is a Japanese manga anthology by Mitsuru Adachi. Four volumes compile stories selected from shōjo, shōnen, josei and seinen works released from 1985 until 2009.
Plot
Volumes
Short Program The first collection, titled simply Short Program, collected stories published between 1985 and 1988. In Japan, Shogakukan published this in November 1988. In the United States, Viz Media published this collection in March 2000. The chapters are arranged differently from the Japanese release, for unknown reasons. As was customary with most manga published in the US at the time, the pages were 'flipped' so that they read left to right, rather than right to left as originally drawn. It is also printed at a larger paper size than the now-standard manga size.
Short Program (original release) (2005 re-release) Short Program Japanesechapter Viz chapter English title Japanese title Rōmaji title Serialized Publication date Summary 1 7 The Current State of Affairs 近況 Kinkyō Shōnen Big Comic January 1987 Kazuhiko Sugii goes to his class reunion for fun, but once he meets Asako Takazawa and Toshio Higashi, it dawns on him how clueless he was about the three of them back in school. 2 6 At the Intersection 交差点前 Kōsaten Mae Shōnen Big Comic April 1986 Takechi goes to that intersection at around 5PM every day just to pass by a girl he crushes on, but never has the guts to confess to her or even knows her name, until a terrible misunderstanding results in her never coming again. But all this bad luck with her and his stupid friends may ultimately end up as good luck. 3 3 Short Program ショート・プログラム Shōto Puroguramu Young Sunday March 1987 Shirimura's on a date with a cool neighbor who has helped her a lot. But as their conversations unfold, she realizes she's dating a creep. 4 2 Take Off テイク・オフ Teiku Ofu Young Sunday April 1988 Nagashima came to Nishizaki's to watch a sport show on which Nakata, a woman Nagashima knew in his hometown, is doing the high jump. After recounting stories about her peculiar trait with his friend, Nagashima realizes her sporting goal may have something to do with him, and she's about to do the ultimate jump. 5 1 Change チェンジ Chenji Weekly Shōnen Sunday November 1985 Akatsuki has a crush on Etsuko who only has feelings for her boss at the coffee shop, while being rough on and unappreciative of Kei who's always enjoyed his company. Only when he finally realizes that Etsuko isn't meant for him and that Kei has changed only for him, Akatsuki changes too. 6 8 Plus 1 プラス1 Purasu Wan Ciao June 1986 Chisato Ichinose and Ichirō Imai have feelings for each other but are too shy to profess them. It takes a jerk to step in and help change the status quo. 7 9 Purple むらさき Murasaki Ciao June 1985 Murasaki just doesn't want to pick any side in all the conflicts between the beautiful school council president Minako Seito or the delinquent girl gangs of Akashi and Aota in school. But neutral doesn't mean spineless, and when there's a bully, he will stand up to them, which explains the seemingly odd charm that he has over all the girls. Still, there's one side he may like to be on: the side of the awkward Haruna Komiya. 8 4–5 What's Going On!? なにがなんだか Nani ga Nanda ka Shōnen Big Comic January 1985 Keiichi is on the way to a ski resort to see the girl with whom he has been corresponding in person, at the same time remains cautious by using a fake name, so that he can bail in case her look turns out not as pleasant and encouraging as what he imagines she sounds through the letters. Unfortunately for him, everyone at that resort agrees to play a game in which they all also use fake names and fake identities as a means of escapism.
Short Program 2
The second collection, titled Short Program 2, collected stories published between 1988 and 1995. In Japan, Shogakukan published this in June 1996. In the United States, Viz Media published this collection in April 2004. Unlike the first volume, this collection was published right to left, in the now-standard paper size for manga.
Short Program 2 (original release) (2005 re-release) Short Program 2 Chapter English title Japanese title Rōmaji title Serialized Publication date Summary 1 Before Spring Comes 春が来る前に... Haru ga Kuru Mae ni... Petit Comic April 1992 Wakaba Moriyama gets a part-time assignment from her detective father: a spy mission that's unlike any of those intriguing stories in TV and movies. That is, she has to spy on a guy and that's all about it. As she yawns over her boring job, she discovers that what she's on gets intriguing all of a sudden and she may not even be the one who's doing the spying. 2 Subject - Wakaba 若葉マーク Wakaba Māku Weekly Young Sunday January 1995 Detective Moriyama assigns his assistant to find out what Wakaba is up to lately. Apparently, she's been involving in some secret business with a married man. The evidence photos the assistant gets gives the detective a sigh of relief now that his potential son-in-law's powerful father's upset and doesn't approve of this prospect marriage with his daughter Wakaba, thinking this is a clever ruse his assistant has cooked up to scare off an unwanted suitor. The assistant refrains himself from reporting all of what he knows so far, only to find out that that's a right thing to do: not everything is as it seems. 3 A Stop on the Way 途中下車 Tochū Gesha Weekly Shōnen Sunday September 1994 16-year-old Wataru Matsumura is on his way to see the girl known as Akimi Sakura who was there to save his life, in order to profess his feelings for her. Unfortunately, he gets robbed right in the middle of the way. He's now stuck in a strange place, but fortunately, his classmate Keiko Komiya, who's working for her family's resort there, agrees to help him get a job so that he gets enough money to continue his travel to his true love. When he's done and starts boarding the next train, he chances on another classmate and finds out that he may not have to go anywhere else, after all. 4 5×4P Big Comic Superior July - September 1992 A collection of 5 shorter stories:1 お茶をにごす: Various people chats about various things in this small coffee shop. The shopkeeper also seems to have a thing for his beautiful, flirtatious waitress.2 おかわりいかがですか？: A gold-digging woman thinks she can get away with bribing her ex in exchange for his silence in this coffee shop. Unfortunately there are speakers everywhere, and her next victim hears everything from the bathroom.3 ちょっとお客さん: The shopkeeper speaks to his waitress about the struggles that that manga artist over there must be enduring.4 クリームソーダ: A businesswoman misses one of the most important meetings of her life, with her ex-husband and her son. She decides to cancel all other meetings and just sit there at this coffee shop. But the pair of father and son also have to come back because they've dropped their precious family-photo key fob.5 立つ鳥 お茶をにごす: The shopkeeper asks his beautiful, flirtatious waitress out, not knowing that the phone call to his wife was on the whole time. 5 4 on the Richter Scale 震度4 Shindo Yon Weekly Shōnen Sunday July 1988 When he can't muster enough courage to give her his love letter, an earthquake gives him some help. 6 Aim at the Ace エースをつぶせ! Ēsu o Tsubuse! Shōgaku Shinensei June 1986 Disgraced coach Kageyama now has to wear all black and tries his best to stop a boy from wanting to play baseball, all because of a psychic's prophecy that if that boy ever becomes a baseball player, it'll be the end of the Cats team. But Kageyama can't help being skeptical and keeps "accidentally" coaching that boy time and time again. 7 Spring Call スプリング・コール Supuringu Kōru Weekly Shōnen Sunday April 1993 Kōhei Shinjō the genuinely nice guy has an idea for a play titled Spring Call, with a subtle ending that his classmate Nao agrees would make a great play. But when the club president Akahori abuses his power for his own opportunistic and intelligence-insulting play, Kōhei can no longer stay a spineless nice guy. 8 Spring Passes ゆく春 Yuku Haru Big Comic Spirits May 1993 As Kenji Uehara watches a rugby game at his old high school with Tomomi Sakamoto, he recalls memories of his best friend Takayama who, on this day four years ago, died happily thinking Tomomi said yes to him. No one could get over the loss of a rugby talent, and a very good friend. 9 The Road Home 帰り道 Kaeri Michi Young Sunday October - November 1989 The Road Home 1: While playing hide-and-seek with his friends in the country, a little boy somehow gets lost in a strange urban area. It appears that he has traveled to the future. He's only able to mysteriously get back home in the pitch dark night. The Road Home 2: While on his way to cram school, a little boy finds himself stranded in the past. He manages to learn some cool things before getting back at class just in time. 10 Sayonara Game サヨナラゲーム Sayonara Gēmu Big Comic 1991 Summer Special He has made it at the last second so many times in his life. He really believes in his luck. But will luck help him win over her at the last second?
Short Program 3 This volume was published in July 2007 in Japan.