Pastel (manga)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Pastel


caption = The cover of volume 2 of the "Pastel" manga (English edition).
ja_name = ぱすてる
ja_name_trans = Pasuteru
genre = Comedy, RomanticInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Toshihiko Kobayashi
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kodansha
flagicon|United States Del Rey Manga
flagicon|Taiwan Tong Li Comics
flagicon|Germany Planet Manga
demographic = Shōnen
magazine = Weekly Shōnen Magazine (2002-2003)
Magazine Special (2003-Present)
first = 17 November 2002
last = ongoing
volumes = 19 [ [http://www.shonenmagazine.com/php/comic.php?sakuhin_id=68&page_num=2 Shōnen Magazine] Accessed 2008-06-05.]

nihongo|"Pastel"|ぱすてる|"Pasuteru" is a shōnen manga by Toshihiko Kobayashi and published in the U.S. by Del Rey Manga. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine, then moved to Magazine Special on 2003. From chapter 50 and onwards it is in monthly magazine format.

ynopsis

Mugi Tadano is a 16-year-old boy who lives alone; his mother died years ago and his father is always on frequent trips as a photographer. When his first love, Hinako, leaves him for Tokyo, he is understandably heartbroken. Kazuki, Mugi's best friend, invites him to work with him at his aunt's beach-side inn, in the hope of helping him shake off his depression. But things take a fateful turn one day when, while at work, he spies on a beautiful girl, Yuu Tsukisaki, changing clothes in an alley behind the inn. Yuu, instead of getting angry, charges him ¥120 (approx. $1.05 USD) for watching her. This isn't the last that he would hear from her, though, as the next day Kazuki sets him up on a blind date with none other than Yuu. They proceed to have a great time, but a great misunderstanding (and a sign of things to come) rears its ugly head when Mugi walks in again on Yuu, this time who is currently having a bath. Later, Kazuki tells him that she's taking the earliest ferry back home, seemingly agitated, Mugi runs to the harbor with the intent of trying to prevent another relationship from being nipped in the bud, she is long gone. Dejected, unsure he would ever see her again, he arrives home to get ready to search for her, only to discover that Mugi's father had allowed Yuu and her younger sister to live with them, because their father, who was a friend of Mugi's father, had died.

Characters

Major Characters

;nihongo|Mugi Tadano|只野 麦|Tadano Mugi: The male protagonist of the series. He spent most of his childhood living in Onomichi by himself because of his mother’s death and his father’s work. He is very self-sufficient and able to do house work, make various repairs, budget money, and especially cook. Even though he is described as plain-looking - his name is routinely punned "Tada-no-Mugi" "common Mugi" (or "common wheat") - he has a few girls that are attracted to him. Most of the time he is unaware of their feelings. He has become very devoted to Yuu, who he fell in love with at first sight, but he doesn’t tell her out of fear of their relationship crumbling and her not having anywhere to live. Once Yuu’s circumstances changed, he has been trying to confess to her, but is often hindered by his own indecisiveness or being interrupted. He is prone to be in compromising situations with the female characters or having sexual fantasies about Yuu. As of the end of volume 14, he confessed to Yuu and found his feelings reciprocated

;nihongo|Yuu Tsukisaki|月咲 ゆう|Tsukisaki Yū: The female protagonist of the series. She chose to take up Mr. Tadano’s offer to live with Mugi after her father died, because she did not want to trouble her mother’s new marriage. She is a good-natured girl who is smart and responsible. She is described as being very cute with a developed body. She is popular in school and has an easy time making friends. Unlike her sister, she chooses to come back to Onomichi to live with Mugi instead of moving to America with her mother. Although at times she has denied having any romantic interest in Mugi, she often gets jealous when Mugi is with other girls. As of the end of volume 14, she stops denying her own feelings and agrees to date Mugi, although in secret to all but their closest friends since everyone believes them to be related.

;nihongo|Tsukasa Tsukisaki|月咲 つかさ|Tsukisaki Tsukasa: Yuu’s younger sister by one year. She is a vibrant, mayhem-causing character that loves attention. She is more sexually mature then her older sister and often embarrasses Mugi by correctly guessing his perverted thoughts. She has a propensity with coming up with complex plans and changing games to have a sexual variation. She chose to move to America with her mother, but often comes back to visit. During her last visit, her body has matured to the point that if she wears a wig she can impersonate her older sister almost perfectly.

;nihongo|Kazuki Sanmiya|三宮 一機|Sanmiya Kazuki: Mugi’s best friend since childhood. He looks about four years older than his actual age because of his dark complexion. Can be seen as a delinquent by people who do not know him because he drinks, smokes, get into fights, and rides a motorcycle. Because of this image, he is both popular among younger girls and also feared by others, like Manami’s friend Fumiko. Most girls that he flirts with flatly reject him, those that don’t usually slap him because he is too forward. Strangely, after he begins dating Manami, he has started to clean up his act in order to feel that he is deserving of her.

;nihongo|Manami Sakiya|崎谷 まなみ|Sakiya Manami: She is one of Mugi’s childhood friends. For six long years she has harbored a secret crush on Mugi, but wouldn't do anything about it because Mugi at the time was dating her friend Hinako. She confessed to Mugi twice, both times being rejected because he already fell in love with Yuu. She was shocked when Sanmiya confessed to her on his 18th birthday telling her that he has liked her for the past ten years. After Sanmiya got into a motorcycle accident, she realizes that she has feelings for him and they begin to date.

;nihongo|Sayuri Watase|渡瀬 さゆり|Watase Sayuri: Mugi’s childhood crush that became like a mother to him when his real mother died. She taught Mugi how to cook, and remains one of his harshest critics. She has since moved to Tokyo where she attends Tokyo University and models part-time. Often come to visit in order to binge on beer and play Tekken with Tsukasa. She values her relationship with Mugi to the extent that Takumi was introduced to him before her own parents "Pastel" Manga; volume 9 tankōbon (Chapter 60, Page 028-029). ] .

;nihongo|Ken Tadano|只野 健|Tadano Ken:Mugi’s father, who is a scenic and wildlife photographer. Because of his profession, he often is away from home for long periods of time and Mugi is never sure when he is returning. He made a promise with Yuu and Tsukasa father that he would take care of his daughters which he has kept. He has a habit forget to telling his son important decisions that he has made.

;nihongo|Tetsu Shiba|志波 哲|Shiba Tetsu:He is owner a small Japanese-style restaurant that offers Mugi and Yuu refuge when they get caught in the rain. After tasting Mugi’s cooking, he offers him a part-time job and becomes his cooking mentor. He is a big believer in overall food presentation, which is shown in his prized plate collection. Much to Aoi annoyance, he seems to have a fondness for older women "Pastel" Manga; volume 6 tankōbon (Chapter 42, Page 014). ] .

;nihongo|Aoi Sonobe|園辺 あおい|Sonobe Aoi:She is a young talented traveling artist that usually shows up at Tetsu’s restaurant on rainy days. She claims that she no longer has any family or home, but when Mugi offers her to stay at his home she claims that she is happy with her current life style. She is very much in love with Tetsu, but he does not return her affections because he believes it would only hold her back. She has a tendency of hugging and kissing people.

;nihongo|Mako Minamino|南野 マコ|Minamino Mako:She's the newest resident of the Tadano household. Ken met her in Alaska when he was taking pictures during the Aurora Borealis, where she was mourning the 3rd anniversary of her high school sweetheart’s death. She was first introduced to Mugi as his new mother, but it is later learned it was a lie and that there were no plans for a wedding. Only being five years older than Mugi, she enjoys suggesting activities with Mugi that Yuu deems inappropriate. Much like Tsukasa, she likes to play games with a sexual twist, like strip Janken, which so far has not lost one game. A running joke is that she dazzles men with her large breasts, which causes various results.

;nihongo|Kiku Murakami|村上 菊|Murakami Kiku:She is a popular girl from another class that the main characters meet on a group date. She likes to tease guys and use them for her own entertainment. After seeing how popular and innocent Yuu is, she makes her goal to sully Yuu’s reputation and make her life miserable. While she pretends to be Yuu’s friend, she takes scandalous pictures of herself dressed up like Yuu and sends them to their classmates. After hoax was revealed, she then tries to seduce Mugi because she viewed him as Yuu’s strength "Pastel" Manga; volume 4 tankōbon (Chapter 30, Page 145). ] . She returns later on through a chance encounter with Mugi. She no longer acts innocent, but is still popular with guys. It is insinuated that she now has genuine feelings for Mugi even though she knows that he like Yuu. She believes that a relationship between Mugi and Yuu will not last over 3 years because they are too similar and it would not be equal partnership.

Minor Characters

;nihongo|Hinako Kayama|加山 ひな子|Kayama Hinako: Mugi’s childhood friend and ex-girlfriend. She broke up with Mugi when she left for Tokyo for school. Many characters view Mugi and her as being very compatible. She is very accident prone, but seldom gets hurt. During Mugi's trip to Tokyo, it is revealed that she still has feelings for him. Later, she travels to Onomichi hoping to get back together with Mugi but he turns her down, explaining that he likes Yuu.

;nihongo|Yuu and Tsukasa’s mother|岩井|Iwai: She divorced her husband when her daughters were still in elementary school because she could not handle the long period of time in which he was away "Pastel" Manga; Volume 6 tankōbon (Chapter 40, Page 003). ] . She has since been remarried. After her ex-husband's death, she wished for her daughters to live with her, but her new husband was against it because his son was still living at home. Eventually she missed her daughters so much that she was willing to divorce her second husband in order to live with them, but since her stepson already moved out her husband was willing to accept Yuu and Tsukasa. She has since relocated to the United States because of her husband’s work.

Yuu and Tsukasa’s father:A former rival photographer and friend of Ken Tadano. Both were in the same University's Photography Club. When he was divorced, he retired in order to take care of his daughters. He has since passed away because of an undisclosed medical condition.

;nihongo|Yūji Tachibana|立花 優時|Tachibana Yūji:He is popular boy from Onomichi School that took a liking to Yuu. Even though he is good looking with a positive personality, he also is known to be carefree and take aggressive approach to girls he likes. Much to his disappointment, Yuu only thinks of him as a friend.

;nihongo|Megumi Iwai|岩井 めぐみ|Iwai Megumi:She is described as the prettiest girl in the grade above Mugi. She is a serious student that was the Student Council President, member of the Photography Club, and won many awards. Because of this reputation, many guys deemed her unapproachable. Much to Mugi surprise, she asked if Mugi would go on a date with her during her farewell speech. At first she claimed the date was only to make some memories before she left for Tokyo. It was later discovered that she has secretly liked Mugi for the past 6 years, but could never find the courage or proper circumstances to tell him.

;nihongo|Takumi Shijou|四条 拓実|Shijō Takumi:He is introduced as Sayuri’s fiancé. He works at a small second-hand furniture shop, which Sayuri happen to visit. After first time he saw her, he produced his name stamp and bank booklet, and proposed marriage "Pastel" Manga; volume 9 tankōbon (Chapter 60, Page 011). ] . After dating for a while he proposed again, which she finally agreed. He has a habit of repairing other people's stuff when he is not asked. Unlike Sayuri, he does not drink alcohol, but instead enjoys tomato juice.

;nihongo|Makoto Sasagawa|笹川 誠|Sasagawa Makoto:One of Yuu’s Tokyo friends who has since moved to Osaka. He is mistaken by Mugi as Yuu’s ex-boyfriend. He later revealed to Mugi that he does in fact like Yuu and tried to take an aggressive approach with her, but has had little success.

;nihongo|Hana Hanayama|花山 花|Hanayama Hana:A daughter of one of Tetsu’s friends who also owns a restaurant. For a week Mugi works for her because her father is in the hospital for a broken bone and Mugi needs extra money. At first Mugi believes that she is older than him, but later he learns that she is actually a grade below him. After working together, she falls in love with him. She frequently walks with Mugi to school and bring him food for lunch. Yuu is not be very fond of her because she resembles Hinako.

;nihongo|Urara Haruno|春野 うらら|Haruno Urara:A girl that took extra lessons with Mugi. She is in the school volleyball team. People describes her as ero-kawa (a combination between ero and kawaii, which is erotic and cute).

Manga volumes

In English (translated)

Pastel (G.novel 1) 2005-12-27
Pastel (G.novel 2) 2006-03-28
Pastel (G.novel 3) 2006-06-27
Pastel (G.novel 4) 2006-09-26
Pastel (G.novel 5) 2006-12-26
Pastel (G.novel 6) 2007-03-27
Pastel (G.novel 7) 2007-06-26
Pastel (G.novel 8) 2007-09-25
Pastel (G.novel 9) 2007-12-26
Pastel (G.novel 10) 2008-03-25
Pastel (G.novel 11) 2008-06-24
Pastel (G.novel 12)
Pastel (G.novel 13)
Pastel (G.novel 14)
Pastel (G.novel 15)
Pastel (G.novel 16)

References

External links

* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=4679 "Pastel"] at Anime News Network
* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=32694 Toshihiko Kobayashi] at Anime News Network
* [http://www.shonenmagazine.com/works/pasuteru/index.html "Pastel"] at "Shōnen Magazine"