These photos are from when my coworkers and I went to the beach.
Hey, this swimsuit looks really good on you!
I went shopping with my manager, and he helped me pick it out.
So you're going out with your manager, huh, Maika?
No.
He's not your boyfriend but went with you to buy a swimsuit?
Is that strange?
Strange?
Shopping together for clothes is different than buying other stuff.
A guy wouldn't do that unless he likes you or is already your boyfriend.
R-Really?
OWNER INAUGURATION, SISTER ATTACK
I see.
If he likes you or is your boyfriend...
If he likes you...
A cute doggie!
What are you doing here?
PLEASE TAKE ME HOME
Good morning!
- Morni— - Morni—
What'd you bring in here?
Um, I think it's a husky.
It's pretty fluffy for a husky.
There are probably other breeds mixed in, too.
Like a collie?
I'm not asking about its pedigree!
PLEASE WAIT FOR ME
It was abandoned.
I found it on the way here.
Somebody abandoned a dog this big, huh?
It's got long eyelashes!
Don't its eyes look like Maika's?
They do!
R-Really?
Yeah!
That makes sense.
That's why...
it was abandoned, isn't it?
I didn't mean it like that!
PLEASE TAKE ME HOME
So, are you gonna take it home, Sakuranomiya?
You do have a big house and a spacious yard, right?
I wish I could,
but my brother and sister hate dogs.
What? Both of them?
Yes.
I wanted to at least find a foster parent. Could one of you take care of it?
I live in an apartment by myself, so I can't.
We don't have any space at my house either.
Pets aren't allowed in my building. Sorry.
I've got it!
We should foist it off on one of our anime freak customers!
I don't know about that.
What's this dog?
How about the manager?
Why are you deciding without me?
There's Miu, too, right?
IT'S MY DAY OFF.
Oh, come on!
Don't its eyes look like Sakuranomiya's?
No, no, no!
First, we have to put up a flyer in the café, looking for a foster home!
Manager, if you take it home, Sakuranomiya can visit to check up on it.
Is it close?
Just over the café.
An attic...
A hammock...
A foreign country-like second floor...
Maika, it's a normal one-bedroom apartment.
What's the harm, Manager? Let's take care of it!
An idol and animal pairing is a good look!
Step up once in a while.
Manager...
I would help out as much as possible. So can I count on you?
Maika...
Besides, having a big dog would make your foreign country aura stand out!
What aura is that?
Well, should we check out the manager's room?
W-Wait a second!
Okay!
He hid his otaku stuff, huh?
Come in.
Thank you.
Huh?
Aren't you coming in?
So you take your shoes off?
Maika, remember, this is Japan!
It's lovely! The houseplants and blinds have a mature vibe!
I like how neat and simple the room is.
I'm not the type who leaves stuff lying all over.
It seems the doggie likes it, too!
So that's where you hid everything?
Well, after work, I'll buy, then bring over everything you'll need.
Wait a minute!
I haven't agreed to take care of the dog yet!
He got our hopes up and then lowered the boom?
Let's ask Miu first!
Yeah. I wasn't thinking about your circumstances, Manager.
I'm sorry.
M-Maika...
All right!
For the time being, I'll take in the dog!
Thank you!
Good for you!
Oh, that's right. Let's give it a name for now.
It'll be staying with you, Manager...
How about "Owner"?
That's great!
MANAGER AND OWNER EVERYONE
STILE
OWNER MANAGER EVERYONE
Hold on there! It's higher than me?
Well, we're going back.
I'm happy we get to leave it with the manager.
Me, too!
From now on, it gets to be with the manager all the time.
I'm a little envious!
Oh, is something wrong?
No.
Come on! It's almost time to open!
Work, work!
How'd it go?
He's going to take care of the dog!
Its name is Owner!
Pedigree: Husky. (We think.) Characteristics: Nasty Glare. Friendly.
LOOKING FOR A FOSTER HOME!!
Good work!
OWNER
You sure eat a lot, huh?
Even if it's temporary, I didn't see myself having a dog.
But...
it resembles Maika!
Jeez. Please don't jump on me.
Huh?
Are you a male?
Please give me a break.
Do you know what time it is?
I'll take you for a walk later.
All right! I'll go! I'll go!
I'm sleepy...
Okay, okay.
You have to poop, right?
What are you doing?
And you kicked sand in a different direction from where you pooped!
What's that? An apology?
No, you did it!
Don't act all innocent!
Hey, Manager...
About last night's final episode of "Hana Yuri"—
I haven't seen it yet! I'm recording all my anime shows! No spoilers!
Huh? I thought you always watched in real-time.
I have to walk Owner every morning, so I can't afford to stay up late!
Is that why you've been blowing off work less lately?
That's a good thing!
Oh, now you're leading a normal life.
Mafuyu...
I think it's good. Especially for us.
Yep, yep.
I get nothing out of it!
That's not true.
Like they say, "The early bird gets the worm."
Worm...
What are you talking about?
Not being able to watch in real time is making me lose my otaku cred!
So it would be better to lose your work cred?
There's no worm for me.
The manager seems down. Did something happen?
Actually...
Oh, really?
Taking care of Owner is a burden on the manager, huh?
Oh, that's right!
Manager!
I made cookies. Would you like them?
I'm still new at baking, but if you don't mind, please take them.
But knowing Maika's homemade concoctions...
Of course, I'll take them!
Delicious!
You and I made dessert before once, right, Mafuyu?
Ever since then, I've been practicing baking at home.
Um, as thanks for taking care of Owner, can I continue making sweets for you?
This is amazing, Mafuyu!
Never mind the worm! This is the whole can of worms!
Worms?
If the manager is going to eat what I make,
I should use a variety of flavors.
Like raspberries, nuts
and raisins, too!
All right! I'll do my best!
S-Sister...
What are you doing?
- Oof! - Oof!
I bought a little too much.
Well, sure. Bottles and cans can get heavy.
Dried fruits, huh?
What are you going to do with all of this?
Actually, I'm going to bake sweets for my manager.
I was so excited that I bought too much.
INNOCENT
Innocent!
S-Sister?
CAULIFLOWER FLOUR
All right!
Maika, can I ask you something?
Sure!
I'd like to go to your workplace tomorrow.
U-Unless you don't want me to go?
You do know what kind of place I work at, don't you?
You play a sadistic character there, right?
I don't really get to be friendly with the customers.
I'm used to your sadism.
U-Used to it?
If you don't mind that, Sister.
I can go?
Thank you, Maika!
Sister is coming to visit tomorrow. So I'd like her to see me working hard!
I have to see where Maika's love is going with my own eyes.
Is there a dress code?
You'll be fine wearing your everyday clothes!
Here I come!
So my big sister's coming here today.
I haven't seen her for a long time!
I have to impress her!
Akizuki!
I need you to take care of the kitchen by yourself today!
Let's get to work.
Maika!
Please come in like a normal customer!
Please take a seat at this table by the window.
This is our menu.
Thank you.
What shall I order?
Do you have a recommendation?
Yes, in that case,
THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL CAKE
I'd go with this month's special cake.
Oh, that does sound tempting!
It's a delicious cake I came up with, and the manager made it!
Together?
Their first collaboration together!
All right, I'll have that collaboration of love.
Certainly!
Please call me if you'd like anything else!
I will.
Maika!
Coming!
Would you like to order something else?
That uniform really suits you.
O-Oh, thank you!
Maika!
Yes?
This tea is good, isn't it?
Maika!
Yes?
Isn't this sugar jar cute?
Maika, Maika!
- That's... - Sister!
Could you limit calling me over to when you want to make an order?
There's the sadistic character!
Wrong!
Maika, I'd like to make an order!
Maika, over here, too!
Shut up with your oinking. Is this a pig farm?
SHIVER SHIVER
OINK OINK
Maika is really popular with the male customers.
They seem to enjoy talking to her.
I wonder if the manager worries about it.
Hello?
Hey, Manager...
Sakuranomiya's big sister wants a word with you.
With me?
If she wants to talk to the manager directly,
she's probably displeased with something.
Um...
May I help you?
- Manager... - Y-Y-Yes?
Maika is earnest, so have peace of mind.
Wh-What are we talking about?
What was it?
I don't really know, but she encouraged me.
At any rate, Maika's big sister...
...has a pleasant demeanor, doesn't she?
The big sister doesn't have slanted eyes!
As I recall, her big brother has drooping eyes, too.
Does Maika come from a complicated family environment?
What?
No.
My sister and I are sisters, through and through.
My brother and sister look more like our mother.
I resemble our father more.
Of course, right?
But...
Yes, if I really think about it,
my father doesn't have severely slanted eyes like mine.
Could I be the only one?
Please take care of my baby. Her name is Maika.
Is it possible that they took me in?
I was only kidding! I'm sorry!
That didn't happen!
It's okay!
You're definitely sisters!
Environment can have an effect even on the body's development!
Your family would be sad if they heard you talking just now, Maika!
You're right.
Thank you, Manager!
Not at all. Don't worry about it.
Are you the one who made Maika cry?
Sister! You have the wrong idea! The manager was cheering me up!
Oh, really?
When I came to the register, I saw you crying,
so I thought it had to be because of the manager.
My apologies for jumping to conclusions.
Maika is a bit of a worrywart,
so I'd appreciate it if you continued to protect her from here on out.
I-I will!
Well,
thank you.
You're definitely sisters.
Maika, why?
Why didn't you invite me, your big brother?
Oh...
You've really been making an effort at baking sweets!
Yep!
Are you bringing something today, too?
Yes. The manager's been pleased so far, so...
See you later.
Oof!
Say, Manager...
Have you gotten rounder lately?
It seems you've become plump somehow.
Me?
Impossible.
Yikes.
You've gained weight.
I haven't gained weight! I haven't gained any weight!
Sure you have.
Maika!
I haven't gained weight, have I?
Uh... Well... You've changed a little from before.
But it's okay!
Heavier or not, you're still the manager.
That's a line you'd only hear at the initial stage.
Face reality, fats. You've gained weight and that's it, fats.
Please stop calling me "fats"!
My guess is you've been eating potato chips while watching late-night anime.
I haven't!
I can't think of anything I've done that'd make me gain weight.
Oh, that's right. Here, Manager.
I tried making pound cake today!
You?
Without realizing it, I messed with the manager's normal body health!
Fats...
That's what happens when you consume lots of sugar every day.
No more sweets for you for a while.
I meant to show my gratitude but ended up giving you grief!
There's nothing wrong with making sweets and giving it to him.
Mafuyu!
But...
DINO (26 YEARS OLD)
...for the amount he eats,
he needs to burn it off!
There really aren't any worms for getting up early!
I'LL TELL YOU
Next time, "I'll Tell You"!