Mana Kumazaki

Background

Mana was born in a very strict family that had the tradition of working on the field of medicine for generations, so Mana was instructed since little with that goal in mind. Even though she did like that field, Mana didn't feel very suitable to that profession, so even if she continued with that academical career, she tried to find her place on the world by herself. While she was attending the University, she also started working, mostly as a waitress, to earn some money for moving by herself. She knew that the first steep to actually start her own path, should be leaving her parents behind since she knew they would never accept her abandoning her career. She, as well, starting taking some classes at painting, and really enjoyed it, although still she didn't feel like she could make a career out of that, and was more like a hobby. Between University, painting, and work, Mana was starting to tire herself out, and this was evident to her parents, who started to suspect something was happening.

Meeting Kumazaki

One day, or night actually, during her shift, some drunk guys starting harassing her. She didn't know what to do, due to the mix of tiredness and apprehension. A young man tried to kick them out, calmly at first, but they started to throw fits at him. Due to the uproar that was happening, the boss of the bar ended up appearing and kicking all the guys out, including the man who defended Mana. When her shift ended, she went outside to see if that man was still there, and indeed he was, looking at the horizon, without even realizing Mana was approaching him. Once she was in front of him, Mana thanked him, although he replied that that was the most just thing to do. Mana, then, introduce herself, and so did him, he was Gozo Kumazaki. They shared a few words until Mana had to return to work. Before parting ways, she said that she wouldn't mind see him again, and buy him a drink as gratitude.

After that, they started to see each other more often, and they both started to develop romantic feelings for the other. They started to going into dates, although they didn't call them like that, seeing it more like just two friends hanging out, since both were very oblivious about the other's feelings. A month later, they had their first kiss, and Mana’s father found out about this. Also, since Mana had lowered her grades in the last few weeks, they forbid her to go out home, expect for classes, to focus on her career, since they wouldn't let her drag their family's name through the mud. Since Kumazaki hadn't heard from her in weeks, he decided to go to her house to see if she was okay. Seeing the negative of her parents, and how sad that made Mana, he told them than they shouldn't worry about her dirtying their family name since she will have soon his. Mana packed up her belongings, and went with him, but first thanked her parents since, even if she didn't agree with everything they believe in, she was grateful with the people who raised and looked after her until then. Once in Kumazaki's car, she laughed, and asked him if that was his form to propose to her. He blushed and nodded.

As soon as they could, the rented an apartment together, and a few time later, they married, although it was a very simple ceremony, and a year later Mana got pregnant, and she felt very insecure about it, since they both were still very young, and she didn't thought of herself as capable of being a good mother. Time proved her wrong, since she became the most warm and loving mother she could be. Also, due to the fact that she wanted to make her son smile, she started learning baking, since she wanted to make him delicious desserts when he would be a kid. Kumazaki saw how Mana enjoyed baking, and told her that she could make a career of it. She thought about it and agreed with him, and with her husband help and support, she started a bakery in the neighborhood.

Dangerous job and aftermath

Mana was happy with her family life with her husband and son until one day her husband got into some trouble. Due to his job as private detective, he ended involved in dangerous stuff since the Maboroshi, a yakuza family, targeted him for investigating too much. When Kumazaki didn't return home one day nor received calls nor messages, Mana went to his room and saw everything about that yakuza people, so she knew she had to act as soon as possible. She knew probably going to the police wasn't a good idea, so she contacted her friend Sana, since she know about her job as a hostess and asked if she could manage a meeting with her boss aka Sasaki. Sana, being the naive girl she is, didn't realize the danger of a civilian meeting a yakuza patriarch so she asked Daizo if he knew if Sasaki was going to show up at the club that day.

That night, Sasaki showed up in the club and Mana, kneeling before him, she begged him for help. She offered him her working in the hostess club, and even her bakery if it was necessary. Sasaki admired her guts but also saw a good opportunity for defeating a rival family thanks to all the documents Kumazaki had in his possession, and now Mana had, so he accepted. Mana gave him all the documents, and Sasaki sent Kuroyanagi, a newcomer in the family, as Mana bodyguard in the meantime.

When Kumazaki was rescued, after being healed at the hospital, he recovered at home. Since Mana was still feeling uneasy and unsafe, Kuroyanagi stayed some more time with them. With time, some feelings started to flourish between the married couple and him, even if the latter would deny it.

When everything with the Maboroshi family was "solved", they didn't need a bodyguard anymore, so Kuroyanagi found himself attending the Crown Royal hostess club to see Mana, and checking on Kumazaki n in his free time, so he couldn't hide it nor ignore it more. Eventually, the three of them started s polyamorous relationship, although that didn't mean Kuroyanagi has melted down, since he was behaving still the same. Mana said it was part of his charm, and Kumazaki agreed. A few time later, Mana got pregnant of Kuroyanagi and had her second child and first daughter.

Currently, they are a weird yet happy family of five members.

Family

Unnamed parents

Mana's parents were so busy trying to make their daughter a successful doctor that actually never forged an emotional link with her. Mana respects them and is grateful to them, since they provided her with everything she needed, except for parent-child love, so she doesn't hold any grudges against them even if she had to leave their home. She still has good memories about the times she was living here, and knows that she's the person she's now in part thanks to them as well.

Gozo Kumazaki[ Husband ]

Kumazaki is Mana's husband. They are a very happy couple who have known each other since their early 20s. Mana fell in love with Kumazaki's bright personality right away, but also with his bravery, as well as he fell in love with her kindness and hard-working nature. Kumazaki is very protective with her, as well as warm. He doesn't have any qualms to tell her every now and then how much he loves her, as well as shower her with any display of affection he can, being in private or in public as well. He loves their time together chilling at home, as well as she does. They have a very close relationship at the point that sometimes words aren't necessary and they can just communicate with their eyes. They are the kind of couple that is really silly and affectionate togather, but also both would do anything for the other when the time comes, as seen in how Mana didn't hesitate to contact the Yakuza to help her husband.

Jin Kuroyanagi[ Love interest; bodyguard ]

Mana and Kuroyanagi didn't have the best first meeting due to the circumstances of it, but maybe because of that, too, their relationship got deeper and strongest that it could look like. Kuroyanagi was not only her bodyguard but also her confident. Mana was really glad to have him there since she thought she would have break if she was left alone. Mana is the only one that wasn't bothered or scared of his behavior since the first time they met, and actually found him cute in general. Spending time together, made both of them to develop feelings for the other, even if they didn't want to notice it at first, and once he got to know Kumazaki better as well after his recovering, he found himself falling for him as well. Mana joked that they are both irresistible, but also is happy to being able to give some love in Kuroyanagi's life. He is also overprotective with her in general, even if he tries to not show it and even denies it when it's too evident.

Noriaki Kumazaki and Sora Kuroyanagi[ Son and Daughter ]

Noriaki is Mana and Kumazaki's son. Mana had him when she was still young, so always worried about being a good mother, even though she pampered him as much as she could, always. She always tried to do everything that could make him smile, and starting learning how to bake for him, since she wanted to make delicious cakes and buns for her little boy. When he grow up, he became a very active and cheerful kid, who usually imitated his father's antics, something that always made Mana smile.

Sora is Mana and Kuroyanagi's little baby. Noriaki always wanted a little sibling so, thinking about that, and how Kuroyanagi could be a good dad, Kumazaki told them about why not them having a little baby. Sora as a baby is a very calm one, she cry rarely, and Mana pointed out how different she was for that to Noriaki, who was a noisy baby, thinking that maybe the father has something to do with that.

Crown Royal Hostess Club

Daizo Ogusuku[ Boss ]

Oogusuku and Mana have a very friendly relationship. Mana is very happy to have someone like him in the hostess club since he indeed can everyone feel safe just standing there. Mana loves to chat with him about random things, and is so happy for him for having someone he loves.

Sana Sakurai[ Best friend; co-worker ]

Mana met Sana at university. During her first day of class, Sana got lost and the only person who took time for helping her to go to her class was Mana. Mana thought that Sana was a very cute girl, and found her poor sense of direction adorable. After that first encounter, they usually saw each other at campus, and eventually became good friends. They usually spent time together and help each other a lot, and things just got better with years passing. Sana was who introduced her to Sasaki, too, and was very happy to see Mana working in the hostess club as well. Sana usually asks her about how her children are doing and loves to see the photos Mana shows her proudly.

Momoka Suzuki[ Friend; co-worker ]

The first time Mana saw Momoka she thought she was a very cute and pretty girl, so she saw her as her admired senpai. Besides, due to their cheerful and warm personalities, they forged a friendship almost inmediately once they start talking with the other. Since Mana knows English, they often speaks with each other in said language, something that they both seem to enjoy. Also is not rare to find the two of them and Naiotu talk about titties as if that's as normal as to talk about the weather.

Ena Eguchi[ Friend; co-worker ]

Being Ena the sunshine and cheerful girl she is, it wasn't rare that they both got along right away as well. Due to Mana's natural tendency of acting like a mom and being Ena younger than her, she acts with her as an older sister would. Mana thinks Ena's bright smile is the most precious thing in the hostess club.

Utora[ Friend; co-worker ]

The first time she saw Utora she got speechless of how pretty and tall Utora was. Mana really likes Utora and finds her mysterious aura quite attractive, so she understand how popular as a hostess she is. Like with Momoka, she sees her as a senpai and older sister figure and knows she can count on her if she needs her.

Yuzuki Tachibana[ Co-worker ]

When Mana first saw Yuzuki, she thought she was a very cute girl and being her younger just makes Mana's mom instint to activate similar to with Ena. When she saw her rude side, she got reminded of Kuroyanagi so she wasn't much faded by it. She doesn't like when she's rude to other co-workers though.

Saori Hinode[ Co-worker ]

With Tori happened something similar that with Yuzuki, especially since Tori is the youngest member of the hostess club. Mana wants to protect her as a mom, and shows her that pretty often, even if this is not appreciated. She could achieve a better reaction from Tori once she brought some pastries to the hostess club. Mana often tries to stop her from fighting with Yuzuki as well.

Ryoku Kikuman[ Co-worker ]

Mana thinks Ryoku is very beautiful and likes her princely demeanor; she totally understand why she is that popular. Since Ryoku maintains professional politeness but not really much besides that, Mana respects it, and she treats her with the same politeness as to everyone else. She also tries to makes pastries with less sugar content for her when she brings them to her co-workers.

Takumi Ueda[ Co-worker ]

Mana finds Takumi cute and thinks of him as the baby of Crown Royal since he's the youngest member there after Tori. She likes to hug him and pat his head to show appreciation. Mana is happy that Takumi has found some happiness alongside Momoka, and actually talks about his with other as "Momoka's son". Mana asked Takumi if he would be a good big brother for her son Noriaki if they ever meet.

Olivier Mantegoli[ Co-worker ]

Mana respects Olivier and knows how hard can be a language barrier, so she, with Momoka, tries to help him with Japanese. One day that Mana brought some croissants filled with sweet bean paste Olivier looked so disappointed that she would try some bread recipes for him in the future. Mana finds Olivier cute in his own way.

Other

Kozo Sasaki[ Boss ]

When Mana met him she was shocked inmediately for his enormous charisma, that inmediately made her feel safe and think that maybe Yakuza weren't as bad as she thought at first. Mana appreciates Sasaki a lot since she knows she owes him big time for saving her husband's life, and it's aware that anything she could do could have the same value, so she would do anything he'd ask her to. She also loves working at the hostess club, so she's grateful for that as well.

Katsuya Naitou[ Friend ]

Mana and Naitou got along right away due to its similar tastes and playful pesonalities. They love to team up to tease people, most likely Goto or Kuroyanagi. She sometimes teaches him how to bake some things so he can surprise Torakichi and Sung-ho or Goto and Keiko.

Min-ji Na[ Senpai and one night stand during Uni time ]

Min-ji was a senpai at the same major of Mana when she was studying at Uni. The both of them had a warm relationship, and one night they slept together. They didn't talk about that much since they knew they were just friends. They're still amicable if they see each other.

Chizuru Yoshida[ Friend ]

Mana met Chizuru at University as she was her kouhai. Mana thought it was cute how responsible and serious she was even though she was younger than Sana and her. She really liked his company and talk with her about anything, she even became Mana's confident when she started seeing Kumazaki, and usually asked her advise on how to woo him. When Mana found out that Chizuru died, she was devastated.

Isamu Sakurai[ Acquaintance ]

Being Isamu Sana's older brother, Mana got to know him. She though the siblings not only were similar physically but also both were as sunshine-like, although Isamu didn't have as much puppy vibes as Sana. When he died, she was sad, especially for how his lost as well as the circumstances of it affected Sana.

Kyung-seok Yoon[ Acquaintance ]

Kyung-seok was Isamu's friend, and besides of that and thinking he was cute, she didn't have much relationship with him. When years later she met him again in the Crown Royal, Mana was happy for Sana, since they seemed to get along even better than in the past.

Mwika Smith[ Doctor ]

Mana is known for being rather clumsy, so she tends to sprain her ankles and wrists often, so she's an usual patient of Charlie Foxtrots Medical Centre, the clinic Mwika owns. Mana loves going there since Mwika is a very friendly person, but she always feels guilty for bothering her with such 'silly stuff', so she always tries to bring pastries for her.

Taiji Hirata[ Acquaintance ]

Even though she doesn't know him personally, she has seen him in the hostess club from time to time and finds it cute his relationship with Sana. She thinks is too evident what the both of them feel for the other and that it's quite frustrating that they don't make a step further, but still she will root for them forever.

Kaede Kuragi[ Eventual employee ]

Mana met Kaede in 2017 when the latter was looking for a part-time job. Since Kaede knew a lot about baking already, Mana accepted almost right away, after all she could use another pair of hands. Kaede's personality is kind of similar to her as well, so they got along perfectly. Some customers even asked of they were mother and daughter or sisters.