The girls. From left to right: Nana Mizuha, Shizuka Hanazono, Risa Naguri, Miyu Hatoyama, and Emina Tokigawa.
What happens when 5 club leaders are competing to form a club of their own? Enter Emina Tokigawa, who manages to do this by having the remaining four girls become part of hers as well as their talents and hobbies in the Cahe Detective Club.
Cahe Detective Club is a Comedy Slice of Life manga series created by Takeshi Fujishiro (who also made Nagasarete Airantou, making this the sister series) and serialized in Gangan Online from 2009 to 2018 (though physical copies can be purchased in Amazon Japan).
No, it's not a mispronounciation, that's literally the title of the series thanks to the main heroine Emina Tokigawa, who could not pronounce Cafe for some reason. Hilarity Ensues.
An important note is that Shizuka Hanazono is the cousin of Ayane and Machi Touhouin, who are also the cousins of Ikuto Touhouin in Nagasarete Airantou.
This manga contains the following:
- Achievements in Ignorance: Literally with Nana. Because of her Big Eater tendencies, she wins an "All you can eat" contest on time. Her Unknown Rival did not take this well.
- Shizuka beats her own grandfather without even trying while doing needlework. Apparently being a Yamato Nadeshiko in personality does not hinder her natural skills.
- Action Girl: Shizuka is rather athletic in this series. Not suprising, considering her family came from islanders with Feudal Era customs. Miyu is a Kick Chick who's very prone to kicking strangers when they get near her.
- Accidental Misnaming: When Nana first introduces herself (properly) to Touma, she accidentally calls herself "Nya-Nya-Nya". Touma eventually gets it right when they talk to each other.
- A-Cup Angst: Nana is very jealous of Emina's proportions, she drinks an entire container of milk (and cream!) in chapter 2. When she does develop them, they shrunk 2 centimeters. Risa qualifies as well.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Shizuka
- Always Identical Twins:
- This series is full of twins. Emina and Tomua's mother and aunt, and father and uncle are identical Twins. Tomoe-sensei has an identical twin as well.
- Then there's Mei-Mei's sisters who were shown on TV during Emnia, Touma, and Nana's birthdays.
- Always Second Best: Nana's Unknown Rival in being a Big Eater, Yurika Minamigawara.
- Ambiguous Disorder: Emina appears to have this when pronouncing certain words, like "cafe"
- Anticlimax: In Machi's introduction her on-going bet with her cousin Shizuka is explained. If Machi gets her ribbon she'll switch to her fighting club and consequently the cafe would be shut down due to not enough people. After they both demonstrate superhuman martial arts for the day, Machi plans to win with her hidden strength on the final day tomorrow. At the end of the next day Machi got a cold so she admits defeat.
- Artifact Title: Played with. The club takes place in a cafeteria, but the girls usually focus on other things that don't involve solving mysteries.
- Ascended Extra: Both Machi and Ayane Touhouin have a brief mention in Nagasarete Airantou. Here, they appear quite frequently.
- Barbie Doll Anatomy: In chapter 107, the girls are shown completely topless, but have no visible nipples without the Censor Steam.
- Batman Gambit: Emina and a few girls are to create a club with at least 5 people. She does this by having Shizuka Hanazono (a Huge Schoolgirl who tries to make a Fashion Club), Risa Naguri (a Gamer Girl), Nana Mizuha (a Big Eater), and Miyu Hatoyama (a Tokusatsu fangirl).
- Beach Episode: Chapter 19
- Berserk Button:
- Anytime Nana is interacting with Touma or the other way around is Emina's. Also her rather small size (as in height) is also this.
- Nana has hers when Emina is keeping secrets from people.
- A Tranquil Fury version with Touma when Sakuya is flirting with Nana when they first met.
- Touma's high success rate with girls compared to Sakuya's low, to the latter's ire.
- Big Eater: Nana, to the point she doesn't seem to gain weight (especially when she ate an entire loaf of bread). Her other friends however...
- Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: Sakuya is the boke to Touma and Ryokami's Tsukkomi. In fact, Touma says that Sakuya is doing the in-universe version of this.
- Born in the Wrong Century: Shizuka definitely fits this, considering she doesn't show much interest in television and she has a more natural Yamato Nadeshiko personality.
- Brick Joke: Nana's eating habits. They helped her win eating contests and burger events.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Just like her possible half-sister, Machi can't be bothered to stay in a club despite her talents. Though Shizuka tends to make her an unofficial member of the club (not of her choice anyway).
- Brother–Sister Incest: Of the Twincest-variety, though Touma would rather subvert it to hell.
- But for Me, It Was Tuesday: Of a sort. Yurika Minamigawara says Nana has been beating people's records in the metro area. Nana doesn't even care about it.
- Butt-Monkey:
- Sakuya tends to get the receiving end of getting knocked out.
- Emina whenever Touma's involved.
- Buxom Beauty Standard: Pretty much the other 3 girls who aren't Nana and Risa. Miyu tends to wear small bras to fit her chest.
- The Cameo:
- Ikuto appears in the background in chapter 15 along with Misaki.
- Airantou animal designs often appear as costumes or dolls.
- Chaste Hero: Touma is this. Now he's a was this now that he interacts with Nana more.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: In Chapter 37's Festival Episode, Miyu/Emina and Risa/Machi compete in a three-legged race. As Miyu/Emina were at a disadvantage due to height and leg difference, they use their “secret technique” to win. But they get disqualified because Miyu just carried Emina to the finish.
- Chick Magnet: Touma, to Sakuya and Emnia's ires.
- Clueless Chick-Magnet: Again, it's not really his fault. Romance isn't really Touma's strong suit. According to Yuuto, several girls gave up on him when they try to get near him. And yet, when he meets Nana, he actually remembers her out of every girl who throw themselves at him. Their relationship sticks out so much, nearly everyone in both schools (except, of course, Emina) are a Shipper on Deck for them.
- Covert Pervert: Sakuya is suggested to be this. Later on, he and Yuuto agree that they are supposed to be this because they are men. Touma whole-heartedly disagrees.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: A non-romantic example with Sakuya. Sakuya is jealous of Touma for spending time with Emina's friends that he does with them on his birthday.
- Date Peepers: Emina really needs to back off when Nana and Touma are out together.
- Depth Deception: Played with. Ayane is given a cup of coffee which is drawn from an angle which makes it look huge, but doesn't look odd to the characters. It actually was a giant cup used for display, requested by Machi as a prank. And Ayane complained about almost drowning in coffee after drinking the entire thing.
- Drama Queen: Geeze Emina. Getting worked up when a friend of yours has a crush on your twin brother. No wonder everyone in both schools decided to ride the bus the three were in.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Nana is called the Demon Lord of Gluttony. She does not take it well.
- Everyone Can See It: People are Shipper on Deck with Nana and Touma. Except Emina.
- Expy:
- Machi Touhouin is this of Machi from Nagasarete Airantou if she wasn't a magic-crazy Miko. In fact, she wore' the uniform in chapter 24.5.
- Amusingly enough, unlike her Airantou counterpart (or half-sister), she's Always Second Best to Shizuka.
- Fangirl: Miyu is a huge fan of Toku, moreso with Kamen Rider. Hell, she has a Rider Belt from what appears to be from Kamen Rider Double.
- Face of a Thug: Shizuka, while feminine in personality, has this problem, since to other characters, she looks as if she possesses a powerful Battle Aura. Again, considering who her distant relatives are, it's not too surprising.
- Fanservice: Suprisingly toned down despite the universe it's in. Panty Shot aside, nudity is never used as an Overused Running Gag.
- Feminine Women Can Cook: Nana. Emina however doesn't like to cook.
- Hidden Depths: Touma knows how to fight. This is best demonstrated with he spots two delinquents stalking a couple and effortlessly defeats them both. The pair wounds up unconscious on a bus bench in chapter 99.
- Gamer Girl: Risa is this. However in chapter 5, Shizuka can play Donkey Kong better than she could. 20 times.
- Shizuka watches everyone playing Mario Kart at Emina's house while Nana explains the game. Then Nana joins and Shizuka is invited to play as well. She effortlessly beats everyone every race all night. Even after falling asleep at some point.
- The Glasses Come Off: Played straight and subverted in two occassions. Mana took hers off while pissed off at Emina when Emina creates a misunderstanding. Subverted with Itsuki when she does it at the last second to act cool, only to be revealed to be Blind Without Them in the Mystery Arc chapters. Mana however, is not blind without her glasses.
- Going Commando: Miyu isn't usually concerned about her panties showing. However one day she forgot to bring them to change after swimming class. This made her embarrassed and careful about what she does until her swimsuit can dry for half the day. The next day after her ordeal, she made sure not to forget them... by wearing them under her swimsuit.
- Half-Identical Twins: Emina and Touma.
- Huge Schoolgirl: Shizuka, who has this problem like Sakaki.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Chapter 101 involves a ring-out match with Emina and Shizuka. Due to Shizuka's rather obvious affections to her Emina takes advantage of this, and pushes her off the ring.
- Hopeless Suitor: Amazingly averted. Nana has this situation until Touma started talking to her more actively. Of course Emina being Emina...
- The Idiot from Osaka: Averted with Nana whose parents are from Osaka, but she was born in Tokyo. Clearly, the other girls thinks she's not a true Osakan because she does not fit the stereotype.
- Idol Singer: Mana Kisai is secretly the singer Akana. Of couse, Emina knows this.
- Ignore the Fanservice: Naru, the girls' friend, was at the receiving end of this attempting to get Touma's attention, to the point of trying to show her naked body to him to Emina's chargin.
- Ironically averted with Nana, due to Miyu flipping Nana's skirt in front of Touma. Emina actually notices how uneasy he was.
- I'm Standing Right Here: On the bus home from school, Nana and Touma discuss Emina's immature behavior at the cafe. Then Emina angrily reminds them she's standing right in between them. Also taken up to eleven in that most of the main characters also got on the bus just to hear them discussing about Emina.
- Innocent Fanservice Girl: Miyu is oblivious to the fact that she tends to show her panties since, to her, the embarrasing parts are already covered by the panties. This is apparently due to having always gone to all-girls schools and growing up in a house of all girls. She once also took off her bra in the birthday chapter because she's uncomfortable with them.
- Instant Cosplay Surprise: With her superhuman martial art skills, Shizuka likes to instantly dress her cousin and fellow martial artist Machi with the club uniform. Even while she’s saying something or sitting.
- Irony: Emina suspects Nana having a one-sided feelings for a boy she met once (later to be revealed as Touma). When they finally do meet, she's hilariously at the receiving end of that spectrum, thanks to Touma's active interactions with Nana. Emina does not take it well.
- Jabba Table Manners: Yurika Minamigawara, who wolfs down food in contrast to Nana, who eats elegantly. Yes, somehow that is possible.
- Kick Chick: Miyu, thanks to the Rider shows she watches.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: The characters sometimes talk about the chapter count or numbers on events that happened before.
- Love Makes You Dumb: A rare case where it's adorable with Nana, who is heavily lovestruck. Emina is clearly not amused.
- Married to the Job: A weird case with Emina and Touma's parents who are a manga artist and light novelist. Their father who is One of the Kids usually wants to avoid work while their mom tends to kick him if he's skipping out.
- Mistaken for Gay: Risa assumes Shizuka is this for Emina. She thinks otherwise because she thinks Emina
cute. - My Sister Is Off-Limits: Gender-flipped. Emina clearly does not want Nana (or any girl) to see Touma, no matter what.
- Not Distracted by the Sexy: Touma's most consistent personality is that he often ignores the fanservice around him, to the point that wearing your underwear around him or accidentaly showing your bloomers does not even take notice. Nana is perhaps the only exception.
- Oblivious to Love:
- Touma is very oblivious to Nana liking him. Later on, he unconsciously flirts with Nana. He seems more active to talk to other girls when it involves Nana. Naru was at the receiving end of this, but her luck wasn't as good as Nana's.
- Sakuya falls under this with his Childhood Friend Iwatsuki.
- Omniglot: Risa is able to speak English, Spanish, Italian, and French.
- One-Gender School: The girls' school. Touma's isn't.
- Out-Gambitted: Touma does this frequently to Emina. And it's due to her trying to spying on him thinking he has a Porn Stash.
- Out-of-Character Moment: Nana notices instantly that Emina is less bothered when Touma was seen with Iwatsuki. Cue being pissed off and grabbing her by the head when she detects the deception.
- Photographic Memory: Emina can do this along with sharp senses. At busy times in the cafe she can accurately take orders from a dozen people speaking at the same time. And she always gets perfect scores on exams from memorizing entire textbooks and she also reads fast. As demonstration of her ability, she can keep track of a deck of cards getting cut and all the underwear Nana was wearing since they started the club.
- Porn Stash: Emina thinks Touma has one. Later on, he refuses to have one.
- Real Men Can Cook: Touma is this to Nana's Feminine Women Can Cook (which is funny on itself because she's a Big Eater).
- Real Men Wear Pink: Touma when it comes to cooking. Implied with Shizuka's father, who sews, but not her mother.
- Running Gag:
- Emina will overreact every time Touma is with Nana or the other way, being among the lines that he's being "immoral".
- Nana will frequently grab Emina's head to interrogate her.
- Shizuka's skills in video games, to the point she can play them while sleeping.
- Sensei-chan: Tomoe-sensei.
- She's Not My Girlfriend: Touma denies this, invoking that he and Nana are Just Friends whenever Nana's involved. Unfortunately for him, it doesn't help his case whenever he's around her and his and Emina's friends can see it.
- Shout-Out:
- In Chapter 6, Emina's brother Touma makes one in regards to Death Note.
- Later on in Touma, Emina, and Nana's birthday, their friend Naru makes a reference to Metal Gear.
- The Stoic:
- Shizuka is this at a The Comically Serious degree.
- Miyu will make frequent comments on Kamen Rider and Ultraman. Moreso with the former.
- Super Drowning Skills: Miyu
- Superspeed:
- Shizuka is fast enough to change Machi's clothes when she's not looking. Must be seen to believe.
- Miyu clocks up just to get a bucket of ice. She returns with a block in a mere panel.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: It's not like Nana wants to see Touma by going to Emina's house to study.
- Iwatsuki is this at a classic Type-A Tsundere level.
- That Came Out Wrong: Nana accidentally says that she's sexually unresponsive when she meant to say that she has allergies.
- The Sixth Ranger: Mami Yashio is an aspiring mystery writer, so naturally she gets added in the club.
- The Tease: Emina wil occassionally tease Nana by flirting with her brother. Of couse, she's literally teasing.
- Those Two Guys:
- Touma's friends, Yuuto and Sakuya.
- A Gender Flip version with the girls' friends, Mana and Naru.
- Token Romance: The relationship between Nana and Touma comes off like this, though it actually takes its time rather than being a subplot in every chapter.
- Tomboy with a Girly Streak: Played with with Shizuka. She looks to be a badass Action Girl, but her favorite hobbies is sewing. Meanwhile Miyu is a tomboy who doesn't like girly things. Her little sister even puts on her bows on her way to school.
- Tsundere: Emnia and Touma's mother, and Sakuya's friend Iwatsuki who are Type A's.
- Tranquil Fury: Let's just say when someone is smiling complete with an ominous background, it's best not to piss them off.
- Twincest: Parodied. Emina does it to freak out Nana, much to Touma's annoyance.
- Unishment: During a summer vacation Emina enters her club to a Mystery Night contest on a beach. But her members don't find much interest in detective work nor do they have the skills. They eventually lose and gets a penalty of surviving on a harsh island for a while. However they are either used to island environments or just very optimistic. So they treat it like an ordinary vacation while Emina is the only one who has a hard time.
- Verbal Tic: Emina has difficulty pronouncing the F's in words. This is the reason the club is called the "Cahe" club instead of "Cafe."
