Short-Tempered Melancholic and Other Stories

This is a two-part manga that was printed with three other short stories together in one book. The tankoubon itself shares the title of this story, Kanshakudama no Yuutsu. Story 1) Kanshakudama no Yuutsu: Kajika is a female ninja who lost her parents to a rival clan when she was young. Raised by her grandfather, she trains in the ways of the ninja while navigating the complexities of everyday life. She finds herself drawn to her upperclassman Fujisaki, though he seems to view her as more of a buddy than a girl. Complicating matters is her childhood friend Yuga, who appears to have his own feelings about the situation. As Kajika tries to balance her ninja duties with her growing emotions, she begins to uncover secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew. Story 2) This Affair is for Real: Yuri convinces her wealthy best friend Karin to meet Yuri's pen pal in her place, in exchange for a simple cheesecake. Karin agrees to the date at the aquarium, but as the day unfolds, she discovers that first impressions can be misleading and that people aren't always what they seem. Story 3) The Romance in the Afternoon Rain: Minori's world changes when a boy from another school, Takato-kun, kindly shares his umbrella with her during a rainstorm. From that moment on, she finds herself hoping for rain, just for the chance of seeing him again. However, rumors swirl about Takato's complicated past with girls, leaving Minori to wonder if her feelings can ever reach him. Story 4: The Second Time in Love: This is Tanemura Arina's debut work from 1995 or 1996. Mana struggles with complicated emotions when she realizes she has feelings for someone she shouldn't - her best friend Yume's boyfriend. Meanwhile, the most popular boy at school, Nakamura Shigenobu, has set his sights on Mana, who isn't ready to open her heart to anyone new.