Choko Kuze is the daughter of a once-wealthy family who went bankrupt and have now resorted to making soba for the regular people. When she joins a real estate company as an entry-level office worker, she finds everything isn't all its cracked up to be as soon as the interview starts — and the first question is whether she's a virgin or not! But when her new boss, the egocentric hard-liner Masayuki, accidentally calls her "milady", Choko finds there's much more to this man that meets the eye; he's the young servant who had doted after her when she was a child. Is it even possible to fall in love with a man who is a workaholic beast by day and a noble servant by night?
Highlights:
When Choko Kuze is being interviewed for her job, the first question she gets asked is "Are you a virgin?" by Masayuki, who ends up being his boss. She is constantly being run down by all his demands, then having to go back home where her family has opened up a soba shop. However, when a crazed armed man storms the building and takes Choko hostage, Masayuki, in his attempt to save her, reveals the truth: that he is really Cha-Chan, a servant who was Choko's friend when she was young and not poor. Even after this revelation, Masayuki is hard on Choko, although kind to her after hours. When a client notorious for getting drunk and frisky is scheduled to be entertained, Choko goes to prove to Masayuki that she is perfectly capable of performing her duties. Later, Choko and Masayuki and several other employees are at a hotel under construction to look over progress. A mysterious woman named Suou shows up and is very close with Masayuki, raising Choko about such a flamboyant lady. Suou finds out that Choko is in love with Masayuki and challenges Choko to take Masayuki away from her! A forced close encounter with Masayuki on the constructive site has Choko re-evaluating her relationship with Choko, even more so when he falls ill and she has to take care of him. Lastly, Choko is made to work for her family's soba shop for New Year's Eve and it is busier than ever — but she receives some unexpected help from two people very close to her.
Overview:
Does the Butterflies, Flowers series bring anything new to the realm of shojo? Let's see: young woman from rich family gone broke has to find work, ends up working for her servant-turned-boss and falls in love with him despite his day-and-night behavior. Sound creative enough for you? Even if it doesn't, if it story seems patchworked from other series, Yuki Yoshihara does great work putting new spins on tired tropes. The main character is refreshing and the romance intriguing; the art isn't anything special but is nice and works with the story style. There's a nice blend of humor and seriousness that sets the tone of the opening volume apart from other like-minded series. One of the few problems I had reading the story was a real lack of sympathy for Choko's economical plights: for someone whose family lost it all and became soba sellers, she seemed to quickly find a new job and is in no danger of losing it anytime soon. I hope Yoshihara picks it up with the entanglements and throws some real curveballs her way; I am intriguied enough by this first volume to look forward to the rest of the series and what will happen to Choko and Masayuki's oddity of a romance.
ComicsOnline gives Butterflies, Flowers volume 3.5 out of 5 bowls of soba.
