Title: ひみつのルージュ (Secret Rouge) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 山花典之 (Noriyuki Yamahana)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 221pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 1/2
Original Serialization: Weekly Young Jump Vol 11, '04 - Vol 21/22, '04
First Printing: 6/23/04
Rating: 4/4

The artwork in here is identical to that of Akane. Despite the different characters and their different roles, the main lead, Ai and Daisuke, look exactly the same as Akane and Shinpei. I don't think this is a problem as I enjoy the author's character design, but it's something I noticed immediately.

The story itself is similar with a guy in love with a girl, but for some reason, he has reservations about going through with it. This time, it's because of social status and employee rank.

First page is colored with Ai dressed in pink.

Like Akane, this volume has many little chapters which all contribute just a little bit to the simple main plot. As such, I'll just do a paragraph overview.

一二三大輔 (Daisuke Hifumi) has just been hired to be the secretary of a famous and very gorgeous young president of Rose Ballerina Cometics, 花園愛 (Ai Hananozo). He is obviously attracted to her but won't let his own lust interfere with his role as an employee. She likes him too, but occasionally gets annoyed at his reservations. She's also surrounded by the executive director of her company and friend, 氷堂冴子 (Saeko Hyodo) who hates men (at least the poor ones). And then there's Ai's mother who Ai doesn't particularly like. The mother has had troubled relationships in the past so she's not too fond of the opposite sex either.

As a secretary, Daisuke sees many of his company's clients fall in love and try to hit on his boss. These are the people that Saeko would prefer Ai be with rather than Daisuke. While he's jealous, he doesn't let his personal life interfere, but occasionally, he steps in to help her if things go awry. Near the end of the volume, a new girl, 黒姫美貴 (Miki Kurohime) gets employed at the company and falls in love with Daisuke posing some competition with her boss. Ai's mother also drops by to visit and sees that she's apparently in love with Daisuke.

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