Ao Haru Ride (アオハライド) is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka. It was serialized in Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine from February 2011 to February 2015 and collected in 13 tankōbon volumes. The title roughly translates to "Blue Spring Ride" or "Blue Spring Ride."
The story centers on Futaba Yoshioka, a high school student who wants to "reset" her image in high school due to past experiences in middle school. In middle school, she was ostracized by female classmates because she was popular with boys. She develops a crush on Kou Tanaka, a boy who is different from the others. However, they drift apart when Kou moves away.
Upon entering high school, Futaba is determined to be as unfeminine as possible to avoid the same situation as before. She then unexpectedly reunites with Kou, who now goes by the name Kou Mabuchi. He is noticeably different from the Kou she knew in middle school, and the series follows their rekindled relationship, the challenges they face, and the emotional growth of Futaba and Kou as they navigate high school life and explore their feelings for each other.
Ao Haru Ride has been adapted into an anime television series that aired in Japan in 2014. A live-action film adaptation was released in Japan in December 2014. The manga and its adaptations have been well-received for their portrayal of adolescent romance, friendship, and self-discovery.