Are you sure about giving her the keys like that?
That's why I moved all my valuables over to my work office.
Suzune, you're blessed with luck.
Even I've got all sorts of troubles!
Then it's all my fault?!
Ah... the manuscript...
You told me you'd send it in first thing in the morning.
I'm sorry.
Suzune, there's trouble!
What is this?!
Ah... I'll go get that.
Hey! There's water leaking down on us from your floor!
Ah... I'm sorry.
How did it go?
The apartment below had quite a bit of water dripping from the ceiling and onto the wallpaper.
Is it terrible?
No, it'll be okay.
Since a contractor will come check it out tomorrow.
But... since there was damage, it'd be best to contact the insurance company.
If you ask me to, I can take care of this for you.
Thank you. But I wonder why the water leaked like that...
Wonder if the drain pipe got clogged?
Eh?
Look, like with hair or fine dirt or such.
Do you clean the drain pipe on a regular basis?
I've been busy every day, so...
But it's never done this even once up till now.
Yeah... You must have been tired.
I should have done that for you. I'm sorry.
No... It's not you fault, Mizue.
Leave settling this up to me. Since I'm accustomed to dealing with this sort of thing.
You have your work to do, don't you Suzune?
Thank you. You're a lifesaver.
No, you don't have to thank me. Since you're putting me up, it's only natural.
Contact the insurance company. Make a report to the building Manager.
Maybe I should buy something for the people in the apartment below us.
Ah... that's true, isn't it?
Say, can I ask you to get them something?
Of course.
Take care of it please.
I accept the responsibility.
Yeah.
Mama, I want to go play somewhere!
I'm busy right now.
There's a park nearby.
It's boring being inside the house all the time, isn't it?
Yeah.
Today...
Today's the day I promised we would leave here, though...
For now, couldn't we discuss that after this has been dealt with?
Yeah. All right.
Don't worry. The minute I get a job I'll leave right away.
Parent's Home
Hello?
Suzune? You haven't called in awhile. Is something going on?
Sorry. It's been a bit hectic for me.
Natsumi has gone back to Tokyo, so it's been tough for me alone here.
Your Dad's still in the hospital. Couldn't you come home?
That'd be impossible right now. I can't neglect my work.
"Work" this, "Work" that. Isn't there anything else for you to think about...
...when you still haven't even given birth to any children at your age?
If you're careless about this...
...you'll be alone all your life.
If you keep saying "Tomorrow, I'll"...
Mom, sorry.
I'm a little busy right now.
I'll call you again later. So long.
One strange thing after another has been happening to me.
And somehow, each has been slightly stranger than the last.
I have this vague, uneasy feeling that I'm being attacked.
Heiwa Fansubs Presents
Haburashi (Toothbrush)
Women Friends
Premium Drama
Episode 3 "Doubt"
You look like you haven't slept.
You can tell?
You've been sighing or yawning ever since you got here.
Ah... In quick succession...
...I've made one mistake after another.
Eh?
Ah geez, I way overslept and so missed the deadline for my manuscript.
What's more, the bathtub drain clogged and filled my apartment with water.
Say, what are you doing? Are you okay?
Really, what am I doing, right?
To be honest, having Mizue around to take care of things really has been a help.
I've contacted the people with the insurance company...
...and I'll go apologize to the people in the apartment below us.
I truly am sorry about this.
Then please take care of it.
I will. Sorry about this.
Hey... aren't you being manipulated by her?
Huh? What do you mean?
After all, isn't this all going according to how she wants it to?
Eh? What do you mean? Are you saying Mizue planned all this?
Well, I don't think I'd take it that far, but...
Um, if you'd accept this...
Suzune... how much do you know about her?
Only what you know of her when you two were in the chorus at school, right?
I think that's too unreliable to be putting your trust in her.
Mihoko, you've been critical when it comes to Mizue this entire time, haven't you?
Why is that?
Well, it's just I feel things are a bit fishy when it comes her, is all.
Thing is, nothing good has happened ever since she came, now has it?
Everyone
Makabe Suzune
I am in your debt.
I am very sorry for being late with this.
I am sending you the final version of Episode 6.
Makabe Suzune
Message Sent
Yes?
Is this Makabe-san?
Yes.
This is Nada with the used bookstore.
Ah, thank you about the other day.
The book you asked for has come in.
Thank you so much for going to all this trouble.
No. It's a chance to put all the free time I have at the store to use.
Ah... thank you very much!
Ah... Drama screenplays.
Ah... I wrote all those.
That's awesome.
It's not particularly awesome, though.
I have a lot of respect for people who can create things like that.
Truth is, I'm a little dried up for ideas right now...
Ah, please have some if you'd like.
Thank you very much.
Ah... I'm so happy.
Ah, excuse me.
How careless. You left your door open.
My younger sister.
Ah... sorry for my bothering you.
Nice to meet you.
Then, I'll be going.
Ah, sorry about this.
Truly, thank you very much.
No, no, no...
Who was that?
The owner of a nearby used bookstore. He came to deliver materials I need for my Drama.
Hmm... And for that, you put out tea for him?
That's okay, isn't it? More importantly, why are you here out of the blue?
She called you, right? You got a call from Mom, didn't you?
Yeah.
She's complaining.
That you've been using work as a pretext for not coming back home at all.
But I really have been busy at it.
Ah, that's right. You're here just in time.
I was about to send this to you. Gifts for the baby. Take them.
Thank you.
Wear these, okay?
I have something for you, too. Here.
Eh?
Your birthday's tomorrow, isn't it?
Ah...
What? You'd forgotten that?
Ah... what with all that's been going on, I seriously did forget.
Ah... so that's what Mom was trying to tell me.
Truth is, I came to let you know something.
Huh? What is it?
My husband's being transferred to Fukuoka.
Fukuoka?
He'll go over there alone for now...
...but I'm thinking I'll move over there soon as well.
Eh?
So I don't think I'll be able to go back to our parent's home in Shizuoka like I have been up till now.
Onee-chan, you'll need to go and help Mom out.
Well but, I...
Then you'll just leave her alone?
All right... I'll go once my work has settled down some.
And there's that.
We've reached the age where we have elderly parents to consider, haven't we?
You've received the manuscript from Makabe-san, right?
What do you think of it?
Ah... She's in a slump, isn't she?
Hello... Are you surprised?
You figured I'd never chase you all the way out here, didn't you?
What business do you have with me?
It's not "What business do you have with me," is it?
You understand, don't you? The loan store Manager is REALLLLLY pissed off.
You thought you could run away from your debt?
Because I can't let you go setting a bad example for the other girls...
...I'll have you pay compensation for now.
Eh?
300,000 yen.
($2,500)
With that, your debt'll be completely forgiven.
There's no way I could get that kind of money...
Is that right?
Here! I'll give this to you, kid!
Here.
Ah... what a good boy.
In that case, try asking for it from that woman you're living with.
It's a day early, but Happy Birthday.
You remembered?
Oi, oi... Even though I came out here worried about you...
...that's the sort of reaction I get?
Was someone here?
My little sister.
I read the manuscript. It didn't feel like something you'd write.
I wondered if you were having some kind of problem.
I went overboard myself yesterday, too.
It's just you sounded like some kind of rookie telling me you couldn't make your deadline because you'd overslept.
It's only natural that you'd say what you did.
But that was the first time in my life I had slept so much.
Wonder if I've been pushing you too hard.
No.
Could we reconcile?
Let's.
I can't make any progress on the manuscript.
Slumps happen to anyone.
Yeah. But I'll be okay. I'll be back at it before you know it.
That restaurant you told me about before? It was nearly impossible, but I got us reservations.
For tomorrow?
Ah, sorry.
I have plans for tomorrow. How about the day after?
"Plans"?
My youngest son's soccer match.
Roger that.
Servicing your family is the important thing, isn't it?
Putting it that way really hurts.
Huh? I didn't mean it like that.
I'm home.
Welcome back. I took care of those tasks you asked me for.
Ah... thank you.
Ah... give this to Kouta-kun if you'd like.
What's going on? Did you buy this?
No. My younger sister came to my work office. I just don't celebrate birthdays at my age.
Eh? It's your birthday, Suzune?
Yeah. Tomorrow.
You should've told me sooner! We have to celebrate! Ah, but you'll be on a date with him tomorrow?
Unfortunately he has to work.
Then I'll make a tasty feast for you.
What do you want to eat?
Say Kouta-kun, what's your favorite food?
Hamburger!
Then I'm fine with that, too.
Yeah!
Are you sure about hamburgers?
Of course.
All right then.
Suzune. I'm bringing in some tea.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Mizue.
Huh?
Could it be you came into this room?
Ah, I'm sorry. I cleaned the entire apartment.
But I didn't change the position of anything here, did I?
I told you not to clean this room, didn't I?
I'm sorry... You did, didn't you? I totally forgot that.
Are you making progress with your work?
No.
Suzune's work is tough, too, isn't it?
Because it comes with no guarantees, there are times when I can work and times when I can't.
You should get married.
I don't have a partner for that.
That's not true. If it's you Suzune, you could get plenty of them.
Say, do you remember Takaishi Kentaro-kun of Higashi High School?
Oh my... I haven't heard that name in awhile.
Suzune, you butted in when I was trying to go out with him, didn't you?
Eh? Did I?
Because you told Takaishi-kun you liked him before I could.
I've forgotten all those old things.
That was the year I realized it.
That when you let a chance slip away from you, it never comes back again.
Look, you're going out with the wrong partner, Suzune.
I want you to find the right partner for yourself and to become happy, Suzune.
Just what is the "right partner" for me?
One who brings you happiness.
And one who will absolutely never hurt you.
Suzune.
Huh?
They're taking photo ID for resumes in front of the train station right now...
...so could you watch Kouta for me for a little while?
(Mizue has written in Suzune's apartment as her own address)
Ah... sorry.
Since I can't find a job without a fixed address...
...I just wrote this address down for the time being.
I see... You should, shouldn't you?
Then I'll be back right away. So long.
The one who came to my Manager's office yesterday is someone living in your apartment, Makabe-san?
Yes.
Could you issue a report to the City Council about an increase in the number of residents?
This doesn't mean there's been an increase.
It's only temporary. I think she'll probably be here just another 2 or 3 days.
I'm sorry.
Ah... In that case, that's fine then.
It's a day early, but Happy Birthday.
"Plans"?
My youngest son's soccer match.
Hikari Loans
International Finance
3 Million Yen Loan, Same Day
Hikari Loans
Oi, you guys go collect on Ooya Store.
Yes sir!
Don't come back until you've gotten that money!
Ah... yes sir!
Hello, Kouta?
Eh?
I'm back.
Mizue? What's the matter?
Kouta broke out in a fever.
Eh?
He did seem listless ever since this morning, but...
He vomits even when he just has water.
What's his temperature at?
When I measured it earlier, it was at 39.5 degrees Celsius.
(105 F)
That's bad, isn't it? It'd be best to hurry him to the hospital.
Here. Has his fever gone down any?
He seems to be suffering even more than before somehow...
Geez, why didn't I notice it until it had gotten like this...
Say. I guess you should take him to the hospital.
If you take a taxi, you can be there right away.
But I don't have either an insurance card or money...
This isn't a situation to be saying such things, now is it?!
What'll you do if the worst happens?
I'll give you the money. Hurry and go to the hospital.
C'mon, hurry up. I'll call for a taxi.
Truly, thank you.
It's tough raising a child, isn't it?
But I do envy you a little.
If I were to give birth to a child now...
...I'd definitely be at an advanced age to give birth, wouldn't I?
And besides, I don't have any plans to get married for the time being.
I do think it's really tough for you right now, Mizue...
...but I guess I do envy you for having a child.
I'm... a little scared.
Eh?
Before I got married, I didn't think it would be all that scary somehow...
...but now I feel the most important thing in my life is Kouta.
I'd do anything so that boy wouldn't be unhappy.
I don't think you'd understand, Suzune...
...but having something that's that important to you can be a scary thing.
I wouldn't understand that.
Yeah. I'm sure you wouldn't.
If Kouta were to die... I would die, too.
Being a Mother... is incredible, isn't it?
I never dreamed I would become like this.
I... wonder how I got to this point?
Even though we all started at the same place back then...
Sorry for turning this into such a terrible birthday for you.
Don't worry about that. Besides, I didn't have anything particularly planned for today.
I'm very sorry about this, but could I owe you for a little while...
...over today's medical expenses and taxi fare?
Yeah.
Thank you.
You must be really starving. I'll whip something up.
Mizue.
About your former husband's abuse of you...
I did a little checking into it...
There are facilities that will give shelter to people like you, Mizue...
I hate such places.
Eh?
Ah... I've heard stories that they don't give you much freedom there...
...and I don't want Kouta feeling he should be ashamed.
Still...
Thank you for worrying about us so much.
Um... is there something I could use as a substitute for Kouta's pajamas?
I used up all his changes of clothing...
All right. I'll look around for something.
I'm truly sorry for anything and everything.
Medicine to Promote Sleep.
3 pm...
That was the first time in my life that I had slept so much.
You told me you'd send it in first thing in the morning.
Aren't you being manipulated by her?
Here you go.
Suzune... how much do you know about her?
Episode 3 "Doubt"
Haburashi
Women Friends
END