Crunchyroll has added 12 mini-episodes ahead of the July premiere of Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, offering romance fans a noir-tinged look at an overworked salaryman’s chance encounter in the shadows behind a supermarket.
For romance anime fans who’ve been waiting on what’s next, the first taste is already here. Crunchyroll has added 12 mini-episodes to its platform ahead of the official premiere of Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You.
The adaptation—based on the webcomic of the same name—has been singled out as one of the standout romance entries expected in 2026. The series won’t begin airing until July, but the short-form run is meant to pull viewers into its world early.
Each of the mini-episodes lasts roughly 10 to 15 minutes, serving as a partial sneak peek into a charming, noir-tinted story. At the center is Sasaki, an overworked salaryman whose routine of visiting the local supermarket is suddenly disrupted. The interruption begins with a stranger—Tamaya—who invites Sasaki to smoke behind the store. where the service worker Yamada works.
The series’ early setup leans into more than just romance. Rather than treating love as a fast destination. it builds through small moments and trust—connections that can feel harder to come by in a life structured around corporate pressure and the daily grind. Where some romance stories zoom in on adolescent intensity. Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is aimed at something different: adulthood. where even simple encounters can be fleeting.
Crunchyroll’s July rollout will follow a weekly schedule as part of the platform’s summer anime lineup. An official release date beyond “July” hasn’t been announced yet.
The official synopsis offers the clearest snapshot of how the story begins: “Sasaki is an overworked salaryman drifting through the corporate grind. sustained by cigarettes and the cheerful service and smile of Yamada. the clerk at his favorite supermarket. But one night after a grueling shift, he arrives late to find Yamada nowhere to be seen. With nowhere left to smoke. his spirits sink—until a pierced young woman calls out to him: ‘You can smoke here.’”.
For viewers trying to decide whether they want to commit to the full run later, those first mini-episodes are likely the real test—an early chance to see how Sasaki’s routine, Tamaya’s invitation, and Yamada’s presence fit together before the weekly story officially begins.
Crunchyroll Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You romance anime anime webcomic adaptation 2026 anime summer anime lineup mini-episodes Sasaki Tamaya Yamada
So they’re making him smoke behind a supermarket… is this supposed to be cute or like??
I thought Crunchyroll already dropped the whole season?? Like why call it “mini-episodes” if it’s just basically episodes anyway. Also July is so far.
Wait, it says the stranger invites him to smoke behind the store where the service worker Yamada works, but then later it’s like Yamada is missing? I’m confused. Isn’t that just gonna ruin the romance or whatever if it’s all about cigarettes and “trust” lol.
Not gonna lie, the title sounds like it’s gonna be super scandalous but it’s just “noir romance”?? I saw someone on TikTok say it’s basically a workplace love story, but now it’s like salaryman + stranger + smoking spots. I might watch for the vibe? 12 mini-episodes though, that feels like they’re trying to trap you into paying for July.