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I did a quick search because the ending wasn't quite satisfying for me and it looks like the series may have been axed. the author didn't literally use the term "axed" or anything similar but they mention the "serialization would end" after vol 4 (now playing used to be serialized in the magazine gangan online) and that it would be hard to continue the story after that in this blog post by the author (in JP). in the blog they talk about "shortcomings" in regards of the series so i believe it might have ended because of lack of popularity
http://number1of2lumbers3.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-83.html
im not an expert on how publishing works so i didnt quite understand what the serialization part had to do with the inability to keep going (since there are series aren't in magazines and publish tankoubons volumes only), but i guess this manga was the kind that only got tankoubons after enough chapters were published in the magazine.
in terms of whether or not it's worth reading, knowing the fact, i think its decent. as with all axed series, it won't an award winning level, but i think it's still enjoyable despite the goals left unfinished
while we were just recently introduced to a number of new characters, the main group had their personalities and back stories fully fleshed out to a satisfying level. also with the new characters, it's not like they're there and then it ends; there is enough screen time for them to get a decent idea of what kind of people they are. it's also at the timing of the story it ends at, they haven't reached a level where you've become so invested in the story that it's frustrating that they don't see it through. Now playing ended at a time where their dreams may now not be just dreams but there's still a long ride ahead of them. i feel like it would have been more satisfying if the ending was clearer
It was NOT BL, just a friendly relationship between two men. The plot was about a salaryman's superior that turned SD/chibi for some reason (i think stress over worrying about whether they were too harsh on their subordinates but im not sure) and his subordinate that would bring him sweets (to calm down i think?) when he was in his tiny form. the superior had cherry red hair and i think the subordinate had grey/blond hair.
If anyone remembers the name of it let me know!
Edit: If it helps, it was a black and white japanese comic (hence why i said manga but some people interchange manga/manhua/manhwa so this is just for extra clarification)
ch2 p37 - very clever to consider it a Johnny's reference but i don't think it's that deep.
since the reference is not a name of an idol and rather lingo within fans, the likelihood of hoshi being a fan and knowing is very slim. i think he just thought it was cute because "fuku" is a common pet name and adding "tan" at the end is a cutesy way to address someone