Interest Stacks

Momoko Nanase wants to be an illustrator, so it is unclear why she remains at a company that designs materials for pachinko parlors. The work is difficult and unrelated to her aspirations, assignments accumulate quickly, her coworkers range from the eccentric to the perverted, and all-nighters are common if not mandatory. The only times Momoko sees her boyfriend are when she sleeps over at his apartment, leading them to gradually grow apart. He and Momoko's female friends urge her to quit while she is still new and not yet burnt out. But despite having written a resignation letter, she keeps it in her desk drawer and is hesitant to turn it in. One night, Momoko has a rooftop encounter with Masashi Tagaya, who works on the same floor in their building. She confides in him about her intention to quit, only to be told that the people who say that usually end up staying until the end. As time passes, Momoko questions if and when she should leave, as well as whether she wants to know Tagaya better. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Every family has its share of problems, be they big or small. Shino Tadakoro has the perfect high school life, full of romance and friendship. Her biggest problem is her shut-in brother Tamotsu. She stubbornly keeps his existence a secret, telling even her closest friends that she is an only child. Oblivious to Shino's concerns, Tamotsu suddenly declares that he is giving up the shut-in lifestyle. Is there still time? The curtain rises on a tale of family reconstruction! (Source: Kodansha Comics USA)

"A big brother must always stay ahead of his younger brother. That is my responsibility as the older sibling"—these are the words that have always motivated Mutta Nanba to try his best when it came to his younger brother, Hibito. So naturally, in the summer of 2006 when the Nanba brothers witness something strange in the night sky, Hibito declared that he would become an astronaut and travel to the Moon, while Mutta countered with the affirmation that he would go to Mars. That was the promise they made to each other. Now in 2025, while Hibito is working with NASA and preparing to become the first Japanese to land on the moon, Mutta has been fired from his job in an automotive development company. Having difficulty finding another job, Mutta is given a lifetime opportunity when he receives a letter from JAXA—the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency—telling him that he has been accepted to participate in the next astronaut selection. As if fate has given him a chance to fulfill the promise he made all those years ago, Mutta undertakes the difficult challenge of going to space. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Even though he's an elite hunk, Sekine Keiichiro is a man who has lived his life out-of-focus, cursed by three handicaps: he's stoic, passive, and a Jack-of-all-trades but master of none. (Source: Stiletto Heels)

In the vast metropolis of Tokyo, 20-year-old Yukiyo Fujimoto has resigned himself to a loveless life. He is only a temporary worker with no dreams, aspirations, or expectations whatsoever. Yukiyo finds himself coming into sudden contact with various women he has known from the past: Natsuki Komiyama, an unrequited love; Aki Doi, a crush from a previous job; Itsuka Nakashiba, a friend he had shown interest in; and Naoko Hayashida, a former delinquent classmate whose behavior charms and intrigues him. Remembering a similar occurrence of events happening to an acquaintance, Yukiyo begins to wonder whether it's finally time for his "moteki," a period of time in a person's life when they suddenly and inexplicably become greatly attractive to their romantic interests. Said to happen only a few times in one's life, Yukiyo finds himself incentivized to chase after love with a vigor he had never felt in his life before. Will the luckless Yukiyo finally find the exciting and fulfilling romance he had given up on? [Written by MAL Rewrite] Included one-shot: Volume 1: Linda Linda

Ever since graduating college, 23-year-old Meiko Inoue has believed in one thing: there is a demon lurking in Tokyo. This evil's presence has made her bored, aimless, and missing the excitement of her youth, leading her to contemplate what she truly seeks from life. Surprisingly enough, when Meiko proposes the idea of quitting her job to her boyfriend, Naruo Taneda, he groggily agrees. Deeply inspired by his half-asleep words of encouragement, Meiko hastily leaves her old life behind, looking to begin anew, with Taneda soon following suit. Together, they look toward their dreams from their college days and decide to revive Rotti, Taneda's old band. As the two stand confidently alongside their old friends with instruments in hand, life throws the most unexpected curveball their way, leaving Meiko and her friends to pick up the pieces of what was shattered. Solanin tells an intimate story about the trials and tribulations of love, loss, and grief centered around people in their twenties who often slip between the cracks of society. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kinue is a saleswoman in the futon section of a department store. Despite her plain clothes and poor makeup, she ends up being transferred to the women's clothing department, where she has to be trained by her extraordinarily fashionable boss.

Tsukimi Kurashita has wanted to be a princess ever since her youth. However, at 18 years old, she finds herself far from that dream. Instead, she has become a plain and shy girl who spends most of her time and money on her biggest obsession: jellyfish. Tsukimi lives with her fellow niche hobbyists in the all-female Amamizukan apartment complex, where the two most important rules are to avoid stylish people and men. Tsukimi has always abided by these rules until one evening—while rescuing a spotted jellyfish—she encounters a classy, princess-like woman. After allowing the girl to stay the night, Tsukimi is shocked to discover that the person is not a woman at all. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Jangga Group is the leading food company in Korea, with over 30 brands to its name. Despite its respectable reputation, Jang Geunwon, the company president's spoiled son, is a vicious bully. Due to his status, no one dares to stop him—until the righteous Park Saeroyi transfers to his class and fights back, getting himself expelled on the very first day. However, Saeroyi's trouble with Geunwon does not end there. Soon, Geunwon causes an accident where Saeroyi's loving father dies. Yet Geunwon goes unpunished for his crime—leading Saeroyi to beat him nearly to death. Saeroyi earns three years in prison, but this is all the time he needs to plan the perfect revenge. Seven years after his release, Saeroyi opens a pub in Itaewon—Seoul's thriving, sleepless district swarming with countless diverse individuals. Quickly succeeding in such a competitive market is not an easy feat, but fate introduces Saeroyi to a group of misfits with various backgrounds and distinct potentials. Together, they take on the challenges of the food industry, giving Saeroyi a chance to bring down the corrupt corporation and all those who once wronged him. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Just having broken up with her boyfriend of five years, 26-year-old Michiyo Ozawa goes drinking with her coworkers. She meets with an unfortunate accident when the elevator to her apartment is out of order. Having little choice but to resort to asking the nearest household for access to their toilet, she meets Zenji Oyamada, a tenant who seems like a somewhat ordinary guy on the surface—until Ozawa notices the mountain of boxes in his room. Oyamada's brother likes sending him these boxes that contain trinkets from each of his eccentric, rapidly changing hobbies while overseas. Instantly intrigued by the boxes, Ozawa is asked by Oyamada if she would like to open one of them. As Ozawa does so, a heartwarming story about an ordinary couple and the strange boxes they open begins. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

On a night out drinking to get over being duped and ditched by her last boyfriend, Koda Minare ends up providing a massive drunken rant—while blackout drunk—for Matou, the director of a radio station. The next day, she is shocked to hear her own voice being broadcast on the radio! She rushes to the studio, leaving her job at a curry soup and bread restaurant in jeopardy. However, her drunken rant and the next day's impromptu damage-control live broadcast end up earning her an invitation to try working at the radio station! (Source: MangaHelpers)

Narumi Momose is a petite and cute young woman who loves idols, games, and everything anime or manga-related, especially in the boys' love genre. In other words, she is a closet otaku and more specifically, a fujoshi. After a breakup due to these kind of interests, she quits her job and joins a new company. At her new workplace, the only colleagues who know about her secret are her childhood friend Hirotaka Nifuji, a blunt gaming otaku; Hanako Koyanagi, a cool and mature-looking beauty; and Tarou Kabakura, an attractive guy with a scary face who always gets into fights with Hanako. While having drinks to catch up, Hirotaka advises Narumi to date someone who would understand her hobbies. But she is hesitant—otakus are typically perceived as gross, and the only ones who can understand them are otakus themselves. Or could a relationship between two otakus work? Following the relationship of Narumi and Hirotaka as they begin dating, Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii is a light-hearted story about those who try to balance work, relationships, and hobbies. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

A new interpretation of Yamamoto Shuguro's period novel Chiisakobee, transplanting the Edo era in the original with a modern setting. A young carpenter, Shigeji, who lost his parents and his father's building company called Daitome in a fire, swears to himself he will rebuild the company according to the words of his father, Tomezoh, "What is important for people throughout the ages is humanity and strength of will." He hires Ritsu, who has no place to go, as an assistant at Daitome. Some children from an orphanage, who lost their home, also show up at Daitome. The bearded young carpenter's decision to take over his family's business is a drama filled with the milk of human kindness. (Source: MU)

Shiori was once a guitarist in a light music club in high school, but her first live performance was dashed when her brother ran away from home with a lot of debt to become a musician in Tokyo. A decade later, Shiori is now a high school teacher, leading a boring, uneventful life and paying off the debt...until she runs into the ghost of none other than famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix. The story of a 27-year-old woman on her way to becoming a music legend begins here. (Source: MU)

Suffering from depression and anxiety, 25-year-old Sumi Izumi views her life as meaningless. Often lacking motivation and self-esteem, she feels trapped in a never-ending cycle as she continues to neglect her well-being. Despite her pessimistic and somber mindset, she still tries to find solace in the simple things, and her efforts might finally earn her a more positive outlook on life. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Fresh out of college, Rikuo Uozumi sees little point in pursuing any particular career. Instead, he works part-time in a convenience store while struggling to pay his bills. But his humdrum routine soon changes with the unexpected appearance of two women: Shinako Morinome, a former classmate that Rikuo is still in love with, and Haru Nonaka, an odd high school dropout with a crow as her pet. Though Rikuo hopes that his genuine feelings will reach Shinako, she herself battles a personal matter that has closed off her heart to love. Meanwhile, the bright and lively Haru is upfront about her growing infatuation with Rikuo. Despite everything, Rikuo tries to maintain the flow of his slow days; however, with Haru around, peace and quiet is never an option—and he might just start to enjoy the change in pace. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

At Liliadrop, a high-class manufacturer of women's cosmetics, employees are just as outstanding and glamorous as the variety of their products. In contrast stands Asako Yaeshima, a worker formerly nicknamed "Aseko"—"ase" meaning sweat—due to her unusual problem of excessive perspiration. To deal with her crisis, Asako develops a morning routine: she mixes different scents of Liliadrop soaps and unscented deodorants to mask her body odor. But her effort does not fool Koutarou Natori, a genius fragrance developer at the company with a sensitive and infallible sense of smell. Koutarou, astounded by Asako's natural smell combined with the soap, insists on sniffing her every day for a week to save their company's reputation by creating new Asako-inspired fragrances. With such an important reason at stake, Asako consents but never imagines how close she and Koutarou would soon become. [Written by MAL Rewrite]