Title: 天使のルージュ (Angel's Rouge) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 山花典之 (Noriyuki Yamahana)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 202pp., w/o furigana
Original Serialization: Weekly Young Jump Vol 48, '03 - Vol 2, '04
First Printing: 9/22/04
Rating: 3/4

I don't know how the this series and Secret Rouge were presented in Young Jump. It seems like this should be the successor, but according to the books, Secret Rouge Vol. 1 was first, then this comic, and then Secret Rouge Vol. 2 appeared again. Hmm.

Like Akane, the author is presenting the story again after a short 2 volume stint. However, the main female character here has a different name and a different personality. Rather than being attracted to her new secretary, she actually hates him and it's the manager who likes Daisuke.

1. コスメ・フリージアへようこそ (Welcome to Cosmetic Freesia): Daisuke Hifumi has just been fired from his current job and since he doesn't want to take over the family's sushi business, he made an agreement with his dad to find another job within a week. Meanwhile, 綺月彩香 (Ayaka Kozuki), the president of a small cosmetics company, Freesia has trouble dealing with other male bosses at other companies. Her manager, 黛麗子 (Reiko Mayuzumi), suggests that she get a male secretary, namely a body guard. So they start interviewing people. Daisuke hasn't had a lot of luck and it's almost his last day. Through his sister, he finds out about this opening at a cosmetic business and the night before the interview, gets together with his friend and drinks. They end up at a party with some other girls, who happen to employees of Cosmetic Freesia and Ayaka herself. Daisuke gets drunk and starts babbering about how he has to interview at this small, negligible cosmetics company in front of the girls. The next day he goes to interview and sees the same girls who he, the night before, had bad-mouthed to.

2. 面接会場味方なし！？ (No Friends at the Interview!?): He goes to the interview and gets grilled by the girls. Reiko, however, asks him as he's walking out why he wants to be secretary. His answer is simple and honest, so Reiko hires him for the job, much to the disgust of the boss and employees. He shows up to work and his first job is to mop the floors. The co-workers make him go outside and clean windows where he manages to peep in on Ayaka as she's changing.

3. 彩香の夢 (Ayaka's Dream): Ayaka brings Daisuke along as an escort to a high-class boat party. On the ship's deck, Ayaka sees a little girl who complains that despite her mother working in the industry, she's not allowed to wear makeup. Ayaka puts some lipstick on her and later, explains to Daisuke that makeup changes how a woman feels about herself. Daisuke realizes that she's really devoted to her job and feels like he should do his best too.

4. 秘書だから！！ (Because I'm the Secretary): While sweeping the floor, the end of Daisuke's broom accidentally fondles one of the female co-workers standing behind him, causing ruckus among the other girls who already dislike him. Later, he accompanies Ayaka on a business trip and in the car, surprises Ayaka with his knowledge of their product line that he had memorized.

5. 予感 (Premonition): Ayaka takes Daisuke to 翠庵 (Suian-sensei), an old woman that lives in a traditional Japanese house who trains people in manners, to get him up to snuff on etiquette. Daisuke gets kicked around a bit during training by her. As he's sweeping the grounds, he sees Ayaka in a kimono. She sees a spider and jumps into his arms.

6. そばにいさせて (Let Me Be With You): The other girls in the company come to this house to enjoy the bath here. They didn't know that Daisuke was training at the same place and are surprised by his presence. However, they take full advantage of him by having him keep the fires going to keep the water warm. As he's doing that, they start a rumor that Ayaka has another secretary and make sure he overhears. Daisuke runs up to Ayaka to confirm this but she says that having one secretary is more than enough.

7. 弱い男の固い意志 (Weak Man's Strong Will): Before going to a business meeting, Ayaka stops by 杉浦 (Sugiura's) research center to me with him. Maybe they've had something in the past. After the meeting, she goes to the obligatory party with the boss she did the presentation for. He's already drunk and tries to hit on her, but she prevents him. Her peers think she should have let the boss have his way. Afterwards, Daisuke accompanies her home and she falls asleep leaning on him in the car.

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