Blend S (ブレンド・S)

PLEASE WAIT FOR ME

Good morning!

Um...

I don't think we've met.

WHA—

Th-The woman with the magazine about tied-up girls in uniforms!

THE NEW GIRL IS A BIG SISTER

As of today, I'm working here.

I'm Miu Amano.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Nice to meet you!

Actually, afterwards, she came for the part-time job ad.

And you hired her on the spot?

I didn't know either until just now. I was shocked.

My apologies for causing all that trouble.

This isn't very tactful, but why did you choose this shop?

When I came in as a customer, it seemed like such a fun place.

I was attracted to that atmosphere.

Aside from that, after what happened with the magazine,

I realized there would be no need to hide things here,

which would make it a comfortable workplace.

Hide? What else would you need to hide?

I'm the one who created that magazine.

Wha...

Maika is frozen!

Maika, snap out of it!

Um, then...

Come on, come back to us!

you're Hanazono Folder?

Yes.

Seriously?

And so, can I take off the week before a deadline every two months,

the day before, during and after events?

What?

Before a deadline is "crunch time," right?

I know about that.

You're well-informed, Manager.

Amano, could I have a word with you?

Yes?

I don't mean to be rude...

That's too much vacation time, huh?

I'm a fan! Could I get your autograph?

- Fanboy. - Fanboy.

HANAZONO FOLDER To Koyo Akizuki

Yes!

Still, I can't believe the head of the group is a female!

I-I guess females can be pretty deep, huh?

You're a female, too, Maika.

But won't it be tough writing and drawing while also working here?

I think it'll be all right as long as I use my time wisely.

Besides...

MATERIAL STIMULATION

I want material stimulation.

- Material! - Stimulation?

My second work was about yuri and boys' love,

but now I'm fired up about doing an original "normal love" story,

except there's not enough material.

So by working, you'll be able to gather material you can use?

Yes! It seems offbeat things happen here every day,

and more than anything...

I get to mingle with real high school girls.

Maika...

You're not the newbie anymore!

Well, again, I'm looking forward to working with you, Senpai.

Senpai?

Looking... forward to...

HISS HISS

What genre is she playing?

"Sadistic lovestruck"? "Erotic but aloof"?

Welcome.

Please have a seat anywhere you like.

I'll be right over.

A sandwich, huh?

Are there any vegetables you don't like?

Let me know and I'll remove them.

Oh, you've got crumbs all over your mouth!

I-Is she playing some kind of character?

A "big sister."

She's so kind and considerate when interacting with the customers!

Me, too... If I do my best...

Maika?

I know I can do it!

Sir!

There's ketchup...

on your mouth.

I'll wipe it right off of you.

U-Um...

That's a kitchen cloth.

I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

Why can't I...

No, I should be able to do it, too!

I know I can do it!

Sir!

On your sandwich,

are there any vegetables you don't like, or do you have a favorite topping?

Okay, then hold the pickles and I'll have extra tomatoes.

Understood!

Hold the pickles, extra tomatoes... Hold the pickles, extra tomatoes...

Hold the pickles, extra tomatoes... Extra pickles, hold the tomatoes...

Extra pickles, hold the tomatoes... Extra pickles, hold the tomatoes...

Akizuki!

HOLD THE TOMATOES EXTRA PICKLES

Hold the tomatoes, extra pickles!

SADISTIC

It's packed with pickles!

Maika...

Your sadism was spot on today, making you more popular than ever!

How?

I tried to be like Miu, but why isn't it working?

It's all because of these eyes, isn't it?

Seeing you in action today, I don't think it was just the eyes.

When the girl I like is depressed, it's my job to console her!

That's what a gentleman does!

Maika...

I like how you're unintentionally sadistic.

That's part of your charm,

so please don't feel down.

Manager...

Consoling her worked that fast?

M-M-M-Mai!

Manager...

You have droopy eyes, huh?

MUDDY MUDDY

Extremely droopy eyes.

Anything could be forgiven with those kind, droopy eyes.

I wish I could trade to get your droopy eyes.

What are you saying?

Please give me those droopy eyes.

I don't need a "crazed fan" character!

Weird shop, isn't it?

No, it's fun.

Besides...

I'm sure I can use this!

Really?

So what are you gonna do next?

A lovestruck sadist and a weakling in a hardcore story!

Lovestruck sadist?

Mangas centered around girls

Hanazono Folder.

Oh, Maika...

Good morning, Mafuyu!

Morning.

It's unusual for us to meet right outside the café.

Yeah. Where are Kaho and the others?

What? It's really okay?

Yes!

Sounds like they're already here.

I can't believe it! I can't believe it!

You're reading a dirty magazine again?

It's not dirty! It's for the general reader!

In that case, okay.

Kaho kept saying she really wanted to read one of my doujinshi.

But it was hard tracking down this magazine.

Was it sold out?

No, that's not why.

IF IT SAYS "18-RESTRICTED," DON'T LOOK AT IT UNTIL YOU'RE 18

Most of my work is "18-restricted."

So there isn't much for the general reader.

Oh, is that right?

This doujinshi is based on an old popular RPG!

I played it just recently, so this is fresh to me!

Oh, that brings back memories.

It was really hard making that magazine.

Because there are so many characters?

And I bet it was difficult because of all their equipment, right?

Oh, that's not why.

I got into a dispute with my co-creator over a shipping situation.

We even had to go our separate ways.

Th-That happened just because of creative differences?

But years later, we worked on a different genre but with the same shipping,

and the hatchet was buried.

Differences of opinion in shipping and favorite characters often leads to quarreling.

Did that kind of thing happen to you, too, Mafuyu?

In middle school.

At the time, there was a really popular male idol duo,

but our whole class was split in half over which one they favored.

That sounds really scary.

Now I do original stories, so it's peaceful without any conflicts.

But now I have to come up with everything from scratch,

and that's tough in its own way.

But...

it's all been solved now that I've come here!

Thank you!

H-Huh?

Maika, your interactions with your boyfriend have given me creative inspiration!

Maika and her boyfriend?

Huh?

Manager, were you eavesdropping?

N-No!

I happened to be walking by and overheard "boyfriend"!

Do you want us to call the police again?

No! You've got it wrong!

Do you have a criminal record?

M-More importantly, Maika...

i-i-i-is it true you have a boyfriend?

No, I don't have a boyfriend.

Manager!

Huh?

Um...

Aren't Maika and the manager dating?