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Hi folks!

Mitsuru Adachi is a manga artist best known for sports romance stories, often with a certain amount of tragic circumstances involved. The one that is available in English is Cross Game, in which the protagonist's love interest in the first volume drowns, and in addition to becoming a baseball star, he must struggle with moving on from her. In 1999, however, Animerica Extra ran some of his one chapter stories under the umbrella title "Short Program."

The cover image has nothing to do with the actual story in this issue, "Change." 13 pages of 40 (at one point the characters even mention it's a forty page story; Adachi has a habit of breaking the fourth wall for gags.) Up front I should mention there's some problematic violence, and gender role stuff that may be displeasing.

The kid whittles some twigs off a branch and faces off against the bullies. The kid is doing pretty well until the branch breaks. The bullies are about to enjoy themselves until one of them is run down by--

The kid is smiling until it becomes obvious the guy on the bike is not friendly towards the kid either.

I'm not sure that Kei uses the word "girl" in the original Japanese, given that it's a bit of a reveal later. Kei reveals that she's older than she looks, almost fourteen. Minato shakes down the bullies for money to pay for the melons. It's not enough but Kei promises to pay the rest when she can. Kei hitches a ride on Minato's scooter, but balks when it turns out Minato is headed to the Coffee Time coffee shop.

Inside, it becomes obvious that Minato comes to this particular shop because he's sweet on the waitress, Etsuko. The shop's owner thinks Minato's come to pick up the grocery order, but Minato points out he's there as a customer.

The girl runs off in tears. Kei turns out to be nearby, and claims she can't stand how girls turn on the waterworks as though it's cute. She does point out that Minato was probably a bit too blunt, not even a "I'll think it over." Girls get off on a bit of hope and fear. Minato is suspicious of Kei's mastery of female psychology.

Minato's mother is allowing Kei to work off her debt. Kei apparently is a hard worker, Also, Mom thinks Kei is cute, but Minato doesn't see it.

A bit later, at the coffee shop, a couple of thuggish customers are pulling the "plant a fly in the cup to get free stuff" scam. Minato is about to throw down with them, but the cafe owner quickly restrains him and acts obsequieous towards the thugs. Minato wants to know why.

At the grocery, Kei struggles with the heavy crates, Minato points out that Kei doesn't really have the muscle for this kind of work. He tells her to handle a lighter job while he deals with the big stuff. Kei stares meaningfully at Minato, then smiles mysteriously.

Minato asks Kei (who's maintaining the scooter) to do something. That night, Kei meets Minato and advises him to give up on Etsuko.

Etsuko and the coffee shop guy are getting married in three months. Minato isn't buying it, and accuses Kei of not actually investigating, and just making stuff up. Kei angrily compares Minato to the delusional girls that Minato always turns down.

The next day at Coffee Time, the thugs are at it again, and sexually harrassing Etsuko. Minato walks in, immediately loses his temper, but is quickly overcome by one of the thugs, who is about to beat him up when suddenly there's an icepick holding the thug's shirt to the wall.

The cowardly thugs retract their accusations of insects in their beer and leave. But now the cafe owner must face the landlord, who doesn't like trouble. Minato notices Etsuko looking affectionately at the owner, and yep, she's got a ring on her finger.

Kei doesn't show up at the grocery store, and Minato thinks "he" may have quit. Mom's less sure.

Some time later, Minato is at Coffee Time, perhaps out of habit, looking a bit blue. The door bell rings and Etsuko greets Kei.