01x08 - Episode 8

[bunniefuu]

-Three, two...
-My name is Umi Shikamori.

I was a 27-year-old assistant director
in a toxic workplace.

I worked for days without sleep,
and while we were live on air...

Assistant director!

Sorry. I haven't slept for three days.

I was told to give
the sleeping assistant director a rest.

After meeting Kazao Nagamine,

I became employed
at the cosmetic company Animal Beauty!

Congrats!

Don't get devoured.

They're that kind of a place.

The atmosphere was unfamiliar,

and when I felt defeated,
someone came to me...

President Keisuke Sakaki.

You're beautiful.

So you don't fall.

Individual feelings
are crossing over one another.

I'm sorry.

KAZAO NAGAMINE X ANIMAL BEAUTY
PHOTO EXHIBITION

I love the world of Animal Beauty
displayed through

the eyes of Kazao Nagamine.

If I become famous as the photographer
for Animal Beauty,

it'll make things difficult
for my future plans.

If you didn't even like this job,
you shouldn't

have started it.

-What would you know?
-I don't know!

Kazao decided to leave Japan
in order to pursue

a style of photography
he always dreamt of.

I'm leaving everything behind.

I threw myself into work
more than ever before.

Why didn't you go to the meeting?

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep...

Today's meeting...

was really important!

You're the one who said
you'll be okay on your own.

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

I'm the one that's sorry.

I'm sorry.

You're way over your head!

You guys were counted on, and relied on,

but you can't work with that
as motivation.

-I know that!
-No, you don't.

Don't follow me.

I didn't want you to see me like this.

Please stop following me.

-I won't stop.
-Why?

Because I like you.

Umi...

I like you.

Why?

Why?

I don't know why either.

I wasn't planning on telling you.

This is all your fault, Umi.

You can have this.

This is...

It's a picture that I like.

The other day...

you said that I didn't like or enjoy
taking pictures for Animal Beauty.

That got me really angry.

But...

when I took this picture...

And when I saw it,

I...

realized again that these
are the kind of pictures I want to take.

Honestly...

I was starting to think
that things were fine.

Because I like Animal Beauty.

That's why...

I was giving up on going overseas.

"Don't get devoured."

That's what you meant by,
"Don't get devoured"?

You remembered that?

But...

after taking this picture...

Or more like...

after I met you, Umi,

I changed my mind.

I wanted...

to stop lying to myself.

That's it.

Yup.

Okay.

I don't need an answer.

I'm going overseas next week.

I want to leave empty-handed.

What should I do?

You should learn to love yourself.

But...

that's...

Because...

Umi,

you hate your current self, right?

Become who you want to be.

And...

be happy.

We're having Yuka take three days
paid-time off for now.

We're putting a pause on the negotiations
with the influencers.

But there were many negotiations
that were already underway.

President said he'll take care of it.

He was adamant about it.
So I'm sure it'll be okay.

Um...

Is there anything I can do?
I'll do anything!

Umi...

This is my fault
for talking to Yuka that way,

-and so...
-Umi!

There's nothing you can do, Umi.

It is also our responsibility for giving
you guys more than you can handle.

You understand, right?

Yes...

Okay, thank you.

Oh, I'm so glad!

She understood my English!

You were worried?

You used to speak English
to exchange students in college.

But that was over ten years ago.
My skills have deteriorated.

Then should we start making the calls?

Oh, no.

That's not the reason
why I called you here.

What is it?

Satoru, did you already know

about Ms. Shikamori and Ms. Taniguchi?

Why do you think so?

I'm embarrassingly obtuse,

but you're not like that.

I trust you with that.

I don't know how I feel
about being overly trusted.

So you knew about it, huh?

I'm sorry.

Why didn't you tell me about it?

I thought that would be best
for the company.

Sorry.

No. I'm the one who's sorry.

I was relying too much on you, Satoru.

What?

What?

It's rare for you to say things like that.

I've been thinking
that I need to reconsider a lot of things.

About the company?

No.

About myself.

About who I am,

and what I want to do.

It's no good...

The "boyfriend's fried chicken recipe"
isn't working at all.

I see. That's a secret recipe too.

I wonder if something happened
to her at work.

Or maybe it's Kazao after all.

Or both of those things.

That's possible.

Brush my teeth, and then go to work.

-You go to work at 6:00 a.m.?
-That's right.

-Isn't that too early? Do you sleep?
-Yeah, I get enough sleep.

Our company is a bit militaristic.

We have to clean up
before the senior employees come in.

You're annoyed.

Yes. It would be faster
if everyone just cleans together.

That's right.

That's why, when I become a senior,
I'm going to fix it.

I will change...

this horrible tradition!

Nice!

Awesome! You can do it, Sasaki!

Hey, hey! Sasaki!

-Let's go!
-Come on, Hina.

Hurry! Let's go.

Everyone's going for a second round.
What about you, Hina?

I have an early morning.

-Me too.
-6:00, right?

Wanna leave together?

You should've left with him.

I knew it.

That was your big chance!
Did you get his contact info?

You let go
of that handsome trade firm worker.

I screwed up.

Well, it's hard to find new love.

Time will heal everything.

-That's the only way, huh?
-Don't worry!

Even if you think
that you can't love anyone else,

once you find your new love,

you'll end up thinking,

"Why did I ever like him?" Okay?

-All right!
-Yup!

I'll go with the flow,
and find myself a boyfriend.

-You're so positive! Cheers!
-Cheers!

Cheers.

-Isn't it impossible?
-What?

Time will not heal you, Hina.

Because how many years
have you liked Keisuke?

That's...

You already liked him in high school.

Which means, one, two...

Don't count! And you guys
knew about it all along?

It's been at least five years.

Five years...

So what? What am I supposed to do then?

I don't want to be a nuisance.

Nuisance?

Yeah, of course it's a nuisance

to get a confession from someone
when you already like someone else.

I don't want to cause trouble for Keisuke.

That's why I have to hurry up
and find a new love.

It's the same.

What?

Hina, you told Keisuke

to stop prioritizing others over himself.

And Keisuke told you
not to think about him all the time.

Both of those things

basically means,
"Value your own feelings."

I had a person I liked.

I was in a one-sided love
for a very long time.

I knew early on that it would be hopeless,

but I couldn't help but like that person.

So...

I decided to at least be someone
who can be useful

to that person.

After I became someone useful,

where do you think my feelings went?

It went nowhere.

Isn't it scary? It stayed the same.

Waiting for my feelings to fade away,

was a lot more hopeless...

than the years of having a one-sided love.

Cheers.

-Cheers.
-Cheers.

Cheers, cheers, cheers.

Cheers!

Another one please!

-All right.
-Yeah.

-This is not an izakaya.
-That's right. Be quiet.

-One more for me too.
-Okay.

-One moment.
-Let's drink up today!

-Let's drink!
-Today "too", you mean.

-We have reasons to drink!
-You're always drinking.

Don't use me as your reason.

Drink up, Satoru!

-I don't drink like that.
-Drink up!

Umi.

Yuka...

Umi...

I...

I'm so sorry!

What?

I'm the one that caused you trouble,

but at that moment...

I don't know why, but I started crying.

But after resting one day,
I've regained my strength,

so I want to work with you again.

Please.

Um...

I did research on other creators.

You can't do this, Yuka.

You shouldn't apologize, Yuka.

I'm sorry.

-Umi...
-I'm sorry.

Okay! Ms. Taniguchi, your paid time off
has been extended.

Get plenty of rest this week,
and let's work together next week.

Okay?

-Okay.
-Good.

Ms. Shikamori, you should go home today
and get a good rest.

Okay.

Long time no see.

-Hello.
-You want to eat?

Well...

There's no one inside.

-Then I'll have something.
-Okay.

What?

What?

Sir, you said there was no one inside.

Yeah. There's no one but him.

It's on the house.

Come in.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm okay.

Girls only say they're okay
when they're not okay.

That's...

what someone told me.

I wonder who that was?

Here's your ramen.

-Thank you.
-Sure.

-Here.
-Thank you.

-Potstickers.
-Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm...

leaving tomorrow.

What time?

Ten in the morning.

I see.

Yeah.

I...

I'm...

going to do my best.

I'm going to learn to love myself,

and become the person I want to be.

Okay.

That's good.

Yeah.

And...

I'm going to treasure

the picture you gave me.

Okay.

I hope you do.

Yeah.

One bottle of beer is nothing.

-Go home.
-Thank you. Bye.

-Are you guys full?
-Yeah.

-I'm glad.
-It was delicious.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

You're welcome.

-Kazao.
-Yes?

-Good luck.
-Yes.

Thank you.

CHINESE RESTAURANT

Bye.

I think you should rethink your diet.

Really?

You have no right to be giving me advice.

I hope you can find another restaurant
you can frequent.

I wonder if there are ramen shops
overseas?

I don't know.

But...

there's no other place
like this restaurant.

I'll come here five times a week
in your place.

Five times a week? Think of your diet.

You're right.

Nagi will get mad at you.

Bye.

Oh, and...

Um, the picture!

I think it's amazing.

I'm sure you'll get tons of offers.

You'll be a legendary photographer!

-You're teasing me.
-No, not at all.

I'm serious. Yeah.
I think your pictures are amazing, Kazao.

Sure, sure.

Bye.

Kazao.

You know...

I already said "bye" three times.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Stay safe.

Yeah.

You too.

Yeah.

Bye.

Bye.

-I'm off.
-Bye.

Oh my, my, my...

Excuse me, Mr. Satoru.
My key isn't working.

Can you open it for me?

Violation of regulation.

What?

Ms. Umi Shikamori,

how many hours of overtime
did you work this month?

Not only that, but you also
took work home too, didn't you?

Employees who cannot follow rules,
are not allowed to enter.

-What?
-That goes without saying!

Our company will get blamed
for breaking the labor standards.

But Mr. Satoru, you turned a blind eye
until recently.

You knew?

-Please, let me in.
-No.

-Please.
-No!

-Nope! No!
-Please!

Ms. Shikamori.

-Good morning.
-Morning.

-Ms. Shikamori.
-Yes?

Ms. Shikamori, there are three choices
for you right now.

Okay.

First choice, is to walk through this door

and work as usual.

The second choice, is to not pass through
this door, and go home instead.

The third choice is...

you don't pass through this door,

and you don't hold yourself back
from going where you want.

To go see the person
you want to see the most.

Which choice do you prefer, Ms. Shikamori?

President...

-I...
-Ms. Shikamori,

see you later.

I'll be off.

Are you okay with that?

I realized

that the person I like...

is Ms. Shikamori
when Kazao is making her smile.

Really?

Well, it seemed like you were in love
with the idea of being in love.

What? What do you mean?

Maybe someday you'll understand

who is most important to you.

You want to change?

I want to change.

Nice. You're already changing, Umi.

Umi...

I like you.

Become who you want to be.

Kazao...

I thought I might be a burden,

or get in the way of your future.

I also thought that I'm not
a good enough match for you right now.

I thought of so many things,

but I'm over it!

I like you too, Kazao.

I...

thought I had changed.

I thought I was becoming
the person I wanted to be...

but I was so wrong.

I haven't changed at all.

That's why...

I'm going to try again once more.

I'm going to change.

I want you to look forward to it.

I see.

Okay.

I hope you can.

What?

What's up with that?

No, I just said what came to my mind.

Why are you always like this?

-Here. I'm giving this back to you.
-What?

I'm sure a long-distance relationship
might hinder your work as a photographer,

but if you can't even handle that,

you'll never become a good photographer.
So...

take that with you.

Here.

What?

-What a pain.
-What?

I came this far
for the confession of a lifetime.

You're...

such a pain.

I love you.

What?

Okay.

RESIGNATION LETTER

Oh...

This is a surprise...

I'm sorry.

The truth is, I don't have
much experience receiving these.

As expected of Animal Beauty.

Can you tell me the reason why?

Yes.

I loved working at Animal Beauty.

But...

it made me feel
like I was becoming complacent.

It was too comfortable for me.

I see.

Yes.

-Ms. Shikamori.
-Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Sure.

I'm sorry. I know
you introduced that job to me.

Don't be.

I'm happy for you.

Ms. Hina.

That day...

you pulled me out
when I was down in the dumps. Thank you.

What are you saying?

We're friends!

-Friends?
-Yes.

-Right. We're friends.
-Yeah, we are.

-Yeah.
-Of course.

That's right.

Therefore...

You quit your job.

Yes.

I'm sorry, especially since I said
that I'll pay for your living expenses.

But I can take some money
out of my savings.

-My balance right now is...
-I'm happy for you.

Plus, I would feel horrible
if you were working just to support me.

Nagi...

All right! Let's look for a scholarship!

Where is that document?
I got it yesterday.

But I'm still going to pay for things.

Without a job?

-I will start working.
-How?

You're going to enter another company?

There's something
I have in mind right now.

-Okay.
-You want to know?

Yes.

-I will announce it.
-Please do.

-Company...
-Company...

It's a secret.

Nagi, over here!

This is so good!

Are you serious?

-I want to try it.
-Hurry, over here.

-Wow!
-Be careful!

This one is good too!

Thank you!

Let's eat!

-Wow!
-Try this!

Wait! Why are the two of you here?

-What?
-Well, you know...

We were invited.

Is it really okay?

-Of course!
-Yay!

Thank you!

-What a great company!
-Thank you!

-Are you all drinking?
-What?

Ms. Shikamori, you're not drinking!

-I love this company!
-Everyone!

We have a special guest!

Maybe it's your boyfriend.

Oh, I doubt it.

Ta-da!

Oh, my boyfriend.

Mr. Arioka?

-Wait, you two are dating?
-Yeah.

-You should've told us!
-Sorry...

-Hello.
-I'm her older sister.

He came to get Nagi.

-Aw.
-Came to get her?

Everyone.

He is the boyfriend

of Umi's younger sister, Nagi.

Mr. Arioka.

Welcome Arioka!

-Arioka!
-Mr. Arioka.

This is delicious.

She uses honorifics?

-She refers to him as "Mr."?
-Thanks.

It's so cute!

I want to be in love too!

If you want a show, pay me money.

-Pay up.
-Pay up.

-Pay up.
-Pay up.

Pay up.

Sorry.

This is so good.

-I gave you advice the other day too!
-It's delicious!

You're observing from afar again.

Thanks.

It makes me happy
when everyone is laughing.

You're thinking of others again.

But maybe that's just who I am.

I see. I guess that's very you, Keisuke.

She said it was too comfortable for her.

It's the first time
anyone has said that to me.

Keisuke, one wrong move and you're
a machine that turns people into failures.

-What? I am?
-Yeah.

When people are around you,

they think, "This person
is going to guide my life for me!"

That's a bad thing?

Of course it's bad.

They'll just end up relying on you
to tell them what to do.

You have to make your own decisions
about your own life.

You're so cool, Hina.

Well, I made my decision to be here.

What?

Near you, Keisuke.

I have an early morning tomorrow,
so I'll be off now!

I won't give up.

I see.

I won't lose against you.

-What?
-What?

-I have a boyfriend.
-What?

Remember what I said?
I said, "It was hopeless".

Past tense.

Hina!

Keisuke? What's up?

Let's go.

Get in my car.

What?

Didn't you come in a taxi
because you were going to drink?

That's right. I took the train here.

-The train?
-Yeah, the train.

Get yourself together!

Sorry.

-Keisuke, you live that way.
-I'll drop you off at home.

-Thanks.
-Sure.

Hina.

Thank you.

You cried even though
you didn't watch part one?

Is that weird?

I like that about you too.

Stop it.

-It was fun.
-Yeah, it was.

-Right?
-Yeah.

It was fun.

Umi,

I wanted to continue working with you.

Thanks, Yuka.

Thank you.

I'm also going to find out
who I want to be.

Okay.

Stop looking so sad!

Don't you want to stop
by one more place for a drink?

-Yes.
-Search a good spot.

Whoa, that way of inviting me
is so outdated!

That's alcohol harassment.

Hold on, hold on!

Who wants to drink? Come here!

Me, me, me!

-No, you're underage!
-Why?

If we take you along,
all of us here will lose our jobs.

-That's right.
-Yes.

-Yup.
-Then how about you come

to our place?

That's okay, right Umi?

Okay!

All hopeless adults, come follow me!

-This way!
-Yes, ma'am.

You dropped something!

-We're coming!
-Coming!

-It was a long day.
-I'm tired.

Thanks, you guys.

-I'm tired.
-Thank you guys.

You're very welcome.

You're good at imitating cats.

Yeah, I'm good at it.

I'm good, right?

Do it again!

-Show me the sky.
-Sure.

Hold on.

Can you see it?

It's pitch dark.

-I guess you can't see it, huh?
-Yeah.

-Are the stars really that beautiful?
-Yeah.

And? What is it?

You have something to show me, right?

Oh, yeah. Hold on a second.

Here it is. Ta-da!

CEO
UMI SHIKAMORI

I launched my own company.

Oh, that.

What? What kind of reaction is that?
Take a good look at this.

It says CEO.

Your girlfriend is a president.

You're the only employee.

Even so, I'm still the president,
and it's my company!

I'm gonna work like crazy.

I hope you get jobs like crazy.

I'm already working.

You only have referrals from
your former boss and former president.

Not so independent.

Seriously...

how can you say that
to your anxious girlfriend?

You look just fine to me.

Yes, I am. I'm doing well,

but that's just physically.

Anxiety is a mental issue.

Well, this is something
you started on your own.

Can't you say something nicer?

And why is it "Umi Shikamori Inc."?
Wasn't there anything better?

You know, Nagi said the same thing,

but is it that weird?

I've never heard of anyone using
their full name as their company name.

Isn't it nice and easy to understand?

I'm going to drink beer too!

-It's still early afternoon for you.
-Yup. Early afternoon!

What is it? Is it your work?

It's the place I made
a sales call to yesterday.

Go ahead. Answer it.

Okay. Hold on.

Hello. It's Shikamori.

Yes. Thank you
for meeting with me yesterday.

Yes.

Yes.

What? Really?

Yes! Thank you very much!

Yes. Yes.

I look forward to it. Goodbye.

Yes!

Listen, listen. It's going to work out
with the place I visited yesterday...