That one time when they took me to the theater as a child, I saw, of all things, a beautiful pair of wings on the leading actress. ... It seems that nobody else could see the wings. But if I'm not careful, I get drawn in by the wings, entranced to the point where I don't do anything else. Actually, from the first time I saw them, I had this idea that they were... the mark of a star!
Yes,
Everything's Better With Penguins. But this isn't about that.
Yukari Fujimaru's dream is to have a steady job as a civil servant. At sixteen, she's been though the rags to riches cycle more times than she can count thanks to her father's unreliable business sense, and all she wants for herself is the stability of a regular paycheck. However, Yukari has the ability to recognize a potential star talent by the beautiful, shining wings she can see on their backs.
When she sees a small pair of such wings on her classmate Ryoko Katsuragi, Yukari considers suggesting to her that she might be cut out to be a star. Then, by accident, she discovers that "Ryoko" is actually a boy, Ryo, in disguise. Soon Yukari finds herself caught up in show business and the eccentric Peacock talent agency, acting as Ryo's manager in an effort to make both of their dreams come true.
It's not going to be easy, because not only does Yukari have to juggle schoolwork and finding jobs for Ryo, she has to pretend to be a man. And live with Ryo and his odd but extraordinarily talented roommate. And if her secret gets out, she and Ryo both get fired.
Show business is
weird.
This show provides examples of:
- Accidental Kiss — Yukari and Ryo.
- Accidental Pervert — Ryo.
- Attack Hello — Yuzuru Narazaki to Yukari. Twice.
- Attractive Bent Gender — Ryo as "Ryoko"; Yuzuru Narazaki.
- Bishonen — Everywhere.
- Blind Without Em — Ayaori, which is fortunate for Yukari as he is prone to walking in on her while she's in the bath.
- Blue Bishonen Ghetto — Peacock basically functions as one.
- Casa Lane Parenting — Yukari's father, prior to his full-fledged Parental Abandonment.
- Companion Cube — Yukari's alarm clock.
- Eyes Always Shut — Saburo Watanuki, acknowledged in his mini-profile at the end of volume 3.
- Fangirl — Keiko Ochiai.
- Five Man Band — Visibly employed by Show Within A Show Animal Spirit Heroes; Narazaki plays The Lancer.
- Ho Yay — Little or much, depending on your mileage.
- Jerk Ass — Shogo Fukatsu.
- Jerk With A Heart Of Gold — The president of Peacock. Also Yuzuru Narazaki, though he's not quite as much a jerk.
- Love Triangle — Narazaki, Yukari, and Ryo.
- The Minnesota Fats — Ayaori, to Ryo.
- Missing Mom — Ryo's.
- Nerd Glasses — Ayaori.
- The Ojou — "Ryoko."
- Parental Abandonment — Both of Yukari's parents.
- Perpetual Molt
- Pose Of Supplication — Yukari and Ryo spend nearly two hours this way to save their jobs.
- Recursive Crossdressing — Yukari.
- Samurai — Narazaki plays a lot of these and tends to emulate their style.
- Selective Obliviousness — Ayaori, regarding Yukari's cross-dressing, at least until volume 6.
- Sentai — Show Within A Show Animal Spirit Heroes: Animal Alliance.
- Show Within A Show — Several, given that it's a series about the entertainment business.
- Student Council President — Ayaori, although "Ryoko," as vice president, does most of the job for him.
- Sweet On Polly Oliver — Narazaki.
- Sweet Polly Oliver — Yukari as "Yutaka".
- Training From Hell — Narazaki puts himself through it voluntarily... and expects his manager to accompany him.
- Triang Relations #4 — Narazaki, Yukari, and Ryo - first professionally, then romantically.
- Trickster Mentor — The president of Peacock.
- Waif Fu — Yukari has a black belt in aikido.
- Warrior Poet — Yuzuru Narazaki.
- Wholesome Crossdresser - Both Yukari and Ryo.
- Yaoi Fangirl — Yukari finds Ryo and Ayaori in the same bed, and immediately pulls out a camera.
