Can a workplace romance survive the scrutiny of office gossip?
In short: In Akamaru Enomoto's manga, two coworkers maintain a façade of mutual dislike to hide a secret romance. As they navigate the complexities of dating while working at Tsuda Confectionery, they must balance their private affection against the constant threat of professional suspicion and social gossip.
Running in Kodansha's seinen magazine Morning between March 7, 2019, and January 26, 2023, 'I Have a Crush at Work' (or 'Can You Keep a Secret?') examines the conflict between personal romance and career standing. The story follows Masugu Tateishi, an accounting employee originally from a grape farm in Yamanashi Prefecture, and Yui Mitsuya, who was initially in the planning department before transferring to PR. Despite their deep attraction, the pair maintains a reputation as 'mortal enemies' to avoid the challenges of workplace gossip. The protagonist, Masugu, works within the accounting department. Meanwhile, Yui Mitsuya originally served in the planning division.
The narrative is rooted in the author's own experiences as a company employee. Following a suggestion from an editor to focus on workplace romance, Enomoto crafted a story that has resonated with a wide audience. By July 2024, the manga had reached a circulation of over 1.1 million copies across physical and digital formats. The series concludes with the protagonists marrying and starting a family, including a daughter named Tsumugi. The creator's previous work was titled Fumino-san no Bunguna Nichijō. This series explores the lives of working adults.
The popularity of the series led to an anime television series adaptation produced by Blade. This adaptation aired from January 6 to March 24, 2025, on networks including Tokyo MX. The production featured music by IM.Lab and character designs by Mina Ōsawa, further bringing the high-stakes, secret life of Tsuda Confectionery's employees to a broader audience. Naoko Takeichi directed the animated version. Masahiro Yokotani was responsible for the scripts.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: I Have a Crush at Work
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