This morning there were two Bengalese finches on the veranda.
Was the white one well too?
It was well.
- It's a good thing it's safe. - Yes.
[Bengalese finch bus]
Please look this way.
This is my employer, Tsuzaki Hiramasa-san.
This man, on the way back from our holiday the other day, would you believe...?
Suddenly kissed me!
However...
I'm sorry.
Hiramasa-san!
And so, on the next train and even the bus,
he didn't say anything and slept like a log.
But he was definitely faking it.
After we arrived home, too...
Um, Hiramasa-san, about before--
Ah!
I forgot to prepare for work on Monday.
Today's only Saturday...
It takes time.
Shall I make dinner?
It's your day off, I can get by with cup ramen.
Please don't worry about it.
Since then, he's completely ignored it, totally ignored it...
No touch, no reaction, back alright!
What is with this person?
How's this morning's miso soup?
Yes... It's as good as usual.
I'm glad.
This miso soup...
Because of how good the meal was at the ryokan,
I was inspired to make an authentic dashi...
I woke up early this morning and made a stock from dried bonito flakes...
It's a specially made miso soup.
But well, that doesn't matter.
The problem is, what did Hiramasa-san mean?
Setting a fire and then leaving it alone...
What are you going to do if the fire spreads?
Are you an arsonist?
How's the fish?
It's delicious.
You haven't made it before, have you?
Yes. It's a grilled kiss. [kisu - Japanese whiting]
Really?
It's delicious...
If he's ignoring it this much, somehow it's already...
Was everything up until now...
... an illusion?
Tired of looking for a job,
a sad woman, not needed by anyone, with nowhere to go,
saw an illusion on the brink of death.
The fake honeymoon that was a company retreat too...
The kiss on the train too...
Everything.
Everything, everything...
... was my delusion.
It made me happy, though...
I'm giving this back.
What is it?
What you gave me before...
- Oh, the pit viper drink? - You don't have to say it!
You didn't use it?
I wouldn't use it.
But I already gave it to you, you should've just used it!
That's something I'll never need in my life.
I'll just accept your kindness. Thank you.
Tsuzaki-san's surprisingly amazing.
There was something wrong with me.
A pro-bachelor...
... doesn't easily fall in love,
doesn't progress.
Rather, not letting it progress is important.
That in itself is tranquility.
Something was wrong with me then.
That time...
Shall we go?
It was hard to leave...
I felt like we were on the same page...
So sweet...
Did you scream in there?
No, not really.
Something was definitely wrong with me.
Why did I do something like that?
I was on a high from the fake honeymoon.
A honeymoon high.
I got carried away.
I just convinced myself that we were thinking the same thing.
It was the worst conduct as an employer.
It was sexual harassment.
Mikuri-san won't say anything aloud,
but she must be irritated.
If she starts hating me and then resigns...
As for what I'd be left with...
Well...
When you get to this age,
of course, I've at least kissed someone.
I can say that.
I can now say with pride what I used to just gloss over.
Even just with that, I can only think I'm glad it happened.
Welcome back.
I sent you a text that said I'd be late from working overtime and to go to sleep first...
I read your text.
But today's Tuesday.
It just became Wednesday.
Excuse me.
Good night.
Not fair.
As if he had no choice...
Abruptly...
Like...
... he regrets the kiss...
Did I do okay?
As usual, like nothing has happened...
But there's no way...
... I can pretend it didn't happen.
Please, somehow...
Make this lifestyle last even one day longer.
Second kiss ?!
Subs by mottofreaky @ d-addicts. Thanks to the raw provider furransu!
How was your honeymoon?
So you two finally have that kind of relationship...
No way!
Haven't you crossed a line?
Crossed it? We went on the wrong path.
The wrong path... Which means...?
Kazami-san, you don't have to go to work?
I went in on Saturday, so I have today off.
Can you move away?
So even you get emotional, Mikuri-san.
I've always been like this,
I was just faking it before.
Even a sheep that can stay disguised with composure,
shows its true self if there's no composure.
So you aren't composed.
Don't say that so happily.
That side of you is attractive too.
If it was you...
Huh?
If my partner were you,
even if you did something to startle me,
I'd think "Ah! This is definitely a technique."
"This must be a strategy to make my heart pound."
But if it's someone who just isn't that type,
I don't know how to take it.
Is your heart pounding?
Please don't joke around!
Okay.
Please move.
I'm starting to get jealous of Tsuzaki-san.
People like me aren't taken seriously. They think we're playing around.
Someone said that?
I tried to kiss Mikuri-san.
No, not seriously...
Which is it?! This is bad for my heart.
Tsuzaki-san's looks and personality are both sincere,
so he can get a serious love.
I don't... not get your feelings.
People said something similar about me when I was young.
"There's no way Tsuchiya-san would have me as her partner."
- So you were popular. - Who knows...
Maybe I wasn't popular in the true sense of the word.
That hurts.
Ah, I have to go.
I'll take care of it.
What for?
You're the one who told me to treat you if I wanted to apologise, right?
Since you look like you hate being treated by someone.
- So you even know it? - That's why I'll pay.
You pestering me?
Are you annoyed?
Not really.
I've changed how I think about you.
I'm not "irritating handsome guy" anymore.
You're "cheeky nephew".
If I'm a nephew, can I call you aunt?
I'll kill you if you do.
A birthday... Your wife's?
It's been more than 10 years...
I ran out of ideas for presents.
Tsuzaki-san, what did you give her?
It hasn't passed yet...
[Moriyama Mikuri]
[8 September 1990]
Huh? What's wrong?
I forgot her birthday.
Huh? Your wife's?
It's almost been a month.
You're kidding, right?
- You didn't give her anything? - No.
- What about 'happy birthday'? - Nothing.
Wow...
But we're a married couple that doesn't do anything.
That's no good.
If you don't treasure the little things, you'll get a late divorce.
In our case, it's strange that I would do something.
It's not strange, is it?
It's strange that it's strange.
In our case, it's not strange...
Isn't its not-strangeness not not strange?
Its not-strangeness is not not strange, not strange, not...
Is it strange or is it not strange?
I don't think you need to think about all that, though.
I'm currently hiring a woman to clean my house. Twice a week.
Oh, like Tsuzaki-san before he got married.
I heard her birthday was at the start of September.
Huh? The same as Tsuzaki-san's wife!
I casually~ gave her a present.
- You did? - Yes.
B-by the way, what was it?
A pretty good Sri Lankan tea.
Here's some tea. It's a pretty good sort.
It's cool if you can give a present so casually like that.
Huh? Are you kind of depressed, Tsuzaki-san?
No, not really...
The girl's quite my type...
But she's not a straightforward person.
Right, Tsuzaki-san?
Why Tsuzaki-san?
Tsuzaki-san knows her too.
- We talk about it a lot. - That's why you've been close lately.
Yes.
You're lying, right?
Kazami-kun. What you just said... it's a lie, right?
Huh?
You two are... you know?
You're that, so you get along like that, right?
"That"?
Huh?
Wait a minute...
You two are passion, right?
You're both passion, right?
Huh?
Wait, wait...
Do you think marriage can go well if you're not in love?
Huh?
If you're not in love, you can give up on a lot of things and think of it just as a business.
And you think of your husband as your ATM?
That much is a bit extreme, though.
If it were that easy to solve, I wouldn't have gotten divorced.
I wouldn't be tending this kind of store either.
Hey!
Don't go saying "this kind of store" when you're the one who came back here.
Grandma can only hear well at times like these.
You'll succeed to this store?
I don't want to, though.
How about renewing the place?
We don't have that kind of money.
Not about spending money, but...
Selling jam made with vegetables,
or suggesting recipes using vegetables...
Or something to appeal to the housewife network...
Mikuri... You always say those sorts of things.
Huh?
"If you do this, if you do that..."
It's your own deal when you do it yourself,
but if you're told to, it's annoying.
Ah.
Those words just hit hard.
Seriously?
All sorts of things aren't going well...
With your boyfriend?
Actually...
... he's not even my boyfriend.
- Huh? - We're married, but...
I'm not on the family register.
Also...
I was kissed.
Just once.
Your imagination?
It might be.
- Oh, Yuri-san. - Ah, hello.
Thank you for the holiday the other day.
Looks like you had fun. Thanks for the souvenir.
It was nothing.
By the way...
It was Mikuri-san's birthday last month, wasn't it.
Yeah.
Did you give her anything, Yuri-san?
You didn't hear? A Bamix.
- Ba... - Well, it's like...
Like a hand mixer.
Why do you ask?
No reason.
Don't tell me. You didn't do anything?
As if!
You're not a middle-aged couple.
It's like you two just started dating.
That I'm the only one who didn't notice...
Right in front of me...
This...
... fact.
Good night.
Yes, this is Moriyama.
- Tsuzaki-kun! - Tsuzaki-san?
What's wrong?
Ah, well...
I wanted to ask what Mikuri-san likes...
... or what sort of things she likes.
Things Mikuri likes?
Pero!
- Pero? - Oh yeah, Pero!
- What is that... - They were always together, she bawled when he died!
- She said "I'll go in the kennel too." - She did!
Um... I didn't really want to ask about memories of a pet dog...
I meant, what kind of thing would Mikuri-san want...
She said she'll never want another dog.
She said the memories of Pero are more than enough.
I understand about the dog...
Pero always listened to Mikuri the most.
- She trained him so strictly... - Enough about the dog...
I just remembered! He wouldn't listen to what you would say at all!
Right, he'd tear my shoes to pieces...
Pero!
Thank you. Excuse me.
Welcome.
What might you be looking for?
A present for a woman...
Is it for your wife?
Ah... no...
Your sister?
- No... - Your girlfriend?
That's not it.
I just got home.
Welcome back.
Mikuri-san...
I have something to say...
I can wait until you're done watching...
No, I'm not watching it.
It's about something a little while back...
Yes.
It was your birthday at the start of September, wasn't it?
Huh?
Your birthday.
- That's not 'a little' that's pretty far back... - I'm really sorry.
It doesn't really matter.
More importantly...
Huh?
I was considering a lot of things, but I thought this was the best.
It's not a present, it's a bonus.
A bonus...
I thought an employer giving an employee a personal present
wouldn't be very good,
but I wanted to put my everyday gratitude into a form.
And so, a bonus...
So, there's no need to return the favour.
That's all.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
It's over a month ago... so why?
Could this perhaps be...
Damages for the kiss?
[Message from Mikuri-san]
"Thank you for the bonus."
"Can I ask? Why did you kiss me?"
Let's sleep.
"I apologise. That was inappropriate conduct as your employer."
Not an apology. A reason!
I can't say it.
That I got carried away and kissed her.
I'll make a request in addition.
"Could you please pretend it didn't happen?"
"You don't have to apologise."
It's okay... if I don't apologise?
"Still, I think this one sided conduct is unforgiveable. I'm reflecting on it deeply."
Like I said... Why reflect on it?
"In terms of a company retreat, that would be sexual harassment and not allowed,"
"But it was also a honeymoon,"
"Technically, we're lovers in form, so isn't it acceptable as an extension of skinship?"
It's acceptable?
"Thank you. Please keep me in your favour from now on too."
For what? What favour?
I don't get it.
What am I supposed to respond? I don't know.
["Please keep me in your favour from now on too."]
["Likewise, please keep me in your favour."]
["I will be awaiting the second one."]
["Likewise, please keep me in your favour."]
["Forever."]
[Tuesday]
- Let's eat. - Let's eat.
- Here's your lunch. - Thank you.
I think I'll be quite late tonight from work.
I'll eat dinner at work, so don't worry about it.
Okay.
Today...
It's Tuesday, isn't it.
Please make sure to go to sleep first today.
Okay.
I'm off.
Have a nice day.
This storm... of love...
The Hiramasa-san whirlwind inside of me has...
The Best 10!
In first place this month!
"Please make sure to go to sleep first today." Tsuzaki Hiramasa: 9999 points!
Let's look over last month's ranking again.
Various songs ranked in up to 4th place under the 'like' category,
but unfortunately the Best 3 were missing.
Now, the rankings have made a huge turnaround.
Hiramasa-san ranked in at 3rd and 2nd places...
And finally, to 1st place in my heart's Best 10!
Is it okay... to fall this hard?
Would it bring trouble to work...
No, let's just be honestly happy right now.
Congratulations 1st place! Thank you, 1st place!
Tuesday!
I'll be back at the normal time today.
Okay. I'll be waiting.
Please do.
I'm off.
Have a nice day.
So cute~!
I've always thought she was pretty cute,
but lately I'm starting to think she's unbelievably cute.
I can't help but acknowledge it.
This is...
What are you doing?! That's dangerous!
Sorry.
I don't want to die right now.
I can't die before I get home tonight.
A pro-bachelor does not progress.
It is an inviolable rule not to let it progress.
But, that place that I came to know for the first time was so warm...
I started going home...
... to warm my frozen body.
Good night.
Maybe there won't... be a second kiss?
[When to kiss]
[When to Kiss: 20 points to look out for]
20?!
Didn't get enough sleep?
I was looking something up last night...
The more I researched, the more there was to look out for.
Which is right? Which is the truth?
Is it a social problem or something?
Well, something like that.
Alright, you gentlemen.
If you're chatting away like that, Numata-san will misunderstand you again.
Who'd have guessed Numata-san thought Kazami-san and I were in mutual love.
- That was funny. - I thought Numata-san was a sharp person.
Like he has both male and female viewpoints.
Of course he doesn't.
Huh?
Being gay doesn't mean anything.
Numata-san is just Numata-san.
Yeah. That's just a creature called Numata Yoshitsuna.
Well, if I had to say, I guess he's sharp.
But he takes a full turn above it.
Even though we don't like things being decided about ourselves...
Why do people end up holding prejudices?
- There's a prejudice against handsomeness too. - I so wish I had that.
That reminds me... where is Numata-san?
Takenaka-san, what's this about?
I don't really know either! In any case...
- A buy-out?! - Shh!
Your nails look nice today.
Don't say things like that so carelessly.
The sexual harassment suspicions cleared up.
I was acquitted by compliance but rumours that spread once stay forever.
Basically they have too much time on their hands.
Does it matter who's in love with who?
- I'm not though, okay? - Saying this and that about people...
If you have that much time, just do half of Tsuchiya-san's work.
You said it.
You just made a lot of enemies for yourself.
I just said the truth.
Sometimes the truth causes friction.
That's why I hate Japan.
I hate America too, though.
A returnee?
She was a hidden returnee.
- Is there a need to hide it? - When I asked her that...
People always say...
"That girl's a returnee so she's strange."
And if I complain, they'll say "If you don't like it, go back to America."
And when I was over there, I was told "Japanese people should just go back to Japan."
Wherever you go, you're in the minority...
Even if I say I speak two languages, my English has a southern accent,
- and I'm not good at writing articles in Japanese. - You should've told me that!
I thought you were just an unmotivated youngster.
But there are a lot of returnees who still write perfectly.
I didn't want to use that as an excuse.
You're awesome, Horiuchi.
I'll support you from now on.
I'm sorry I thought you were an idiot!
That's rude in itself, though.
They're a handful,
but I realised they're both good kids.
You see, work is all about connecting person with person.
Connecting...
That's what it comes down to in the end.
Whether you want to or not.
The kind of work I want to do might be like that.
Hm?
I don't want to work at a large company,
it can just be a small sphere, but something made up of links between people.
Volunteering.
No, I'd want money.
- Money is your livelihood, after all. - Right, right.
But...
Rather than something businesslike, where you just want to earn money,
I want to connect with good will.
Yes...
That's important.
No matter what work, you need gratitude and respect for the other person.
Gratitude and respect.
Hiramasa-san always showed me gratitude and respect.
Was that... because it's a work relationship?
If we cross that line...
What would happen?
- I just got back. - Welcome back.
Hiramasa-san.
It's Saturday, so how about some wine?
Yuri-chan shared it with me.
Ice wine...
Apparently it only uses grapes that naturally freeze in intensely cold areas.
The sugar content goes up from being condensed.
It's much sweeter than I'd have thought.
I've never said this properly, so I want to say it now.
Yes.
Since you were kind enough to hire me...
I can have fun working every day...
Thank you very much.
Same here.
Also...
That's not all.
I like you the best though, Hiramasa-san.
The words I could easily say...
As an employee...
Why... can't I say them anymore?
It's okay with me.
If it's you, Hiramasa-san.
To do that sort of thing.
I'm sorry.
It's impossible... for me.
It's not that I want to do those sorts of things.
I'm sorry. It's impossible.
I'm sorry too.
Please forget about it.
This would make me want to go into a hole, if there were one.
I really wish I could burrow through to the other side of the world.
On a night with a fading moon...
I ran away from apartment 303.