The dual identity of a supermarket cashier and her secret smoking companion
In short: A tired 45-year-old businessman finds solace in two very different women: a polite cashier and a cool, leather-clad smoker. He has no idea they are actually the same person. This subtle, character-driven manga explores the tension between public personas and the private selves we reveal in the shadows.
Written and illustrated by Jinushi, the manga began as a Twitter webcomic in March 2022. It gained massive traction, with a single tweet garnering over 190,000 likes by June 2, 2022, and total likes surpassing 2.5 million by June 25, 2022. The series was later serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan magazine starting in August 2022. Following its initial social media success, the title was renamed from a story about smoking to a story about two people smoking together. This change coincided with its official magazine serialization.
The narrative centers on Sasaki, an overworked 45-year-old salesman at a "black company," and Yamada, a 24-year-old Super S employee. Yamada maintains two identities: the demure, perfect customer handler and "Tayama," a cool smoker with ear piercings and a leather jacket. While Yamada harbors a crush on Sasaki, he remains oblivious to her feelings and her secret alter ego. Sasaki's low self-esteem often leads him to apologise constantly and act with extreme consideration for others. This personality trait makes him entirely unaware that his favourite cashier and his smoking friend are the same person.
The series has achieved significant critical and commercial success. After securing the 2022 Next Manga Award (web category), the series appeared on numerous industry rankings, such as the 16th Manga Taishō. As of January 2026, circulation exceeded 3 million copies, with volume one contributing more than 200,000 units. The series has earned high praise for the chemistry between the two protagonists. It also achieved high placements on several recommendation lists from bookstore employees and publishers.
An anime adaptation produced by Asahi Production aired from July 10 to September 25, 2026. The series features themes of identity and the exhaustion of modern work life, underscored by the character's struggle to reconcile their professional duties with their true selves. The television broadcast featured musical themes by Zutomayo and Imase. International viewers can access the series through streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You
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