The Teen Drama Nobody Saw Coming
57,000 ratings. It's a big deal. Not many shows get that kind of traction before they've even aired on TV - Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is already sitting pretty with a 4.9-star average, and its official premiere isn't until July 10, which is still two weeks away, giving it plenty of time to build up even more hype and anticipation among fans. No.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Original Publication Date | March 2022 |
| Serialization | Monthly Big Gangan |
| Award | 2022 Next Manga Award (web category) |
| Directors | Masato Suzuki, Aoi Mori |
The Unlikely Suburban Crime-Spy Showdown
You'll find Sasaki at the supermarket. It's his thing. He goes for the necessities, sure, but also for Yamada's cheery chats. The night-shift cashier is always a bright spot. Then, one night, he meets Tayama behind the store. This chance encounter sets things off. It's worth mentioning: Tayama is actually Yamada, which is key to the whole story. We've got a slow-burn romance with heartfelt banter, the real feel of workplace drudgery, and some unexpected connections - it's a crossover of Sasaki's daily life with something more, in a way that's genuinely unusual, and it's happening in just two weeks with the premiere of Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You.
- Musical compositions by Shin Kono and Sayaka Aoki
- Opening theme by Zutomayo
- Ending theme "Fiction" by Imase
- Character designs by Tomoka Otaki
- Series composition by Mio Inoue
The 10-Minute Gamble That Paid Off
It's short. The episodes are 10 minutes long. You'll get six episodes, split into 12 "mini-sodes," which is pretty unusual. Crunchyroll did this, starting on June 3. They're not extras - these are the first half of the season, with Sasaki and Tayama meeting and stuff. It's working, for now, with the ratings and fanbase growing before the premiere.
It's worth mentioning you've seen the start. The real feel is there. You'll get new stuff from August 21. We've got the opening arc, for now, with Sasaki and Tayama's relationship changing, it's key, from casual to something more, with the anime showing it can make short episodes that still have a lot of depth, which is worth mentioning, in the way they've handled the crossover of their characters, with honesty in the storytelling, making it a compelling watch.
Smoking Behind the Supermarket Debuts October 12th – Here’s How to Score Early Access
It's on July 10. Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You premieres then. You'll get it on Crunchyroll, same time as Japan. They've got 12 mini-sodes up already, for you to check out before the main show starts. The real feel of the series is worth mentioning, with Crunchyroll offering a key sneak peek, in a crossover of sorts, with the Japanese release, it's a good way to get into the series, we've got two weeks to go.
- Start with the preview mini-sodes now
- Wait for the standard episodes to begin in two weeks
Why Everyone Will Cry Next Friday
The Bad Gamer Take
Crunchyroll will continue to push the boundaries of anime distribution because its unorthodox release strategy for Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You has already garnered significant attention. The platform's willingness to experiment with episode length and format will likely lead to more innovative releases in the future. Watch for how the full series performs on Crunchyroll after its official premiere on July 10.
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is unique. It's got a real feel. You'll see this in two weeks. The premiere is key. With its unorthodox release, it's built a following. They've done it in a way where you'll be curious. It's honest, for sure, and we've seen the fans respond, now it's time to see if this crossover of romance and drama can keep it up, especially with newcomers, in the summer 2026 anime lineup.
