How am I?
Good, I guess.
But I really wonder whether this oufit is suitable for work.
It's not?
Well, I'm fine with it, but I wonder about him.
Will you have this woman as your wedded wife?
Will you love her in sickness and in health,
...in riches and in poverty,
Do you swear
that you will always love her?
I swear.
Then seal your vow with a kiss now.
Did I surprise you so much?
Boss, I'm still dreaming, right?
I wonder.
Reality is but a bubbly dream.
From tonight, I'm a friend's pinch hitter
and start working at a Western Girls' Bar
Muraki-san you can come and have some fun, too.
I see.
You're just an amateur.
What do you think?
I'm shot out.
Me, too.
You know, for cosplay
For a plain woman like me it's easier to transform.
So, what do you want?
River's Edge Ookawabata Detective Agency
Original Work: "River's Edge, Ookawabata Tantei-sha" Author: Hijikita Yuho / Art: Tanaka Akio ("Shukan Manga Goraku" serialized by Nihonbungeisha)
Opening Song: [Neon Sign Stomp] by EGO-WRAPPIN'
'Muraki' ODAGIRI JOE
'Director' ISHIBASHI RENJI
'Megumi' KOIZUMI MAYA
UCHIDA CHIKA / IWAI HIDETO
Co-Writers: KUROZUMI HIKARU / ONE HITOSHI
Music: MORI MASAKI [Ego-Wrappin']
Cinematography: MIYAMOTO WATARU Lighting: TOMIKAWA HIDENOBU
Subtitles by arakira @d-addicts
QC / Styling: earthcolors
Special thanks: micehell / furransu
Content Producer: GOKA KIMITAKA Producers: ASANO DAI / SUGIHARA NAMI
Chief Producer: NAKAGAWA JUNPEI
Director: ONE HITOSHI
I work as a prostitute specializing in cosplay.
FILE.03 A marriage I work as a prostitute specializing in cosplay.
Specializing in cosplay?
Well, doing it is the same as with a normal prostitute.
But we come in any costume the customer desires.
We also wear costumes prepared by the customer.
When you take them off in the end anyway?
Men fuss about what kind of clothes you take off.
Men's paltry inclinations, huh?
I guess we've got more kinky customers (compared to regular prostitutes)
But well, since I'm not young anymore ...
Good evening.
Excuse me.
Change again?
I'm sorry.
Haruka-chan, your turn.
Okay.
Sorry.
So, when I was already thinking I had better quit soon
there was this guy who
proposed to me.
I want you to inquire about this man.
You want a background check before you marry him?
I don't mean like whether he's from a good family or such,
you see, I'm not in a position to ask for extravagance.
You can't put yourself down.
There's value to your occupation, too.
Well if you ask me,
I'd rather look down on those OL (Office Ladies, women who work in lower rank jobs until they marry)
who ask you about your annual income right away on a group meeting.
No, I don't care about his annual income.
It's just,
Just?
I wonder why he wants to marry me.
I want to know his reasons.
How did you get to know each other?
He is a customer who kept asking for me.
Good evening.
Come in.
Hello, how do you do? I'm Mikki.
Nice to meet you.
Well, what kind of costume would you like?
Let's see, I've got nurse, Office Lady uniform,
also, high school uniform,
Stewardess, bondage ...
Please use these.
These here?
Yes, please use these.
Yes.
Then I'll get changed now.
Ehem, over there please.
Okay.
The costume he prepared
Was really weird.
It was just normal clothes.
Just your average woman's everyday clothes.
So what use was there to have me change in the first place?
Should we do it here or should we go over to the bed?
Well, we could also just watch TV.
When I got called over for the first time,
we only watched TV together for the whole time.
Nothing else?
The next time he called for me I did his ironing.
Another time I did some cleaning,
Another time we ate some delivered pizza.
I cooked for him. But when it comes to sexual contact,
or naughty stuff, we did nothing.
It's done.
Excuse me,
Could you send it to me later?
Yeah.
You'd start thinking he'd better just called a housekeeper, right?
No, I don't think there's anything wrong with it ...
Ah...nothing.
Then he once called me over at noon already.
What should we do today?
I have a little request for you.
Yes, please tell me whatever it is.
Would you go outside with me for a bit today?
Do you eat king oyster mushrooms?
I was curious where he'd take me to,
but it was just a neighborhood mart.
and we went shopping together.
Things like veggies, meat and bread.
Afterwards,
we often went to the supermarket together when we met.
It's weird, isn't it?
But gradually, I got used to being with him like that
Eventually, a few days ago...
Well...
Yes?
If...
If you'd like ...
What is it?
Ehm... nothing.
Please tell me if there's anything I can do.
Well...
Yes?
If you'd like...
Would you...
please go steady with me with marriage in mind?
Huh?
I want to marry you.
It was only then that I received his business card.
He seems to be rather an elite.
Excuse me.
Wow, this really is a first class company.
Why would a person like him... with me...
I thought I must be deceived somehow.
You're not being deceived!
Isn't it awesome? Isn't it romantic?
Like in "Pretty Woman" (For the younger audience: THE 90s romantic comedy)
It's George Clooney.
"Pretty Woman" was Richard Gere though.
Yeah, right. Gere...
Isn't this what every bitch in the world is yearning for?
Megumi-chan!
So in other words, you
want to accept his proposal?
If I'll come to understand why he wants to marry me.
One seaweed bentou please (Most basic type of packed lunch: rice, bonito flakes seasoned with soy sauce, seaweed lafers and some optional sides like fried fish or fish-cake tempura)
Yes.
One Nori-Ben please.
That's 500 yen please.
Like he's under a spell, it's the exact same pattern of activity every day.
He's only going back and forth between
his house, his workplace and a set bar.
I couldn't find any social contacts whatsoever.
What an interesting guy.
He's so very boring it makes him interesting again.
You think so?
Shouldn't you understand?
What?
Since he resembles you.
Home, work, a bar you sometimes frequent,
no friends, not even any hobbies,
Not to speak of relationships with the opposite sex.
Why does such a man suddenly feel like marrying?
Who'd understand if not you?
Takeuchi-san.
Yes?
You're Takeuchi-san, aren't you?
Yes.
I'm in this kind of trade.
I'm doing a background check on you.
On Mikki-san's request.
Won't you have some time for me please?
No matter how long I investigate about a guy like you,
I won't be able to find anything.
I thought it woud be quicker to ask the person himself.
So, I'm going right to the point.
Why do you want to marry Mikki-san?
That's not something I'd talk to you about.
Then would you talk to Mikki-san about it?
No, it's also not something I'd tell her.
How can you be like that?
2 Chuuhai for you. (A classic drink: Shochu with lemonade or tonic water)
Should we just drink for the start?
Do you often do jobs like this?
Well, we often do things like background checks on potential marriage partners.
But being asked to inquire about that person's feelings is unusual.
My feelings?
Your partner will be confused if you just ask for marriage out of the blue.
Can't I?
The point is, would just anybody do for you?
Not at all.
Muraki-san.
Are you married?
No, I'm not.
I see.
Do you mean, what does a person who's not married know about marriage?
No, that's not what I meant.
Takeuchi-san, you fell for Mikki-san, right?
Yes, of course I fell for her.
There you go. What is it about her you fell for?
If she marries me,
I'll tell her one day.
But she wants to know NOW!
Else she can't marry you, she said.
What's with this guy that he's not telling?
Huh? Are you embarrassed?
Are you embarrassed cause an elite like you fell for a prostitute?
That's not what it is!
Oh, come on...
Let's drink.
Two more please.
Here you go.
So how about this,
if you're wasted first you'll tell me your reason.
How about it?
I'm fine with that but I can drink a lot, you see.
You okay?
Hey, are you alright?
I give up.
I lost, I can't drink anymore.
Yeah!
Hey, Muraki-san.
Yes?
My mother was a prostitute.
With the money she earned from selling her body
she's brought me up well.
So what could I do but study with all I got?
Because of that, I graduated from university
and entered the company I work at.
When I just entered,
Mom was totally delighted.
I could finally let her retire.
That's when she died.
When I thought I could finally let her live an easy life.
Therefore I'm without a single relative.
I look like this,
I'm gaffe-prone,
I can't talk normally with a woman to save my life.
If you're asking for a woman who's loved me, until now
there would only be my Mom.
That's why,
I figured if she was in the same trade as Mom...
That's what I was thinking...
You know, even for a guy like me,
marriage is my dream.
Shopping together as a couple on Sundays,
that's my dream.
That's a dream...
Hey.
Muraki-san, you alright?
Muraki-san?
I see.
Do you understand his feelings now?
Yes.
Isn't this pure love?
Isn't this totally romantic?
Mikki-san, "Pretty Woman" isn't even a match for this.
Hmm, I guess you're right.
Well then,
do you agree for us to close this investigation with this?
Yes.
By the way, about the investigation fee, this time...
Boss! Please read the atmosphere!
This is not the time to be talking about that.
Starting with the advance payment we got,
would you accept it as a gift from us?
Marriage is a strange thing.
Why did he choose this woman?
Why did she choose this man?
One marries without an answer to this question.
And looking for the real answer together
is what marriage is about.
Boss, your sermon is too long.
I understand.
Do you both swear
to love each other everlastingly?
- I swear - I swear
Then seal your vow with a kiss now.
'Muraki' ODAGIRI JOE
'Director' ISHIBASHI RENJI
'Megumi' KOIZUMI MAYA
'Miki' - UCHIDA CHIKA 'Takeuchi' - IWAI HIDETO
'Haruka' - KIKUCHI IKUE 'Escorts' Driver' - KAWABATA KAZUO 'Takeuchi's mom' - GOTO YUMI
Original Work: "River's Edge, Okawabata Tantei-sha" Author: Hijikita Yuho / Art: Tanaka Akio ("Shukan Manga Goraku" serialized by Nihonbungeisha)
Co-Writers: KUROZUMI HIKARU / ONE HITOSHI
Opening Theme: "Neon Sign Stomp" Ending Theme: "Sunnyside Melody" Performer: EGO-WRAPPIN' / Music: MORI MASAKI
Assistant directors: KOTOKU KOJI / IWABUCHI TAKASHI NINOMIYA KOHEI / WAKABAYASHI SHOHEI
Editing / Title Back: OZEKI YASUYUKI Stylist: IGA DAISUKE
Investigation Cooperation: GALU Detective School Technical Cooperation: UPSIDE
Shooting cooperation: TAITO Film Commission
Production: TV TOKYO / OFFICE CRESCENDO
Producers: KOMATSU YUKITOSHI / TANABE HAYATO / SUZUKI KANAKO
Subtitles by arakira @d-addicts
QC / Styling: earthcolors
Special thanks to: micehell / furransu
Director: ONE HITOSHI
A 2014 production of: TV Tokyo
Next on File.04: "Idol Momonoki Marin"