Looks delicious!
This "Juicy Japanese clawed salamander"!
And this too - "Wonderful seafood boat-wrap sushi"!
The room with open-air bath looks great too!
Yeah!
This is our fifth year working, we should spend a little!
Yes, we are working hard!
Right, Natsuko will organise it!
- Me? - Take care of it!
Alright then!
Let's talk and drink all night to release the stress.
I have loads to moan and gossip about!
my boss is horrible so I'll rant all night!
I look forward to going to the hot spring.
Mmm, yummy!
Amazing, what a superb seasoning!
Delicious!
Amazing, what a superb consistency!
I like looking at that face of yours! It tells me that you do really like it.
At my age one cannot eat that much anymore.
So quantity is swapped for quality.
And my desire for quality food is strong.
I get it, indeed,
...with you I can hit it off!
Yeah!
Huh?
Where is Hanasaki...I mean your daughter?
- Out drinking with fellow girls. - Is she?
Yes she often meets up with the girls.
Hm,
...I bet they are just complaining about work and colleagues to relieve stress.
Women love this sort of thing.
But there is nothing bad to be told about you I think.
- Must be. - But you,
...look like the ideal boss.
No, no~
No, no, my boss is generally good,
...but doesn't really have the determination so isn't very dependable,
..anyhow, he is far from being the ideal boss.
Mai, you are a bit like an old geezer.
- Huh? - I have noticed too!
- Your gestures and expressions are. - Crap!
I'm alone with the boss at work so I must have been infected!
Did you hear that Nanami will change jobs in June?
- Really? - Mhm.
- It's sad isn't it, how change makes people leave.
What to do if you are the last one?
There will be no one to give you a farewell party!
How about this? Us, who went through the same induction,
-...should disband at the same time. - What?
But it brings back memories, induction~
I couldn't even count notes properly!
We just sort of became a group back then.
That's right.
We have done well continuing to meet up once every moth.
But the members decreased.
Looks like we are all being delayed.
Was that bad to say?
Right, let's toast.
To what?
Too all of us who don't lose spirit!
Cheers!
With this, I am all wired up for tomorrow.
So nice for you to be in head office!
Not at all.
Our job sparks dislike by the branches.
- still, you are doing well. - I wonder.
- And you? - Hm?
You haven't given up on the course to become a regular employee?
Hm~
I still cannot quite understand,
...how could you fail the test.
Are you sure you wrote your name on it?
- I did. - For sure?
How nice for you to be always so optimistic.
- I am not!
Truly!
I'm gonna go home after shopping.
[ The truth behind Megabank T ] [ The beautiful female bank clerk's story!!] [ Elit banker's hidden face ]
- This is bad! - Morning chief!
Good morning, what happened this morning?
Something like your favourite chocolate selling out?
Or the pork was soggy in last night's dinner?
What bonkers things are you talking about?
Have you not seen?
Hm?
"Elit banker's hidden face"?
"Molester manager"?
Hm?
"Megabank T"?
Isn't this picture blatantly us?
This employee badge,
...is definitely ours!
Hence I said it was bad!
I see.
"Complaint by a current employee in her twenties, in one city branch of Megabank T."
" Her body was touched in the manager's room"?
" Grabbed her hand in the lift"?
" Pushing in for a kiss"?
This is overboard!
Scary!
Mixing personal affairs with work is scandalous!
Tried this on me and I'll hit him!
And looks like she would.
- But she would be fine anyways. - Huh?
Do you think anyone would try and molest her?
- No, unlikely! - Right?
What you just said is already a splendid harassment.
- Is it? [TEL]
Assisting Department.
Good morning Chief Karashima!
Eh?
This is assisting chief of HR, Oomae.
- I'm Souma. - I'm Hanasaki.
Have you read this?
Yes.
To resolve this as quick as possible, the executives are going to assist HR.
But also, I'd like you to find this female employee.
How do you mean?
I don't know whether she is after money or what, but this is not excusable.
But according to the article she has been~
It's junk printed in a gossip paper.
Sexual harassment to happen in our bank is absolute rubbish.
- But~ -knock-
Come in.
- Hello. - Vice-president!
What brings you here?
Have we found this girl claiming sexual harassment in the article?
I've just assigned the case to these two.
Eh? To the Assisting Dep?
Can they do it?
They can.
They've been very reliable with resolving issues in branches.
But this case is different to a small issue raised by a branch.
Us, the most reliable bank, cannot afford a scandal.
Still, this issue might require another female employee's understanding.
She is suitable.
I see.
Can you really find her?
Ah,
...I'll do what I can.
What you can?
No,
...I will find her.
Ooh, you will?
Yes.
Let me know as soon as you know something.
I understand.
Yes!
Geez, don't say that you will!
Don't forget it involves me too!
- Sorry, somehow~ - Always "somehow" isn't it?
"Somehow" said it. "Somehow" did it.
Do you know how much pain in the neck your "somehow" can be?
Sorry, somehow~
- See? - Ah!
I forbid you use that word.
- Huh? - Just think about it.
How many thousands of female employees do we have?
Among those, to find employee "Miss A" is like touching a cloud, but you~
...say "I will find her".
The only hints in the article is that she is in her twenties and works in the city.
Ahh, how are we going to narrow this down?
Hmm~
- For now let's look at the photo of all cashier is the city. - What for?
Because it says she's a beauty~
- You really are an old git. - Just kidding!
Ah!
Let's ask the newspaper!
- There's no way they'd tell! - Ah.
Besides if they run a funny article on us calling in to ask who this "Miss A" is,
...that would only makes things worse.
I guess~
- Let's start with those that have handed in their notice. - Hm?
To sell your company out to a paper,
...she must be ready to leave.
I'll get a list from HR then.
Please.
Out of all employees in their twenties, 12 have handed in their notice in this city.
Quite some. And the reason?
Marriage, childbirth, studying abroad, job change, all sorts.
I see. Right Hanasaki,
- You lead this case. - Huh?
It's about women~
Only you can do it.
Karashima said so too.
I see,
...alright then.
This is surely gonna be messy.
- Say what? - Nothing.
[ South Shinjuku Branch ]
Outrageous!
Do I look like someone who would cause problems to the bank I've worked for?
No, not at all~
We are only asking this just to be sure...
Are you telling me I'm quitting because of resentment?
That's just ridiculous!
Um, I'm sorry.
This is harder than I thought.
Oh! There is a great curry place that calls for queueing!
We don't have time to queue today.
[ Denenchoufu Branch ]
I wonder who that cashier is!
I'm dying of curiousity here!
To be what they call, a "too beatiful cashier", I suspected Aiko in Marunouchi, but
-...but she has quit alredy. - Um,
How about that legendary cashier in Yokohama?
She is in this city.
Then maybe that "honey" one in Hachiouji?
Then there is "Beyonce" in the Tama branch~
No, maybe Higashimurayama's "Madonna"?
[ Mukojima Branch ]
Are you suspecting me?
No, it's not only you,
...we are asking this from everyone.
Didn't the other cashiers call you here?
Um, your make-up will be ruined~
- door -
- What are you doing without my permission? - I'm sorry.
You just looked terribly busy~
Looks like that article brought you here?
Yes, well~
Which means?
You think I am the molester manager?
No, we are not suspecting anyone~
- Do I look likely to do such a disastrous thing? - No, but~
...looks are deceiving~ - Indeed...huh?
So you do suspect me!
Thanks for your time! We're leaving.
I'm knackered.
I'm hungry~
We didn't have time for lunch~
And we didn't find anything.
Did you find something?
No, nothing.
None of them seemed to be likely.
Will you really find her like this?
Sorry.
Geez,
...she sells a complaint for money,
...then acts like a composed cashier, how irritatig.
Um, this has been bugging me,
- ...isn't it strange that only "Miss A" is blamed? - Hanasaki..
The indecent manager should also be viewed as a problem.
So you believe the contents of this article?
These cashiers' sexual harassment complaints, are mostly about something trivial made to sound big.
I feel sorry for their boss.
This "Miss A" must be a woman like that.
Sorry to dis...
Anyhow, hurry up and find this cashier.
Right?
Yes.
That Oomae pisses me off.
How can someone in HR say that?
- Yeah~ - Mai,
...isn't the molester bank your workplace? It says "Bank T" here~
- Don't tell anyone! - So it really is?
Your voice is too loud!
Mai, you weren't molested as a cashier, right?
- No, I'm fine. - For sure?
Rest assured.
No man would ever try and molest your daughter.
Boss~
No, I mean,
...I didn't mean it that way.
- Now that you say it's true! - Dad?
- If they tried I'd break one or two fingers of theirs! - Indeed~
But I can see where he is coming from.
What the article says isn't guaranteed to be true.
Well that as may be,
- But? - I,
...I have read this article many times.
She says "I was scared of every day, but I couldn't quit",
...or "I'll just put up with it",
She sounds like a serious girl with a sense of responsibility.
Hm~
I don't think she'd lie for the sake of money.
If you put it like that~
...with this, she must had been driven to despair.
She couldn't turn to anyone,
...she was alone. In that case, I feel sorry for her.
This is bad!
It's awful!
What is it today?
This was addressed to the president!
Thanks.
The identity of the cashier whose article was printed is Kawashima Natsuko from the Kyoubashi branch.
Let me see!
Natsuko?
Do you know her?
Yes. Who would do this?
Can you go to Kyoubashi please?
Chief, do you believe this?
No,
This must be just a joke to cause trouble.
If she were "Miss A" she would have told me about it much sooner.
I never heard anything about molesting.
I see.
However it is, given that it came to us we cannot ignore it.
Go and see what she says.
Alright.
Come on!
Ok~
What's up? You are miles away.
No, nothing.
Do you still think it's not her?
I do!
I do, but~
But just in case it is, and she has been troubled by it~
This was delivered to the president.
Kawashima is?
It could be just a mockery, but just to be safe we'd come here for a talk.
I've known her since I was an assistant manager,
...but she isn't one to do something like this.
Of course I never would have done anything~
No worries.
What is her work like?
She is reliable and extremely capable.
Can we please talk to the person herself?
Yes.
- Boss, - Hm?
Can I talk to her alone?
I'll leave it to you,
Thanks.
- knock -
Excuse me.
Mai~
So you are the staff from head office.
Mhm.
You know the article in the papers right?
We are dealing with it.
And this morning this was sent to us.
It might just be a tastless joke,
...but we had to come to make sure.
It's me.
I sent this.
Eh?
How come?
I wanted it to come to light faster.
Natsuko,
...were you molested?
Mhm,
Is it Manager Iwaki?
No, the one before him.
Who is it?
Oomae, in HR.
Hm?
What's this?
Is this about me then?
Damn,
...that woman!
What has she done?!
Oomae did it?
So the things in the article were real?
The facts that he touched me, yes.
At first I thought I was thinking too much into it.
Whilst not saying anything,
...it became gradually worse.
But if it were just the molesting part, I could have endured it with great pain.
What happened?
You remember I applied last year for the course to become a regular?
Yes.
Before the test he took me for a dinner.
I'll write a referral.
Don't worry.
Thank you.
I've booked a room.
It won't be bad for you.
I'm sorry.
I'll be going now.
"What a shame you got rejected".
You should have just done as I asked and this wouldn't have happened.
Is this because I refused your invitation?
No way!
I'll bust you to HR.
Pointless!
Between the two of us, who do you think they'll believe?
Awful!
So you were rejected because of the referral he wrote?
That's just way too horrible.
But it's always the managers to write the evaluations.
But still,
...using his authority to control things like this is unforgivable!
Hey,
Natsuko,
...why didn't you tell me?
That you were going through this horrible thing.
Maybe telling me wouldn't have resolved anything~
But,
...I could have listened.
I am always on your side.
Aren't we friends?
So why?
I'm sorry.
I couldn't say it, because we are friends.
I didn't want it to be known.
I'm sorry.
I haven't realised,
...I'm sorry.
Is this what was sent to the president?
Who would do this?
No mistake, it's a malicous joke.
Can we call it a joke?
Ah, well~
Make sure this Kawashima Natsuko comes here tomorrow.
- Yes, sir. - I'll listen to what she has to say.
Since it has come this far we must investigate the actual facts.
Take it away from the Assisting Dep.
Huh?
A stereotypical sense of justice and a cheap argument would only get in the way.
He was transferred to head office in January so I thought I'd just forget.
But when I went there for training,
Kawashima,
...been a while.
Yes.
Don't tell me you are trying again to pass the course?
If you were, I'd be the interviewer.
I couldn't stomach him being so carefree after what he did to me.
Thinking about how much longer would I have to put up with him,
...it was the last straw, I couldn't hold it in anymore.
I know someone who is in editing and I asked if they could run my confession.
I wouldn't want money for it.
I see.
My small story would become big,
...and then head office would take notice to resolve it.
So I sent a mail to the president.
I wanted it to be known before Oomae does something.
But it affects you too~
I know,
...but I don't care anymore.
I want him to be punished.
I wouldn't have done it unprepared.
So that's what happened.
Oomae,
An ugly story.
What should we do?
Hanasaki,
...Kawashima Natsuko is coming here tomorrow.
The vice-president wants to hear her out personally.
Can we be present too?
No, you can't.
They removed us from this case.
Saying Shindo and HR will be more than enough.
HR?
So Oomae will be there?
Looks like.
No way!
Couldn't Chief Karashima convinve the vice-president?
That Oomae should be dismissed, no?
- I wonder. - Huh?
Whatever she says, she has no proof and Oomae won't admit to it.
He will lie all sorts to protect himself.
Anything to prevent himself from falling off the "elit course".
And in the end, who will the vice-president believe?
So it might be Natsuko whom they will dismiss?
Yeah.
[TEL] - Manager Oomae -
[TEL]
Damn!
Still not going home?
I understand how you feel, but you can't do anything.
But if she is going to be dismissed like this, then what was all this for?
The problem with power and sexual harassment is the lack of proof.
Which only encourages the culprit do it again.
That's right...
Again?
- Can I see Oomae's personal history you had? - Sure.
Before the Kyoubashi branch he was at 6 others.
Right.
What are you up to?
Comply a list of female emloyees and call them to see if they can provide information.
Huh?
Boss, you just said that a molester would molest again.
I did, but~
There might be others who were forced to accept the situation.
Even if there were, they wouldn't easily cooperate.
Still, I'll try.
- Don't exhaust yourself. - OK.
No reply~
No surprise~
Boss is still not here~
These are our staff documents for the past 4 years.
- Thank you. - Not at all.
But I was suprised at how far you'd go for one employee.
Well,
...me a little while ago, would not have done this.
But my subordinate is passionate even if it's in vain,
And somehow,
...I just couldn't stay silent either.
I see.
Natsuko!
Mai,
... I am sorry I couldn't do anything.
Thanks, but it's OK.
- door -
Are you Kawashima Natsuko?
- Yes. - Come in.
We don't need you.
- door -
Are you Kawashima Natsuko from the Kyoubashi branch?
- Yes. - Sit down.
Is it true that you are this "Miss A"?
What's wrong Ms.Kawashima?
Yes,
...it's me.
I was long tormented by the manager's molesting.
Ms.Kawashima,
...don't be reckless with what you say.
Is that manager Mr.Iwaki?
No, the previous one,
...Mr.Oomae right here.
Chief Oomae, please explain.
Not possible. I wouldn't do such a thing.
It's all fabricated, a delusion.
No! I'm telling the truth.
Believe me, I'd never do anything inapproriate to female employees!
What shall we do vice-president?
[ 4 pending messages ]
This is a difficult situation.
She says she was sexuallly harassed, whilst he denies doing it.
Besides, given the lack of proof with these issues,
...outsiders can't tell what the truth is,
And the currently publicised truth,
...is this article, your confession to the paper.
Which has considerably damaged our bank.
Are you admitting that?
Yes.
Ms.Kawashima,
...I heard you were an exceptionally capable emloyee.
I wouldn't like to lose such promising staff over this.
So how about we leave it as if nothing happened?
Um,
... what are you proposing?
In short,
...this "Miss A" in the article is not you,
...and this "Bank T" isn't us either.
I don't care anymore, I want him punished.
I wouldn't do this unprepared.
You mean just let it all go?
- But! - At this rate,
...you'll besmirch the reputation of 30,000 employees.
I promose,
...not to damage our bank any more,
...the most ideal outcome.
Isn't it?
Ms.Kawashima, the vice-president is right.
"Nothing happened",
...if you say that, all is good again.
It's for our bank's sake.
Is that fine with you?
Hang on!
What? How rude of you!
Get out!
Look at this!
These e-mails were sent by female staff working with Mr.Oomae previously.
"When I read the article, I knew it had to be about Oomae".
"Three years ago he did the same thing to me."
What are you saying?
This is absolute nonsense!
"One year ago I had to quit, because I couldn't oppose him."
"He was persistent and I kept refusing,
...but he wouldn't stop molesting me."
Cut it out!
"I was troubled over it and confided in the section chief."
"But he found out,
...and took revenge in power harassment."
Vice-president, I never did such things!
Believe me!
The reason why they cooperated,
...was to help another victim out,
...and to make sure Mr.Oomae is punished for it.
Cut it out!
It's way too easy to fabricate such stories!
Then shall we contact these people?
What are you saying?
Such a thing would never become evidence.
-door-
Good morning.
Boss~
I went to the Kyoubashi branch to collect documents regarding Ms.Kawashima.
The past four years she has worked for us,
...her work and personality have always been highly regarded.
Evaluations by colleagues and bosses are good,
...and so are her work skills.
"An essential employee for our bank."
Her evaluations were high even whilst Oomae was the manager.
Despite that,
...last year when she applied to the course to become a regular,
...for some reason the reference Oomae gave was terrible.
"Bad behaviour", "Zero Cooperation",
..."Too flirtatious with the other sex".
Her essay and interview scores were a pass,
...so it's obvious she was only rejected because of this reference.
Why was your assessment so low here?
It's contradicting.
That is,
...because it was all true.
I was just being honest.
Sorry to disagree,
...but wasn't it because of some problems between the two of you?
Like, she wouldn't do as you please.
In return, you made sure her application was rejected, by writing a bad reference.
Am I wrong?
Chief Oomae,
...Natsuki is my precious friend.
She always said that work was fun.
If she didn't have to work under you, I'm sure she would have always smiled.
So why did she have to be the victim of a despicable boss like yourself?
I'll never forgive you for making her suffer!
Ms.Hanasaki,
...let's not forget this.
Yes.
Thank you.
His punishment will be severe I think.
- Yes. - Yours, I'm not sure.
It's OK.
I'm prepared to accept punishment.
I see.
Thanks Mai!
If you didn't interrupt, I would have been persuaded to say "yes".
I'm glad I had a reliable friend.
I'm going then.
Natsuko!
Our hot spring trip.
Clawed salamander, boat sushi and open-air bath.
- Don't miss it! - Huh?
Have you forgotten? Be more serious!
- You are the organiser after all! - Mhm.
By then!
You had your carefree times too!
Are you here again, Boss?
Can't I?
Mai, don't be rude to our precious customer.
But if he always comes here,
...he'll catch me in a werd moment or without make-up.
Worry not, Hanasaki, whether you are make-up free or not it takes no effect on me.
- Oh, right! - Hm?
You imitated me today!
"Sorry to disagree"~
Ah, that was just a joke,
...besides it's a common term.
You should just honestly admit it.
You are wrong, that just was just somehow~
Somehow?
Isn't that word forbidden?
Only for you. I'm fine.
- Hmm? - Hanasaki!
Hey, you two!
This is today's special.
- Ah! - Thanks!
Looks delicious!