Pastel (manga)

Pastel
The cover of volume 1 of the Pastel manga (English edition).
ぱすてる (Pasuteru)
Genre	Romantic comedy
Manga
Written by	Toshihiko Kobayashi
Published by	Kodansha
English publisher	NA Del Rey Manga
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Magazine (2002–2003) Magazine Special (2003–2017)
Original run	November 17, 2002 – February 17, 2017
Volumes	44

Pastel (Japanese: ぱすてる, Hepburn: Pasuteru^?) is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Toshihiko Kobayashi. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine, then moved to Magazine Special in 2003. From chapter 50 and onwards, it is in monthly magazine format. It was published in the United States by Del Rey Manga. The story follows a similar plot to Kobayashi's earlier work Parallel.

16-year-old Mugi Tadano tries to shake off his latest heartbreak by working at his friend's aunt's beach-side inn. One day he spies on a beautiful girl, Yuu Tsukisaki, changing clothes in an alley behind the inn. Instead of getting angry, Yuu charges him the price of a soda for watching her. The next day Kazuki sets him up on a blind date with Yuu, and they have a great time until Mugi walks in the middle of her bath, Yuu decides to leave on the next ferry out, leaving Mugi heartbroken again. However, when he returns home, he is surprised to find that Yuu and her younger sister Tsukasa are going to be his housemates as their parents were mutual friends.

The series follows Mugi's adventures with his new roommates. In the first few days, Tsukasa leaves the two of them alone. Mugi's classmate and childhood friend Manami shows interest in Mugi but later supports their relationship. Yuu attracts several boys and even visits her home town over in Tokyo, making Mugi jealous that he follows her, and ends up meeting his ex. Other girls visit their household, including Mugi's big sister-like childhood friend Sayuri who has become a model, and classmate Kiku Murakami, who tries unsuccessfully to smear Yuu's reputation.

Mugi discovers he has a talent for cooking, and meets Tetsu Shiba, an owner of a small restaurant, and Aoi Sonobe, a young woman who likes Tetsu. Yuu and Tsukasa's mother visits and wants to take her back. Tsukasa senses that Mugi likes Yuu, so she tries to set him up as much as she can. Sayuri gets engaged. Kazumi tells Mugi that he likes Manami and wants to date her. A busty young woman, Mako Minamino, joins the household as Mugi's father's love interest. After numerous missed opportunities, Mugi finally confesses to Yuu that he likes her and they become a couple.