01x04 - Episode 4

[bunniefuu]

Back in high school.

Naoya, arriving at the computer lab,
looked more exhausted by the day.

Naoya.

Takaaki... is it time?

Have you been getting any sleep lately?

That wasn't a nap.
You practically passed out.

You're clearly overworked.

Shut up.

Don't boss me around.

I'm going to make that man
acknowledge me, no matter what.

I see.

It's not about living up to
your father's expectations.

It's about making him acknowledge you.

Hey, let's keep going.

Got it.

I ran into my father
at my part-time job.

I wondered where you'd been hiding.

To think you'd be in a place like this.

Doing bottom-feeder work
that even a monkey could do.

Did something happen?

I messed up at work.

Messed up?

Hey, hold me.

You can do whatever you want.

While being dragged down
into the abyss by his family,

Naoya still fought back with all
his might. His strength and his pain...

inextricably drew me to him.

Servant Prince [Episode 4]

What a pathetic guy.

I like you, Naoya.

Instead of always focusing
on what you don't have,

you should cherish what
you do have right now.

Takaaki.

I love you.

Delicious.

Yes.

That's all for now.

Excuse me.

President.

We just received notice from Goto Construction
that they won't be renewing their contract.

I see.

It doesn't matter.

I'll take my leave then.

So they really did cancel the contract.

Good morning.

Goto-kun.

I'm so glad.

You decided to come.

That was the first time I've ever
talked about my situation like that.

Yeah.

So I came.

The least I can do is not run away from the
people who are willing to look at who I am now.

- Good morning.
- Good morning, Goto-kun.

Morning.

- Good morning.
- Morning.

Good morning.

I get it now.

I didn't want to become strong.

I just wanted to live as myself.

Here is your Americano and Vienna coffee.

Goto-kun is doing great.

The shop has really livened up.

It sure has.

Enjoy.

Welcome.

Yuma...

It's been a while.

Brother.

Huh? Is he your brother?

Not again.

Alright.

Take us to our table.

You work here, right?

Want to switch with me?

Goto-kun.

I'm fine.

Right this way.

Please have a seat here.

Here are your appetizers.

From the right, we have salmon carpaccio, pâté
de campagne, and prosciutto cheese bruschetta.

Enjoy your meal.

Have a wonderful meal.

When exactly are you planning to come back?

Come back?

Don't play dumb.

Huh?

You're always defying Dad.

And now you're working in a place like
this. Are you just doing this to mock us?

Defying him?

Me?

I have never... defied him.

Are you serious?

Stop it, everyone is looking.

You shut up.

Who do you think you are?

You've always been like this...

Flawlessly solving every
impossible task Dad threw at you,

without ever bowing your head.

And you even stayed at that company
everyone said wouldn't last six months.

You stubbornly held on for
three whole years for nothing.

If you had just said, 'I can't do it, '

and bowed your head to Dad,

he would have given you
any position you wanted.

I never...

even thought about that.

Come back.

I can't handle it all by myself anymore.

I'm sorry.

I'm not going back.

Let's go.

Hey, wait a minute.

Yuma.

Don't push yourself too hard.

Wait.
Yuma, are you okay?

Not at all.

Huh?

Damn it...

What the hell.

Yuma.

I'm really sorry for causing a scene
in the restaurant earlier.

Here.

The chef prepared some fruit jelly.

Could you hand these out to the tables?

Sure.

It's so good, right?

I apologize for the disturbance earlier.

Oh, no worries.

This is on the house.

Are you sure?

- Yes.
- It looks delicious.

- So cute.
- Thank you.

- We're so lucky.
- Don't be rude.

- Enjoy.
- Thank you.

Goto-san, let me help too.

Thanks.

In the past, to meet all
of my father's demands,

even having clones of myself
wouldn't have been enough.

Clubs, networking, and academics.

This is on the house.

But what my father really wanted...

You must rank first in the school
on the next mock exam.

The only reason I let you dress like that

is because you said you'd do
what you're supposed to do.

Wasn't for me to solve the endless
impossible tasks he threw at me...

Maybe he just wanted me to say
'I can't do it' and submit to him.

[Goto Naoya's banking passbook]

For some reason,
I really want to see Takaaki right now.

[Incoming Call: Goto Naoya]

Hello.

Ah, sorry for bothering
you while you're working.

Listen.

Can I come over to your place today?

Takaaki?

Got it.

See you later then.

Yeah.

Excuse me.

President, the documents you
asked for the other day are ready.

Thanks. Just leave them over there.

Understood.

Um, President?

Sorry, cancel all my appointments
for the rest of the day.

Huh?

I'll leave the rescheduling to you.

- Ah...
- Good work.

Good work...

How should I put this?
It's exactly as I imagined.

Oh.

Whoa.

It's spotless.

Do you have a housekeeper?

Yeah, I have someone
come clean once a week.

And yet you still came to my
crappy apartment to clean and cook.

What's up with that?

Why did you suddenly want to come over?

It feels like being forced to see
the gap between us.

That's why I've always
been afraid to come here.

Actually, there's a coworker
named Mori-san at my part-time job.

I think I mentioned him to you before.

When I said I messed up at work.

Yeah.

Mori-san.

He helped me out a lot back then too.

Afterward, the two of us talked for a bit.

We talked about my father.

And my late mother.

About how much pressure
my father put on me.

And how desperately I worked
just to keep from being crushed.

But in the end, I still couldn't handle it.

Other than you, that was the first time
I've ever talked about myself like that.

He listened to me so earnestly.

And he accepted me.

If I had a son like you,

he would be my greatest pride.

And then it hit me.

I didn't want to become strong
like my father or you.

I just wanted to live freely.
That's enough for me.

Is this Mori-san more
'insignificant' than your father?

No, why would you ask something like...

I guess so.

When it comes down to it,
what does it even mean to be 'strong'?

Naoya is turning over a new leaf
and rediscovering who he really is.

He's found someone
who truly understands him.

He's expanding his horizons.

Even though for the longest time,
I was the only one by his side.

Takaaki?

That guy, Mori... How old is he?

He must be pushing sixty.

Looks like you've got pretty broad tastes.

Excuse me?

What on earth are you talking about?

Takaaki...

Stop it.

I get it.

Narrow-minded men like
me and Naoya's father...

When it comes to the things we desire...

If we can't control them and keep
them close, we're consumed by anxiety.

We let our desires imprison them.

We want to keep them caged up forever.

But...

I know that's wrong.

That's why...

I've just been waiting for your orders.

This guy... Since when
has he been thinking like this?

You're such an idiot.

How could you ever think
you're anything like that man?

You know...

I really do care about you.

When I lost all my pride, my
self-respect, and my social standing...

You were the only one
who stayed by my side.

Realizing I had to let you go
hurt more than anything else.

Hey... Tell me.

Tonight...

Do you want me?

I want you.

All right.

Then take me.

[Next Episode Preview]

Next time you're in the mood,
just give me a call.

The bathroom play costs extra, though.

The air in this room
is slowly filling with Naoya's scent.

Goto Construction reached out to see if I'd take
over as the head of the reconstruction project.

I turned them down.

Just how much love has he poured
into silently watching over me?