How are you, Yayoi?
I'm very good, Kanako.
I see. I'm happy to hear that.
I read another fascinating book.
My, what was it called?
Well... Oh, I've forgotten the title.
Will you tell me what kind of story it was?
Yes, gladly.
It was a story of love and friendship between gentlemen,
a tale silently spoken by the passionate hearts of men to their trusted companions in battle.
They overcome many obstacles, carrying within their hearts:
justice, truth, and miraculous love, as they clash with one another
and invite those who watch them into a spectacular world...
My, what a heartwarming story.
The young midfielder in the book had a phrase he would always say.
What is it? Tell me.
The ball is my friend. I'm not scar-
There's something I'm hiding from everyone.
I don't think it's something anyone else would care about,
but it's far too late to tell them the secret.
Oh, no!
The Secret Garden
Good morning.
You're late, Jun.
Sorry. I'll change right away!
Men's Dressing Room
Arashi-san, be more careful.
I'm sorry, Hajime-chan.
I thought I left the burner on.
Oh, Kamigamo.
You just get here?
Welcome.
Please, choose whichever seat you like.
Kaya, that outfit looks great on you.
You think?
Yeah, it's pretty.
This place hasn't changed.
Yeah, it was never bombed,
so I was here this whole time.
Arashi-san's also pretty, but Kaya-san has a nice, exotic feel to her...
You're as perverted as always.
Are you still mad?
You're a guy. Don't be pissed off because someone saw you changing.
You're too inconsiderate.
And you're making too big a deal out of it, Kamigamo.
You sure you're not actually a chick?
Wh-What makes you say that?
If you're a guy, you need to get more exercise. Your chest is all flat and soft...
Table two needs an iced coffee.
OK!
He really is inconsiderate...
Huh?
It's acting weird today.
Since I didn't buy it, I guess I can't complain.
Salt, please.
What's wrong, Kamigamo?
The salt, please.
Jeez, you're a man. Buck up a bit.
Did you know that if you splash a cockroach with detergent, it'll die?
Right! Here I go!
Three!
Two!
One!
Zero!
Get ready...
Fire!
Excuse me, the salt?
Sorry, we were out of detergent.
Yasaka!
Why's he such an idiot?
He's such a jerk!
Such a kid!
In everything he says and does!
I put a change of clothes here for you.
OK, thanks.
I know guys are all a bunch of children, but with Yasaka, it's too much!
He needs to think of others more!
Hey, Jun!
We're packed. Hurry up!
OK, I'll be right there!
I'm back.
Hey, that outfit...
Huh? What?
What the heck?
Jun-kun, you're cute.
Wh-Wh-Wh-What is this?!
What do you mean?
It's our uniform.
This is for girls!
Pay attention when you're getting dressed.
I was thinking about something!
I don't have any spare male uniforms.
Please deal with it for today.
I'm changing into my own clothes.
No way.
The place needs a certain atmosphere, right?
And cross-dressing's part of that?
It's fine as long as nobody knows.
No way!
Hm... Let's add your tardiness today to what Yasaka lost in his bet,
plus the cost of the plates you broke, water for the bath,
and the clean-up time, divided by your hourly salary...
Anything else?
The milk he spilled.
Oh, I forgot about that.
I guess this is it?
OK, thanks!
You're pretty cute.
Um, thank you.
You just start here?
Um, kinda...
Want to exchange cellphone email addresses?
Sorry, it's against the shop rules.
Hey, would you take my order, too?
OK, I'll be right over!
Man, he's pretty popular.
He might draw a lot of customers.
Yeah.
He's more attractive as a woman than you.
What?
Jun, do you have a moment?
What is it, Kaya-san?
You should let your dress down a bit more.
Let my dress down?
When you put on a kimono, you let the neck down about the length of a fist, to show your neck.
There, this looks better.
Um, thank you.
A girl must know how to wear a kimono properly.
Yes...
But, I'm a guy!
Table five, iced tea with milk.
Got it!
Jeez...
Please pass the salt.
Again, seriously?
Don't worry, this one's fresh.
Right! Here I go!
Three!
Two!
One...
Excuse me, the salt...
What?
It doesn't work on rats?
Yasaka!
I can't believe it! I can't believe it! I can't believe it!
He's such an idiot!
Putting detergent on a rat is only gonna give it a good shampoo!
He doesn't even know that?
Hey, Jun! You not done yet?
Yeah, be right there.
Thanks for waiting.
What?
Wow. Jun-chan, you're so cute.
What the hell is this?
Can't you tell?
It's a maid uniform.
This isn't men's clothing!
So, pay attention when you're getting dressed.
I told you, I was thinking!
I don't have any spares, so I dragged out a uniform I was thinking of using when I first opened.
Thinking of using?
I see.
I was certain that was actually yours.
Oh, it is.
Let me wear my normal clothes, please.
Let's see... What you had, what was just added, plus all the various interest...
OK, get to work!
What?
You know, if you had boobs, you'd really be a girl.
N-No way...
How are you, Yayoi?
I'm very good, Kanako.
I see. I'm happy to hear that.
I read another fascinating book.
My, what was it called?
Well... Oh, I've forgotten the title.
Will you tell me what kind of story it was?
Yes, gladly.
It was a story of love and friendship between gentlemen,
a tale silently spoken by the passionate hearts of men to their trusted companions in battle.
They overcome many obstacles, carrying within their hearts:
justice, truth, and miraculous love, as they clash with one another
and invite those who watch them into a spectacular world.
My, what a heartwarming story.
And the swordsman in the book had a phrase he would always say.
Oh, tell me.
Hiten Mitsurugi Style-
Hey, when do you get off work?
Um, I work until closing.
Where's your school? Is it close?
No, I come by train...
Jun-kun's so cute!
He's even more popular now.
And our sales have gone up a lot, too.
We can use this!
Why do I have to do this?
Hey, Jun, be nicer to the customers.
Huh?
Be more sexy.
And make them spend more money.
I don't like putting myself forward like that!
Huh?
You're not getting it.
Just like this!
But I guess, since it's just you in a maid uniform, there's no real sexiness.
Why, you-
Oh, well. If we can't win with quality, we'll have to try quantity.
A monster...
I'm looking at a monster.
You look really terrible in that.
This is unusable.
Not even worth the thought.
You could've told me that before I put this on!
Master, there's someone more suited to wear that than Hajime-chan, isn't there?
See.
Welcome back, Master.
Would you like to order?
Or would you like a bath?
Or perhaps me?
You can kind of see the evil lurking behind her smile, can't you?
What?!
I guess her personality won't work.
It works fine!
Don't force yourself. Can't Arashi-san or Kaya-san wear it?
Hi!
Well, Hajime-chan?
Awesome, Arashi-san!
You, too, Kaya.
I don't want to go out in public in this...
What are you gonna do, Jun?
You're losing.
I don't care if I lose!
What?
A man has to do his best in any kind of challenge.
Here, the manly thing to do is being womanly to beat them!
Which now?
Detective Agency
Now then, our next experiment is a volcano, using soda and candy!
If you put mint candy into carbonated soda,
they say that it'll explode. Is that true?
Let's find out.
This is very dangerous. Please don't try it at home.
No change.
Thank you.
Jun-kun's a perfect lady now, isn't he?
She was really good in that home movie, as well.
She's got a talent for acting...
I'm good at acting, too.
I used to get all kinds of rings, cars, condominiums with it.
Huh? What are you doing, Kaya?
Ah... I'm...
Get out on the floor to help customers, Kaya.
Ah, I can't show my legs in front of others.
Get rid of your old-fashioned morals.
You don't come from the war era or anything.
She was born old-fashioned.
Oh, fine.
Then, handle the register.
That's 2000 yen. Here's 310 back.
Wait.
Hey, Kaya.
Do you know why they gave you a bill instead of change?
Why is it?
They want you to give them the change with that hand of yours.
The one time a waitress can legally be touched is during payment.
That's your best chance for extra service!
Hold the money in your right hand and offer it, left hand extended, so it doesn't drop.
But that's just an excuse.
Your left hand is the secret to the attack.
The moment your hands touch is when you put the money into his hand.
When a man pays with bills, he's expecting that, for sure!
In other words, you're telling me to hold the hand of a man I don't even know?
You have to make it look accidental.
And while you're at it, smile and say, "Please come again."
This is what I call "Secret Technique: Palm Clasping."
It'll grab the heart of any male customer!
Come on, Kaya.
Show me what you've got!
I can't do it!
Such a shameful thing...
Hey, hey. No guy's gonna buy you a condo this way.
Please don't teach her to con people.
I'm not. She's working to polish her feminine technique.
That's not work!
Anyway, Kaya-san is having a horrible time.
Stop making her do stuff she doesn't want to.
I'm not forcing her.
She's just holding their hand and saying, "Please come again."
Please come again.
What are you doing?
You told me to make an effort, so I am!
Don't make an effort to reduce our customer base!
You know, guys...
But if you shake the hand of every customer, you may find someone you can connect with.
That's impossible. I can't shake hands with a man, and...
I only connect with women.
Rest Area
It's so crazy here every day.
And it has been, ever since I met him...
Oh, Arashi-san!
Where do you want to go next time?
Let's see...
There are lots of places in Hakuraku I haven't been.
I'll go anywhere with you.
You're not still...
Yeah.
We're going back to the war and saving people.
You sure are laid back.
Arashi-san, you shouldn't get a kid caught up in something so dangerous.
Hey, Kamigamo, I'm not getting "caught up in it."
I'm helping her of my own free will.
I know! You try it!
You're a man, so you may connect with her!
I've never connected with two guys at once.
Let's try it, Arashi-san!
I-I think I'm good.
Come on, don't be scared!
Stop. Let me go! Stop it, I said...
Don't fight so hard. We're just trying it out.
Nothing happened.
Jun-kun and I don't connect, I guess.
Idiot!
An agent needs more than just raw talent.
Ark
He keeps doing that awful stuff because he doesn't know!
He doesn't know! He doesn't know...
Yeah. He doesn't know, does he?
And I can't tell him right now.
If they find out, I won't be able to go to the Ark anymore.
I wonder if this is selfish of me.
Did you get in a fight?
Kaya-san?
It's nothing new.
Are you all right?
He's not a bad guy, but he's just such an idiot.
I see.
You're close, aren't you?
Not at all!
You can only have fights like that when you're close.
Just like me and Arashi.
Kaya-san...
Thank you for helping me back there.
I'm not used to dealing with men.
It's a problem being too used to it, like the master.
Yeah, maybe you understand a maiden's heart better.
A boy's heart is the same, I'm sure.
You need to not hit so hard, you know?
Screw you.
It's your fault.
What did you say?!
Stop it, Hajime-chan.
Man, we sold a ton today.
Maybe we'll all wear maid outfits from now on.
I'm not wearing women's clothes anymore.
Oh, come on. Don't be a stick in the mud!
I'll wear them!
The hell you will.
A cola for table two.
OK!
Again?
Jeez...
Ark
How are you, Yayoi?
I'm very good, Kanako.
I see. I'm happy to hear that.
I read another fascinating book.
My, what was it called?
Well... Oh, I've forgotten the title.
Will you tell me what kind of story it was?
Yes, gladly.
It was a story of love and friendship between gentlemen,
a tale silently spoken by the passionate hearts of men to their trusted companions in battle.
They overcome many obstacles, carrying within their hearts:
justice, truth, and miraculous love, as they clash with one another
and invite those who watch them into a spectacular world...
My, what a heartwarming story.
[Note: A Sou-uke is a character that is perceived to be easily emotionally dominated and is often the "bottom" half of the relationship in yaoi doujinshi.]
And the young sou-uke in the book had a phrase he would always say.
What is it? Tell me.
Pegasus Meteor Fis-
When you think of summer, you think of-
Mosquito incense?
Those pigs are cute, aren't they?
But is the hole where the smoke comes out their mouth?
Or maybe their nose?
It comes out their ass, too!
Watch your filthy mouth.
Get up bright and early tomorrow!
Illustration by Hinase Momoyama