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An overworked salaryman and a mischievous cashier with a dual personality form an unexpected bond in this sweet-and-sour comedy!

The new year starts strong for Sasaki when the beleaguered salaryman forgets his own birthday. But his days turn around when he meets Daigoro's owner and discovers a new side of Tayama. Sasaki begins to realize the importance of the bond he shares with Tayama, even through her lighthearted teasing. This part of his life has become a collection of strange and gentle moments that he hopes never end, but will one night change everything?

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2024

46 people are currently reading
245 people want to read

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Jinushi

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5 stars
515 (52%)
4 stars
374 (38%)
3 stars
81 (8%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Profile Image for DianaRose.
938 reviews214 followers
April 27, 2025
UGH THEIR THOUGHTS AT THE END!! i need things to pick up a little because this slow burn is torturous!! and the sneak peak at the next volume makes me think the characters will get the push they need... after a little miscommunication of course
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
7,442 reviews288 followers
April 10, 2025
Such a slow burn. I'm ready for a change-up in the central conceit.

But, yes, if it just keeps on like this, I'll keep coming back indefinitely, jonesing for the little character bits the way the characters crave their cigarettes.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Smoke 29 -- Smoke 29, Interlude 1 -- Smoke 29, Interlude 2 -- Smoke 29, Interlude 3 -- Smoke 30 -- Bonus Smoke: The Inspirational Psychic -- Smoke 30, Interlude -- Smoke 31 -- Smoke 31, Interlude -- Smoke 32 -- Smoke 33 -- Afterword -- Back-Page Cosplay #4 -- This Is the Supermarket Manager's Dream -- Sneak Peek at Volume 5
Profile Image for Sandra.
769 reviews8 followers
December 25, 2024
Wir wissen jetzt endlich, wie groß der Age-Gap ist :D
Der Band war wieder super süß und witzig. Manchmal ist es echt anstregend, wie die beiden umeinander rum tänzeln, ehrlich *augenroll*. Aber es ist und bleibt einfach nice.

Dazu kommt ein weiteres Pairing dazu ;W; und es ist zwar nur NPCs, more or less, aber gott, das sit so fucking niedlich, ich liebe es.
Profile Image for Danielle.
423 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2025
I absolutely adore this series. I do hope we get things rolling now between the two of them based on their thoughts at the end of this volume.
Profile Image for marcia.
1,298 reviews61 followers
September 12, 2025
Vol. 1 ★★★★☆
Vol. 2 ★★★★☆
Vol. 3 ★★★☆☆

This series is best enjoyed with long gaps in between volumes so you won't be frustrated with its pacing. This is an okay volume. I just don't care for the side characters. That said, those last two chapters are packed with so much longing and poignancy that they hit me like a ton of bricks.
Profile Image for Maren.
74 reviews
Read
November 16, 2025
dette volumet var ekstra kos. jeg kom meg over at han er en idiot ila vol. 2 og nå koser jeg meg bare med hvor chill den er:))
Profile Image for Mark.
2,835 reviews277 followers
March 24, 2025
I think if this was coming out on a more frequent schedule I wouldn’t enjoy it half as much as I do. Fortunately, its sporadic release schedule means that I don’t have to get too upset at how same-y it is.

And make no mistake, same-y is the name-y of the game-y. They smoke, they bond, they come very close to being honest about their slow burning feelings for one another. They back away.

There is an interesting moment at the end where both our leads internally seem to put a pin in the notion of ever taking things farther than their camaraderie, but we’ll have to wait and see how that holds up. Could go either way.

For all that I enjoy this manga, there’s little meat to chew on here. If you liked all the other volumes, you’ll like this one. If you didn’t, it won’t suddenly change your mind on it.

3.5 stars - rounded up because it’s a solid little talking book about characters who I enjoy spending time with. Not much more to it than that, but it’s enough.
Profile Image for LindSlay.
59 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2025
This series as a whole has been an enjoyable read. I am the first person to raise my hand and say I don’t like age gap stories, this one however is doing a beautiful job of re-writing that for me. The relationship building is slow, but it almost has to be and seeing Tayama and Sasaki genuinely getting to know one another and find each moment with each other simply fun and enjoyable really makes it a satisfying read. The secret identity aspect seems to be approaching its climax and I have a feeling will be spilled here in a future volume soon so I am excited to see how that plays out with how they have grown with each other up to this point. Drunk Tayama was fun to see and nothing crossed any lines which was very refreshing. Overall very much enjoyed this volume.
Profile Image for Zibbi.
353 reviews19 followers
May 1, 2025
This manga is pure torture, honestly, but the good kind. I kept wanting to yell at them, "Just go get ramen together already!!"

I absolutely adore this series, and yes, even the slow-burn agony that comes with it. Sasaki continues to melt my heart. He’s such a gentleman, even when Yamada/Tayama accidentally (or maybe deliberately?) tests his patience. But seriously, Sasaki needs to get a clue, or at least find the courage to just ask her out already! There's some subtle development in this volume, just enough to keep my heart fluttering (and breaking at the same time). Also, I'm really intrigued by Sasaki's past. We're slowly starting to piece together why he's the way he is, but I’m dying for more details.

What really makes this series stand out is that it doesn't rely on trivial misunderstandings like so many romances tend to do (at least so far). The characters are so gentle, sincere, and incredibly endearing! I honestly can’t wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for emma.
331 reviews47 followers
January 15, 2026
the slow burn to end all slow burns
Profile Image for Sara.
82 reviews
January 7, 2025
Plot needs to develop. Still cute but getting old
Profile Image for Frédéric.
2,010 reviews85 followers
May 11, 2025
Surprisingly, after 4 volumes where the relationship between our 2 protagonists evolves but doesn't really move forward, I'm still hooked on this series when I should be getting bored.

I put that down to the 2 protagonists, each charming in their own particular way. Yamada is beginning to understand that the nature of their relationship goes beyond the simple cigarette break and Sasaki, obviously 2 trains behind, has yet to do the same. But for contrived reasons - and probably a new character who appears at the very end of this volume - it will probably take a little longer for things to evolve...
Profile Image for Othy.
477 reviews5 followers
April 6, 2025
This has quickly become one of my favorite manga. First, I really enjoy a story about a developing relationship where the characters are out of school. There is a delicacy to the relationship that allows for the characters to show the depth of their feelings and their sense of themselves and the world. The characters are also such kind-hearted and deeply GOOD people. What holds them apart, for the time being, isn't misunderstandings or immaturity but their own care - and their own pain from being such caring people.
Profile Image for Knigoqdec.
1,187 reviews191 followers
May 3, 2025
Бих я засипала с фенски похвали, но вероятно няма да звучи толкова искрено, колкото просто да си призная, че все още продължава да ме усмихва.
Само онова отношение тип "Нещата са си добр, както са си" не приемам... Вече съм стара за такива работи, давайте по-бързо в историята, въх :D
Profile Image for Abigail.
618 reviews
August 22, 2025
I love me a slow burn 😏 I can't wait to see where these two go. its just a cute lil read
Profile Image for Snail.
783 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2025
I was saving this volume for when I needed a good read to cheer myself up. That’s exactly what I needed today, and Sasaki and Tayama and co totally did the trick! Thank you.
Profile Image for Lyss.
41 reviews5 followers
March 22, 2025
Sasaki, the man that you are. I can’t get enough of this dense, absolute sweetheart of a middle aged man.

Tayama? One chance I’m begging.
Profile Image for Sofia.
105 reviews
July 31, 2025
Anche questo volume è andato.
Qui abbiamo il compleanno di sasaki ed mentre e nel supermercato Yamada gli fa gli auguri di compleanno ma lui non se ne accorge perché e un attimo perso.
Qualche giorno dopo si trova con Tamaya a fumare ed mentre parlano di compleanno scopre che e passato e ci rimane male ma lei gli regala un pacchetto di sigarette.
Il collega di sasaki l'ha invitato a bare una birra con lui ed sasaki accetta ma dopo il collega si e ubriacato lo porta al taxi ed lui torna indietro ed ad un certo punto si trova vicino al supermercato ed sente un tonfo ed e Yamada che e ubriaca.
Lei parla un po' e lui l'ha ascolta poi il giorno dopo lei scopre che ha detto ed è tutta imbarazzata.
Poi un altro giorno i colleghi di sasaki fanno una festa ed ad un certo punto parlano di sasaki fino a quando il suo collega lo interrompe, lui ignaro di questa cosa cerca un tabacchino per le sigarette che l'ha finite ed trova Tamaya ed si incamminano oltre a parlare anche per il tabacchino.
Anche questo volume mi è piaciuto.
Ad un certo punto ho avuto un po' paura per Yamada perché pensavo che diceva chi era ed invece no.
Adesso sono molto curiosa del 5 volume!
Profile Image for Cassandra.
2,690 reviews23 followers
January 12, 2026
I want a cig, they smoke so much and I am currently jealous. I used to love smoking and watching it rain....

On another note, this is the slowest of burns but I am still enjoying it. It has the right amount of outside our main couple to add color to the story. These twoooooo what is one to do. I am really not bothered by the age difference I think because one there is no talk about how she is still a child and he is a "real adult" compared to her... that always grosses me out. Also, she is a grown adult who lives on her own and honestly he doesn't seem to be doing much better in life, the power imbalance isn't there. The last reason, really nothing is gonna happen unless she pulls the trigger, he is so insecure with himself and his decisions in life, there is no way he does anything yucky.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews

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