Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You

**Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You** (スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり, *Super no Ura de Yani Sū Futari*, also known as *"Behind the Supermarket, Smoking With You"*) is a Slice of Life web manga written and illustrated by Jinushi, released in 2022. Initially, it began as a webcomic published on Twitter and later gained recognition, leading to its serialization in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan magazine. An English version of the manga is scheduled for release by Square Enix Manga & Books, with the first volume expected by February 2024.

The story revolves around Sasaki, a man in his forties trapped in a challenging work environment with demanding superiors and clients. The one bright spot in his life is Yamada, the cheerful cashier at a supermarket he frequents. However, one day, when he can't find her, he meets Tayama, a completely different individual, behind the supermarket while taking a smoking break. Despite Tayama's cool and teasing demeanor, Sasaki manages to strike up a friendship with her.

What Sasaki is unaware of is that Tayama and Yamada are actually the same person.

## Synopsis

Meet Sasaki, an overworked, middle-aged office worker. His days are marked only by the passing of more unrewarding corporate drudgery. Smoking helps take the edge off, but other than that, the only bright spot of his day is when he goes to the nearby supermarket and sees Yamada's smiling face. So, one evening after yet another exhausting day, he heads to the supermarket to find he missed Yamada's shift. Dejected, he decides to go find a smoking area but discovers there isn’t one to be found. Just as he’s about to leave, a girl in a biker jacket named Tayama asks him to join her at a secret smoking area!

## About

"Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari" originated as a web manga, first appearing on the author's Twitter account on March 9, 2022. It subsequently made its way into print, with Square Enix publishing it starting from August 25, 2022. Notably, the manga secured the top spot in the 2022 Next Manga Awards within the web manga category.

For English-speaking audiences, the series is available in digital format under the title "Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You." Square Enix has made it accessible through Manga UP! since May 23, 2023, and it can also be found on Comikey.

## Background

### Twitter

The author, Jinushi, who was serializing *"Rokurei: Tenseishi Rinne Kuyakusho Dairokkan-bu Joreika Katsudouki"* in Monthly Big Gangan, received advice from their assigned editor to try drawing a short manga as a creative exercise. This advice led to the creation of this work. *"Rokurei,"* which was running during this time, had a highly fantastical plot, so the author aimed to create something more grounded in reality. Drawing from their experience in customer service and sales, they chose a supermarket as the setting for this work.

When the first chapter was posted on Twitter, the tweet received over 190,000 likes (as of June 2, 2022), garnering significant attention. By June 25, 2022, the cumulative number of likes for the series had surpassed 2.5 million.

### Serialization

The serialization began in the September 2022 issue (Vol. 09) of Monthly Big Gangan, which was released on August 25, 2022. The manga made its debut on the cover and with a color page. On the same day, the first volume of the tankobon, which included additional content, was also released.

As a result of this, the title changed from "Behind the Supermarket, Smoking With You" to "Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You." Chapters 4 to 16, which had been posted on Twitter, were removed, but the serialization continued on Twitter without interruption.

## Reception

In August 2022, **Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You** secured the first place in the Next Manga Awards 2022 in the Web Manga category.

Tsutaya's renowned "trickmaster," Rikiya Kurimata, praised the series, noting that despite the absence of flashy visuals, it possesses numerous charms. He highlighted the manga's artistic expressions and its pleasant atmosphere as some of its appealing qualities.

In January 2023, the series was nominated for the "Manga Awards 2023." In February of the same year, it ranked fourth in the "Recommended Comics 2023" selected by bookstore employees and secured the first place in the "Recommended Comics 2023" chosen by comic publishers.

## Bibliographic Information

Jinushi's **Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You** is published by Square Enix under the Big Gangan Comics, and it currently has 3 volumes available as of July, 2023.

* **Volume 1:** Released on August 25, 2022, ISBN 978-4-7575-8094-7
* **Volume 2:** Released on January 25, 2023, ISBN 978-4-7575-8362-7
* **Volume 3:** Released on July 25, 2023
	+ ISBN 978-4-7575-8694-9 (Standard Edition)
	+ ISBN 978-4-7575-8695-6 (Special Edition with booklet "裏ヤニ")

## External Links

* Author's Official Twitter Account
* Official Website on Monthly Big Gangan website (in Japanese)
* Official Website on Square Enix's Manga Up! service (in Japanese)

## References

1. ↑ Official synopsis, *Square Enix's Manga Up! service*
2. ↑ “【漫画】ブラック企業勤めのサラリーマンとスーパーの女性店員。喫煙所仲間のふたりの関係に頬が緩む”, *WEBTheTV*
3. ↑ “【漫画】疲れたサラリーマン、スーパーでレジの女性に癒やされる しかし店の裏では!?” *Magmix*
4. ↑ “【漫画】ブラック企業勤めのサラリーマンとスーパーの女性店員。喫煙所仲間のふたりの関係に頬が緩む”, *WEBTheTV*
5. ↑ “地主「スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり」が8月からBGで連載、単行本1巻も発売決定”, *Comic Natalie*
6. ↑ “SNSで人気の『スーパーの裏でヤニ吸う話』が『スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり』として書籍化&連載決定! ファンから喜びの声があがり話題に【注目ワード】”, *Animate Times*
7. ↑ Tweet by @jinusi822 on June 22, 2022, *Twitter*
8. ↑ “「スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり」が次にくるマンガ大賞のWebマンガ部門1位を獲得”., *Natalie*
9. ↑ “次にくるマンガ大賞堂々の1位!今一番注目の作品はこれだ!『スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり』【TSUTAYAの名物企画人“仕掛け番長”のススメ】”, *TSUTAYA*
10. ↑ “書店員が選んだおすすめコミック2023、第1位は眞藤雅興「ルリドラゴン」”, *Comic Natalie (Natasha)*