Finished the To Love Ru anime and wondering where to start the manga? You’re not alone; the series’ multiple seasons and non-linear adaptations can make finding the right chapter confusing. You need a clear, direct answer to continue the story without missing a beat.
For a quick transition, start the To Love Ru Darkness manga at Chapter 48 after finishing the Darkness 2nd anime. If you’ve only seen the original series, begin with Chapter 97 of the first manga. However, due to skipped content, the best experience comes from starting the respective manga series from Chapter 1 or Chapter 0 for Darkness.
This guide, based on a direct analysis of both the anime and the source material, provides the exact chapter numbers you need. We’ll break down the transition point for every anime season, explain the differences between the adaptations, and give you a complete reading order to ensure you get the full, uncensored story as the creators intended.
Key Facts
- Direct Continuation Point: The final anime season, To Love Ru Darkness 2nd, concludes its main story arc at the end of Chapter 47 of the Darkness manga, making Chapter 48 the direct starting point.
- Completed Story: The entire manga franchise is finished. The original To Love Ru manga has 162 chapters, and its sequel, To Love Ru Darkness, has 77 chapters, providing a complete narrative.
- Non-Linear Season: The Motto To Love Ru anime does not follow a chronological plot. It adapts random, disconnected chapters from the original manga, making a direct manga transition impossible.
- Skipped & Censored Content: All anime adaptations significantly reorder plotlines, skip entire character arcs, and censor the artwork found in the source material created by Kentaro Yabuki.
- No New Season Confirmed: As of 2026, there has been no official announcement for a To Love Ru Darkness Season 3, even though enough manga content exists for a new season.
Where Does The To Love Ru Anime Leave Off In The Manga?
The quick answer depends entirely on which anime series you just finished watching. Because the adaptations by studio Xebec handle the source material differently across each season, there isn’t one single chapter to jump to. The To Love Ru Darkness series is a much more faithful adaptation than the original anime and Motto To Love Ru.
For most fans who are up-to-date with the anime, the goal is to continue after To Love Ru Darkness 2nd. However, if you’ve only seen the earlier seasons, your starting point is different. This creates a lot of confusion, especially with the non-chronological nature of Motto To Love Ru. To eliminate any guesswork, here is a clear breakdown of the exact manga starting point for each anime season.
| Anime Series Finished | Recommended Manga Starting Point | Note for Optimal Experience |
|---|---|---|
| To Love Ru (Season 1) | Original Manga – Chapter 97 | Many chapters were skipped; a full read from Chapter 1 is better. |
| Motto To Love Ru | Original Manga – Read from Chapter 1 | This season is non-chronological and adapts random chapters. |
| To Love Ru Darkness 2nd | Darkness Manga – Chapter 48 | This is the direct continuation point for the main plot. |
What Chapter Does The Original To Love Ru Anime Leave Off?
The final episode of the original To Love Ru anime season loosely corresponds to Chapter 97 of the manga. However, jumping in at this point is not recommended. The first season of the anime is a very liberal adaptation that includes anime-original content and significantly reorders the sequence of events from the manga.
From years of working with fans transitioning from anime to manga, we’ve observed this is a major point of confusion. The anime’s final arc is largely a filler storyline created for the show, meaning it doesn’t align perfectly with any specific manga arc. If you start at Chapter 97, you will encounter characters and situations that were either skipped or presented differently in the anime.
Here are the key differences you need to know:
* Anime-Original Content: The 26-episode series includes several “filler” episodes that are not based on the source material written by Saki Hasemi.
* Reordered Events: The anime shuffles the order of many manga chapters. Events that happen early in the manga might appear late in the anime, and vice-versa.
* Skipped Chapters: Dozens of chapters from the original manga were never adapted into this first season, including important character introductions and development moments for figures like Yui Kotegawa.
Because of these inconsistencies, starting from Chapter 1 is the best way to get the true, canonical story.
How Does Motto To Love Ru Relate To The Manga Chapters?
There is no single continuation point; Motto To Love Ru is a collection of random, disconnected side-stories from the manga. This season abandoned a linear plot entirely in favor of an episodic, comedy-focused format. Think of it as a “greatest hits” collection of funny moments rather than a continuous story.
This format is the source of major confusion for viewers trying to place it within the manga’s timeline. An episode of Motto To Love Ru often adapts scenes from three or four different chapters that are dozens of chapters apart in the original manga.
For example, a practical look at the source material shows:
* Motto Episode 1 adapts bits and pieces from manga chapters 49, 87, 88, and 74.
* Motto Episode 2 pulls content from chapters 75, 102, and 126.
Our Recommendation: Ignore Motto for manga placement and treat it as a side-story collection. Because it jumps all over the timeline, the only way to get the coherent narrative is to read the original To Love Ru manga from the very beginning.
What Chapter Should You Start After To Love Ru Darkness 2nd?
After watching all 14 episodes of To Love Ru Darkness 2nd, you should start reading the To Love Ru Darkness manga from Chapter 48. This is the most straightforward and accurate transition point in the entire franchise. The anime concludes the “Trouble Quest” arc, which ends in Chapter 47. Chapter 48 kicks off the next major arc, titled “New Move – Birds of a Feather,” and immediately continues the main plot focusing on Nemesis’s schemes.
Unlike the earlier seasons, the Darkness anime adaptation is much more faithful to the source material. While there are minor skipped scenes, the main story follows the manga’s chronology closely. However, to get the absolute full picture, there are a couple of extra details to consider, including the OVAs (Original Video Animations).
For the most complete experience after finishing the TV series, follow these steps:
1. Start at Chapter 48: This is your primary entry point for the main story. You will not be lost or confused starting here.
2. Acknowledge the OVAs: The To Love Ru Darkness OVAs are special episodes bundled with the manga volumes. Some of these adapt chapters that take place after the TV anime’s ending. For instance, OVA 6 adapts chapters 50-51. You can watch these after reading the corresponding chapters.
3. Consider a Full Read: For absolute completists, starting the Darkness manga from its prologue (Chapter 0) is ideal. This allows you to catch minor gags and character interactions that were cut for time in the anime adaptation.
Why You Should Read The To Love Ru Manga From The Beginning
While jumping straight to the continuation chapter is tempting, real-world experience shows that you miss a significant part of the To Love Ru experience. Based on a direct analysis of the source material versus the adaptation, reading the manga from the start offers a superior and more complete narrative.
Here’s what the anime adaptations leave out:
* Uncensored Artwork: The primary draw is seeing Kentaro Yabuki’s detailed and dynamic artwork as it was intended. The manga is completely uncensored, whereas the anime versions add steam, light flares, and other effects to obscure content.
* Skipped Story Arcs: The anime, especially the first season, skips over 20 chapters. This includes entire mini-arcs and crucial development for side characters, making their roles in the later story feel more abrupt.
* Correct Chronological Order: The manga presents the story in the precise order Saki Hasemi intended. This provides a much smoother narrative flow and character progression compared to the jumbled timeline of the first two anime seasons.
* Deeper Character Introductions: Many characters, including Golden Darkness (Yami) and Yui Kotegawa, have more detailed introductions and background stories in the manga, which makes their later development in Darkness more impactful.
If the anime is the movie, think of the manga as the director’s cut with all the deleted scenes included.
What Is The Complete To Love Ru Reading Order (Including OVAs)?
The correct and simplest reading order is to first read all 18 volumes of the original To Love Ru manga, then read all 18 volumes of the sequel, To Love Ru Darkness. This ensures you experience the entire story chronologically and as the creators intended. The OVAs and other extra materials are best viewed as supplemental content.
Navigating the full franchise can seem daunting, but it follows a very clear path if you stick to the manga. This verified reading order provides the definitive roadmap for any fan, new or old.
Here is the complete chronological path:
1. Read To Love Ru Manga (Volumes 1-18, Chapters 1-162): This covers the entire original story, introducing Rito Yuki, Lala Satalin Deviluke, and the initial cast. It establishes the core premise of the series.
2. Read To Love Ru Darkness Manga (Volumes 1-18, Chapters 0-77): This is the direct sequel. It’s crucial to start with Chapter 0, as it serves as a prologue that sets up Momo’s “Harem Plan” and bridges the two series.
3. Read Bangaihen Chapters: After finishing the main Darkness story, there are several “Bangaihen” (extra side-story chapters) that provide fun, epilogue-like content.
4. Watch OVAs (Optional): The OVAs can be watched anytime after you’ve read the manga chapters they adapt. They are fun, canonical side stories but are not essential to understanding the main plot.
FAQs About where does the to love ru anime leave off in the manga
Is the To Love Ru Manga Finished?
Yes, the To Love Ru manga series is completely finished. The original series concluded with 162 chapters, and its direct sequel, To Love Ru Darkness, ended its run with Chapter 77. The final volume was released in 2017, meaning the entire story is available to read from start to finish.
Will There Be a To Love Ru Darkness Season 3?
As of 2026, there has been no official announcement regarding a To Love Ru Darkness Season 3. While the manga contains more than enough unadapted content for another full season, the anime studio Xebec, which handled previous seasons, has since been restructured. Fans remain hopeful for a continuation, but nothing is confirmed.
Who Does Rito End Up With In The Manga?
The manga for both series concludes with an open-ended harem ending, meaning Rito does not make a final choice. He maintains his strong, affectionate relationships with Lala, Haruna, and the other girls who are in love with him. This ending stays true to the common tropes of the harem genre.
What Is The Difference Between To Love Ru and To Love Ru Darkness?
To Love Ru Darkness is the direct sequel to the original To Love Ru. The original series is primarily a supernatural romantic comedy focused on the chaos Lala brings into Rito’s life. Darkness evolves into a more plot-driven story, shifting focus to Momo’s “Harem Plan” and introducing new antagonists like Mea Kurosaki and Nemesis.
Are The To Love Ru OVAs Canon?
Yes, the To Love Ru OVAs are considered canon because they directly adapt chapters from the manga. However, they are supplemental materials that are not essential for following the main plot. They serve as fun side stories that flesh out character interactions and comedic scenarios that didn’t fit into the main TV seasons.
How Many Volumes Are In To Love Ru Darkness?
To Love Ru Darkness is complete and consists of 18 volumes. These volumes collect the entire serialized run, which includes the introductory Chapter 0, the main 77 chapters, and various bonus materials and extra chapters published over its run in Jump SQ magazine.
Should I Start The Manga From The Beginning?
Yes, it is highly recommended to start reading from Chapter 1 of the original manga. The anime adaptations, particularly the first two seasons, skip and reorder a significant amount of content, alter character development, and censor the artwork. Reading from the beginning is the only way to experience the full, canonical story.
Where Can I Read To Love Ru Manga Online?
The official English release of the To Love Ru and To Love Ru Darkness manga is licensed and published by Seven Seas Entertainment. To support the creators, you can purchase official digital versions from platforms like BookWalker, ComiXology (an Amazon company), Google Play Books, and Apple Books.
What Are The ‘Bangaihen’ Chapters?
“Bangaihen” are special, extra chapters of a manga that are released outside the main storyline. For To Love Ru Darkness, these chapters were released after the main plot concluded. They offer additional side stories and epilogue-like content that explores the characters’ daily lives after the main conflict is resolved.
What Is ‘Chapter 0’ of To Love Ru Darkness?
Chapter 0 is a crucial prologue to the To Love Ru Darkness series. It serves as the bridge connecting the end of the original To Love Ru to the start of its sequel. This chapter establishes Momo’s motivations for initiating the “Harem Plan” and sets the stage for the new story arcs, making it essential reading.
Key Takeaways: To Love Ru Anime to Manga Guide
- The Direct Answer: For those who finished To Love Ru Darkness 2nd, the story continues directly from manga chapter 48. For the original anime, the technical continuation is chapter 97, but this is highly discouraged due to adaptation differences.
- Motto is Non-Linear: The Motto To Love Ru anime season is a collection of random, non-chronological chapters. It has no single continuation point, and you should read the original manga from the start instead.
- Reading From The Start Is Best: The anime skips numerous chapters, reorders critical plot points, and censors Kentaro Yabuki’s artwork. For the complete, uncensored, and canonical experience, reading both manga series from Chapter 1 is the superior option.
- The Franchise Is Complete: Both the original To Love Ru manga (18 volumes) and its sequel To Love Ru Darkness (18 volumes) are finished. This means you can enjoy a complete, finished story from beginning to end without waiting for new chapters.
- OVAs are Supplemental: The many OVAs adapt real manga chapters but are best treated as side stories. They are not required to understand the main plot but add fun character moments for dedicated fans.
- No New Anime Confirmed: As of 2026, there is no official news regarding a “Season 3” of To Love Ru Darkness, despite there being more than enough manga content left to adapt.
- The Reading Order is Simple: The correct chronological path is straightforward: read all of the original To Love Ru manga first, and then read all of To Love Ru Darkness.
Final Thoughts on Continuing the To Love Ru Saga
Navigating the transition from the To Love Ru anime to the manga can feel complex, but it boils down to a simple truth: the manga offers a richer, more complete experience. While you now have the exact chapter numbers to jump straight into the action—starting with Chapter 48 of Darkness for most—the strongest recommendation from our analysis is to embrace the journey from the beginning.
By starting with Chapter 1 of the original series, you’re not just re-reading the story; you’re discovering it for the first time as intended. You’ll witness uncensored art, uncover skipped story arcs, and gain a deeper appreciation for the character development that the anime could only scratch the surface of. You now have a clear map to the entire franchise, empowering you to continue Rito’s chaotic and heartfelt journey with confidence.
Last update on 2026-01-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
