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Romance Manga Like Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You
Discover romance manga like Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You—from workplace comedies like Wotakoi to character-driven stories like Horimiya and Kaguya-sama.
If you've been swept up by Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You, you're not alone. The series achieved a rare perfect five-star rating on Crunchyroll and has over 3 million copies in circulation—a testament to readers craving authentic, character-driven romance over melodrama. While you wait for new volumes, these manga capture that same magic: mature relationships, quiet chemistry, and the kind of slice-of-life storytelling that feels real.
What Makes Smoking Behind the Supermarket Special
Before diving into recommendations, let's break down what makes this series resonate:
- Adult protagonists navigating relationships with actual emotional intelligence
- Workplace setting that grounds the romance in everyday life
- Slow-burn chemistry built on shared quiet moments rather than dramatic confessions
- Mature tone that respects both characters and readers
- Slice-of-life pacing that lets relationships breathe
The manga you'll find below share at least a few of these qualities—some lean into workplace romance, others into character chemistry, and a few nail that same contemplative, realistic vibe.
Top Romance Manga for Supermarket Smoking Fans
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
Why it fits: If you love the workplace + adult protagonists formula, Wotakoi is your next obsession. This completed 6-volume series follows office workers who hide their otaku hobbies—until childhood friends Narumi and Hirotaka reconnect and decide to date. The romance is refreshingly low-stakes: no love triangles, no misunderstandings lasting three volumes. Just two working adults figuring out how to balance jobs, hobbies, and each other.
The humor lands because the characters feel like real people in their mid-twenties, not high schoolers with office jobs. Like Smoking Behind the Supermarket, it finds warmth in mundane moments—late-night gaming sessions, lunch breaks, the exhaustion of corporate life. Completed at only 6 volumes, it's a perfect binge.
Horimiya
Why it fits: Beneath the high school setting lies one of the most emotionally mature romances in manga. Horimiya hooks you with a premise—popular Hori and gloomy Miyamura reveal their hidden selves to each other—then evolves into something deeper: a story about intimacy, vulnerability, and growing together.
What makes this essential reading is how it handles the after part. Many romance manga stop at confession; Horimiya explores what happens when two people actually become a couple. The relationship milestones feel earned, the side cast gets genuine development, and the 17-volume journey rewards readers who want character growth alongside romance. It's completed, emotionally intelligent, and captures that same "quiet chemistry" vibe.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Why it fits: On the surface, this psychological romantic comedy seems like the opposite of Smoking Behind the Supermarket—two brilliant student council leaders waging war to make the other confess first. But beneath the hilarious mind games is a character study about people too proud to be vulnerable, which evolves into one of manga's most satisfying romances.
The 28-volume completed series nails the slow-burn. Aka Akasaka's writing balances comedy with surprising emotional depth, and the payoff justifies the wait. If you loved how Smoking shows two guarded people opening up through quiet moments, Kaguya-sama explores similar territory—just with more elaborate schemes and a stellar supporting cast.
A Sign of Affection
Why it fits: This ongoing series deserves more attention for its quiet, thoughtful approach to romance. College student Yuki, who is deaf, meets the worldly Itsuomi on a train, sparking a relationship built on communication—literal and emotional. The manga excels at showing rather than telling, using visual storytelling to convey connection.
Like Smoking Behind the Supermarket, it finds beauty in everyday moments: learning to communicate across language barriers, navigating campus life, discovering someone who sees you completely. The 13+ volumes (still ongoing) offer mature protagonists, a gentle slice-of-life pace, and authentic relationship development. It's the rare shojo that feels grounded in reality.
Blue Box
Why it fits: Don't let the sports manga label fool you—Blue Box is a character-driven romance that happens to feature badminton and basketball. High schooler Taiki trains every morning alongside Chinatsu, the girl he's loved from afar. When circumstances bring them closer, the series shifts into a thoughtful exploration of young love, ambition, and timing.
The completed 28-volume series captures that "shared routine" dynamic Smoking fans will recognize: two people whose lives orbit each other, finding connection in parallel moments. The sports elements never overshadow the emotional core, and the relationship progression feels natural. If you want a longer read with satisfying closure, this delivers.
Lovesick Ellie
Why it fits: This 13-volume completed series offers a lighter take on the "showing your real self" theme. Eriko spends her days fantasizing about the perfect Oumi-kun—until she discovers his real personality is nothing like his polished image, and he discovers her mortifying Twitter feed. What could be a cringe-fest becomes a surprisingly sweet rom-com about accepting each other's messiness.
The comedy hits hard, but the emotional beats land too. Like Smoking, it's about two people seeing past surfaces to who someone actually is. The relationship develops with honesty, and the completed status means you can marathon straight to the satisfying ending.
More Romance Manga Worth Your Time
My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected
This 18-volume completed series follows cynical loner Hachiman forced into a "Public Service Club" with other problematic students. Beneath the comedy lies a psychologically complex examination of loneliness, connection, and what "genuine" relationships actually mean. It's dialogue-heavy and introspective—not for everyone, but rewarding if you want substance alongside your romance.
Nisekoi: False Love
A 25-volume completed rom-com about a fake relationship between a yakuza heir and a gang boss's daughter. It's pure genre fun: love triangles, comedy, and slow-burn will-they-won't-they tension. Less realistic than Smoking, but if you want something lighter between heavier reads, it delivers entertainment.
Ouran High School Host Club
The 18-volume completed classic remains essential for a reason. Poor scholarship student Haruhi joins an elite host club to pay off debt, hiding her gender from the wealthy patrons. What starts as comedy evolves into genuine character exploration and a romance that earns its ending. The humor and heart make it eternally re-readable.
Orange: The Complete Collection
A 4-volume complete series about Naho receiving a letter from her future self, warning her about regrets involving transfer student Kakeru. It's sci-fi tinged emotional drama focused on friendship, mental health, and second chances. Heavier and more melancholic than Smoking, but beautifully told.
Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love
This 9-volume completed series follows shy Satomi who finally confesses her feelings—and is shocked when the handsome Yagyu agrees to date her. It's a straightforward romance about figuring out relationships, perfect if you want something uncomplicated and sweet.
Finding Your Next Romance Read
The beauty of Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You is how it proves romance manga doesn't need elaborate plots to be compelling—just authentic characters and genuine emotion. Whether you gravitate toward workplace dynamics (Wotakoi), character depth (Horimiya, Kaguya-sama), or quiet slice-of-life storytelling (A Sign of Affection), these series capture that same magic.
Most importantly, almost all are completed, meaning you can read straight through without waiting. While we all anticipate the next Smoking volume, these manga offer the same satisfying experience: watching two people connect, one quiet moment at a time.
- Is Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You in The Grimoire catalog?
- Yes! You can add it to your subscription or purchase individual volumes. We're also featuring romance manga that share its mature tone, character-driven storytelling, and slice-of-life approach.
- Which series is most similar to Smoking Behind the Supermarket?
- Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku comes closest with its workplace setting, adult protagonists, and grounded approach to relationships. If you specifically love the quiet, contemplative vibe, try A Sign of Affection.
- Should I start with completed or ongoing series?
- For marathon reading while waiting for new Smoking volumes, completed series like Horimiya (17 vols), Kaguya-sama (28 vols), and Wotakoi (6 vols) offer full, satisfying stories. A Sign of Affection is ongoing but has enough volumes (13+) to dive in now.
- Are these all similar slice-of-life romance?
- Most lean slice-of-life, but there's variety: Kaguya-sama adds psychological comedy, Blue Box incorporates sports, and Orange blends sci-fi drama. All prioritize character-driven storytelling over melodrama, which is the core appeal of Smoking.
- Can I read these romance manga if I usually prefer action series?
- Absolutely. Many action manga fans discover romance through character-focused series like these. Start with Horimiya for its emotional honesty, Kaguya-sama for sharp writing and comedy, or Blue Box if you want a sports element alongside the romance.
*Already read through these? Check out our Best Romance Manga Completed guide for 8 more binge-worthy series.*