Summary

In Chapter 4, “Hiroya, 30, NEET (not in employment, education or training),” at 30, Hiroya feels discouraged that he is unemployed, uninspired, friendless, and living with his mother. One day, she sends him to the Community House to pick up some produce. While there, he sees a felted mascot of one of his favorite manga characters. A customer named Mrs. Muroi tells him the librarian Sayuri made it.

Hoping Sayuri will be a young girl with similar interests as him, Hiroya heads to the library. He is disappointed to learn Nozomi is not Sayuri and Sayuri is “a humongous, fearsome woman” (193). However, he and Sayuri quickly connect over their “favorite manga” (195). Hiroya explains his uncle “had a manga café” where he spent time as a child (195). He developed a love for illustration, and went to “design school to study it, but couldn’t find a job” (196). Although...