Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu. Season 1 Episode 10: The Hot Spring Break We All Needed

If you’ve been glued to Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu. (A Mangaka’s Weirdly Wonderful Workplace) for its chaotic manga studio vibes, Episode 10 is the breath of fresh air you didn’t know you needed— and fans are losing their minds over it. Let’s cut to the chase: this episode is equal parts wholesome, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt, with a hot spring trip that’s been on everyone’s wishlist since the series started.

First off, let’s talk about Mizuki (Ha-san, as Futami insists on calling her). When she’s sidelined by an eye infection, her usual chaotic energy takes a backseat to quiet insecurity. Fans on MyAnimeList couldn’t stop relating: “Mizuki has some serious confidence issues… Girl needs some positive reinforcement stat!” she’s convinced she’s replaceable as Futami’s assistant, and honestly, who hasn’t felt that way at some point? But Futami’s reaction says it all—she ditches deadlines to make sure Mizuki rests, even if it means putting her own manga on hold. And that eye patch? Fans are obsessed: “The eye patch defo does make Ha chan stand out even more.” It’s the little details like that which make this show feel so real.

Then there’s the moment Futami meets Mizuki’s sister Yuzuki, voiced by the iconic Hayamin (Kana Hanazawa). Fans went wild for this reunion: “Hayamin voicing Yuzuki was so perfect for the character.” Their late-night park chat hits different—Yuzuki drops a brutal truth: “Everyone’s replaceable.” But Futami shut that down faster than you can say “manga deadline”: she makes it clear Mizuki isn’t just an assistant—she’s irreplaceable. One fan summed it up: “The whole ‘everyone’s replaceable’ vibe was kinda deep, but Futami clearly sees Mizuki as one of a kind. That bond’s strong ❤️.”

And let’s not forget the hot spring trip! The crew uses “research” as an excuse to escape the studio, and the chaos is chef’s kiss. Nashida gets left behind with the dog (fans joked she was “bitter” about it), and Futami goes full fangirl over Amano-sensei (voiced by HanaKana—another win for voice acting lovers). One comment said: “This ep was straight-up wholesome and hilarious… Finally got that hot spring ep, took ’em long enough lol.” The chill vibe here is exactly what the team (and us viewers) needed after all the grinding. Plus, the tension between Sato and Futami? Fans are screaming for Sato to confess already: “Sato, just confess at this point poor ha-san she continues to be the most relatable.”

What makes this episode so great is how it balances humor with real emotion. Mizuki’s struggles feel genuine, Futami’s care is heartfelt, and the group’s dynamic is just fun to watch. Fans loved the brief collaboration between Futami and Nashida (even if it was a disaster), and Kobayashi Yuu’s voice acting for Nashida got a shoutout: “her vocal range is outstanding and whenever Nashida starts yapping it’s like listening to three, maybe four, separate characters condensed in a single coherent character.”

Episode 10 isn’t just a filler hot spring episode—it’s a reminder of why slice-of-life shows work so well: the small, meaningful moments. Whether it’s Mizuki’s insecurities, Futami’s unwavering support, or the crew’s silly antics, this episode has something for everyone. If you haven’t watched it yet, go do it—you won’t regret the laughs and the feels. And if you have, let’s agree: this is one of the best episodes so far, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for our favorite manga studio crew.

As one fan put it: “This was probably my favorite episode so far. Lots of funny moments, a few heartfelt moments and Kana Hanazawa joins the cast as well.” Need we say more? Episode 10 is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good mix of chaos and heart. Genki is life, genki is love— and this episode has it in spades. ✨