Analysis: ebookjapan Manga Awards 2026 Grand Prize Winner Revealed
The manga community is buzzing with some really great news! Megumi Haruta's original work, which is illustrated by Yahiro Arase, titled "I'm used to being alone. I'm leaving my fiance alone!", has officially been crowned as the grand prize winner of the prestigious ebookjapan Manga Awards 2026. This is such a big achievement for the creators, as this award is very well-respected in the industry and is decided by the readers themselves.
"ebookjapan Manga Award 2026" logo
The story follows the life of Nicole, who is the daughter of an earl, and her quite complicated relationship with her fiancé, Chaos. It is a very sweet and funny love comedy that deals with the misadventures of these two. Nicole is a count's daughter who has been neglected by Chaos for quite a long time. Eventually, she gets so used to being left alone that she actually starts enjoying her own company and feeling "alone" in a good way. On the other side, Chaos actually has very deep feelings for her, and seeing her thrive and enjoy her freedom while ignoring him is making him quite restless. Many fans feel why I'm leaving my fiance alone is a must read manga is because of this unique dynamic where the lead female character chooses herself over a neglectful partner.
Celebrating the Winners and Reader Favorites
It wasn't just Nicole and Chaos taking all the limelight though. There were other amazing works that were also recognized during this event:
- 2nd Place: "Next Door Ex-Boyfriend-kun" by ago
- 3rd Place: "Danmitsu" by Tooru Seino
- Bookseller's Award: "If it's a book, it's worth it" by Sei Kojima
To celebrate these wins, the official website has set up a special page where you can see comments from the artists and even some newly drawn illustrations. It’s a real treat for the fans who have been supporting these series. Also, if you haven't read them yet, there is a special campaign running from February 20th to March 22nd. They have increased the number of free trial readings, so it is the perfect time to check out why I'm leaving my fiance alone is a must read manga and other award-winning titles.
How the ebookjapan Manga Award Works
What makes this award so special is the process. First, the professional booksellers at ebookjapan pick the works they want to recommend the most. Then, the final grand prize is decided by actual reader voting. For the 2026 edition, they looked at works published as single volumes or e-books between December 2023 and October 2025. Webtoons were also included in this. The voting happened from late 2025 to early 2026, and the results clearly show that stories about independence and self-growth are really hitting the right spot with the audience these days.
