- Let's eat. - Let's eat.
Um...
What is it?
I want to buy a rice cooker with our living expenses.
Right now I'm using a container you put in the microwave.
I brought it from my house.
I'm using that to make rice,
but it's too small, and I can only make white rice.
What do you want aside from white rice?
Like brown rice or 10 grain rice...
Or flavoured rice!
Could you please consider buying one?
Thank you for the food.
Do whatever you like about the rice cooker.
What has happened?
A workplace isn't made with the employees' effort alone.
As an employer,
I want to provide an environment that is easy for you to work in, Mikuri-san.
Please don't hold back, and tell me anything.
An Employer's Skill.
Hiramasa-san, who once moved me,
with his clear words...
What has happened?
Isn't the rice hard?
No.
The conversation won't continue no matter what she asks.
It looks like a hot day today.
He avoids her gaze no matter what question she asks.
Somehow even the shining of his glasses,
appear to be making the atmosphere in this house tense.
Here's your lunch.
Thank you.
Have a good day!
It's tough.
It's extremely tough to work here.
Why did it turn out like this?
If anything comes to mind...
On the night Numata-san and Kazami-san stayed over,
I imagined something improper, but...
As long as Hiramasa-san doesn't have superpowers,
there's no way he'd know about what I imagine.
Which means...
At the start of this week...
I found Hiramasa-san's underwear,
that he'd never let me wash before in the laundry basket.
Yes! I'm finally trusted enough...
... to take care of his underwear!
I did the laundry in high spirits.
Welcome back.
S-sorry.
I didn't mean for you to wash them... It was a mistake.
I wasn't trusted!
Let's wash it all together in the machine.
It's a waste to wash underwear by themselves.
I washed my dad's underwear at home,
so I don't mind at all.
- Let's do that. - ... is how I forcefully finished the conversation.
But as for Hiramasa-san,
he might be self-conscious about it.
They're just underwear.
But still, they're underwear.
Let's move.
Sorry?
We'll move from our current 1LDK to a 2LDK.
Huh?
Subs by mottofreaky @ d-addicts. Thanks to the raw provider furransu!
These are conditions for the property.
Could you please look for one?
Why all of a sudden?
You want your own room too, right?
It's for me?
I've always thought that a 1LDK is too small.
The rent is 20,000 yen more than now.
That's about how much 2LDKs are on the market.
So if we halve that, it's 10,000 yen more.
I'll take care of that.
Since it's my selfishness.
It's not for my room?
And one more thing.
I realised we didn't have any clauses about lovers in the employment contract.
Lovers?
Between you and I,
our relationship is nothing more than employer and employee.
From now on,
there's a possibility that we both might start liking someone else.
Right...
In that case, what will we do about the contract?
I'll write up a draft.
Then, I'm going to work.
Somehow...
With staggering force...
He's closing the shutter of his heart.
Overtime?
I can.
Is that okay? You're a newlywed.
That's not related. Work is work.
You're a great help!
Thank you so much!
I saw it...
The bedroom at Tsuzaki-kun's house.
There was one pillow on a single bed.
It didn't look like they slept together there.
I wonder if those two are really married?
They could be a couple who sleep together in a single bed.
This isn't Ozaki Yutaka. [Lyric from Ozaki Yutaka's "I Love You"]
Ozaki had a creaking bed.
The single bed was Tsunku. [Tsunku's song - "Single Bed"]
I got it wrong.
There was no hint of his wife in the bedrrom.
We were tricked by a sham marriage.
Tsuzaki-kun didn't hold any prejudice towards me.
Actually, he was my friend.
A man who likes men and a woman who likes women.
These two incompatible people take each other by the hand,
and live through life's hardships together.
Isn't it a beautiful story?
Numa-chan's reasoning generally runs through a wishful thinking filter.
Half of what he says, and then some.
Hey hey, Tsuzaki-san!
Let's go grape picking.
Okay? You and your wife and my family.
No, thank you.
What? But I haven't met your wife.
That's not my fault...
You know, kids always catch colds.
With two of them catching colds on rotation, there's no gap.
Do you know how hard it is?
I don't.
Tsuzaki-kun's wife was a wonderful person.
The perfect wife. The ideal wife.
I'm more and more curious!
I want to marry her too.
Numata-san, who's strict on women will say that much?
What's more, she's pretty cute.
She's pretty cute?
She's not cute at all.
I feel like...
... it's like living with a cleaning lady who's over 60.
Isn't that a bit much?
You put me off.
It's because I think that... that she can wash my underwear for me.
- I see. - See what?
I don't get it at all. What is it?
Oh no.
It's not good.
Huh?
If it's not bad, but it's not good either,
it's hard to make a comment.
If you can just eat it yourself, then what does it matter?
If I could, though...
You know, my husband...
Aside from the times I make dinner REALLY delicious,
he doesn't come home.
When he comes home in the middle of the night, eats the cold side dishes,
and says they're not good,
it makes me want to pin him against a wall.
The kind where you push him into the wall, right?
But I try to keep that in,
and say to myself, "he's working for Hirari and I,"
"I can't complain about something like this," but there he goes...
... cheating.
It's still only a hunch, right?
He was just walking with a girl.
No, he's so suspicious that he's pretty much guilty. Completely guilty.
If he hears someone yelling "Sale, sale!",
he's the type to plunge in even if he doesn't know what they're selling.
Always diving in. Diving in without looking.
Not to mention, you had to dive in too.
Exactly!
He came on strong, and I got all excited,
before I knew it, I got pregnant and married.
With proactive guys...
if you think they might be proactive to other girls in the same way,
proactivity is a problem too.
I shouldn't have hid that I used to be a delinquent...
If I had scared him with a push to the wall, maybe he wouldn't have cheated. [Tsuzaki-san (mother)]
Sorry, it's a work call.
Mikuri-san?
I received some plums from your parents.
Plums?
I want to thank them, but what would be good?
They told me they could pick plums in the garden of their house,
when I said I was envious, they sent some for me.
When did they?
Is there anything your parents don't like?
No, nothing really.
Thank you for that.
Are you getting along well with Hiramasa?
Yes, very well.
He might not be the most sensitive,
but he's a good kid, so please take care of him.
I will.
He's always only been good at studying...
And not with girls at all.
I thought he might grow old,
without having a single girlfriend.
It was a real worry!
Cooks 3 cups...
Cooks 5.5 cups...
Girlfriend-less for 35 years.
Pressure and steam IH.
Binchotan rice cooker pot.
Girlfriend-less for 35 years.
I'm looking for a rice cooker. Rice cooker, rice cooker.
If he really hasn't had a girlfriend for 35 years...
I don't think Hiramasa-san would make a move on a girl with lukewarm feelings.
Since he's the kind of person to research everything before taking action,
I don't think he would take a dive in the heat of the moment.
Perhaps...
I think it's possible. That he's inexperienced.
Isn't it okay? Everyone's different. [Q. What do you think of mature virgins?]
I think it depends on the person, but... [Q. What do you think is the reason?]
Oh, it's okay to show my face.
Lately there are many people with good education, high income and decent looks too...
Those types of people might be very proud.
Or... they don't want to initiate it themselves. [Q. Do you think they're picky?]
Because it hurts to be rejected.
As for one of my relatives... [Q. What about for women?]
She has an old-fashioned side...
She said she protected and protected herself and then it had been 49 years.
She had already missed the time to overcome it.
Are you alright?
I'm NOT alright, I'm about to pop a vessel.
Why do we have to cover for 10 million?
Because you gave the OK at the final check.
I did. I did, but...
You wouldn't have thought the QR code would link to a rival company, right?
A dummy layer must've been left behind, somehow... In some way...
- At what point did they switch? - It was right until the 4th proof.
If it was right until the 4th proof, that means it was at the very end...
How complicated is it to look for those errors?
They're here. The reps from the telegrams.
I definitely won't accept a 7:3 declared match.
- 8:2? - Isn't it 9:1?
10:0!
- About this incident... - Nishi-san! I already spoke to you on the phone, but...
Nishi has caused you great trouble with this incident.
I'm the head of department, Tajima.
Do you remember me?
Tajima-kun?
From Kurashina's seminar?
Right.
We all went skiing, didn't we?
Ah, that takes me back! Yuming's concert at Naeba!
Yeah.
- How nostalgic! - It is, right?
He's my classmate from uni. What a surprise!
I heard the name and thought it might be you.
Yeah.
Wait a minute.
Are you trying to get out of it because we know each other?
I won't pay a cent.
Mikuri-san?
Thank you for the other day.
Do you live in this area?
Just over there.
Tsuzaki-san's still working overtime.
Yes. He texted me that he'd be late.
Thank you.
No problem.
I meant to go home during the day, but...
You didn't know which one to buy?
Cause they have them in all shapes and sizes, right?
The cheap ones were really cheap.
Almost too cheap.
They can make them cheaply overseas nowadays.
Yes.
It makes me sad to think that employment is being globalised,
and we're losing jobs domestically.
So that we can buy cheap things,
they sell work overseas, right?
That's exactly it!
So I was thinking...
- Bye! - Good night.
My work for today...
... will end in a little bit.
Since that day...
... the depths of my mind are making a ruckus.
I'll erase it.
I'll erase all the indecent dreams I had that night.
I erased more than I needed to.
I'll move to a bigger apartment as soon as possible...
... and create a distance between Mikuri-san and I.
Then I can calm down.
The problem is...
How do I spend the time until then?
Or should I turn it around,
and enjoy this fake romance?
Because it will never actually happen.
I'll take a step forward here,
with the intention to become her boyfriend.
Welcome back!
Y-yes... I'm back...
I'm home.
No, nothing.
Oh yeah!
Did you buy a rice cooker?
Yes...
I used it to make the flavoured rice.
Oh.
It's... over here.
Oh!
It's a 20,000 yen IH rice cooker.
I focused on having only the specs necessary and user-friendliness.
I think that's good.
Even with a computer,
if you buy it for good specs,
if you don't use it for anything other than the internet, it's useless.
Yes.
It's not like it's good just because it's cheap, either.
I talked about that with Kazami-san today too.
Kazami-san?
I met him by chance.
He carried the rice cooker for me.
He's surprisingly easy to talk to talk to, he's a good person.
The globalisation of employment causes the domestic industry to decline...
We couldn't really find an answer about what to do...
We kept joking like "Maybe we should just isolate our country, then?"
Kazami-san...
... said he's self-centred, but...
I think the reason he's on guard against marriage...
... is actually because he's sincere.
He just ended up like that because he's popular.
- Kazami-san... - Are you...
... going to keep talking about that?
Huh?
Thank you for the meal.
I got carried away.
I was so happy that he was talking to me.
I overreacted.
When I tried listening like a boyfriend, it got unbearable.
I can't enjoy a fake romance or anything.
Of course someone without any experience like me wouldn't have that sort of composure.
If you compare me to a popular person, then it's hopeless.
You can't compare us though.
Additional Item Article 9: In the case of finding a lover (or liking a person)
Even if...
Mikuri-san resigns one day...
And really marries someone...
I'll probably...
... still be alone.
I didn't think you'd still be single, Tsuchiya-san.
I'm surprised too.
I want to tell myself back then.
Who'd have believed we'd meet again as department heads.
I'm a department manager.
Even though we're 70% women in this company,
only 10% in management are women.
It's lonely.
I can't quite believe it...
That I'm drinking with Tsuchiya-san now.
That?
You were unattainable.
You were popular yourself, weren't you?
They kept squealing and saying you were cool.
But I...
... wanted to be popular with you.
It's enough to be popular with your wife, right?
Why don't we try cutting loose once in a while?
It doesn't have to be serious.
You feel that way sometimes, right?
If you're alone, then all the more.
Why do we get looked down on so much for being alone?
Huh?
Ouch.
Sorry.
Then, bye.
This is how handsome guys always are.
Formerly handsome, huh?
[Yuri-chan: Wanna go for a drive on Sunday?]
Sunday...
[Yuri-chan: I forgot. You're a newlywed. Scratch that.]
About this Sunday...
Hino-san, who couldn't come the other day,
wanted to know if we would go grape picking with his family.
I will give holiday compensation. What do you say?
It's alright.
Then, please come along.
He's always bothering me to let him meet you, I can't get any work done.
Also, this is an additional item for the employment contract.
"In the case of finding a lover (or liking a person)"
"In light of public image, interactions with the loved one are to the best of one's ability not to be discovered."
"Interactions with the loved one are to the best of one's ability,
to be carried out where they can't be seen, out of consideration for both parties."
"It is possible to tell the truth about this work relationship to the loved one,"
"but this will be done with the permission of both parties."
"In the case of wanting to marry the loved one..."
"This employment contract will promptly be cancelled."
That's what would happen.
You're right, it would.
If there are no problems, I will add it to the contract.
Please do so.
And, about moving house...
I selected a few I found online.
I will start a proper search from Monday for any better options at real estate agencies.
Thank you.
- I will go see them tomorrow. - Tomorrow?
Since it's Saturday.
- You don't have to rush so much... - Then...
I'll go too.
It's a holiday, so it's outside of work,
but I'm curious what my new workplace would be like.
Like the kitchen.
Even if it's just a process for moving house, I think it's better we both go.
The environment is exceptional.
Since it hasn't been a year yet, it's practically a new building.
It's a bit smaller than the one before,
but if it's just the two of you, I think it's big enough.
Yes.
It's surprisingly far from the station.
This one is close to a station.
Oh, and the rent is very reasonable.
The individual rooms have to fully divide into two.
Also...
I'm worried about the exposure to the sun too.
The sunlight and view both seem good.
I'm sorry,
I'll need to go back to the company, so is just 10 minutes okay?
- Yes. - Sorry.
It is a good property, but it's out of budget.
Shall we compromise one of the terms?
If we move house, I don't want to regret it...
Is moving... really that necessary right now?
Not for me...
Isn't it really for yourself?
Hiramasa-san...
Am I...
... a nuisance?
Huh?
Having someone else in your house...
... makes it hard to relax, right?
Even though the main point of my contract is to make it easy for you to live...
If you find me irritating, I think we're forgetting our priorities.
- No... - What are you paying me for?
No, that's not it.
It's not your fault...
Well...
Hiramasa-san.
If there's any problem, please tell me.
You said so, didn't you?
"You can tell me anything."
I feel the same way.
If there's a problem, let's talk it over and resolve it.
My phone.
It's from Hino-san. Give me a moment.
Hello?
Huh? Your child has a fever again?
I understand, then we'll call off tomorrow's grape picking...
Huh?
A replacement?
Sorry we're late.
Well...
I told him it was a problem, but he just begged me to.
- Hello. - Hello.
Where's the car?
I asked my aunt to come.
- Please call her Yuri-chan. - Yuri-san?
She's beautiful and young. I'm proud she's my aunt.
I might not be good with sort of person.
That sort?
Unreasonably wearing miniskirts, or with brown-dyed curly hair.
They should try being more age-appropriately beautiful.
Kazami-kun is pretty annoying, isn't he?
Really?
Yuri-chan's not that type.
Oh, she's here.
Sorry for the late notice.
It's a perfect time. I was feeling a bit depressed.
- This is Yuri-chan. - Nice to meet you.
- I'm Numata. - I'm Kazami.
Sorry to make you go out of your way.
Bags in the back, sit wherever you want.
I'll open it.
There.
Your aunt acts her age.
- Right? - Yeah.
Oh, sorry.
Mikuri, wait...
That man just called me an old hag, didn't he?
He didn't say that.
It was a compliment, saying you act your age.
What? Handsome guys are always like this.
- Did something happen with a handsome guy? - Huh?
No, but I've always really hated the way
handsome guys always look so composed all the time.
Hiramasa-san,
how's your new life after getting married?
I think it's good.
Since various taxes and living expenses have gotten cheaper.
That?
Tsuzaki-kun is very rational.
You're right.
He's right.
In terms of food too, on top of it being cheaper than eating out,
it's considerably more nutritious now.
I think about the nutritional balance thoroughly.
Cleaning was a bother too, so it helps with that,
and it's easy to receive home delivery packages too.
All sorts of bank transfers are also part of my work.
Work?
It's a metaphor.
Getting married and having to switch to getting pocket money... isn't that inconvenient?
I manage the money.
We set a budget for each month, and work within that range.
I haven't finished reading up on the seasonal price fluctuations of heat and light and vegetables...
so there are many things that are hard to predict...
- The data on the monthly averages will come out soon. - Yes, I'll do better from next month.
What is this? A business talk?
How pleasant...
Mm!
So sweet!
It's delicious! Hey...
This sweetness...
I got the wrong person.
Hey, where did you go?!
I've been here the whole time.
This sucks...
He laughed at me for being a middle-aged women getting excited over grapes.
He did not!
Kazami-san's a handsome guy, but he's a good handsome guy.
- Do those exist? - Right there.
What happened with you and handsome guys?
Nothing, really.
Really?
Grapes are really good when you eat them frozen.
You take them from the bunch, wash them, put them in a ziploc and freeze them.
- With the peel on? - Yeah.
The peels come off really easily if you run them under water before you eat them.
Wow, I'll try that some time.
Tsuzaki-san... If you're moving, what about this apartment?
It's in a friend's condominium, they're looking for a tenant.
It's a 5 minute walk from the station, and you'd be near my place too.
Thanks.
It's not through a trader, so the rent is 70% of the market price.
They didn't want to rent to anyone strange, but you have a stable income,
they shouldn't have any complaints.
How many rooms does this have?
- It's a 1LDK. - Sorry, it has to be a 2LDK.
- But if it's this big... - Even if it's small, I'd like a 2LDK.
Why?
Well, the era wants 2LDKs, right?
The era?
Yuri-san, they have their own circumstances.
Circumstances?
- He's just saying whatever he wants. - Really?
Let's leave it at that, then.
Aww... it's a good apartment, though.
I want to live there.
Huh?
I was thinking of upgrading to a bigger place soon.
I'm a trustworthy guy from the same company as Tsuzaki-san.
You can say that about yourself?
Yuri-chan, Kazami-san's a good person, you know!
He looks like this, but he's the type to think about those around him.
- "Looks like this"? - I mean, even though you're handsome.
Kazami-kun's handsome but he's a nice person.
I'm not that handsome nor good of a person.
See? A bad guy wouldn't say something like that, right?
Isn't he more and more suspicious?
- It doesn't matter what I say, huh? - Do you have a grudge against this face?
That's not it, but I just think he looks like he'd say something terrible.
You can think of me as a terrible person.
That's more comfortable for me.
Why do I...
... struggle with such an inferiority complex?
Why am I...
... such a small person?
Oh, right!
- I'll show you somewhere cool after this. - Somewhere cool?
They make this at this temple?
Yeah.
The chief priest and the families here.
Sorry we're the only ones drinking.
Juice is good too.
This is nice.
Isn't it? You can stay here, you know?
Do you come here alone?
You're bothering me in every way, but yes. By myself.
Since all of my friends got married.
It has dregs, right?
They make it the old-fashioned way,
and dry wine from my grandparents' generation is rare even in this area.
You're like a teacher of a social studies excursion.
You see, when you get older...
There are a lot of times you feel empty,
but you remember heaps of fun things too.
I get that.
To a full life like a delicious wine...
- Cheers! - Let me join!
I think it's still early for you.
How old are you?
32.
See! You could almost be my kid.
Huh?
I couldn't, right?
It's possible if I had you at 17.
Don't figure it out!
Those two won't come back, will they?
Something's strange about those kids.
They act so distant.
I think it's good, though.
That amount of distance.
Sorry. Did I disturb you?
No.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
Yes.
I heard it's the oldest building in Yamanashi,
and an incredibly precious national treasure.
Do you want to go in?
Okay.
But you know...
They didn't have a wedding ceremony,
and they say they won't get wedding rings either...
If it's a new place, why is he so fixated on having 2 rooms?
Now that you mention it, how did they meet?
Mikuri did housework at Tsuzaki-san's house.
Oh...
I have to make sure to work hard enough to correspond with the salary.
Salary?
It's a metaphor.
- There are fish in the garden. - Oh, really?
When I come to places like this...
I feel like they can see through any lies or greed I have.
You can't lie in here, right?
Yes.
You suit it.
Things like statues of Buddha, and temples...
Earnest and put-together.
An urban sort...
Like Kazami-san...
Kazami-san?
He's cool, isn't he?
He is.
But I...
I like you the best though, Hiramasa-san.
Earnest, put-together and calm.
I didn't mean anything weird by "like"...
Rather than the sparkle of the city, I prefer the more subdued... Um...
Sorry, I don't know what I'm saying.
Thank you.
My whole life...
... will probably end without ever getting really married.
So even if you were to marry someone, Mikuri-san...
A number of times a week...
I think it would be nice if you came to do housework for me.
That just now must have been...
... the best compliment to me as an employee.
Wow...
But... I wonder why?
That in itself made me feel lonely...
This feeling...
Why is it?
Tell me, grandfather! [From "Heidi, Girl of the Alps"]
She's saying something crazy again.
This isn't an arum forest!
Right, but I feel so much better.
I can work hard again tomorrow.
Go ahead, you guys.
No, it's not that simple...
Huh?
You handsome idiot!
Oh...
Ex-handsome idiot!
I want to...
... be happy!
What about you, Tsuzaki-san?
Huh?
- Go on and say it. - Quickly.
Go.
Permeation power.
Permeation power?
Your permeation power...
... is no joke!!!
Okay, let's go home.
What was that?
Dunno.
- How about you? - I don't really want to shout...
I guess so.
"I like you the best, Hiramasa-san."
The permeation power of those words is no joke.
They soaked into my parched heart like magic.
Even if that "like"...
... is nothing more than affection for an employer.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Don't forget to bring the grapes in the fridge with you, okay?
Souvenirs for the company?
I bought them for you.
Huh?
Since you're always looking after me.
Though it's not much.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Could you make flavoured rice for me again?
It was really good the other day.
Okay.
Huh?
- You're in this building? - Yes, and Tsuzaki-san too.
What? No way!
You work at Godard Japan, so I had a feeling you might...
- You should've told me! - Sorry.
I'm serious about the apartment, so please contact me.
Sure, I'll email you.
Then...
Who's that handsome guy?
Oh, it's not that I want to know him.
It's him. The guy who dumped that girl at lunch.
Huh?
"Something you could go without."
So Kazami-san, you mean you don't intend to marry me?
Would you go to the effort of buying something you could go without?
So he is a bad handsome guy.
You're not moving house anymore?
We might eventually, but there's no need to rush.
Why's that?
I guess you could say the goal was settled...
Or I realised what I should be doing...
Words have great power.
In my opinion,
you and Mikuri-san have an ideal relationship.
Thank you.
It's a contract marriage... right?
You pay a salary.
What do I do?
Oh, hello.
Are you going shopping?
Just some tableware.
I heard from Yuri-chan.
The lady who owns the apartment liked you instantly.
Thanks to that, I move in next week.
A perk for handsome guys, huh?
So, when will you come over?
Huh?
To my place.
Your place?
Tsuzaki-san didn't tell you?
That Tsuzaki-san and I will share you, Mikuri-san.
Share?
Yes, share.
Share?
So, next week, Mikuri-san will...?
This is Mikuri.
Kazami-san told me that I would be shared.
Since Hiramasa-san has given his permission...
At the moment, I feel like chasing the stray cat that ate the fish. [Sazae-san reference?]
So next week...
"We start sharing" "What is sharing again?" "Mikuri, you're being shared, you know?"
Next share, please share again, share?
Mikuri-san?
I've seen the word "share"...
... too many times!
Mune no naka ni aru mono The things in your heart
Itsuka mienakunaru mono The things that will one day disappear
Sore wa soba ni iru koto That is what it means to be by your side
Itsumo omoidashite Always remember that
Kimi no naka ni aru mono The things that are within you
Kyori no naka ni aru kodou The heartbeats that happen in the distance
Koi wo shita no anata no My dear I fell in love with,
Yubi no mazari, hoho no kaori Holding your hands, the scent of your cheeks
Fuufu wo koete yuke Let's exceed being husband and wife
Futari wo koete yuke Let's exceed being a pair
Hitori wo koete yuke Let's exceed being alone