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5[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/strawberryshakesweet1.png]]
6TeenIdol Tachibana Julia is not thrilled when told she has to look after a newbie... at least, [[LoveAtFirstSight until she gets a look at said newbie, Ran Asakawa]]. She changes her mind ''really'' fast, and so starts the story about [[YuriGenre their love]] and [[HilarityEnsues whatever wacky things happen to them and their friends]].
7
8Written by Creator/HayashiyaShizuru, ''Strawberry Shake Sweet'' started off as a story in ''Magazine/YuriShimai'' and eventually moved ''Magazine/YuriHime'', running from 2003 to 2008. The story is chock full of many absolutely hysterical moments and a bunch of quirky characters as well. Definitely a recommended read for anyone who enjoys the [[YuriGenre yuri genre]] and comedy.
9
10Was originally called just ''Strawberry Shake'', but got the ''Sweet'' added for legal reasons when it changed publishers.
11----
12!!Contains examples of:
13* AccidentalKiss: Saeki gets one from Julia while trying to stop Julia from stealing a kiss from Ran.
14* AffectionateNickName: Ranran.
15* AlliterativeTitle
16* AttemptedRape: Played for [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnFemale laughs]] with [[spoiler:Kaoru]]'s fumbling attempt to seduce/force herself onto [[spoiler:Saeki]].
17* AuthorAppeal: Clothes. Hayashiya Shizuru plainly enjoyed playing dress up the characters: even Saeki sports a different hairstyle practically every episode, and in Zlay-san's case, it verges on CostumePorn. Sera, the photographer, is the only character who keeps more or less the same looks throughout her appearances, which kind of makes her stand out from the rest of the cast.
18* BattleDiscretionShot: when Julia takes on [[spoiler:Ran's mum]] in chapter 17.
19* BehindTheBlack: Done often by Ryou and occasionally by Ran. Always lampshaded for laughs.
20* BeleagueredAssistant: Saeki hates her job, but she sticks with it. Have to wonder why...
21* BelligerentSexualTension: Of sorts, between [[spoiler:Rena and Sera]]. Also, between [[spoiler:Kaoru and Saeki: Kaoru provides the 'sexual', while Saeki does the 'belligerent' part.]]
22* BetaCouple: Rena/Sera.
23* BewareTheNiceOnes: If you dare to stand between Julia and her love interest, you better bring a lot of spare bones.
24* {{Bifauxnen}}: When Ryou is in her performance attire, it can be really hard to tell she's a girl.
25* BlandNameProduct: Sera's photo camera.
26* BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine: Ryou likes to draw Julia (and others) into these. Julia occasionally lampshades it.
27* BrainlessBeauty: Ran really isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. [[TheCutie Not that this makes her any less adorable]]...
28* BridalCarry: when her sempai falls and sprains her ankle, Ran dutifully comes to the rescue... [[https://bato.to/reader#0932f5861d05ce70_21]]
29* ButLiquorIsQuicker: [[spoiler: Julia [[BlatantLies just wants to loosen up a bit]]; she's [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial totally not trying to get Ran drunk.]] Same thing with Kaoru: she only wants to share a friendly glass with Saeki...]]
30* ButNotTooForeign: [[spoiler: Ran is half-Japanese, half-American.]]
31* ButchLesbian:[[spoiler:''Ran'', of all people, seems to turn into one when she's had a little too much to drink.]]
32* TheCasanova: Ryou has supposedly bedded ''thousands'' of girls, but she is prone to exaggeration...
33* CannotSpitItOut: Julia's structural failure to convey her feelings to Ran makes up for most of the comedy (and drama) of the series.
34* CastFullOfGay: To Saeki's chagrin.
35* ChattyHairdresser: Kaoru.
36* ClosetKey: Ran is this to Julia, who didn't even know what it was like to feel attracted to another person (let alone another ''girl'').
37* ConcertKiss: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. [[spoiler:Ran and Julia kiss for the first time on stage at the Zlay concert, but there is nothing romantic about it as it's just part of the performance; their ''real'' "first kiss" comes a few pages later, while they're ''watching'' the concert from the backstage, ''and'' it's obscured by a KissingDiscretionShot .]] Arguably counts as an ExploitedTrope too, as it's ''heavily'' implied that Ryou had set everything up in order to bring it about.
38%%* CovertPervert: Julia, oh so much...
39%%* CrashIntoHello
40%%* CrushBlush
41* CursedWithAwesome: Ryou likes to complain about being constantly besieged by hordes of raving fangirls.
42* DeadpanSnarker: Reki to Ryou.
43* ElegantGothicLolita: Reki of ZLAY. [[spoiler:Julia and Ran also end up dressed like this when Zlay drag them into their concert.]]
44* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Saeki seems to attract a fair share of unwanted female attention. She's also very popular among the manga's [[YuriFan female fandom]].
45* EvilMatriarch: Ohtori Shizuka [[spoiler:who also happens to be Ran's mother.]]
46* FacePalm: Saeki does this a lot in response to Julia's antics.
47* FanService: Avoided with extreme prejudice, even in Julia's homoerotic fantasies.
48%%* FingerSuckHealing: Chapter 4.
49* FirstKiss: [[spoiler:Finally happens in chapter 14]]. Like most of the love tropes in this manga, it's played with and partially subverted: [[spoiler:initially set up (by Ryou) to be a BigDamnKiss, Ran and Julia manage to take it into [[AwkwardKiss Awkward]] territory with their [[TwiceShy shyness]] and misunderstandings. On top of it all, [[KissingDiscretionShot the readers hardly get to catch a glimpse of it.]] ]]
50%%* TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne: Ryou, for hilarious effect.
51* {{Foreshadowing}}:
52** At first, Ran's tendency to establish physical contact with Julia may seem like an innocent RunningGag at Julia's expense. In hindsight, it reads as an early sign that Julia's attraction wasn't so one-sided after all.
53** Less subtle: [[spoiler: Ran remembering the conversation between Julia and her supposed male love interest. The guy, implied to be a sexy hunk, only appears in Ran's memory as a vague, rough sketch. Later, when she tries to think of ways to "support them in their relationship", her brain just freezes and she ends up with a headache. It's almost as if Ran's subconscious is trying to tell her something...]]
54* {{Gaydar}}: Ryou has one that is so sensitive that apparently she can tell when a "comrade" is born.
55* GenericCuteness: with OnlySixFaces to go around, there isn't a big difference between supposedly average-looking characters like Kaoru and Saeki and the more beautiful ones like Julia, Ran or Ryou. Ran's "exotic charm" is something of an InformedAttribute.
56* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Subverted when Julia goes berserk at Ran's mother:
57-->'''Saeki:''' Julia, wait...! Restrain yourself! You have to restrain yourself...
58-->'''Saeki:''' ...so at least you don't leave any marks...
59-->'''Julia:''' Right.
60* GirlsLove: Played very straight--no pun intended.
61* TheGlomp: Julia does her best to keep herself from pouncing upon Ran, but sometimes [[https://bato.to/reader#2ee12aabfe7706fd_19 Ran's cuteness]] is simply [[https://bato.to/reader#2ee12aabfe7706fd_20 impossible to resist]]. Kaoru, on the other hand, is a [[https://bato.to/reader#f2290367522b7ef5_10 happy glomper]].
62* GratuitousSpanish: Kaoru in the New Year's special; at least in the English [[{{Scanlation}} scanlated]] version.
63--> '''Kaoru''': Get naked for me, ''por favor!''
64%%* GreenEyedMonster
65%%* HairContrastDuo: Julia and Ran.
66%%* HilarityEnsues
67* HugeSchoolgirl: Ran is pretty tall for a Japanese teenager (176 cm) and, although the manga doesn't have a school setting, some of her shyness seems to stem from being self-conscious about this. Julia once calls her a "tall idiot".
68%%* IdenticalPanelGag
69* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: [[spoiler: Ran]], practically OncePerEpisode... until [[spoiler: she realizes her own feelings and is afraid of even coming close to Julia.]]
70* IfItsYouItsOkay: invoked and averted. Saeki asks Kaoru if her relationship with her young girlfriend is like this: Kaoru quite cheerfully [[AvertedTrope shoots it down]].
71--> '''Kaoru''': No, it's because she's a girl. I like girls!
72* IgnoredEnamoredUnderling: Megumu to Saeki; it's not clear to what extent Saeki is aware of it.
73* ImportantHaircut: [[spoiler: Julia]] has short hair in the very last episode. Mainly, this indicates that some time has passed, but [[spoiler: in that time Ran has disappeared, and also Julia has changed somewhat.]]
74* ImprobablyFemaleCast: As with most GirlsLove series.
75* InVinoVeritas: One glass is enough to [[spoiler: transform the shy, insecure and -up to that point- mostly straight Ran [[https://bato.to/reader#75075b0e6c64c8a1_12 into]] [[https://bato.to/reader#75075b0e6c64c8a1_13 this]]]]
76* IncompatibleOrientation: Try as she may, Kaoru isn't getting anywhere with Saeki...
77* IntertwinedFingers: Julia and Ran doing it in [[spoiler:chapter 15]] symbolizes the next stage of their relationship.
78* TheJailBaitWait: Kaoru is careful to point out that she has no intention of "crossing the line" with Haruna as long as the girl is under the legal age of consent. ''Teasing'' her to no end is a different matter, and apparently covering each others' bodies with kiss-marks is allowed, causing an exasperated Saeki to ask what line is going to be left to cross at this rate...
79* LargeHam: Ryou of ZLAY is absolutely ''fabulous''.
80* LostInTranslation: According to WordOfGod, much of the humor is based on puns or references to Japanese popular culture and media. Western readers who only know the manga from {{Scanlation}} are probably missing out on a lot...
81* LovableSexManiac: Kaoru and Ryou
82* LoveAtFirstSight: Julia changes her mind about being Ran's senpai ''really'' quickly after seeing her once.
83* LoveRedeems: Julia starts off with a mean, abrasive personality; falling in love with Ran brings out the nicer aspects of her character.
84* MaidAndMaiden: Saeki is a kind of mentor/surrogate mother to orphaned Julia. She also plays the part of a strict chaperone for most of the manga.
85* [[MrImagination Mrs Imagination]]: Julia. Holy schlamoly.
86* [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling My Yuri Sense Is Tingling]]: Ryou can pick up yuri vibes from half a city away.
87* {{Nosebleed}}: Julia as a result of Ran [[{{Moe}} doing something Julia perceives as cute]]. Lampshaded on these [[spoiler:[[https://bato.to/reader#06fe3173ce93bc27_7 two]] [[https://bato.to/reader#06fe3173ce93bc27_8 pages.]]]]
88* NewSeasonNewName: from ''Strawberry Shake'' to ''Strawberry Shake Sweet'', at the same time ''Yuri Shimai'' was rebooted into ''Yuri Hime''.
89* NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction: Julia gets to kiss Ran as part of a stage performance at the Zlay concert, but she complains that it's "like taking a helicopter straight to the peak of mount Everest".
90** (Note that it's actually ''pretty hard'' to reach the peak of mount Everest with a helicopter: at nearly 9000m altitude, the air is too thin to provide much lift to the rotor blades)
91* NotWhatItLooksLike: Several, though one in particular was during New Years when Saeki, pissed off at Kaoru's flirtations, ties her up and threatens to throw her out with the trash. Cue Julia and Ran walking in at that very moment and add the fact that both know Kaoru has a thing for Saeki...
92* ObliviousToLove:
93** Ran manages to miss some ''really'' obvious looks and passes from Julia:
94--->'''Ran:''' I'll rub your shoulders for you later.
95--->'''Julia:''' [[spoiler: You could rub a lot more than just my shoulders [...] ]]
96** Sera Mutsuki.
97* OfficeRomance: All over the place. Literally ''everybody'' has a crush on someone they work, or have worked, with.
98* OldMaid: Saeki and Kaoru are both around 27 and single. When discussing her friend's relationship with Haruna, Saeki heavily implies that [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Kaoru ought to stop fooling around with girls and get herself a husband.]]
99* OneHeadTaller:
100** Ran and Julia.
101** Ryou and Reki.
102* OnlySaneMan: The way Saeki sees herself.
103* OutOfFocus: Megumu quickly falls into this after her debut in chapter four.
104* PunchClockVillain: Saeki. She's constantly blocking Julia's advances towards Ran, but it's just part of her job; and she's ''right'' to think that a scandal could damage the two girls' reputations. Also, at first she's under the assumption that Julia is [[GayRomanticPhase just going through a phase]] and it doesn't even cross her mind that Ran could reciprocate her feelings. In the end, she's more than happy to quit playing chaperone for them.
105* RedStringOfFate: A variant of it, in the cover of the first album [[http://i49.tinypic.com/imuy5k.jpg]]
106* {{Retcon}}:
107** Julia very nearly pounces upon Ran in the first chapter of the manga; in subsequent chapters we can see her [[https://bato.to/reader#785c48dcc2964e61_8 making passes at Ran, and Saeki rebuking her for being too bold]]. Then, in chapter 6, [[https://bato.to/reader#d35b3a85bca8af4e_20 this]] happens: Julia is suddenly pronounced -and effectively rendered- "completely incompetent" and incapable of putting the moves on the girl she likes.
108** Chapter 6 also ends with Julia taking Ran to her house, and a note stating that she "collapsed from [[{{nosebleed}} anemia]] the minute she got home" and slept all the way through to the next morning. Later, however, an extra chapter reveals that important things happened that night...
109* RunningGag: Oh ''boy'', where to start. Ran is the main source of these, and hardly a chapter goes by without her:
110** Finding an excuse to touch Julia and make her burst out in a nosebleed.
111** Falling asleep somewhere for great cuteness.
112** Saying something that'll make Sera do a SpitTake.
113%%* SacredFirstKiss: A cause of much angst in chapter 13.
114* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: Averted! [[spoiler:Even though Shizuka is a famous actress with lots of power and influence, it doesn't stop Julia from putting her in 42 joint locks.]]
115* {{Seme}}: Invoked by WordOfGod (in the notes at the end of the first volume), but actually avoided in the manga:[[spoiler: while Julia simply can't work up the courage to make her move, Ran struggles through several chapters to ''stop herself'' from pouncing on Julia.]] In the end, [[spoiler: Julia confesses first, yet she still thinks she's the "passive partner" because Ran takes the initiative for the kiss]]; and the dynamic leading to that moment has nothing of the Seme/Uke in it. Rena, on the other hand, goes full Seme once she gets over her Tsundere phase.
116* ShipperOnDeck: Never explicitly stated, but Ryou is ''so'' obviously intent on getting Ran and Julia together (see ConcertKiss above)
117%%* ShippingTorpedo: Saeki's official capacity.
118* ShoutOut:
119** ZLAY is a parody of the real life Japanese band GLAY.
120** Ran and Julia's names are a reference to ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet''.
121** Ran's real name, Ran Ohtori, is the name of a famous Creator/TakarazukaRevue actress. As for her false name, Ran Asakawa... well, just google it and see.
122** In the first chapter, Julia is stopped short of performing the infamous, trademarked [[Franchise/LupinIII Lupin dive]] on Ran.
123** There's a discreet visual reference to ''Anime/HeidiGirlOfTheAlps'' in the second chapter.
124%%* SimpleMindedWisdom: Ran in chapter 11, in one of her most endearing moments.
125* SingleTargetSexuality: Julia, most likely. She never shows any interest or attraction towards ''anyone'', male or female, other than Ran.
126* {{Slapstick}}: less frequent than in other Hayashiya Shizuru titles such as ''[=HayateXBlade=]'', but there are some instances. It usually ends up in a CranialEruption or some other kind of AmusingInjuries.
127* SpitTake: Rena, twice within three pages, courtesy of Ran.
128* StalkerShrine: Julia wants a life-size poster of Ran. To put it on her ceiling. Make of that what you will.
129* StalkerWithACrush: Ran thinks that there is one after her in one of the subplots; Saeki is convinced Julia is one and is afraid she'll take it too far. Also, in the final chapter we learn that [[spoiler:while Ran was supposedly living overseas with her father, she was actually still in Japan and regularly stalking Julia.]]
130* TheStoic: When Ran first appears, she gives off this impression due to her rather sleepy look and lack of expression. This changes as the story goes on.
131%%* StrawberryShorthand
132* StupidSexyFlanders:
133-->'''Julia:''' How can a tall idiot like that manage to look so cute? [[https://bato.to/reader#0932f5861d05ce70_14]]
134* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial:
135-->'''Julia:''' I'm just drinking to soothe my nerves [...] I don't want to get Ranran drunk and take advantage of her.[[note]]Made worse by the fact that she's ''only talking to herself.''[[/note]]
136%%* SweatDrop
137* TeenIdol: Julia, Haruna-chan and eventually Ran.
138* TheTalk: With zero clue as to how two women...get intimate, Julia calls up a pro on the subject: Kaoru. [[spoiler: She still doesn't do anything with Ran.]]
139%%* TheirFirstTime: Invoked by Ryou.
140%%* ThunderShock
141%%* TimeSkip: In the last episode.
142* TomBoyAndGirlyGirl: Played with. The short-haired, boyish-looking Ran is the more gentle and feminine one, whereas small, long-haired Julia is an aggressive KickChick.
143* {{Tsundere}}:
144** Rena acts this way towards Sera, the one she loves, with emphasis on the tsuntsun side.
145** At one point, Julia thinks it may be better to act colder towards Ran during work and more friendly during free time. All she succeeds in doing is confusing Ran even more.
146** Saeki is a classic tsundere, having a stern, serious attitude that hides a softer, nicer side.
147%%* TwiceShy
148* UnknowinglyInLove: Ran and Julia spend a good deal of the manga like this: first by failing to notice ''their own'' feelings, then by practically refusing to acknowledge that said feelings are mutual. HilarityEnsues.
149* UnresolvedSexualTension: What the plot revolves around. Chiefly between Julia and Ran, but also between [[spoiler:Rena-chan and Mutsuki.]] Also, played with between [[spoiler:Kaoru and Saeki: since practically the whole cast are gay, it is heavily implied that Saeki might actually be a closet lesbian and that Kaoru's lust for her might not be totally unrequited. This turns out to be a red herring, though.]]
150* UnwantedHarem: Things get pretty hot around [[spoiler:Saeki]] in chapter 4. Sadly, it only lasts for that one chapter.
151%%* VisibleSigh
152%%* VisualKei: Zlay.
153%%* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue
154* WillTheyOrWontThey: Never really gets answered, even after they move in together. They're ''trying'', though.
155-->'''Julia:''' Ran-Ran! It turns out we do need experience points! Let's try our best to do it tonight!
156* WindmillCrusader: Julia tends to blow things out of proportion with her [[MrImagination overactive imagination]], especially during the 'stalker incident'. Since she has a much calmer, not particularly bright character -Ran- as her foil and sidekick and she's also [[TheDulcineaEffect blissfully unaware of any flaws in the object of her affections]], this would basically make her a Literature/DonQuixote, with Ran being both her Dulcinea ''and'' Sancho Panza.
157%%* WordSaladTitle

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