05x01 - A Prison Called Freedom

[bunniefuu]

My name is Haida.

Exiled from the kingdom I once served,

I became a wanderer
traversing desolate fields.

Now, destiny has led me
to a strange new world.

But I did not foresee
what lay in wait for me.

It was…

A PRISON NAMED FREEDOM

Haida, let's retreat for now.

What are you afraid of, Shikabane?

We've already

d*ed once!

Haida! This is our chance!

Lightning…

Rumbling…

Thunder!

RAGE

AGGRETSUKO

It's huge! This TV is huge!

The news lady is huge!

Jeez, he's so loud.

Are big-screen TVs
even relevant these days?

Director Ton's the only one
happy about it.

The president's all excited about
returning profits to employees.

It's because that theme park's
been doing well.

Oh, you mean Bubbly Land?

That's it.

Bubbly Land!

What if the post-bubble recession
never happened?

That's the basic concept of Bubbly Land!

A dream theme park for boomers!

Bring your shoulder pads
and come visit to forget reality.

Bubbly Land!

Holy macaroni.

You two been to Bubbly Land?

-No.
-No.

What? You're missing out!

Employees get a discount!

-We're good.
-We're good.

Kids these days, glued to their phones…

Hey, Short-Timer.

Yes?

How's Haida doing?

He's doing well.

I see.

How's Haida doing?

How's Haida doing?

-How's Haida doing?
-How's Haida doing?

-How's Haida doing?
-How's Haida doing?

It's been a while
since he left the company, right?

Isn't it time
he started looking for another job?

Haida is doing well.

Ever since he quit,
he's fully embraced being unemployed.

Now he spends all his time
playing games like a total bum.

Alright, now for Fire Rumbling Thunder.

Boom!

Next up, Hydro Rumbling Thunder!

There! Instant k*ll.

THAT WAS AWESOME, HAIDA!

WHAT WAS THAT COMBO?!

WAIT, DID YOU…

YOU PAID FOR IT?!

So?

That lame "Typo Grumble Chunder" combo,
or whatever that move is.

How much did you spend on it?

It's 300 yen each time you try,
and it took me 50 tries,

so I guess 15,000 yen?

What?!

Unemployed and wasting money like that?

Must be nice!

I just tried it out a little bit.

That "little bit" is
a one-way ticket to hell, buddy!

Right, Retsuko?

Huh?

You know it's wrong, but before long,

it plays on your desires, and…

PURCHASE DLC?

Right?!

Why are you asking me?

You know you're screwed
if you keep doing this, right?

Well, he is looking for a job.

Taking a little break won't hurt.

You're being too soft!

But Fenneko, think about it.

It's over once you get employed.

You're stuck working day in, day out.

Passing exams, finding a job…

We've been constantly forced
to pursue something since we were kids.

Why not take it easy for a bit now?

It must be nice being a spoiled brat

living in your parents' apartment
free of charge!

Fenneko hasn't changed one bit.

She was lecturing you the whole time.

She's just worried about you, Haida.

She's just messing with me.

Everyone at work has been worried too.

They all ask how you're doing.

Let's try to give them
some good news soon.

I caused them a lot of trouble.

I gotta step up my game
and go show my face again.

Yeah.

Oh, Retsuko.
What are you doing this weekend?

Huh? I'm going back home
for a memorial service.

Oh, really?

Huh? I told you!

Sorry, maybe I wasn't listening.

JOB CHANGE
POSTINGS, FAIRS, ADVICE

HEY DUDE, WHAT'S UP?

YO, HAIDA!

YOU COMING?

Nah.

Now's not the time for that.

I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB RIGHT NOW…

COME ON

CAN'T LOL

DON'T BE SELFISH

LET'S GO

Jeez, can't you take a hint?

LIKE I SAID, COUNT ME OUT

AW, COME ON

I'M BEGGING YOU

I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU…

I CAN'T DO IT

WITHOUT YOU

Sheesh.

Guess I gotta help out.

First, Fire Rumbling Thunder.

Next, Hydro Rumbling Thunder…

I'm here!

Oh, you're back.

Why can't you at least tell us
what time you're coming home?

Is the rest of the family coming tomorrow?

We'll meet them at the venue.

After the service
we'll eat lunch and all go home.

What? This milk expired yesterday!

-I'll throw it out.
-Don't!

It'll be fine if we heat it.

Expired in 2008?
Isn't this older than the fridge?!

Throwing this out too.

Stop it, Retsuko!
You're letting out the cold air.

C'mon, Retsuko.

That's enough…

Retsuko, you look prettier.

Are you seeing someone?

I knew it.

I thought you looked a little different
when I first saw you.

It's the person who came here
to pick you up before, right?

Yes.

What does he do for a living?

Accounting, I guess.

Do you work with him?

Yeah, I guess you could say that.

Oh my!

I'm so glad you found someone nice!

C'mon, honey.

Any fatherly advice
for our happy daughter?

Good for you.

What? Is that all?

You always try to do the right thing.

I know you chose wisely.

Uh…

Yes.

Let's begin today's special lecture.

The theme is unemployed boyfriends.

In my experience,
they have the following in common.

He's lost his confidence
after losing his job.

Yup.

Let's dive into the behavior patterns
of these unemployed beings.

-Yes, please!
-Yes, please!

One, he becomes obsessed
with weight training.

Yes, Ookami mentioned this.

Why weight training?

Confidence and a sense of achievement
are gained from a toned and chiseled body.

-I see.
-I see.

That said, working out has many benefits,
so there's nothing wrong with it.

Number two is what's troublesome.

He becomes obsessed with gaming.

Gaming delivers a sense of achievement
far more readily than weight training.

If they hit a goal, they let out a little…

Yes!

Then they look smug and self-satisfied,
like it's some kind of accomplishment.

But they achieved nothing!

Absolutely nothing!

Yes! Nice!

Yes!

Symptoms worsen if left untreated.
He'll say…

I'm busy right now.

-Or…
-I can't let the team down.

Now he's a patronizing piece of trash
who keeps justifying his behavior!

Danger! Do not mix
unemployment with gaming!

"Danger! Do not mix
unemployment with gaming!"

Retsuko.

Aren't you going too easy on Haida?

Um, well…

Perhaps it may seem like I am, but…

Yes or no.

Yes, ma'am.

But,

Haida knows better than anyone
that his situation isn't ideal.

-Too soft.
-Sorry.

In my experience,
once you go easy on the jobless…

they stay lazy forever.

That's right.

She's a real sweetheart,
but she always gets herself into trouble.

I guess I just can't leave her alone.

HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, EH?

LAME-O!

Shut up.

YOU GONNA MARRY HER?

Uh, well…

I hope it goes that way, but…

Anyway, I can't be
playing around like this forever.

I'm thinking of signing out for a while
so I can focus on finding a job.

Of course, I'll be back
when things are settled.

Let's play again then.

I SEE

OKAY

Alright!

Time to get back to reality!

OH, BY THE WAY

PRIZE DRAW TONIGHT AT NINE

TRIPLE CHANCE OF GETTING A RARE ITEM!

Seriously?

Whoa, man!

Man, what a steal!

PURCHASE

I might actually get
the legendary Muramasa Treasure Sword!

Aw, crap!

Oh, come on!

YOU CAN DO IT!

Alright, one last try.

One more!

YOU GOT THIS!

One more and I'm done!

Last purchase! For real now!

What?

How much

did I spend?

Yeah, who is it?

Huh?

Why?

Get out.

We have a new tenant for this room.

Pack your things and leave
by the end of the month.

That's all I came to say.

Okay, but why? It's such short notice.

The fact that I'm here
means that Dad has found out.

Time to grow up.

You should have the money to move out.

Wait, you're leaving already?

I'm meeting someone.

If I stay here too long,
I'll reek of booze like you.

It's me. Jiro.

I told him to move out
from the Ogikubo apartment.

Hm. Okay.

You should've told him yourself, Father.

It'll hit him harder coming from you.

By the end of the month?

RETSUKO

Hey, Retsuko.

-Is now a good time?
-Sure.

Actually, I'm still trying to process
what just happened.

See, just now--

Have you ever thought to yourself,
"I'm happy to go to work again today"

when you wake up in the morning?

What?

Well,

no.

Exactly. Me neither.

So I think I understand
your reluctance to look for a job.

Huh? Wait a minute.

What's this about?

But listen.

I'm not going easy on you anymore.

All you do is play games.

Uh…

Well…

Get a job, Haida.

I won't see you until you do.

AGGRETSUKO