03x03 - A Sheltered Life

[bunniefuu]

OUTSKIRTS

I'm Migi!

I'm Hidarin!

I'm Manaka. I'm the group's center.

We're the OTM Girls,
the most stylish underground idols!

Underground idols?

They're an idol group, as you can see.

I scouted them, and now I manage them.
But they're not well-known yet. Ouch!

You move your head too much.

Who ever heard of a producer
whipping up the audience?

Then quit letting them just stand there!

You're supposed to hype them up!

Right.

You're a producer?

Yeah, that's right.

I'll hire you as our accounting manager
starting from today.

The salary will offset your debts.

Not a bad offer, right?

But I already have a job.

Huh?

You said you'd handle this properly.

What?

You said you'd do anything.

Well, I...

Really? You'll do anything?

Um.

In that case, go to the store
and get me gummies and wet tissues.

-Huh?
-Get me gummies and wet tissues.

-Um...
-Gummies and wet tissues.

-Now.
-Okay.

RAGE

It's Friday night!

We're going to make this night amazing.
Everybody, get pumped!

Yeah!

-Hey, accounting manager.
-Yes!

-Bring all of these.
-Okay!

-Put them all back!
-Okay!

Accounting manager!

-Get me gummies.
-On it!

-Get me an oolong tea.
-Right!

Get me a pork bun.

Roger that!

Huh? I asked for a pizza bun.

But you said pork bun...

Huh? Like I'd ever ask for that.

Go get me a pizza bun.

Sure thing.

Here are the receipts.

Right.

The are some in the dashboard, too.

Got it.

I'll leave it to you.

Understood.

We're going to make sure
you have the best night of your life!

Jeez, this is so frustrating!

I'm not their accounting manager,
I'm their handyman!

RECEIPT


And on that note,
he's told me nothing about my salary.

Your salary?

Yes, I don't think you've told me
how much it is.

Have you checked our finances?

We're in the red, aren't we?

Well, um... Yes.

I think a lot of money
is being wasted on merchandise.

And so, there's no salary for you
until we start making profits.

I told you this was piecework.

No, you didn't.

All three of them are doing this
for free as well. Be patient.

Now is the time to plant the seeds.

No one cares.

Short-timer!

Huh? She's not here?

Yes! Can I help you, sir?

I'm here in her place
if you need anything.

Huh? I need the short-timer.

-Where is the short-timer?
-No idea, sir.

Short-timer!

Wake up, Retsuko!
The prison guard is going to come over!

BREAK ROOM

I hardly ever see you sleeping at work.

Yeah...

What's going on?

Nothing. I just feel a little tired.

Are you sure?

I'm fine.

I see.

So... see you later.

There's definitely something going on.

But she won't tell us.

As usual.

What are we to her?

We're probably just colleagues to her.
Nothing more, nothing less.

We're all adults, after all.

Did something happen to Retsuko?

I haven't heard anything.

OUTSKIRTS

Today was awesome!
You're an angel, Manaka!

I'm so happy! Thank you!

Am I the only one who thinks OTM
will be number one someday?

I'm so happy! Thank you!

Can I...?

Can I take a picture with you?

Sure.

That's 1,000 yen.

And how about a T-shirt?

Okay, say cheese!

It's not just singing and dancing.

Another part of being an idol
is taking the time to meet the fans

and selling merch like that.

It looks hard.

About the merchandise...

Did you order 300 new pins?

Well, 300 is the minimum order.

But there's only about 20 visitors today.

And you haven't used up
your old pins yet.

Shut up already.

But you can't really
go on like this, right?

What do you know?

You're just an ignorant office lady.

Hey, what did you just say?
Try saying that again.

Did I just hear you say
that you're promoting me?

What are you laughing at, dammit?

He's super mad.

Who is he talking to?

The event promoter from the other day.

I'm the one who brought people
to your place!

To your pathetic event!

Got that?

I'm sending one of my youngsters
over to yours.

You asked for it!

That will teach you, you idiot!

Account manager, you go.

What? Me?

You're collecting what is overdue.

Don't come back until he pays up.

Hyodo really doesn't understand
how to work with others.

He didn't start out
in this industry, after all.

It must be hard to be you.

I bet he told you
not to go back until I pay.

You poor thing.

So how do we do this?

I have no intention of paying.

Will you kneel down and beg?

Please, I beg you to pay.

Please.

Don't be so serious!
I was just joking, you know!

Watching scum like you grovel
does nothing for me.

Everyone has debts.

We're burdened with them from birth

in exchange for living in this world.

And so we work desperately...

wasting our life away to pay that debt.

Everything we do is for that.

Screw you capitalism!

RAGE

The cash I'm not gettin'
The debt I'm still frettin'

The flames of financial hell
got me sweating

No matter what I do
I'm always destined to fail

And every damn day
another bill's coming in the mail

Endless rat race

Working just to work more

Endless rat race

Jail cell, no door

Bingo.

I knew I'd find you here.

Why don't you quit?

What?

It's hard because you're not being paid.
So why don't you quit?

I can't. It was my fault to begin with.

I knew you'd say that.

Then keep going.

But the money won't come in anytime soon.

Gori also mentioned
that running a business is hard.

I don't know what to do.

I knew you'd say that, too.

Really?

It's not that you don't know.
You just stopped looking for a solution.

That's why he called you
"an ignorant office lady."

Work is tough, but you won't quit.
So what do you want?

You need to change something.

Did you really give it your best sh*t?

I need to stop in here quick.

Oh. Okay.

I wonder if I upset her.

ANIMART

Thanks for waiting.

Here.

Huh?

What?



Washimi, this is...

I was withdrawing money anyway.

And I still need you to sign an IOU.

Washimi, you're so kind!

Oh, just put it in your bag already.
We're in the middle of the street!

Can I just borrow enough
for food this month?

What?

Just for food? What about your debt?

I'll try to do my best.

I mean, I'll do my best!

Just count to ten...

and I'll be a professional accountant.

OUTSKIRTS

Please stop ordering new pins.

Huh? What are you on about?

Currently, we have a lot more merch
than we do visitors.

The supply and demand are imbalanced:

an illogical trend
that you've normalized.

You're telling me
to stop making new pins?

You know nothing.

Then we won't be able to buy anything!

This is a serious problem!

Are you trying to capitalize
on the situation?

See? You need to consider
the fans' opinions, too.

Don't worry.
I plan to buy this secondhand.

Hmm?

It's a machine press
for making your own pins.

If you're only making a few,

you can use a PC and printer
to efficiently create original badges.

Sounds economical.

I'm gonna be squeezed dry!

I'll look for ways to cash out
the T-shirts and caps we have as well.

Will you trust me

with OTM's Financial Consolidation Plan?

Uh. Yeah... Okay...

Thank you!

Thank you, Washimi!

ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT

It looks like Retsuko
resolved her money crisis!

I wouldn't count on it.

Why not?

It may look like she has,

but once you're sucked into a VR,
it's hard to get out.

There's no turning back!

You just keep going without thinking!

You play it, too, don't you?

What?

Why do say that?

First, you trash something,
and then you get hooked on it.

That's what you do.

You also trashed matchmaking
and smartphones.

"Flip phones
are enough for the Japanese"?

You're the one who needs a virtual lover!

You've been desperate for a girlfriend
for years!

Shut up, will you? Leave me alone.

Excuse me.

Yes, one minute.

General Affairs, right? You're, um...

I'm Inui.

Right, Inui. Is there a problem?

Um, about this document...

Ah, I see.

I think this is ours.

Sorry for the trouble.

No...

It was no trouble.

Whoa.

Whoa!