is a Japanese light novel series written by Tomohiro Matsu and illustrated by Yuka Nakajima. It was published by Shueisha's Super Dash Bunko imprint, with 18 volumes released from December 2009 to March 2015. Following Matsu's death in May 2016, a posthumous volume, subtitled After 1, was released in July of that same year.

The series follows a mature college student who suddenly becomes the guardian of his three nieces in place of his sister and her husband. The couple went overseas on a business trip, but their plane went missing, and all passengers were presumed dead. To prevent the girls from being separated, he defies his family's wishes and takes them in, just as his sister did for him.

A manga adaptation, illustrated by Yohei Takemura, was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazines Jump Square (August 2011 – March 2012) and Jump SQ.19 (April – October 2012), with its chapters collected in three volumes. Five spin-off manga were also released in 2011. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation by Feel was broadcast from January to March 2012, with three additional original video animation (OVA) episodes released. A video game by Bandai Namco Entertainment was released for the PlayStation Portable in April 2012.

Plot Yuuta Segawa is in his freshman year of college. He and his older sister Yuri were orphaned as children but when their relatives tried to separate and send them to live in different foster homes, Yuri chose to raise him on her own. Now, many years later, Yuri, who has since married, asks Yuuta to babysit her daughter, Hina, and two stepdaughters, Sora and Miu Takanashi, while she and her husband go on a trip. The plane Yuri and her husband are on crashes and they are both reported missing and presumed dead. In order to prevent the girls being separated from each other, Yuuta takes it upon himself to look after them in his small apartment. Thus begins Yuuta's story of sharing his everyday life with his three nieces.

Characters Main characters

Yuuta is a first-year literature student at Tama University who, after losing his parents in childhood, was raised by his older sister Yuri. When Yuri and her husband disappear, he becomes the guardian of their three daughters to prevent their separation by the Takanashi family. His dependable and caring demeanor earns him the sisters' trust, particularly Sora, who develops deep affection for him. Though drawn to Raika, a fellow university student and club member, he struggles to confess his feelings. Over time, the Takanashi family recognizes his dedication and grants him shared ownership of Yuri’s home in Ikebukuro, enabling him and the girls to relocate from his small apartment. Years later, Yuuta and Sora choose to marry.

Sora is the eldest of the three half-sisters, a 14-year-old middle school student with a personality. Recognizable by a distinctive crescent-shaped curl in her neck-length brown hair, she excels academically but struggles with cooking. She harbors deep feelings for Yuuta, initially calling him before affectionately switching to despite their lack of blood relation. Passionate about singing, she joins the choir club in her first year of junior high. Though envious of Raika’s maturity and closeness with Yuuta, she remains devoted to him. Encouraged by Yuuta and her club president, Kiyomi Okae, she overcomes self-doubt and continues pursuing music, eventually leading the choir in high school. She later marries Yuuta.

Miu is the second-eldest sister, a 10-year-old fifth grader with blonde hair inherited from her Russian mother. She calls Yuuta "Oji-san" and admires mature, masculine men, showing subtle interest in him by often questioning his romantic life. Though she once went on a date with Kouichi, she gradually develops deeper feelings for Yuuta, choosing to stay with him and her sisters when given the chance to leave. By the time she enters junior high, her bond with the family remains strong.

Hina is the youngest sister, a cheerful three-year-old who attends daycare. As Yuri's biological daughter, she is Yuuta's only blood relative among the sisters. Outgoing and trusting, she affectionately calls him due to her difficulty pronouncing . She adores the anime Luna Luna Seven and, when mentioning her missing parents, receives gentle support from Yuuta and her sisters until she accepts their absence. She eventually enters second grade and speaks more clearly.

Street Observation Research Society

Raika is a second-year literature student at Tama University and the sole female member of the Street Observation Research Society. Reserved yet striking in appearance, she openly expresses herself only around Yuuta, often teasing him while concealing her emotions from others. Skilled in Japanese cuisine, she wields a paper fan to discipline Sako for his crude behavior. Despite her aloof demeanor, she has a marked fondness for cute things—including Yuuta's nieces—which softens her usual reticence. While Sora resents Raika's closeness with Yuuta, she unwittingly sees her as a maternal figure.

A first-year student of Tama University School of Literature. He is a good friend of Yuuta's and a womanizer. He insists that his house is only for entertaining girls. As a result, he almost never stays at his home and instead spends time at Yuuta's apartment, or at one of his affairs' places. He is however a very caring friend and will help out with chores on his own initiative. He also helps Yuuta keep Sako away from his nieces and has a soft spot for Miu.

A third-year student of the Tama University School of Literature. He is the President of the Street Observation Research Society. Sako has been a third-year in the university ever since Raika enrolled. He is a lolicon and wears thick glasses. He once told Raika that "Love is justice. Love is the strongest." to justify his lolicon fetishes to which Raika later agrees. Despite this she frequently beats him on with a paper fan when he goes overboard. He has taken a certain interest in Yuuta's nieces, excluding Sora, whom he claims she is too old for him despite being only 14, and usually calls her (old lady). Sako actually proves himself to be a reliable friend.

Others

Yuri is Yuuta's older sister, stepmother to Miu and Sora, and biological mother to Hina. After their parents' death, she raised Yuuta alone to keep the family together, passing down "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" as a cherished family song. She later married Shingo, despite Yuuta's initial anger upon learning Shingo had two children from a previous marriage. Yuuta ultimately accepted the marriage, realizing his sister's happiness mattered most. When Yuri and Shingo's plane disappears, Yuuta takes custody of their children to preserve their family bond. Their spirits are briefly seen supporting Sora and Yuuta.

Yuri's husband. He hails from a wealthy family and is a genuinely kind man. He was previously married twice and each time had one child. Sora's mother died and Miu's mother divorced him. He and Yuri met at an otaku convention: she was cosplaying (a habit she hid from Yuuta) and he was a photographer. Shingo kept a collection of photographs of Yuri and the girls cosplaying.

Yuuta's next-door neighbor. She works as a voice actress and previously worked as a villain on Hina's favorite anime series. She plays with Hina and Miu during her spare time.

The landlady is a strict and uncompromising figure who nearly evicts Yuuta and the girls from their apartment before her mother intervenes. A 29-year-old single woman, she displays visible irritation toward young couples but grows fond of Hina over time. The character appears exclusively in the anime adaptation and the Takanashi no Hidamari manga, while the light novels feature a different, unnamed male landlord with minimal involvement.

Miu's friend and next-door neighbor of the Takanashi's Ikebukuro household. In the manga, she is protective of the sisters and is initially cold towards Yuuta, feeling he is not a worthy guardian. However, after seeing how reliable he actually is, she starts to develop feelings for him.

Yuuta's paternal aunt. She initially allowed him to care for the Takanashi sisters as a pain reliever for the loss of Shingo and Yuri till they found a proper adult to raise all three, and does not see Yuuta as worthy guardian for his nieces. Deep down Yoshiko regretted not having courage to raise little Yuuta. She and Nobuyoshi at least get to witness her nephew improve as a young man and a father-figure, and has come to accept the siblings' closeness to each other.

Shingo's paternal uncle. Unlike Yoshiko, Nobuyoshi is a much more competitor relative of the family; he carries Shingo's past relationships as his own failures. Nobuyoshi does not accept Yuuta as a legitimate guardian for the girls in any regard, but as of now he is okay with just short agreements. In Takanashi no Hidamari manga, Yoshiko persuades Nobuyoshi to see Yuuta and the elder sisters showing parental attendance at Hina's preschool, sensing the silhouettes of Yuri and Shingo, Nobuyoshi redeems and offers Yuuta the deed to the Takanashi's Ikebukuro house.

Sasha is Shingo's ex-wife and Miu's biological mother, a Russian fashion designer whose marriage to Shingo ended due to family difficulties. After leaving Miu in his care, she returned to Russia. Following Shingo and Yuri's disappearance, the Takanashi family prevents Miu from living with Sasha due to the language barrier. Sasha eventually reconciles with Miu and designs formal attire for Yuuta and Sora's wedding.

Media

Light novels Written by Tomohiro Matsu, with illustrations by Yuka Nakajima, the first Me, Girls. I Am Your Father! novel was released on December 25, 2009. The series finished with its eighteenth volume, released on March 25, 2015. In May 2016, it was announced that Matsu had died; on the same month, it was announced that a posthumous spin-off novel would be published. Subtitled After 1, it was released on July 22, 2016.

Volumes

Manga A manga adaptation, illustrated by Yohei Takemura, was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine Jump Square from August 4, 2011, to March 4, 2012. It later moved to Jump SQ.19, where it ran from April 19 to October 19, 2012. Shueisha collected its chapters in three volumes, released from December 2, 2011, to December 4, 2012.

Five spin-off manga were published as well in different Shueisha manga magazines: by Izumi Kirihara, F4U, Ryu Shinonome, Wadapen, and Keiji Watarai Serialized in Ultra Jump from August 19, 2011, to January 19, 2012. Its chapters were collected in a single volume, released on February 17, 2012. It focuses on the people who encounter the Takanashi family. by Tomo Katō Serialized in Cookie from August 26, 2011, to February 25, 2012. Its chapters were collected in a single volume, released on March 23, 2012. It focuses on Miu. by Matsuda98 Serialized in Cobalt from October 1, 2011, to February 1, 2012. Its chapters were collected in a single volume, released on March 23, 2012. It focuses on Hina. by Tatsuma Ejiri Serialized in Super Dash & Go from October 25, 2011, to December 25, 2012. Its chapters were collected in a single volume, released on February 19, 2013. It focuses on Sora. by Hirotsugu Miyano Serialized in Weekly Young Jump from October 27, 2011, to October 11, 2012. Its chapters were collected in four , released from January 19, 2012, to January 19, 2015. It focuses on the Street Observation Research Society.

Anime