This summer’s best new romance anime just achieved a rare perfect score on Crunchyroll

With its official July premiere just weeks away, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You has already carved out a significant niche on Crunchyroll. The series has rapidly ascended to become the platform’s highest-rated anime, maintaining a flawless 5.0 score backed by over 20,000 user reviews at the time of writing.

It is remarkably rare for a romantic series to command such universal acclaim. However, the show’s unique structure—consisting of 12 bite-sized, 10-minute vignettes—has proven to be a winning formula. This achievement makes it the first title on the platform to hold a perfect average at such a high volume of engagement, defying the typical downward drift in ratings that often accompanies a surge in popularity.

This perfect streak is particularly impressive when contrasted with heavy hitters like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End or Jujutsu Kaisen. While those titans consistently rank in the high 4.8s or 4.9s, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You has sustained its top-tier status despite its unconventional, short-form format.

The series’ early success is largely attributed to Crunchyroll’s innovative release strategy. By debuting 12 short-form episodes ahead of the traditional summer broadcast, the production team fostered an organic buzz, allowing the core narrative to capture an audience long before the standard weekly airing schedule begins.

Originally a webcomic by Jinushi, the series was later serialized in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan. The story offers a refreshing departure from high-stakes fantasy and intense action, centering instead on the grounded, quiet connection between a weary salaryman and an understated convenience store clerk. It is an exploration of the small, poignant moments that define human interaction and personal solitude.

The core appeal lies in this intimacy; by shunning grandiose narrative stakes in favor of character-driven storytelling, the show provides a meditative experience that resonates deeply with viewers seeking a more contemplative tone. As the official television debut approaches, the true test will be whether this series can maintain its stellar reputation among a broader audience. Regardless, it has already set a high bar for the summer season.

Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You officially arrives on July 2.

Source: Polygon