I can only imagine what sort of conversation there must have been when manga author Toshihiko Kobayashi pitched his new series "Pastel" to the editors of Shonen Magazine KC.

*Start dream sequence*

Editor: So Mr. Kobayashi, you say you have a series you want to pitch to me.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Yes sir. I have this new idea for a romantic comedy.

Editor: Really? What's is called?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: "Pastel."

Editor: That sounds like some kind of glue. What's is mean?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: I'll tell you later, okay?

Editor: Alright, so tell me what this series is about.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Well picture this: The story revolves around an average joe named Mugi. Mugi is a nice guy, but he is unattractive and kind of a dork.

Editor: Excellent. Unattractive dorks are good for us, seeing as how most of the boys who will be buying a series like this are 90% like that too. Go on.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: He spends one summer working at his aunts restaurant to make some extra money, and to try and forget about a girl he broke up with the previous spring.

Editor: Good, good. I'm pretty sure most of our readers will be able to relate to that kind of situation too.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: However, while he is working, he meets an attractive girl name Yuu, who has a cute face and a nice set of boobs.

Editor: Did you say BOOBS?!
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Yes sir, I did.

This series is about boobs...

Editor: Hmm...
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Is there a problem?

Editor: Did you ever take any manga classes?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Yes sir I did, and I learned that if you are going to make a series with boobs in them, you better make them artistic boobs.

Editor: Excellent, you have been taught well.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: I had to, as 90% of the shots are going to have boobs in them. I'm even going to have a 180 degree turn that starts from the head, completely examine the boobs, and end at Yuu's panty-less butt.

...boobs...

Editor: Excellent, I already have a marketing plan in mind. Anything else? Where is this series going to go?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Well, Yuu is going to move into Mugi's house, and they are going to be stuck alone for several days.

Editor: Why will they be alone?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Dad is always working and no one ever visits their house, so they will be alone the whole time. Also I plan to have scenes where they have to share the same bed and wind up holding each other naked.

Editor: How you going to do that?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: I'm going to have all the windows except for one be open during a storm, which makes it so that all the beds except for one is wet.

Editor: Brilliant! What are you going to do about the shower?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Lighting scares the girl. You'll understand when you read it.

Editor: Do you have any drawings.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Yes, here are some of the backgrounds I drew.

*Editor looks over drawings*

Editor: Wow, these are excellent. In fact, these are some of the best backgrounds I've seen in a long time. What do the characters look like?
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Um, hold on.

*Pulls out napkin and doodles on it real quick*

Toshihiko Kobayashi: Here.

*Editor looks are drawings*

Editor: Well I guess those are good enough to pass, though I admit to being slightly disappointed. So tell me Mr. Kobayashi, what is the story ultimately about.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: It's about finding true love in the most unlikely places...which in this case, happens to be the protagonists own home. I call it a sure fire success, and should win a Pulitzer as well as get interviewed by Playboy magazine.

...and the occasional ass.

Editor: Excellent work. I'm loving it. And I'm sure people will love it too should they have forgotten about "Techni Muyo," "Love Hina," and "I''s" by the time we go to print. I just have one more question.
Toshihiko Kobayashi: Sure, anything.

Editor: Why is the series called "Pastel?"
Toshihiko Kobayashi: You'll find out once you read the book.

*End dream sequence*

Well, with that out of the way here's my review: I can't think of anything else this book is about other then boobs. Open any random page, and you'll find boobs. That is about all this book is good for. Of course, it's shrink-wrapped, so you can't just browse through it in the store, you have to actually pay for it to see these boobs. God, don't you just love marketing, I know I sure as heck do.

- -Review By Kevin T. Rodriguez- -