!! =o

13 years ago

Your favourite moment??(SPOILERS)

14 years ago

Who's your favourite character(s) in Special A?

14 years ago

special a question

14 years ago

did anyone notice?

15 years ago

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

A disaster.

by Shellshock
5 years ago

Rating: 3.0 / 10.0

The series is set in a high school (completely original setting). The series is based around 7 characters. These 7 characters are the top 7 students in the school and are known as Special A. The MMC who is no. 1, The FMC who is no.2, Hot Twin boy is no.3, Hot Twin Girl is no.4, Punching Bag is no. 5, Violent Tsundere is no. 6 and AnimaIIover69 is no. 7. Together they form the group known as Special A.

The story mostly revolves around the MMC and FMC (obviously). They have a rivalry going on. The FMC is trying super hard to beat the MMC but she fails every single time. The MMC on the other hand is in love with the FMC. You kinda have to feel bad despite his teasing he does try to show that he likes the FMC. But she is sadly suffering from density syndrome. Truly an epidemic in romcom main characters. The problem with there relationship is that its not really equal. The FMC despite being incredibly talented needs rescuing from the MMC multiple occasions. No wonder she can't beat him. Even then its really disappointing how she just loses all her charm just so the MMC can come in and save the day. Despite these negatives. I did like the comedy surrounding those two (albeit they over do it by making the same joke over and over again no. 2). Their romantic interactions were cute. In the much more later half of the series the FMC does help the MMC more and more. Its not enough but it does balance the relationship more. I also had an issue with there rivalry. It never ends. It got from being decent to being a mess. It feels less of a gimmick and more of a reason to make the characters more and more stupid. Honestly it was rather disappointing. Than their is the ending. Its the equivalent of Naruto not becoming Hokage or Luffy not finding the one piece. Thats some stupid ass shit.

The side characters as well are not all that better. Violent tsundere and Yahiro (Asshole as i will name him from now on.) Were both garbage characters. They constantly pulled the series down. By doing the one thing they are noticeable. Complete assholes. Holy shit. When will Japan learn that tsundere is the most garbage tier lazy ass piece of trope to ever exist. It is literally done to extend pointless drama and is just overall awful implementations in the series.

The story is not much better. Oh everything's resolved? let me add another love triangle, and another, and another. It wouldn't be problem if the character that were introduced didn't just fall from the sky (some literally).But also the fact that they are some of the boring generic characters man. They have no real personality. Its like the author picked there personalities out of a hat and then decided to remain the exact same for 11 volumes. Characters is incredibly small ways but not in any meaningful way. And definitely not enough to be satisfying.

I also don't like the main drama involving the grandfather. Its completely random for one thing. I don't just mean how its introduced but how its resolved too. Its like the author got too lazy to find a way to properly finish it and instead opted for those really bad twists instead that make no sense. Everything that gets resolved feels that way. To the characters personal story to outside interference that occur.

Another disappointing aspect was the flow of the series. Characters would just appear in places randomly, settings would change, straight up character personalities would change. All for an stylish artwork scene but it ruins it because the motivation and/or reason behind it is plastic. I took it for granted. The flow and continuity in a series. But now seeing such a massive mess its hard to believe I never noticed it before. This series is a joke and i hope the author's other works aren't as disappointing.

Overall im disappointied. This had so much potential. There were lighthearted kind moments in there all the time. Romantic interactions as well. But its such a complete fucking mess that i can't really recommend this to anyone. 3/10 bad manga

Was this comment useful? Yes

re-readability

by countlost60
11 years ago

Rating: N/A

I first read this series when I was in school and loved it, but coming back to it again I found it funny in the early chapters and disappointing towards the end. The main character NEVER, Hikari sneaks out to meet another guy and is freakin shocked when Kei gets mad, honestly there should be a point where she is less dense, this isn't a Sazae-san format so there really should be some growth. Also Hikari is supposed to be strong and independent, a woman that Kei recognized as his rival, but she becomes a train wreck EVERY time he is even a little bit mean to her, and apparently her strength counts for nothing because Kei is always saying crap like "you're a girl, you can't do anything." Honestly...

Was this comment useful? Yes

Am I missing something?

by NoOneSpecial75
11 years ago

Rating: 4.0 / 10.0

I love Maki Minami's short stories, but no matter how many times I try to get into SA (manga, anime) I just find it so mind numbingly boring that I can't get through it. Maybe I'm just a short story kinda gal...

Was this comment useful? Yes

Highly entertaining

by milkgreentea
12 years ago

Rating: 8.3 / 10.0

A wonderfully enjoyable and light read, though it is a bit long - but not tedious. It's a delightful read and the male lead is truly admirable for waiting for the girl a whole ten years without forcing it (unlike in Kaichou wa Maid-sama...) Read it for the comedy and amusing plot.

Was this comment useful? Yes

Okay

by Akai.no.sora
13 years ago

Rating: 6.0 / 10.0

I love anything where the main leads are either enemies, rivals or just don't get along well. Typical, I know but such romances can be so cute! (I read this awhile back so my memory might be fuzzy)

Characters ★★★
The side-characters are great. Just that the mains. Oh God the mains. This mangaka deserves an award for being able to make you go to edge and just... Hikari is so unbelievably dense. It's insane.

Story ★★★
It was okay but I think it should've been shorter. There were unnecessary things and it felt stretched.

Art ★★★
I like her particular art style especially the eyes for some reason but the characters can look a little bit lanky.

I think if you're like me, wanting to find a romance involving rivalry that's cute. Go find something shorter because the female lead will seriously piss you off. However, it had its moments.

Was this comment useful? Yes

well

by aclgrafix
13 years ago

Rating: N/A

This is a pretty good love/comedy/gag the characters were well done (but hikari being less of an idiot woulda been better, also i didnt like the ending, it felt axed/incomplete

but all in all a really nice story

Was this comment useful? Yes

The side characters are waaay more interesting

by TuckingFypo
13 years ago

Rating: 6.0 / 10.0

It was okay. Kei was a Gary Stu but it was bearable, Hikari is a Mary Sue and it was INTOLERABLE! Add the fact she was dense I bet she wouldn't be able to notice if Kei's became square-shaped or something. Her character was RIDICULOUS.
On the other hand, I found Tadashi and Akira, Ryuu and Finn, Sakura and Jun, Yahiko (?) and Megumi cute. Their parts, no matter how filler-ish they were, were waaay more interesting than Kei and Hikari's story. Srsly.

The ending was stupid too. ;_;

Was this comment useful? Yes

Unforgettable

by R.S.
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

This series was amazing and is part of the reason why I started to read manga in the first place. This was the first manga series that I ever read and was first introduced to the series by the anime (which was one of the first I had ever watched). Since I loved the series so much, I had to find out more about what happened to the characters. I read this series in 2008 and since then I have still not come across a series that is so endearing to me such as this one. Although I have read other manga that have characters with similar mentalities, Special A still takes the cake.

As the series progresses on, the character drawings become much better and the character development is satisfactory. What makes this series so fantastic is the pure affection Kei has for Hikari. Also, although some of the arcs seem typical of shoujo manga, don't be fooled. Hikari will always surprise you with her outgoing personality. Plus, most of the arcs are fairly unique and blend in perfectly with the circumstances. One of the best parts about the manga is that the ending is very well thought out. Often with long series, the author tends to make the endings feel sort of rushed, but I was so thankful to Minami Maki that she let the ending close with a subtle bang.

Of course, since this was my first manga, my opinion may be biased, but I honestly believe that everyone should read the first few chapters and give it try. Once you get to know the characters, you will see the sides of them that make Special A, well.... special.

... Last updated 13 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

kei...

by hyunwon88
13 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

I have to agree at the comment below.
Although this manga is cliche it still manages to give me some laughs on other chapters and make me want kei for my self because he is so perfect imo..

overall i gave this manga a score of 8 because of sometimes cliche situation and repetitive scenario but also this story have adorable characters like kei, hikari, the twins and finn!

Was this comment useful? Yes

Childhood friends love ftw

by loveiszero
13 years ago

Rating: 7.5 / 10.0

This is totally my guilty pleasure read, as i cant objectively say this series is anything groundbreakingly amazing. What i find adorable is how devoted and truly guy loves a girl for such a long time. Other than that, SA is your typical cliche shoujo with a cute/strong but incredibly dense, and sometimes a bit annoying female lead, but hey, at least its better than a damsle in distress one.

... Last updated 13 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

Pages (13) [ 1 2 3 4 5 ... ]