05x05 - A Mysterious Messenger

[bunniefuu]

Here's a shout-out
to all of you, our loyal fans,

and your very deep pockets!

-Are you having fun?
-O! T! M!

-O! T! M!
-We'll make this a night to remember!

-O! T! M!
-Ready? Here we go!

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much!

That was amazing!
Your songs keep me going.

Really? I'm so happy to hear that!

Come again!

Okay, next.

I have 100 tickets.

That's amazing.

Well, that's five minutes
of handshake time. Go ahead.

That's 100 handshake tickets.

Actually,

I'll pass on the handshake.

Ms. Aggretsuko used to be
part of your group, right?

I'd like you to put me in touch with her.

Who…

are you?

RAGE

AGGRETSUKO

Who are you?

What's your angle?

I'd like to have a chat with her.

About what?

Something best discussed in private.

Are you

a stalker?

Huh?

We had one before.

Some creep brought a stack
of tickets just to harass us.

No, I'm not a stalker!

My apologies.
Allow me to introduce myself--

Huh?

-Yes, Manaka!
-Yes, Manaka!

-You called?
-You called?

What?!

He has a w*apon!

-What?!
-A w*apon?!

It's not a w*apon, I swear!

This is just--

Don't move!

Keep your hand in your pocket.

Don't try anything funny,
or I'll sic the guards on you!

What?!

Get out.

But I have 100 tickets--

Get out, stalker.

Huh?

Get out!

You're not welcome here!

What a weirdo!

Call the police!

Get out.

-Get out.
-Get out.

-Get out.
-Get out.

-Get out!
-Get out!

I said I'm not a stalker!

I've had enough!

I try to be patient and polite,
and this is what I get!

How dare you treat me like I'm some creep!

You'll sing a different tune
when you find out who I am.

Behold.

This is who I am!

Look.

This is the photo my dad took.

What do you think?

Yeah, your dad hates Haida.

I wouldn't go that far,

but I guess he wants us to know
he doesn't approve.

Like, "Not so fast, young man"?

Something like that.

As a father of two daughters,
I know how he feels.

Anyway, I don't want Haida's parents
to think I wasn't brought up properly,

so I think I should
introduce myself to them too.

Makes sense.

What does Haida say about it?

He said it won't be necessary.

Well, I guess it might be
awkward meeting his parents,

especially since he's unemployed.

Actually, Haida found a job.

Really? Where?

At a nearby supermarket.

I see.

Well, he has good people skills.

A customer-facing job
may be just the thing.

Um,

could you please stop
joining our conversation?

Huh?

Why not?

I'm just trying to connect
with my co-workers!

No one wants to talk to their boss
during their break.

The prime minister's recent comments
indicate a snap election may be imminent,

leading to heightened tension
among the political parties.

We are prepared to dissolve Parliament
if the prime minister decides it is time.

The dissolution of Parliament
is all but guaranteed.

The only question is, when?

Not the best time for a snap election.

Then again,
the opposition parties are a mess.

If the election happens now,

the ruling party will win by a landslide.

I hope you two

have been exercising your right to vote.

Huh?

But let's… connect…

-We're good, thanks.
-We're good, thanks.

BOILED MACKEREL: 118 YEN

Um, excuse me.

Yes?

Do you have garlic paste?
The ones in tubes.

Oh, let's see…

Oh, is that right?

So you live with your girlfriend, Haida?

Well, yes.

What did I miss?

He lives with his girlfriend.

Way to go.

What was that?

He lives with his girlfriend.

Way to go.

-Must be nice to be young.
-Must be nice to be young.

Uh, thank you.

Oh, maybe you can help.

Does your girlfriend like fruit?

Fruit?

Probably, I guess?

Wonderful!

My parents send me
a big box of fruit every year,

and my family can never finish it.

The box is in my car right now.

Would you help take some off my hands?

Oh, sure.

I'd be happy to.

Actually…

persimmons aren't fruit to me.

What?

Was this a bad idea?

What are we going to do with all these?

I hate persimmons!

Well, do you know anyone who likes them?

I don't know.

You either love it or hate it.

Hello!

Hey, Anai?

You like persimmons?

Not interested!

Hey, Fenneko!

Do you like per--

Seriously? No one likes persimmons?

Who's the target market, anyway?

Old folks who didn't have sweets
to eat after the w*r?

Like Tsubone?

She'll get mad at you.

C'mon.

Who can I ask?

DO YOU EAT PERSIMMONS?

SEND

DO YOU EAT PERSIMMONS?

Huh?

It's past nine.

Who is it?

I'll get it.

Yes? Who is it?

Haida?

Who the hell are you?

Damn it! Let go of me!

Who are you?!

What did you do to Retsuko?

Huh?

Retsuko!

You okay?

Manaka?

Some creep came to our handshake event.

He wanted to meet you,
so we kicked him out.

We don't want another stalker incident.

I see. Thanks for looking out for me.

Is everything alright?

Notice anything strange lately?

No, I'm fine.

I have Haida with me now.

Okay.

I'll leave one of them here.

I'm good, thanks.

Aggretsuko.

I've finally found you.

It's delicious.

So you like persimmons?

I do.

I like how it's not mainstream,

and how the texture isn't really
what you'd expect from a fruit.

I like how the texture changes
as it ripens,

and I think dried persimmons
are a work of art.

Glad to hear it.

You can have them all, if you like.

Thanks.

Is something wrong?

Oh, no.

You look like you're doing
a lot better now.

You think so?

I guess I'm in a better place mentally
since the last time we met.

Yeah.

But that doesn't change the fact
that I'm struggling to find a job.

I don't know if I can do this.

Don't worry.

I know programmers
who only started in their thirties.

I saw the code you wrote.

It was clean and concise.

You'll be fine.

And besides, following your dreams
would make Retsy--

Sorry, I meant "Retsuko."

Oh.

No, sorry.

You don't have to worry
about that anymore.

Call her Retsy.

Are you sure?

Haida, do you have time now?

Now? Yeah.

What's up?

What's the name of that internet cafe
you were talking about?

It's a place called ANAGURA in Ogikubo.

ENI-O, did you hear that?

Internet Cafe ANAGURA: Ogikubo Branch.

Location confirmed.

Now heading to the destination.

Oh wow!

This is amazing!

I've always wanted
to visit an internet cafe!

Keep it down!

Wow, I can drink all this for free?

They have so many comics!

Look at this tiny space. Wow!

You like it?

Of course.

It's an efficient use of space.

My living room is 200 square meters,

but I'm always at my computer.

That means most of the space is wasted.

I'd rather be here with all the comics.

I see.

Digital comics don't hold a candle
to real paper and ink.

att*ck ON BRIGHTON

I'm gonna go have a quick chat
with the receptionist.

Isn't that Tadano,
the president of Free Ride?

What's going on?

You know him, Haida? How?

Well, I just happen to know him.

Is Shikabane here today?

Shikabane?

Oh.

She hasn't been here lately.

I see.

What about Dokachin?

You know, the big guy with glasses?

Oh, him.

I think he hurt his back on a job.

He hasn't been able to work since.

And then?

He stopped coming here.

So… where is he now?

Beats me.

Wait, is he in a hospital?

Do you know where he is?

No, I've never pried
into his personal life.

A lot of people come here, you know.

DO YOU EAT PERSIMMONS?

So Shikabane's not there anymore.

Yeah.

I got back on my feet because I had you.

But I don't know if Shikabane
and Dokachin are as lucky as I am.

Maybe they saved enough money to move out.

Well…

Shikabane said
she's not interested in doing that.

She's probably at another internet cafe.

What do you mean, "not interested"?

Feels like she's given up.

How so?

How do I say this?

If anything, she's content.

What? Which is it?

Like, she's content
because she's given up on everything.

She doesn't want anything.

Oh.

I think I get what you're saying.

Okay, I'm heading out.

Alright, see you later.

Call me if you run into trouble, okay?

Okay.

Who's this?

Yes, hello?

Huh?

Hello?

Hello?

Is that you, brother?

It's me.

Jiro.

What happened to your job?

Did you quit?

Dad wants you to come home.

AGGRETSUKO