Shinobu Watanuki (39), who has moved into her husband's family home, is an unsuccessful comic artist. She had planned to use this move as a chance to give up her career, but after one of her old works becomes a hit online, she decides to create a new comic instead. In need of help with this, she looks for an assistant online. A handsome 22-year-old man named Chiaki Tachibana applies to her ad, and Shinobu finds herself at a major turning point in her life. Delve into a poignant tale by a seasoned comic artist, skillfully blending themes of dreams, career, and romance in life from 40.
What would you do if you discovered someone at your work was having an affair? Perhaps you'd choose to leave the matter alone because it's not really any of your business. However, if left unchecked, that may all change in an instant.
Has an affair at your workplace gotten out of hand? Is it hindering your job and making the work environment suffocating? If so, that may be a job for Rei Saegusa, the cool and sophisticated breakup specialist at Affair Enders. Who will be Rei's target next?
"Didn't they teach you in school? If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all." Aya Sakurai is your average office worker who likes to mind her own business, but she can never get across the things she wants to say... until Shun Serizawa comes along. After transferring to her department, he's got a lot to say regarding a mean boyfriend, workplace bothers, and all the other things she can't manage to confront!
Mizuho (30) works for a famous cosmetics company. Her job was going well, working with her boss, Uzaki (35) whom she admires and respects. But one day, Uzaki suddenly gets transferred to the New York branch, and gets engaged to her coworker, Riko. Mizuho, shocked and confused about Uzaki's engagement, tries to forget Uzaki and marries her coworker from the sales department Shinichi. Although Shinichi loves Mizuho, he cannot let go of his doubts for her. Riko tries to take advantage of his insecurities. Meanwhile, Uzaki comes back to Japan headquarters...! "Everyone's having an affair except for me...?!" A story of love and jealousy begins!
"I'll help rehabilitate you... I'll become your boyfriend." Koharu Momose was dating someone from her office, when out of nowhere the whole relationship fell apart. The reason: "you're a boring woman" ?! Momose, now stuck thinking about how her past relationships have ended with men thinking she just isn't interested, is now convinced she just isn't cut out for this love business. However, the ace of the sales department, Ayato Shiomi, has something else to say...!!
Aika Ito, is 27 years old. She and Shinya, a high school classmate, got married after 10 years of dating and soon ended up pregnant. Though things were smooth sailing, Shinya was assigned to work abroad, forcing the two to live in separate countries. After giving birth, Aika visits Shinya for the first time, but when she meets him again, she's met with a cold attitude. Aika is perplexed by the sudden change in her husband. It was in that moment that her husband's colleague, 22-year-old Mona, a local woman, comes to visit...
Asuka had always dreamed of a romantic proposal, but when the time came, all she got from her live-in boyfriend of seven years, Yuta, was a casual "How about we get married?" over dinner at their local bar. He didn't even put down his phone or look her in the eyes! She goes off on him (in her mind) but then reminds herself to be realistic and accepts his proposal. As the wedding approaches, she finds an open box of condoms while cleaning one day... and notices that only one is left, even though she can't remember using any of them with Yuta. That's all the proof she needs: the bastard is cheating on her!!
Mami is in the seventh year of her marriage with Haruki, and three years ago, she gave birth to their son Harunosuke. She thought they had a happy future ahead of them. But boy was she wrong..! Present day. She's fed up with her husband's lack of manners at home. Cutting the cheese during meals, walking around their home naked, you name it! She's worried about him being a bad influence on their son, not that he cares. In fact, her nagging only brings him stress. One day, when doing the laundry, something falls from Haruki's pants' pocket... A love hotel membership card, with recent dates written on it, no less...! Haruki better watch out, because Mami is out for revenge!
Miki Kobayashi is a housewife living with her husband, Kazuya, and their two daughters. To outsiders, their family appears happy, but recently Kazuya has turned his contempt toward Miki. He belittles her work as a housewife, and the strain is beginning to take a toll on her. One day, while shopping with her daughters, Miki unexpectedly runs into Kazuya's former boss, who reluctantly suggests that Kazuya may not be faithful. Determined to protect her family's future, Miki resolves to take action.
Women want to have sex, too!!! A rom-com between a woman who wants to have sex and her boyfriend who can't! Michiru is a front desk clerk at a company for sportswear, and she has one thing that's bothering her. She has been dating her boyfriend, Leo, for 6 months, and they even live together. And yet... they haven't had sex, not even once! Michiru has tried every trick in the book to try and seduce Leo, but it's just been failure after failure... But it seems Leo has a "cute" reason for why he can't have sex...?! You'll swoon when you see the unexpected side of Leo!
Hitomi, now 33, is an averagely diligent office worker who has tiptoed her way through life avoiding anything that would make her stand out. She has also been dating her younger coworker Takuma for two years. Sure he hasn't popped the question yet and she's getting a little anxious, but otherwise, Hitomi's content with life. Then, one day, news breaks that Takuma is getting married to the young receptionist at work...! Wanting to forget her heartbreak, Hitomi wastes no time and finds a new job with a publisher in their comics division. Problem is, she has to work with explicit romance comics. Oh, and the fact that she's often at the mercy of her passionate editor-in-chief Mr. Adachi, in more ways than one! ...But before she gets used to the rhythm of things (and the butterflies), a married Takuma suddenly shows up, suggesting that they continue meeting discretely...!
"Who... are you?"" Risa's beloved fiance, Aya, got into an accident and lost his memories of her. She thought she would have to go on by herself, but Aya's actually been the one comforting her... Risa's already had enough on her plate, but now her coworkers and Aya's ex are up to something as well! But even with all that, Aya still treasures their time together from the bit of fragmented memories he has. Now Risa is ready to return the love and make memories with Aya again, regardless of who tries to stand in their way."
Mei is a beautiful baby girl... but she thinks in a Southern accent...?! Yuka and Masato are brand-new first-time parents, and it shows! They have a lot to tackle as they learn how to raise Mei. It's a heartwarming story about the joys and challenges of parenting. Follow Mei, Yuka, and Masato as they experience life lessons in childbirth, breastfeeding, outings, baby socializing, weaning, and much more!
It all started with a pageant at a university. Romiko's known as one of the most beautiful girls at her school with captivating beauty, but she truly has one of the most horrendous personalities. She's always looking down on and berating her peers and has been convinced there's no competition in the beauty pageant coming up at her school. All of that changed when a fierce opponent hit the field. For Romiko, it's truly impossible for someone like this girl to be anything more than below her! Romiko can't lose. This is her steppingstone into the world of celebrities... Anything she wants, she can have... because it's all hers.
A rose desperate to hide her thorns finally blooms in this office romance. Suzu Takamine, the office's unattainable beauty who turns down anyone that asks her to date, is carrying a painful secret. Whenever she tries to be intimate with a man, they faint for some reason. Suzu wants to get married someday, but with her condition ruining her dating life, she's losing hope for any happily ever after. When the office playboy, Kinase, learns of her unbelievable secret, Suzu is shocked to hear him offer his "expert assistance" in resolving her problem. Now she has to decide: Will she give him a try?
Yoshiwara has been reborn in modern-day Tokyo.... In this new Yoshiwara, beloved actresses whose talents grace the screen by day spend their nights selling both their bodies and the idea of romance to their male clientele. Thrust into this world is the ingenue Asuka, who's been sold out by her foster parents to pay off their debts. While at first oblivious to the nature of Yoshiwara, she accidentally barges in on a "transaction" between a courtesan and her client. Confronted with her new reality of being bought and sold, she longs to make a break for it... but is there anyone around her she can trust...?!
*This volume compiles ch. 1-8 of "Worth a Billion: Modern-Day Courtesan"
"I'm going to be the next queen...?! I may have 'devil-black hair,' but I'll raise these two angelic twins to be splendid adults!" Since childhood, Julia has been discriminated against by everyone, including her family, because of her hair color. In the past, those with black hair have committed many horrible deeds, and this prejudice runs deep within the country. Because of this mistreatment, when she awakens her magic and special power, she keeps them hidden so she can live a peaceful life.
However, things don't go according to plan when King Louison chooses her to be his next queen?! What's more, he wants her to raise his twin sons as their stepmother?! At first, she wants to turn him down, but upon meeting them, they're too adorable to resist! Julia feels for them as they possess no magic and will be looked down upon should the public learns their secret... Determined to protect the twins from the awful prejudice she faces, she accepts King Louison's offer. "I'm going to protect their smiles!"
The curtain rises on this heartwarming fantasy tale about raising two angelic twins with overwhelming family love!
"Mrs. Monou, it's unfortunate, but you're infertile."
After her pre-marital check-up, Sui's fiance breaks up with her when she tells him the news. Despite working together, she tries to move on with her life, but rumors soon begin to spread about her infertility. To make matters worse, her ex-fiance has already started flirting with other women in the company. Fed up, Sui decides to quit and start fresh somewhere new. With her heart battered and bruised, she has a chance encounter with a handsome younger man and ends up spending the night with him...?!
Rutile is the witch who lives in Ullr Forest, and she celebrated her 17th birthday today. She's never forgotten her promise to her late grandmother to never tell a lie... But, not wanting to throw her dear friend Linaria into despair, she makes up a different future from what she divined. This immediately leads to her coughing up blood and dying... But for some reason she is soon reborn?! The story of the last witch of Ullr Forest starts here!
A coworker who keeps chasing after teen idols despite her age; a useless boss; and a completely unsociable new hire. Ann, a fortyish woman who looks down on those around her and blames everything on others, dreams only of marriage with the boyfriend who won't sleep with her. But then one day, when she learns that one of the colleagues she looked down on is getting married, she reveals her hidden nasty side right in front of the newbie. From that day on, she is visited by one misfortune after another....