New school. New friendships. New beginnings. What could possibly go wrong?

Nineteen-year-old Nanami Sakurai has never been particularly good at first impressions. Shy, anxious, and painfully easy to embarrass, she’s hoping her entrance to the all girls college will finally give her the fresh start she’s been searching for.

There’s just one problem: her new roommate.

Twenty-two-year-old Amai Tomoko is blunt, withdrawn, and nearly impossible to read. Sharing Room 101 with someone so different from herself is enough to send Nanami into a spiral of nervous overthinking. But as the semester unfolds, their unlikely friendship becomes just one thread in a much larger story.

Beyond the dormitory walls, a colorful cast of college students is navigating its own tangled relationships. A guarded athlete catches the attention of a stubborn artist. A charming student council assistant struggles with feelings she can’t quite confess. A seemingly sweet friendship begins to blur the line between affection and obsession.

Between chaotic club activities, unexpected dates, jealous rivalries, and secrets hidden behind perfect smiles, everyone is discovering that growing closer to someone means risking something of yourself.

As autumn settles over campus, friendships deepen, romances blossom, and carefully maintained appearances begin to crack.

Because finding where you belong is only the beginning. Learning who to trust-and who to love-is where everything gets complicated.

Dere Dere: A New Beginning is the first installment in a character-driven LGBTQ+ new adult romance series blending slow-burn relationships, sapphic romance, romantic comedy, college slice-of-life, and heartfelt drama.