[Manga Dub] I jokingly asked her if she wanted to go out with me and...

[00:00:00]So, you dragged me out here. What do you want?

[00:00:04]>> I've liked you for a long time. Please go out with me.

[00:00:11]>> Sorry. No.

[00:00:14]>> Hajime Ukami.

[00:00:16]A sophomore girl. Who's the total package? School and sports.

[00:00:23]>> Nice shot.

[00:00:26]A. She's amazing.

[00:00:29]super popular with everyone regardless of gender. Part of it is her looks, sure, but that looks heavy. Let me get that.

[00:00:40]Oh, >> hey, I can carry that.

[00:00:46]>> No, it's fine.

[00:00:48]>> Oh, okay.

[00:00:51]>> She's so cool. Totally no nonsense.

[00:00:54]Dependable.

[00:00:56]She seems like she could take on the world solo, which is probably the secret to her popularity.

[00:01:03]Hey.

[00:01:05]>> Hey.

[00:01:06]>> And me, Ren Yabumi? I happen to be childhood friends with this popular girl.

[00:01:13]I'm in the literary club, so I come to the club room during lunch to read in peace. And Hajime always shows up here, too, looking for a quiet place to game.

[00:01:23]You're not a member, you know. You probably shouldn't be hanging out here this much.

[00:01:28]>> But the club president gave me the green light, so it's fine, isn't it?

[00:01:32]>> Well, sure, because our club president is completely under your spell.

[00:01:39]>> Huh?

[00:01:40]>> Such an oblivious heartbreaker.

[00:01:43]She's never been particularly interested in people, so she has absolutely no idea how others see her. How many poor souls has this oblivious charmer left in her wake?

[00:01:55]For the record, I am not one of them. I know how to keep a healthy distance.

[00:02:00]She's the same. She keeps people at arms length, too. Maybe that's why we've stayed childhood friends for so many years. We just kind of [music] get each other on that level.

[00:02:11]She hates it when people poke their noses into her business. So, she probably feels like she can relate to me a lot.

[00:02:19]There was this one time.

[00:02:23]Uh, this cat is lying on my book and I can't read.

[00:02:28]>> Okay, your shoe. Go on, scoot.

[00:02:33]>> Thanks.

[00:02:36]>> Are you a little sad about that?

[00:02:40]>> Not really.

[00:02:43]>> Come on. You wanted to read, right? Go ahead. Read as much as you want.

[00:02:47]>> Whenever something messes with my time, she steps in like that. She values her own time, too. So, she hates being interrupted just as much.

[00:02:56]That's just how we work. We each do our own thing side by side.

[00:03:02]That's just the vibe between us.

[00:03:04]Wait, where did those snacks come from?

[00:03:08]>> Just got this new flavor.

[00:03:11][gasps and sighs] >> You want some?

[00:03:15]>> Can I have a bite?

[00:03:17]>> Open up. Ah. Pretty good, right?

[00:03:23]Meh.

[00:03:25]>> Fine. You get none next time.

[00:03:28]>> Anyway, back to what I was saying.

[00:03:31]So, hey, >> what?

[00:03:35]>> I heard you got another confession and shot the guy down.

[00:03:39]>> Yeah, what am I supposed to do? There's nobody I want to date.

[00:03:44]>> Hey, you're eating them, you sneaky little.

[00:03:48]I mean, you could always give it a shot.

[00:03:50]Dating someone might be nice. You know, love is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

[00:03:56]>> There you go again. You're such a hopeless romantic.

[00:04:00]>> I love romance stories, so naturally, I've always had this longing when it comes to love. Someday, I want to experience a real life love story as amazing as the ones in the books.

[00:04:12]Oh, look, a real life romance isn't all that great, okay? You need to get your head out of the clouds.

[00:04:18]Someday I want to experience a real life love story as amazing as the ones in books.

[00:04:24]>> I've been confessed through plenty.

[00:04:26]Compared to a Ren who's never got a single confession, I'd say that counts as experience.

[00:04:32]>> That was kind of a low blow, wasn't it?

[00:04:34]Did you really need to bring up the fact that I've never been confessed to?

[00:04:39]>> Well, Ran wouldn't know since he's never been confessed to.

[00:04:44]Stop rubbing it in that I'm untatable.

[00:04:46]Would you keep it up and I'm eating all your snacks?

[00:04:50]>> Wait, how are there this few left already?

[00:04:54]>> Besides, just getting confessed to doesn't mean you understand love.

[00:04:59]>> I have no idea. You know how I feel about this, right? I hate having my time wasted, and being dried out just by someone who likes me is already annoying enough. [music] On top of that, I have to sit there and kill time, too.

[00:05:10]>> Wow. Ice cold.

[00:05:13]But she's got a good heart, which is why the girls actually love her.

[00:05:18]>> Leave the high spots to me.

[00:05:21]>> Charming people without even trying all day long. And once someone falls for her, >> I really wish people would stop confessing to me. It's so annoying.

[00:05:33]>> Confessing to her is a one-way ticket to heartbreak. She's great as a friend, but I'm really glad I never fell for you.

[00:05:42]What's that about?

[00:05:44]>> Nothing. [music] But like this, Hajime will never get to experience how wonderful love really is.

[00:05:51]Poor thing.

[00:05:54]>> Poor thing.

[00:05:56]>> What's your type? You must have some kind of preference.

[00:06:01]>> Ren, >> me.

[00:06:05]>> Like the way you actually respect what I want. Being around you is just easy.

[00:06:12]Huh? Well, in that case, why don't we just date then? [laughter] Just kidding.

[00:06:18]>> Sure, let's go out. Hope you're in it for the long haul.

[00:06:22]>> Wait, what?

[00:06:23]>> Oh, and no takebacks, just so we're clear.

[00:06:27]>> Hey, you can't just pick up your game like nothing happened.

[00:06:32]>> But I'm at a really good part.

[00:06:35]>> Fair enough.

[00:06:37]>> That's exactly why I like you.

[00:06:40]Whoa. You okay?

[00:06:43]>> Hajime, do you actually like me?

[00:06:47]>> Of course I do.

[00:06:50]>> Romantically?

[00:06:53]>> No. As a friend?

[00:06:55]>> That's confusing.

[00:06:58]I assumed you were saying yes because you had feelings for me.

[00:07:03]>> Oh, my bad for the mix signals.

[00:07:07]Uh, so what exactly is going on here?

[00:07:10]You've been turning everyone down and now suddenly >> I thought about your proposal for about 12 frames.

[00:07:19]>> That's like 02 seconds. That's basically a reflex. She basically didn't think at all.

[00:07:25]Wait, don't tell me you finally see the light about how great love is?

[00:07:31]>> Nope.

[00:07:33]Honestly, I'm just sick of getting confessed to all the time. At my peak, I had three in one day, and each one takes anywhere from 10 to 30 [music] minutes.

[00:07:41]You do the math on how much time that is.

[00:07:44]>> 30 minutes? How does that even happen?

[00:07:48]>> The other day, this one guy got so nervous, he had a stomach ache and was in the bathroom for 20 minutes.

[00:07:55]>> And you waited for him the whole time?

[00:07:57]That's honestly kind of impressive.

[00:08:00]There have been three guys like that, by the way.

[00:08:04]>> That's way too many.

[00:08:07]>> So, I've been seriously thinking about getting a boyfriend to keep the guys away, but I felt bad dragging someone into my personal stuff.

[00:08:14]>> What? But it's fine to drag me in.

[00:08:18]>> Well, I've known you forever. Plus, you're the one who brought it up. Let's date. Remember?

[00:08:24]>> That was a joke.

[00:08:26]>> So, you're taking it back?

[00:08:30]Fine, fine. Fake relationship or not, use me however you want.

[00:08:36]>> Thanks. And look, even if this is to keep guys away, we're officially a real couple now. So, I'm going to do this right. Okay.

[00:08:43]>> Do this right meaning.

[00:08:48]>> Like couple stuff, flirting, whatever.

[00:08:51]If there's something you want to do, just say so. I'll go along with it.

[00:08:56]Does that include the spicy stuff?

[00:09:00]>> There's the perve.

[00:09:03]>> Can't help it. I'm a healthy high school boy.

[00:09:07]>> Whatever happened to your love of romance?

[00:09:12]>> At the end of the day, romance leads to the spicy stuff. That's just the truth.

[00:09:17]>> Real life romance, maybe. Sure. At least keep the fictional stuff pure and sweet, would you?

[00:09:23]>> Pure and sweet.

[00:09:25]Wait, you love romance stories. How do you not know the term platonic?

[00:09:31]>> The spicy stuff. Uh, the possibilities.

[00:09:36]>> If that's what you want, fine.

[00:09:38]>> Can you show just a little more embarrassment about that?

[00:09:43]>> I mean, that's what couples do, right? I don't really care about that kind of thing.

[00:09:49]>> You are unbelievably no nonsense. You know that?

[00:09:53]Honestly though, I want Hajime to actually enjoy being in a relationship, not just treat it like a task to complete. In all the romance stories I love, everyone's always blushing and excited, getting swept up in every little thing the other person does. It always looks so amazing.

[00:10:11]I want that for myself and I want Hajime to experience it, too. So, Hajime, hold my hand.

[00:10:20]>> Hold your hand.

[00:10:23]I'll teach you what love is supposed to feel like.

[00:10:27]>> Okay.

[00:10:29]>> You didn't even pause.

[00:10:31]>> We've held hands before, haven't we?

[00:10:35]>> True. Way back when, Hajime used to grab my hand all the time so we wouldn't get separated.

[00:10:43]>> You'd wander off the second I looked away.

[00:10:47]>> Doesn't it make your heart race?

[00:10:50]>> Not really. Does yours >> uh fair point? We tried a bunch of other things after that, but neither of us felt butterflies. H What am I supposed to do?

[00:11:09]>> The senpai?

[00:11:12]>> H Yeah.

[00:11:15]>> Um I heard a rumor that you and Okami senpai are going out. Is that true?

[00:11:23]>> Oh, that. Yeah, it's true.

[00:11:27]>> No way.

[00:11:30]>> She looks pretty crushed. Oh, right. She might be a fan of Hajime.

[00:11:36]H. Normally, I shouldn't say anything, but she's such a sweet kid. I'll let her in on the truth.

[00:11:43]>> Wait, to keep guys away?

[00:11:46]>> Yeah. So, technically we're together, but it's not like we're in love or anything. We'd probably break up if either of us actually fell for someone else.

[00:11:56]>> I I see. Oh, thank goodness.

[00:12:00]>> Just don't tell anyone. Okay.

[00:12:03]>> Yes, of course.

[00:12:06]So, I couldn't help but notice you seem stressed out earlier. Is something wrong?

[00:12:12]>> Yeah. Hajime doesn't really get how great love can be. I've been trying to show her trying all sorts of things, but Hajime and I have been close for way too long. We'd already done most couply things before any of this started. About the only things we hadn't done were like kissing, anything involving physical intimacy.

[00:12:34]But knowing Hajime, she'd probably just >> Huh. So that's what kissing feels like.

[00:12:41]>> Say something like that. I just know it.

[00:12:45]So, I'm trying to figure out how to make her understand. But maybe I should just binge watch romance shows with her for 24 hours straight.

[00:12:53]>> Um, >> yeah.

[00:12:58]>> If you'd like, I could help you look.

[00:13:01]>> Really? I mean, I don't want to be a bother.

[00:13:05]>> No, I know some really good romance titles.

[00:13:09]>> Oh, yeah. Tell me more.

[00:13:13]Hey, Ren. Walk home with me.

[00:13:15]>> Sorry, I've got something going on today. Head home without me.

[00:13:19]>> Oh, I Okay, got it.

[00:13:23]>> Sorry about that.

[00:13:26][sighs] Ever since Ren and I started dating, I haven't gotten any more confessions.

[00:13:33]There are still some guys fishing for a chance, and they tend to go after Ren since he looks like a pushover.

[00:13:39]Hey, just break up with Hajime already.

[00:13:43]Even if I did that, that wouldn't make her your girlfriend.

[00:13:47]>> He drops cold hard logic on them until they cry. Don't let that innocent face fool you.

[00:13:53]People say I'm no nonsense, but honestly, Ren's got me beat.

[00:13:58]Freshman year, he was invited to the afterparty for a school festival, and he actually skipped it just like that.

[00:14:07]He's genuinely just not that interested in people. Seems fine in groups, totally normal on the surface, but left to his own devices. He'd be a hermit forever.

[00:14:17]I've been watching him like that since we were kids, [music] so I've always felt like I should check in on him now and then.

[00:14:23]This is the first time he's turned down my invitation by saying he has plans.

[00:14:29]It's never happened before.

[00:14:32]Usually when Red had something going on, it was just stopping by a bookstore and I could always come along.

[00:14:38]But not this time.

[00:14:41]He told me to go home alone.

[00:14:44][music] In other words, he didn't want me there.

[00:14:48]I need to know what's going on.

[00:14:51]I've never seen this from him before. I can't just leave it alone.

[00:14:56]What could Ren possibly have going on?

[00:15:00]Whatever it is, he has to pass through here on the way out.

[00:15:04]I'll follow him and find out where he Huh?

[00:15:09]Wait.

[00:15:13][groaning] No way.

[00:15:18]I just caught my boyfriend cheating and we just started going out.

[00:15:26]Okay, sure. I said this was to keep guys away, but I also said we were a real couple. I said I'd do this right. Was I not doing enough girlfriend stuff?

[00:15:36]Was that it? Was I not being girlfriend enough?

[00:15:41]>> Hey, cutie. Want to come hang out with >> Excuse me.

[00:15:47]>> Never mind. I'll just uh No.

[00:15:50]>> Fine. I'm seeing this through to the end.

[00:15:54]Welcome.

[00:15:57]>> I'll take this.

[00:15:59]>> Thank you.

[00:16:02]>> Have you read this one, senpai?

[00:16:05]>> Yeah, I know it well. It's great.

[00:16:08]>> I'm glad. It's my favorite. And I thought senpai.

[00:16:15]So she says club underassmen.

[00:16:20]They look like they're having so much fun. Is it because they're both in a literary club and have stuff in [music] common?

[00:16:27]It's not like I have anything in common with him hobbywise.

[00:16:33]I've known him my whole life. That counts for something.

[00:16:37]Wait, why am I getting competitive about this?

[00:16:42][sighs and gasps] Get it together.

[00:16:47]This isn't like me.

[00:16:50]letting someone else get under my skin.

[00:16:53]I don't know what I was thinking.

[00:16:56]What Ren does and who he's with has nothing to do with me.

[00:17:00]It's his business. I have no right to.

[00:17:04]Nope. I can't help it. It's pissing me off.

[00:17:09]What even is this feeling?

[00:17:13]My chest hurts. My heart feels all prickly and sharp.

[00:17:18]I'm pretty sure I could say something awful to the stranger I pass right now.

[00:17:24]Is this jealousy?

[00:17:27]Me jealous? There's no way.

[00:17:31]Oh, sorry, senpai.

[00:17:35]>> No, no, my bad.

[00:17:37]>> That was close. Almost said something I can't take back.

[00:17:42]Okay, I have to admit it. I'm jealous.

[00:17:47]I didn't know I was this possessive.

[00:17:51]No, wait. I am supposed to be non nonsense. Totally chill. There's no way someone like me would feel like she has to own someone.

[00:18:00]You know, someone who has to tell people that they're non nonsense is usually not that non nonsense.

[00:18:06]All right.

[00:18:09]Wait, was that me?

[00:18:12]I'm not actually no nonsense.

[00:18:16]And what is this guy's deal? Why does he keep flexing in my peripheral vision?

[00:18:20]What are you even trying to prove?

[00:18:23]Oh, shoot.

[00:18:28]This is a magazine for people obsessed with muscles.

[00:18:33]It was $24. That's not cheap.

[00:18:37]I grabbed it without looking just to have something to hide behind. Is he going to think I'm some kind of muscle fanatic?

[00:18:44]He definitely thinks I'm obsessed with muscles.

[00:18:48]Cut it out. I am not into muscles.

[00:18:53]I'm Why is Ren's face popping into my head right now?

[00:19:00]It's true. Being around [music] him feels, I don't know, safe. Like everything else just fades away.

[00:19:08]But when it comes to him, I care so much enough to follow him here. Do I actually like him that much?

[00:19:18]Yeah, it all makes sense now.

[00:19:24]I like Ren, not just as a friend, though. Honestly, I didn't realize it was this possessive and intense.

[00:19:35]But this is a serious problem.

[00:19:38]If this changes things between us, I don't know what I'd do.

[00:19:43]What am I supposed to?

[00:19:46]>> Thanks for coming along today.

[00:19:49]>> Of course, senpai. Anything for you.

[00:19:52]>> Now I've got the perfect book to give her as a gift.

[00:19:57]>> If I get any closer.

[00:20:00]That guy is going to get me caught.

[00:20:03]What is he even talking about?

[00:20:06]Let me get a little closer. And I can almost hear.

[00:20:11]Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you, senpai.

[00:20:16]I I like you, senpai.

[00:20:22]Wait, was that just a confession?

[00:20:27]That's absolutely not okay.

[00:20:31]Ren is mine.

[00:20:34]Okay, I am done with you.

[00:20:38]>> Wow, I did not see that confession coming. I figured I'd be more caught off guard than this. There was this guy nearby the whole time flexing going, which made it kind of hard to respond in the moment. So, I told her I'd give her my answer later. But, oh, Hajime. Hey, what are you doing here?

[00:21:00][sighs and gasps] Whatever. Just come in. I actually had something I wanted to give you.

[00:21:07]The lovingly curated romance book selection I put together with my underclassman's help. Even Hajime won't be able to read these and not think, "Man, I want to love like that."

[00:21:19]So, I went to the bookstore with my underassman today and Mhm. You've been really quiet. Are you feeling okay?

[00:21:32]What is happening right now?

[00:21:34]>> I don't want to hear about that.

[00:21:37]>> What?

[00:21:39]Uh, >> we're going to do the spicy stuff right now.

[00:21:46]>> Whoa. Out of nowhere.

[00:21:48]>> Your parents are at work right now. I know your schedule. No one's coming home for a while.

[00:21:53]>> Hey, what's going on with you?

[00:21:56]>> I saw you with another girl.

[00:22:00]Oh, you mean my underclassman >> cheater?

[00:22:04]>> It's a misunderstanding.

[00:22:07]>> And I realized something. I like you, Ren.

[00:22:12]>> You said that before.

[00:22:14]>> Not as a friend. I like you as a guy.

[00:22:18]>> Uh-huh.

[00:22:20]Huh?

[00:22:21]>> But you don't like me back, right?

[00:22:23]You're only going along with this because we're childhood friends and I needed a cover. I can't handle that.

[00:22:30]Hold on. Calm down for a second.

[00:22:33]>> I want to make you mine and mine alone.

[00:22:38][snorts] The spicy stuff, huh?

[00:22:41]Honestly, this is a very easy situation for me to say yes to. Can't help it. I'm a healthy high school boy. But there's one thing that's been bothering me. I'm a healthy high school boy. I'm definitely not saying no to the spicy stuff.

[00:22:59]Then >> but do you actually want this?

[00:23:04]>> What?

[00:23:06]>> You and I have always respected each other's boundaries. We've kept a comfortable distance.

[00:23:12]We've both had parts of ourselves we don't want. We've both had parts of ourselves we don't let anyone else touch. Right now, you're trying to ignore what I want and cross that line.

[00:23:26]Isn't that the one thing you hate most?

[00:23:29]>> That's I mean >> other people doing whatever they want with you and not caring about your feelings. That's your biggest pet peeve, isn't it? And I don't want you to do something you'd regret. So, think it through. I'm not opposed to the spicy stuff, but acting purely on impulse like this is wrong, don't you think?

[00:23:50]>> I think you're right.

[00:23:53]So, what do you want to do?

[00:23:56]>> I'm sorry.

[00:23:58][sighs and gasps] >> Jeez.

[00:24:00]I really wanted to say yes, though. But at least I came out of that looking cool, so I guess it's fine.

[00:24:09]I'm really sorry. I almost destroyed everything we've built together.

[00:24:17]>> I loved that distance we had. What was I thinking?

[00:24:22]Finding the right distance with someone is hard.

[00:24:28]>> Even when you think you're keeping a certain distance, if you both take a step towards each other, suddenly you're too close. And if you both step back, you're too far. You try to hold steady, and before you know it, things have shifted.

[00:24:44][gasps and sighs] >> But for what it's worth, I was really happy you stepped towards me.

[00:24:55]I thought she was totally non nonsense, but she's got this whole other side to her. We've known each other forever and I'm still learning things.

[00:25:04]>> Um, so about that what you said earlier, your answer.

[00:25:11]>> Can you give me a minute on that?

[00:25:13]>> What?

[00:25:15]>> There's someone else who confessed to me first, and I have to give her an answer before I get to you.

[00:25:21]First come, first served.

[00:25:23]>> Look, order matters. Can't skip the line. No cutting.

[00:25:30]>> Thanks for telling me how you feel. But I already have a girlfriend.

[00:25:34]>> But it was just to keep guys away.

[00:25:39]>> She still matters to me.

[00:25:41]>> I see.

[00:25:45][sighs] >> You waited.

[00:25:48]>> I couldn't help it.

[00:25:50]I turned her down.

[00:25:52]>> I see.

[00:25:55]>> Right now, I'm your boyfriend. Not looking to date anyone else.

[00:26:00]>> So, how exactly do you feel about me?

[00:26:04]>> I'm honestly not sure if it's like like, but having you next to me feels really comfortable, calming even. So, I'd be really glad if you stick around.

[00:26:17]It's too late.

[00:26:20]>> And just like that, we were more than childhood friends.

[00:26:25]Hajime, I'm here.

[00:26:27]>> Hey, I'll go get some drinks. Make yourself at home.

[00:26:31]>> Cool. I've been in Hajime's room a bunch of times, but this is the first time as her boyfriend. It's making me a little nervous, actually. H And there's a magazine on the floor. Hajime doesn't usually read stuff like this. What's she been looking at? Page flip. This is >> back. But why are you doing that?

[00:26:55]>> I had no idea. Hajime, you're into muscles.

[00:26:59]>> I am not.

[00:27:02]>> I'm going to start working out.

[00:27:04]>> I said I'm not into muscles.

[00:27:07]Stop that already.

[00:27:11]>> My name is Shinji Eno. I work as a janitor at a talent agency. I didn't get into this job because I'm an idol fan or anything. I just like the hourly pay. I run into idols all the time here. But since I couldn't care less about them, I just go about my work without getting swept up in any of it.

[00:27:28]>> Great work today, Jenna. That song was incredible.

[00:27:32]>> Yeah. Yeah. Thanks.

[00:27:35]>> Good work.

[00:27:37]>> Huh.

[00:27:39]>> That's Jenna Hiro, the biggest idol in the game right now. Being as in demand as she is, it makes sense that everyone around her falls all over themselves to make her happy. But Jonah always keeps this kind of frosty distance from everyone around her. Not really my problem, though.

[00:27:56]Why are you so cold to Junah? I'm not.

[00:27:59]That's just normal. It is not normal.

[00:28:02]That's a top idol. You can only see her on TV and here she is right in front of you.

[00:28:08]If it were me, I'd be bowing my head to the floor every time I said hi.

[00:28:14]Please don't dirty my floors. How are you so completely unaffected?

[00:28:19]It's just how I am.

[00:28:22]And that's the truth. I give every idol the bare minimum, a quick greeting, and Juna is no exception. I just don't feel anything about it. But then >> hard at work again today, huh?

[00:28:36]Yeah, thanks. Lately, Jenna had started coming up to talk to me. She's got this cool matterof fact delivery, but she barely even acknowledges the other staff. The fact that she's saying anything at all to me is already kind of unusual.

[00:28:52]>> Thanks for always keeping things clean.

[00:28:54]>> It's my job.

[00:28:56]Still, it's just small talk. Probably just a passing whim. I answer the same I always do. No fuss, no excitement.

[00:29:05]Though from the other staff's perspective, it looks like I'm sitting on a gold mine.

[00:29:11]>> How is this happening? What's the secret to getting Judah to talk to you? Beats me.

[00:29:18]They keptounding me, but I genuinely had no idea. Not like we were going out to eat together or anything, so there was no real reason to make such a big >> You off the clock? Come get food with me.

[00:29:32]>> Oh, what?

[00:29:34]Okay, maybe there was.

[00:29:37]Why on earth would Jenna want to grab food with someone like me? Any normal guy would be over the moon, like every drop of blood in his body shooting out of his nose. But honestly, my first instinct was to make up an excuse and bail.

[00:29:53]I actually I kind of have something going on after this.

[00:29:57]>> Oh, so you want today to be your last day here?

[00:30:01]>> I just remembered I have nothing going on.

[00:30:05]Great. I panicked and said something that barely made sense.

[00:30:09][sighs] Turning down a top idol, who also happens to be one of this agency's biggest clients, is a one-way ticket to getting fired. That much was obvious.

[00:30:19]And if I caused problems for the company on top of that, >> good. Let's go then.

[00:30:25]>> Yes, ma'am. And so, reluctantly, I went along with it.

[00:30:31]Now then, what should we order?

[00:30:34]>> Um, >> what?

[00:30:39]>> Uh, why me? Why did you invite me of all people?

[00:30:44]>> Isn't it obvious?

[00:30:47]>> Huh?

[00:30:48]>> You're the only one who treats me like nothing when I'm literally the top idol right now.

[00:30:54]>> I'm sure there are others out there like me.

[00:30:57]>> There aren't.

[00:30:59]Well, you're looking at one.

[00:31:02]>> Then you're not human.

[00:31:04]>> Uh, should I be worried about you? I figured top idols were a different breed. Turns out that's more accurate than I thought.

[00:31:13]>> Look, I am a top idol. There are countless people who would be thrilled just to have a conversation with me.

[00:31:19]>> I know.

[00:31:21]>> Everyone around me trips over themselves to make me happy.

[00:31:26]>> I know. Oh, your food's getting cold, by the way.

[00:31:31]>> Why are you thinking about the food right now?

[00:31:34]>> Because the food is more interesting to me than the conversation.

[00:31:38]Apparently, being fond over 24/7 had made it genuinely impossible for her to believe someone could just not care.

[00:31:47]I get it. Most people probably don't act like this around her, but this is just how I am. Nothing I can do about it.

[00:31:55]At first, I thought you were just too nervous to act normal around someone as dazzling as me. So, I started saying hi.

[00:32:02]But when that did absolutely nothing to change how you acted, I started thinking maybe this guy has some kind of serious condition. So, I invited you to dinner.

[00:32:11]>> Your logic is off. And so is your solution. Though, honestly, I suppose someone who's lost the ability to care about pretty much anything could be considered a little broken.

[00:32:22]I'm just a regular person. You don't have to care what I think.

[00:32:27]>> I do care. It bothers me like a curry stain on a white shirt.

[00:32:32]>> Ah, yeah, that would bother me, too.

[00:32:35]>> When something catches my attention, I can't just ignore it. I scrub until the stain comes out. That's just who I am.

[00:32:42]>> So, I'm the stubborn stain.

[00:32:45]>> So, why the cold shoulder? Is it just me or >> It's not just you. I've been like this my whole life with everyone.

[00:32:55]Back in school, something happened that made me start seeing everything through a kind of detached lens. I know I became a pretty dull person because of it.

[00:33:06]That said, I don't want to mess with your performance by being a wet blanket.

[00:33:10]So, >> what >> starting tomorrow, I'll make an effort to fawn over you properly.

[00:33:17]Keeping our top client happy is part of the job after all.

[00:33:21]>> I'll hold you to that, Curry Stain.

[00:33:24]>> Please work on a better nickname for me.

[00:33:28]>> Great work today, Jenna.

[00:33:31]>> You, too.

[00:33:33]>> You are so dazzling today. I'm scared I might go blind.

[00:33:37]>> Wear sunglasses.

[00:33:39]>> I did my best to lay on the flattery.

[00:33:44]Great work. I heard your new song. It's been stuck in my head all day.

[00:33:49]>> See a doctor.

[00:33:53]>> H Something's off.

[00:33:56]>> She invited me to dinner again.

[00:33:59]Was the fawning not enthusiastic enough?

[00:34:03]>> For starters, you were hilariously bad at it. But honestly, that's not the issue. It's just that getting fed over by you felt wrong. It made me feel weird. Anyone would feel weird getting fawned over by a curry stain.

[00:34:18]>> Just go back to treating me like nothing, please.

[00:34:22]>> If that's what you want.

[00:34:25]What a complicated idol. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to fond properly anyway.

[00:34:30]So, going back to normal is a relief.

[00:34:34]>> Good work.

[00:34:36]>> Yeah, thanks.

[00:34:38]>> Yep. This is the curry stain I know.

[00:34:41]I'm a person. Whatever. If this is what she wants, fine.

[00:34:47]Hey, Edido. You got a minute? Sure.

[00:34:51]What's up? Sorry to ask on short notice, but could you cover another site for the next 2 weeks? They're short on people over there. Yeah, no problem. You're a lifesaver. I'll message you the details later. Sounds good.

[00:35:09]Another site, huh?

[00:35:11]Timing might actually be perfect. With me out of the picture, whatever's been bugging Jenna about me won't be there to bother her.

[00:35:20]Huh?

[00:35:23]Where did that guy go? [music] He's always cleaning around here. Oh, hey. Thought you disappeared on me.

[00:35:32]Jenna. Oh, thank you for your hard work.

[00:35:35]Who are you?

[00:35:38]What?

[00:35:39]Uh, his height, build, hair, all completely generic. Easy to mistake from behind.

[00:35:46]>> Um, miss, >> don't talk to me. I'm in a terrible mood right now.

[00:35:54]>> Uh, okay.

[00:35:56]>> God, what is this? I feel even worse than usual.

[00:36:03]Where have you been?

[00:36:05]>> Whoa. Volume.

[00:36:07]first day back and she was already in my face.

[00:36:11]I was covering another site. They were short on staff.

[00:36:16]>> Without asking me?

[00:36:19]>> Without asking you.

[00:36:21]>> Unforgivable.

[00:36:24]>> I don't need your permission or your forgiveness for that matter.

[00:36:29]>> Fine. You're back here for a while now, right?

[00:36:32]>> For now, no plans to go anywhere.

[00:36:36]>> Good.

[00:36:38]Huh?

[00:36:39]>> What? Why are you staring? Don't tell me you finally noticed how beautiful I am.

[00:36:45]>> Maybe. So, >> yeah, I know she's got a great face.

[00:36:51]That's not news. But what caught me off guard just now wasn't that. It was her smile. Just a small off-hand thing that I'd never seen from her before. It was nice. That's all I could think.

[00:37:09]I wonder if Jenna's okay.

[00:37:11]>> Hard to say, but she's got that don't come near me aura so strong right now.

[00:37:17]That's not even an aura. She literally said it. I tried to say something earlier and she just glared at me and went, "Stop staring."

[00:37:27]Lucky you.

[00:37:29]Seriously, that's a gift. Getting glared at is not a gift. These guys have a completely unhinged value system.

[00:37:39]Did something happen?

[00:37:42]Oh. Uh, Juno was crying earlier, huh?

[00:37:46]Pretty rare, right? She doesn't usually let anything show.

[00:37:51]Huh.

[00:37:53]Oh, are you about to clean in there?

[00:37:56]>> That's the plan.

[00:37:58]>> Just don't try talking to her. You'll get chewed out.

[00:38:02]Wasn't planning to. Excuse me.

[00:38:07]Excuse me.

[00:38:09]>> Curry stain.

[00:38:12]>> What happened to the rest of the curry?

[00:38:15]That's a meal, not a person. I'm going to clean. Sorry to interrupt.

[00:38:22]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:38:27]>> Hey.

[00:38:29]>> Yeah.

[00:38:30]>> Are you serious right now? I'm sitting here crying and you're just ignoring me.

[00:38:36]>> My grandma from back home always said to give people space when they're upset.

[00:38:40]>> Call her right now.

[00:38:42]>> Sorry, I made that up. The staff said not to approach her, but here we are.

[00:38:49]Here.

[00:38:51]>> Thanks. I'll pay you back.

[00:38:53]>> Don't worry about it.

[00:38:56]>> What? Too good to accept money from me?

[00:38:58]Is that it?

[00:39:00]>> That's not what I said.

[00:39:02]She's even more on edge than usual today.

[00:39:05]Did something happen?

[00:39:07]>> I'm filming a drama right now and I keep blowing my takes.

[00:39:11]>> The one airing on Mondays? It's been getting a lot of buzz. The ratings are solid, too.

[00:39:17]>> Exactly. Which means the expectations on me are huge. And so is the pressure. I can't afford to mess up.

[00:39:24]If I keep this up, I'm going to lose the role to someone else. I absolutely cannot let that happen.

[00:39:31]I see.

[00:39:33]>> I know it's probably hard for someone like you to understand what that feels like.

[00:39:38]>> I understand it a little at least.

[00:39:43]>> Really?

[00:39:45]>> Actually, I used to be the next big thing in acting when I was a kid.

[00:39:50]>> I'm sorry. I'm really not in the mood to sit here and listen to madeup stories about your past.

[00:39:56]Hey, an apology at the front doesn't make it okay to say whatever you want.

[00:40:01]Here, look.

[00:40:04]>> Huh?

[00:40:06]>> That kid in the video is me. You can see the resemblance, right?

[00:40:10]>> Yeah, I can.

[00:40:12]>> My parents entered me in an audition when I was little and somehow I passed.

[00:40:17]Don't ask me how. After that, people started paying attention to me and expecting things from me. I threw everything I had into it. Looking back, I think I even had a bit of an ego about it.

[00:40:33]>> I don't think I'm alone in this. When you're young and better at something than the kids around you, people call you a genius. It happens a lot. But as you get older, elementary school, middle school, [music] reality starts closing in. Most people figure out they're not as special as they thought because now you're measured by actual numbers. For me, that reality check just came too late. I was ordinary. But I pushed way too hard for way too long.

[00:41:04]I wanted to live up to what people expected from me. That need was just too strong.

[00:41:11]The longer I kept it up, the bigger the expectations got. And I couldn't figure out how to back down. By high school, I already knew I was ordinary. But I kept chasing the real talents. Kept trying [music] to pretend I was one of them.

[00:41:27]But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't catch up because I was ordinary. And the harder I pushed, the more I watched the people around me lose interest and turn their eyes towards the real thing. And then I broke down. I stopped trying. I gave up on letting myself care about anything.

[00:41:50]So tell me, are you ordinary, Jenna?

[00:41:54]>> What?

[00:41:56]>> You carry yourself like the top idol you are. You take being celebrated as a given, not a burden. Are you really just ordinary?

[00:42:09]>> I couldn't do that. I was never able to carry myself that way because I was ordinary.

[00:42:17]If I were in her shoes right now, I'd already be thinking there's someone better [music] suited for the role. But Juno wasn't like that. She said there was absolutely no way she was letting that happen.

[00:42:30]That alone made her [music] look bright as hell to me.

[00:42:34][laughter] >> Who knew a curry stain could give a decent pep talk?

[00:42:39]>> Is that name [music] going to stick forever?

[00:42:42]>> I just realized something. I think somewhere in me, I'd always been looking for someone who'd just treat me like a normal person.

[00:42:50]>> How so?

[00:42:52]When I first started noticing you, yeah, part of it was that you weren't fawning over [music] me, but more than that, you were the only one treating me like a real person.

[00:43:02]And I thought maybe I could actually be myself around you.

[00:43:07]>> And could you completely?

[00:43:11]>> I see. So all those bizarre things you said, that was the real you. Not sure how I feel about that. The people who fawn over me only see me as an idol.

[00:43:23]They're not interested in who I actually am. So, I stopped being interested in them.

[00:43:29]>> So, that's why you're always cold with everyone.

[00:43:33]Yeah. But even when we were alone together, you never fawned over me. You just treated me like a normal person.

[00:43:39]That's what made me feel comfortable.

[00:43:42]The second time I felt that weird feeling, it was because you had started fawning over me. That's what it was.

[00:43:50]So, she'd been doing the same thing, pretending, never showing the messy parts or the weak parts, always being the idol, no matter what.

[00:44:00]In that case, that feeling is just going to keep coming back.

[00:44:05]>> What? Why?

[00:44:08]>> Can't be helped. Real talent always ends up drawing everyone's eyes eventually.

[00:44:15]Uh, hey.

[00:44:18]>> What?

[00:44:20]>> Could you maybe stop watching those old videos of me?

[00:44:24]>> No. You were adorable as a kid.

[00:44:28]>> And the acting.

[00:44:30]>> Ordinary.

[00:44:32]>> Ouch.

[00:44:35]>> But I kind of love it.

[00:44:39]>> Thank you for your time. Your skills appear to be more than adequate. And [music] at this point, we'd like to move forward with an offer.

[00:44:47]>> Really? Thank you so much.

[00:44:52]My name is Taio Koi, 25, your average office worker.

[00:44:58]Today, I'm interviewing at a potential new employer.

[00:45:03]I was working at an IT company, but the overtime was relentless, and I had basically no time for myself.

[00:45:10]>> You lot put in at least 10 hours. Got it. Sir, I have a problem with that.

[00:45:16]A grunt doesn't get to complain.

[00:45:20]No, I mean, I'd need to work at least four more hours on top of that. Wo, let's not go that far. I developed full-blown corporate slave instincts.

[00:45:31]I'd even burned out at one point, so I'd been looking for a company that would give me actual personal time, which led me to apply here.

[00:45:39]We'll contact you by phone with the result at a later date.

[00:45:44]>> Thank you very much for today.

[00:45:48]>> Oh, there is one important thing I need to tell you before you join us.

[00:45:54]>> Yes. What is it?

[00:45:58]>> This company has a strict absolute prohibition on office relationships.

[00:46:03]>> Oh, is that so? And the reason for that, >> we've had multiple incidents in the past where romantic entanglements impacted [music] work and their concerns about workplace conduct, so it's prohibited.

[00:46:17]>> I see.

[00:46:19]>> I've heard there was even a case where someone secretly terminated a contract to undercut a romantic rival, nearly bringing the company to its knees.

[00:46:28]>> That's awful.

[00:46:30]That doesn't sound like a problem with romance. It sounds like a problem with that particular person having no common sense.

[00:46:38]>> In any case, at this company, office relationships are absolutely out of the question.

[00:46:44]This company is a place to work, not a place to fall in love. I want that to be clearly understood. Is that acceptable?

[00:46:55]>> Yes, absolutely. No problem.

[00:47:00]Out of curiosity, relationships outside of work are >> that's beyond our ability to monitor and it wouldn't be reasonable to forbid all romantic life. So, there are no restrictions on that.

[00:47:12]>> And if someone breaks that rule, is there a penalty?

[00:47:16]>> They'll be compelled to participate in drug trials for [music] a pharmaceutical company.

[00:47:22]>> Excuse me.

[00:47:24]>> Our parent company is looking for human test subjects for new medications.

[00:47:27]offenders would be sent there.

[00:47:31]>> Is that legal?

[00:47:34]>> Even in a failure case, you'd only go a little insane. So, there's no risk to life.

[00:47:40]>> That is absolutely a risk to life. What kind of parent company is this?

[00:47:47]>> Well, then that concludes today's interview. Please take care on your way home.

[00:47:53]>> Good news. Looks like I'll get the offer. Bad news? The no office romance rule is a massive problem for me because I've had a strong desire to get married for as long as I can remember.

[00:48:06]I had no luck in school. So, I worked hard at studying in hopes of attracting someone once I entered the workforce.

[00:48:12]Then I'd find someone. That was the plan. My current company barely has any women and the ones there are already married. No meeting anyone there. That was also part of why I wanted to transfer.

[00:48:26]And yet, a ban on office relationships.

[00:48:30]IT companies are notoriously overtime heavy, and this seems like the only place with any flexibility on that front.

[00:48:38]Looks like I have no choice but to find someone outside of work. But how? I've spent all my time studying and working, so I don't have any standout hobbies.

[00:48:51]I just want to fall in love. That's not a self introduction, by the way.

[00:48:57]Hey, how does everyone find dates these days?

[00:49:01]What's up? Looking for a girlfriend?

[00:49:04]Come to think of it, you were saying you wanted to get married.

[00:49:08]Yeah, but I can't exactly find anyone at this company, right? Hours are terrible, and yet people still talk about going on weekend dates. Do they all have partners from before they started working here?

[00:49:21]Everyone's apparently using dating apps.

[00:49:25]Dating apps? I've heard of them, but are they actually safe?

[00:49:32]Sure, you'll have your doubts before you start, but once you try it, you'd be surprised.

[00:49:37]Especially in your 20s. These days, a dating app is pretty much the only option. I even know a senior colleague who found someone and got married through one.

[00:49:48]Oh, yeah. And did you find someone through a dating app?

[00:49:54]I'm a hit with the scammers. I just matched with a woman trying to sell me a lucky silver vase.

[00:50:02]Where did your credibility go exactly?

[00:50:06]A dating app, huh? I thought about mixer parties and marriage meetups, too, but I can't really make the time. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

[00:50:16]So, just like that, I downloaded a dating app.

[00:50:22]That should do it. Let me search. Huh, there's actually a lot of cute girls on here, though. I hear most of the photos are filtered to death.

[00:50:34]I went ahead and liked a few profiles that caught my eye. It's late. I'll send messages tomorrow.

[00:50:43]Oh, a message already. Someone's active at this hour. Let's see.

[00:50:50]Good evening. Working at demanding company must be so tough. If you're [music] interested, perhaps you'd like to take home a lucky silver vase. It's sure to bring you a life of abundance.

[00:51:01]Huh?

[00:51:06]That's the silver vase lady my coworker was talking about. Who on earth would fall for this? Could you be any worse at scamming?

[00:51:16]>> Good evening. For anyone suffering from muscle soreness? How about some hot ink?

[00:51:23]H.

[00:51:25]>> Now there's someone selling bizarre products. At least make it something drinkable.

[00:51:32]A few more messages trickled in after that. All apparently scammers.

[00:51:38]I'll start for real tomorrow.

[00:51:44]During lunch break, I sent messages to some women who caught my eye, but replies aren't coming.

[00:51:50]>> Hello. Might you be interested in breeding cyber water fleas?

[00:51:56]Just when I thought I'd finally gotten a reply. Another scammer. What even are cyber water fleas? Who is the target demographic?

[00:52:07][sighs and gasps] No normal messages coming in at all. Is it really all about money and looks?

[00:52:14]Well, popular women have their pick of everyone. So, maybe I should loosen my criteria a bit.

[00:52:21]H 29. Now that I think about it, I've only been messaging younger women. Older would work, too. She doesn't have many likes, though.

[00:52:33]Probably because the profile is a cat, but she seems like a nice person. I'll send a message.

[00:52:41]Hi there. Nice to meet you. Would you be up for a chat? And send.

[00:52:49]Koi, get over here. We've got an equipment emergency.

[00:52:54]What?

[00:52:57]Data recovery is going to take a while.

[00:52:59]Brace yourself for overtime tonight on it. Tomorrow's my day off, so I'm good until 10:00 a.m.

[00:53:08]How do you survive like this?

[00:53:13]Apparently, the data for a nearly finished deliverable got wiped. Can't do much about it. A reply probably won't come right away anyway. Act to work for now.

[00:53:26]Somehow, a full day later, it was finally over. Let me check the app. Oh, looks like a message. Another scammer.

[00:53:37]Hi, son. Nice to meet you. What kind of work do you do?

[00:53:43]>> Oh, it's from Hitomien.

[00:53:47]I work in IT. What about you, Hitomien?

[00:53:51]and send.

[00:53:55]That'll do. It's late. I'll get some sleep.

[00:54:02]Finally, an actual conversation. Though, who knows? In person, it might be totally different from what I imagine.

[00:54:09]Or she could be a skilled scammer. Can't let my guard down just yet.

[00:54:17]After going back and forth for a few days, Hitomien turned out to be a really great person, and we had a lot in common.

[00:54:24]>> So, you like that movie, too, son?

[00:54:29]>> Yeah, I've only seen it in theaters 10 times so far.

[00:54:34]>> I've only seen it seven times myself.

[00:54:38]The scene where the cat keeps insistently playing the romcom is the best, >> right? Nobody ever gets that part.

[00:54:48]>> Our tastes seem to align, too.

[00:54:52]We should go see a movie together sometime. I can't wait to meet you. We seriously get along so well, don't we?

[00:55:01]>> Talking with you is so much fun, too.

[00:55:05]She started putting heart marks in.

[00:55:09]>> Are you free next day off?

[00:55:13]>> Depends on work, but probably I'm off. So, would you like to meet?

[00:55:22]>> She's asking to meet. This is it. I have to go.

[00:55:28]>> Sure. Let's meet at this cafe at 10:00.

[00:55:32]>> Okay. At this point, I'm not just head over heels. I'm cosmic love.

[00:55:39]>> Cosmic love.

[00:55:41]Apparently, the dark lord of love has taken up residence in her heart.

[00:55:47]>> I can't wait to exchange saliva with you.

[00:55:51]>> Maybe keep that phrasing just between us.

[00:55:55]First time I've ever heard someone refer to kissing as saliva exchange. One way or another, we arranged to meet on the next day off.

[00:56:04]The day to finally meet Tatomi N has arrived. Good thing I managed to finish work by 7:00 a.m.

[00:56:14][groaning] I wonder what she's like. Hoping she's good-looking. No, if I'm thinking about marriage, judging by looks isn't great.

[00:56:26]>> Son, sorry to keep you waiting.

[00:56:31]Oh, hey Tommy and nice to meet you to huh? Uh >> um this counts as outside of work, right?

[00:56:47]>> Yes, technically.

[00:56:49]>> But once I start working there, >> it would be an office relationship.

[00:56:54]>> Hm.

[00:56:57]Can I just not hire you? Actually, let's go with that. Yes, not hiring you.

[00:57:05]>> You can't do that. You can't unhire me by just saying yes three times in a row.

[00:57:11]>> In that case, let's begin the interview for the position of permanent full-time stay-at-home husband. Can you cook?

[00:57:18]>> Don't just start a new interview.

[00:57:22]of all people, the person who interviewed me. We'd both used cat photos as our profile pictures, so neither of us had any idea what the other looked like.

[00:57:33]>> Here you are, one hot coffee, huh, this is painful. But wait, is this actually Hitomi N? What if she happened to be here meeting someone else? Let me just confirm.

[00:57:51]Um, Hitomi Nen, >> please don't call me that in public.

[00:57:58]>> What's cosmic love?

[00:58:02]>> No, please don't. I die of an embarrassment.

[00:58:06]>> Yep, definitely Hitomien. For the record, Hitomien, the woman who interviewed me, is someone named Hitomi Sukina.

[00:58:16]So, why did you join a dating app, Miss Sukina?

[00:58:21]>> My mother kept asking when I was getting married, so I just tried to find someone.

[00:58:26]>> I see. Though, for someone who was just trying to find someone, the messages seemed pretty enthusiastic.

[00:58:35]>> That's not true at all. That was just to keep you interested.

[00:58:40]>> So, it wasn't cosmic love, just regular love, you'd say.

[00:58:46]Can we please stop talking about cosmic love?

[00:58:50]>> Apparently, that's now her darkest chapter.

[00:58:54]>> What about you, Mr. Kohishi? Did you join a dating app because relationships aren't possible at our company?

[00:59:02]>> Yeah, I've always had a strong desire to get married.

[00:59:07]>> Oh, really?

[00:59:12]My parents have a really good relationship. Even after nearly 30 years of marriage, they still share a bedroom.

[00:59:18]And on weekends, they go on dates.

[00:59:21]Watching them, I started wanting a marriage where you're still close to your partner after all that time.

[00:59:29]>> That's enviable. Parents who get along so well.

[00:59:36]From a kid's perspective, watching your parents be loveydovey all the time is a bit much. Honestly, still of all people, Miss Sukina, I'm in the same boat. The last person I expected to be my match was someone about to join our company.

[00:59:55]H [clears throat] >> mommy, those people just let out a huge sigh at the same time.

[01:00:09]My my looks like two people's happiness just went up in smoke at once.

[01:00:15]For now, could we just say today isn't a date, but a pre-onboarding briefing?

[01:00:21]>> Fair enough. Being seen like this when office relationships are banned would be a problem.

[01:00:29]>> Yes. And if we're framing it as a business meeting, we can put the food and drinks on the company card.

[01:00:35]>> Huh?

[01:00:38]>> Excuse me. I'll have the T-Bone steak lady set. Venty. Venty. Venty. Please.

[01:00:45]>> Is this a coffee chain?

[01:00:49]>> Go ahead and order whatever you like.

[01:00:50]Kishi son. company expense.

[01:00:54]>> Is it really okay to put this on expenses?

[01:00:59]And so over food, they talked about what would happen after joining the company and then went their separate ways.

[01:01:07]>> Starting today, please welcome our newest team member, Taillou Koishi.

[01:01:12]>> Hi, I'm Kishi. I'll do my best to get up to speed quickly by drawing on my previous experience. Looking forward to working with you all. After finishing up the handover at my old job and moving, [music] I officially joined Miss Hitomi's company.

[01:01:32]Your desk is this way. Mr. Kohishi, feel free to ask me anything you're not sure about. Mr. Kohishi, >> thank you so much.

[01:01:43]Everyone on the team was kind and welcoming, and the training was thorough and clear. At this rate, I'll pick things up quickly.

[01:01:52]Miss Sukina, I finished the work.

[01:01:56]>> Oh, that was fast. That's experience for you.

[01:02:01]>> I could probably handle about 30 more cases.

[01:02:06]>> We don't have nearly that much to give to a new employee.

[01:02:11]Sukina can be strict, but she praises me often for my work. Thanks to that, the new job is off to a great start.

[01:02:20]How are things going, Miss Sukina?

[01:02:24]>> It's been a while. Things are going smoothly so far.

[01:02:28]>> Hm. Who is that? I haven't seen him before.

[01:02:33]I've been here a few days and haven't seen him. Must be from another department.

[01:02:41]>> Excuse me, senior. Who is that person?

[01:02:45]>> That's someone from HR at the parent company. He comes by sometimes to scout talented people.

[01:02:51]>> Oh, is he the one for the drug trials?

[01:02:58]>> Uh, those are actually recruited separately.

[01:03:02]>> They actually recruit for those.

[01:03:06]No, I am in for regular full-time positions at the parent company. The pay and perks are better, so a lot of the younger staff are aiming for that.

[01:03:12]Missukina has said she'd like to move there, too. So, HR has probably had their eye on her for a while.

[01:03:18]>> I see.

[01:03:21]I'll come again.

[01:03:24]>> Yes, please do.

[01:03:26]>> Going to the parent company. Miss Sukina is so capable. She'll probably get snatched up soon.

[01:03:33]But that would be a shame >> with how much he's been talked about.

[01:03:39]Why hasn't Miss Suki not transferred to the parent company yet?

[01:03:44]Right. It's about time.

[01:03:48]She should just go already.

[01:03:51]Exactly.

[01:03:57]H I thought she was trusted here, but maybe people actually dislike her. Maybe she's been saying harsh things I'm not aware of.

[01:04:06]>> Mr. Kohishi, let's wrap up at a good stopping [music] point.

[01:04:10]>> Oh, I could probably put in about four more hours, though.

[01:04:15]>> Your last job must have been really rough.

[01:04:19]>> Work is appreciated. I can leave on time almost every day, and I have actual free time. Transferring was the right call.

[01:04:27]Still, the no office romance policy is no joke. Even during break time, the conversations between men and women are all workrelated, and I've never once seen anyone invite a co-orker out for a meal.

[01:04:40]My old company regularly kept people past closing time, but even there, you'd still see male employees ask female employees [music] to dinner.

[01:04:50]Where is everyone dating?

[01:04:53]For my part, I'm still on the dating app, but no luck finding anyone.

[01:04:58]Hitomien, Miss Sukina and I haven't messaged each other either.

[01:05:06]Those messages we exchanged, that was fun.

[01:05:10]The real Miss Sukina is beautiful, clearly good at her job, and seems trusted by her team.

[01:05:17]If office relationships were allowed, she'd definitely have men lining up for her.

[01:05:23]But since they're not, I have to just keep it professional. boss and employee.

[01:05:31]I just want to fall in love. Not a self introduction.

[01:05:38]Huh?

[01:05:40]I thought love had nothing to do with me.

[01:05:43]My parents had a terrible relationship.

[01:05:46]Constant fighting. [music] My father especially. I couldn't stand him and started speaking to him formally out of spite. Eventually, I started speaking formally to everyone.

[01:05:59]Now, I only drop it with people I truly trust, like my mother and old friends.

[01:06:08]Because of that, others tend to feel distanced from me, and it's been hard to make close friends.

[01:06:14]That's fine with me, honestly.

[01:06:19]Even so, I am nearly 30 now. Worried about the fact that I still have no partner, my mother started suggesting I [music] find a spouse.

[01:06:28]Since I can't date within the office, I reluctantly turned to a dating app to find someone suitable.

[01:06:35]But so many men were after only one thing. It felt like everyone was angling to get a hotel within 5 seconds of meeting.

[01:06:43]Whenever I mentioned, "How about meeting my mother first?" They'd vanish immediately.

[01:06:49]In the end, that's what romance is. Men want one thing, women want money. That's all it is.

[01:06:57]That's also the real reason I pushed so hard for the no office romance policy. I didn't want to witness the uglier side of romance.

[01:07:07]But among all those men with ulterior motives, son, Mr. Kohishi, he was different.

[01:07:15]He genuinely paid attention to who I was on the inside.

[01:07:20]When I jokingly sent, "With you, son?

[01:07:24]I'd be happy to go to a hotel 5 seconds after meeting."

[01:07:29]He replied, >> "I think something like that is better once you actually know each other well."

[01:07:36]>> He was thinking about me. In that moment, I felt my heart start to race.

[01:07:42]Oh, so this is what falling in love feels like. And yet, Why does it have to be someone transferring into my company? Who was that said office relationships are absolutely out of the question?

[01:07:58]I mean, I thought he seemed lovely from the interview. I even briefly considered not hiring him based on his face. I went so far as to prepare a note with my contact details hidden in my meeting notes.

[01:08:11]Well, it can't be helped. With office relationship banned in place, all I can do is keep things professional. That's what I told myself.

[01:08:20]But then >> good morning, Miss Sukina.

[01:08:30]That smile is too much.

[01:08:34]>> Done for the day. Anything else you need?

[01:08:38]>> Oh, no. Not at the moment. But Mr. Kawishi is so fast at his work.

[01:08:47]He's too capable.

[01:08:49]>> Good work today, Sikinosan. I brought you some coffee.

[01:08:53]>> Oh, [laughter] thank you.

[01:08:56]The thoughtfulness is a weapon.

[01:08:59]Stop it. This is just going to make me like him even more.

[01:09:04]How does someone like this not have a girlfriend? Ladies of the world, are your eyes working properly?

[01:09:12]I finally found someone I like. So why can't I fall in love?

[01:09:19]Not a self introduction, by the way.

[01:09:25]Yes, lunch break.

[01:09:29]Lunchtime. Maybe I'll go to the cafeteria and get the catfish hell grill or something.

[01:09:36]>> Mr. Kohishi, do you have lunch plans?

[01:09:40]Miss Aena? No, nothing in particular.

[01:09:45]>> Would you like to join me?

[01:09:48]>> That would be great. Thank you.

[01:09:52]>> Here we are. I've been wanting to try this place.

[01:09:57]>> Um, is something wrong?

[01:10:02]>> I was kind of expecting a family restaurant or set meal place.

[01:10:07]Oh, are you not a fan of French cuisine?

[01:10:11]>> It's not that.

[01:10:13]Wouldn't people get the wrong idea seeing a man and woman here together?

[01:10:18]>> Huh?

[01:10:21]>> I mean, even if it's just a boss and employee thing, getting spotted at a place like this on a work lunch break seems like it could cause misunderstandings.

[01:10:31]>> What are you talking about? This is training for client dining situations.

[01:10:38]I'm an in-house role, so I don't think I'll be dining with clients.

[01:10:46]Just come inside.

[01:10:50]I messed up. Since we were going to eat together, I picked somewhere nice and now it's way too nice.

[01:10:58]>> Here you are.

[01:11:03]Um >> um does a course meal come up at client lunches?

[01:11:12]>> It it can happen. Let's eat.

[01:11:15]>> Yes, let's >> Okay, Mr. Kishi, open your mouth.

[01:11:23]>> Huh?

[01:11:24]>> Huh?

[01:11:25]>> I personally don't mind, but won't people get the wrong idea?

[01:11:31]Um, this is training for how to respond gracefully when a client tries to feed you.

[01:11:39]>> Clients don't try to feed you, and I wouldn't want to negotiate with anyone who did.

[01:11:46]>> There are places like that.

[01:11:50]>> Name one.

[01:11:53]>> Open up Construction Co. Ltd.

[01:11:58]Why would a construction company do that during a business meeting?

[01:12:04]>> Anyway, this is training and I'll put it on expenses.

[01:12:08]>> Please don't expense a regular lunch.

[01:12:14][bell] Look, since the office relationship ban is in place, I think we should avoid anything that could raise eyebrows.

[01:12:22]>> Oh, did you not like it?

[01:12:26]No, I'm happy you thought of me.

[01:12:30]It's just that you were the one who made such a strong point of the no romance rule, Miss Sukina. I'd hate for your position here to be compromised.

[01:12:40]>> Huh?

[01:12:42]>> You're right. If you feel that way, Mr. Kohishi, >> let's both be careful. All right.

[01:12:51]>> Mr. Kishi, you really do think about me at every turn, which only makes me like you more.

[01:13:01]Since yesterday, Miss Sukina has seemed off, like she doesn't have her usual energy.

[01:13:08]It worries [music] me when she isn't doing well.

[01:13:12]>> Good morning, Miss Sukina.

[01:13:16]>> Miss Sukina.

[01:13:18]>> Oh, uh, Mr. Kishi, good morning.

[01:13:21]Is everything all right?

[01:13:24]>> Yes, everything's fine.

[01:13:27]>> If you're not feeling well, you should take the day.

[01:13:31]>> No, I am fine. Really?

[01:13:36]>> It's been like this lately. Do you know what's going on with Miss Sukina?

[01:13:41]>> Huh? I think you might already know.

[01:13:43]Koi, >> huh?

[01:13:48]Looks like she's come [music] down with a bad case of loves sickness.

[01:13:53]>> Loves sickness.

[01:13:56]>> Just look at her.

[01:13:58]>> I want to fall in love. I want to fall in love. I want to fall in love. I want to fall in love. I want >> Oh, is she okay?

[01:14:07]>> I want to fall in love. I want to fall in love.

[01:14:12]>> Did she just say my name?

[01:14:16]Miss Sukina enforces the no romance rule, [music] but I think she's actually the one who wants love the most. She's turning 30 soon, and she's definitely looking for someone to marry.

[01:14:27]H could be reading too much into it, but maybe Miss Sukina isn't quite ready to give up on me.

[01:14:40]I'm still using the dating app, but >> congrats on your successful job change.

[01:14:48]Want even bigger success? Act now [clears throat] and receive a premium lucky golden vase at a special price again. And it's gotten an upgrade.

[01:15:00]Mostly scammers.

[01:15:02]The occasional person I have a good conversation with never leads to actually meeting. and talking with them isn't even [music] enjoyable.

[01:15:10]I've been telling myself to just accept it and move on. But being around Miss Sukina puts me at ease, and I keep finding myself thinking about her. But with the office relationship ban, there's nothing I can do. Is there any way around this?

[01:15:30]>> Sukinakun, have you got a moment?

[01:15:33]>> Yes. What is it?

[01:15:36]Things moved a little slowly on their end, but today I finally got the official offer from the parent company for you.

[01:15:44]Huh?

[01:15:47]>> You've been wanting this for a while, so I didn't think you'd turn it down. I figured I'd let you know all the same.

[01:15:56][sighs] So, the parent company offer finally came. We'd end up being separated, wouldn't we?

[01:16:06]Let me think about it.

[01:16:09]>> What?

[01:16:09]>> What is there to think about?

[01:16:12]>> I feel like there's something I still need to take care of here. So, >> I I see. Try to give me an answer as soon as you can.

[01:16:23]>> Wait, Miss Sukina is putting it on hold.

[01:16:26]Why?

[01:16:27]>> Wait, Sukita son is putting the parent company transfer on hold?

[01:16:32]Seriously, she wanted this. so much.

[01:16:36]She must not want to leave the guy she's after.

[01:16:39]If that's the case, she should go to the parent company even sooner.

[01:16:46]>> Excuse me. Why do you two want Miss Sukina to go to the parent company? Is there something going on? Has she been saying things to you?

[01:16:55]Well, it's just >> uh Oh, when I think about it, it makes sense.

[01:17:10]In that case, I should talk to her myself.

[01:17:13]But I'm nervous.

[01:17:17]Miss Sukina, since you've been offered the position, please take it. This is what you've been working toward.

[01:17:25]But why? Don't tell me you want to get rid of me, Koshi son.

[01:17:31]>> That's not it. Yes, the parent company is far away and we'd no longer be working together. But once you're no longer at this company, [music] you're no longer bound by its rules. Meaning, if you started a relationship with someone from this company, it wouldn't be a problem.

[01:17:54]Being around you puts me at ease, and I want to stay by your side. But as long as we're at this company together, we can't be together. So even though it means we'd be apart for a while, I want you to go, Sukina.

[01:18:07]That way, there's nothing stopping us from being together.

[01:18:13]>> Mr. Kishi.

[01:18:18]>> After that desperate appeal, which doubled as something of a confession, we became a couple.

[01:18:28]>> No, I don't want to be apart from you.

[01:18:32]>> Wait, what?

[01:18:34]That's not how it went.

[01:18:37]>> If you make me leave, I'll turn into a snowman.

[01:18:42]Then are you giving up on being together?

[01:18:45]>> I don't want that either. I want to be together.

[01:18:50]>> Then that would mean breaking the company rules.

[01:18:55]>> No, I don't want to break the rules.

[01:18:59]And there's nothing we can do.

[01:19:04]Fine. I'll work toward getting to the parent company myself. So wait for me.

[01:19:10]>> [music] >> That way we can be close to each other and be together, right?

[01:19:14]>> Promise you'll come work at the parent company with me.

[01:19:20]>> Yes. I've been getting solid results and at this rate, I think it's doable. We finally found someone we like. I want to be with you.

[01:19:30]>> Wait, did you just say my name?

[01:19:34]Hm.

[01:19:37]>> You just said Sukinoitoi.

[01:19:40]>> I said I finally found someone I like.

[01:19:45]>> All right. I'm fine with waiting. But will you message me every day?

[01:19:51]>> Every single day.

[01:19:53]>> You won't go off with someone else?

[01:19:57]>> I won't.

[01:19:59]>> Will you exchange saliva with me?

[01:20:02]>> Whenever you'd like. Will you go cosmic love for me?

[01:20:06]>> I'm already at double cosmic love.

[01:20:09]>> Okay, I'll go to the parent company then.

[01:20:13]>> That decision came surprisingly fast.

[01:20:16]And [music] so Miss Sukina Hitomi transferred to the parent company and we officially became a couple.

[01:20:25]For the record, she now sends about 50 messages a day.

[01:20:32]And that's how daddy eventually got to work at mommy's company. And to this day, mommy is completely and utterly double cosmic love with daddy.

[01:20:44]>> Is daddy double cosmic love with mommy, too?

[01:20:49]>> Daddy is triple quadruple cosmic love with mommy.

[01:20:54]>> What are you teaching, Taruyo?

[01:20:57]>> Oh, the great demon queen mommy has arrived.

[01:21:01]Who is demon queen?

[01:21:04][crying] >> Actually, just like daddy and mommy are in cosmic love with each other, I found someone I like at school, too.

[01:21:13]>> Wait, Terry is in love, too?

[01:21:17]>> Did you just say my name?

[01:21:20]>> No, I didn't.

[01:21:24]Kids these days fall for people so quickly.

[01:21:28]>> [laughter] >> You have me, don't you? Look at me with those loving eyes.

[01:21:35]>> Well, then, how about we go ahead and try for a second kid.

[01:21:41]In that case, tonight we [laughter] There goes daddy and mommy being loveydvey again. I think I'm getting a cavity.