- There's nothing at which I could win against my brother. - But there must be something.
I as well as the vice president, my son Takada Ryuichi,
are pleased to welcome you.
Yu. Stop embarrassing me and Ryuichi.
Won't you fight till the end? Myself, I will definitely not give up.
Yahagi-san said she would definitely not give up.
Try do do your best, Ototo-kun!
Work is hard, isn't it?
However, work is an interesting thing too, right?
Have you fallen asleep? Like a child?
There are some things that can't be helped.
What is right for one person
may be unfair for someone else.
This is the girl I'm dating, Yahagi Azusa-san.
Pleased to meet you. My name is Yahagi Azusa.
Oh! Yu, come here!
This is the girl Ryuichi is dating, Yahagi Azusa-san.
- Sorry, Yu. It must be surprising. - Well...
I thought I should first properly introduce her to dad
before I tell you.
I've heard Yu mentioning her too.
Aren't you working together with Azusa-san?
- Yes. - Well then, please.
Thank you very much.
Well, you should have told me!
I think the both of you make an excellent couple.
As the younger brother I shouldn't say such things,
but my brother is a good man.
I can recommend him very much.
It's 8 years away already,
but you could say he warmly watched over his stupid little brother.
I have always been in his care.
My wife passed away early
and so Ryuichi had to take care of Yu too.
He was good at learning and nice.
My brother has always been perfect.
Somehow I could never win against him.
- That's not true. - No, no, no.
I mean, wasn't it like that time?
When we went to the villa in Hayama,
dad lost his beloved fountain pen and Aniki and I
competed who would find it first.
And... in the end it was you who found it, right?
As expected, I thought.
Even though I said we should give up and go home,
you kept searching patiently.
Ryuichi has always been like this.
He sticks to a task till it's finished.
Different from someone else, right?
You mean me? That's a joke!
By the way,
do the both of you have plans for the future?
Yes.
Before long, we want to get married.
That's...
Congratulations.
- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.
I see... I see!
It's good that the Bangkok case is successfully resolved, isn't it?
As expected from you, Vice President.
Absolutely not. I'm very grateful for your support.
Somehow we managed to find a solution.
Don't you think the vice president's posture has become more upright?
It seems he introduced his girlfriend to the president.
I guess he'll quickly be the next president.
Kamiya-sensei's layout for the outlet mall has been put in concrete terms.
At last, we can select a general contractor and begin with the construction.
Yes!
Our criteria for selecting the general contractor are proven results, high technical ability,
- and the reliability of the company itself. - Yes!
We will contact the companies who meet these conditions
- and hold a competitive bidding. - Competitive bidding?
It's like a competition. We ask each of these companies
to submit their quotation for the construction.
Then we score the price and the technical design,
and the general contractor with the highest score wins the bidding.
Sounds terrible. Shouldn't we simply engage a company to which we have a connection?
As always,
Takada-kun has no idea, so let's learn.
We want to get what meets our conditions as cheap as possible,
whereas the other side wants to get the highest possible price.
Balancing these contrary interests is the merit of this procedure.
- I see. - Well then,
- get ready and move! - Yes!
- Welcome home. - I'm back.
Well, that was a surprise yesterday. Really.
But I think Azusa is good. She knows her job,
- she's persistent, and she's bright. - That's true.
And now she'll belong to my family... I can't believe it.
Oh, Ryuichi has returned too.
I have someting to tell the both of you.
Yes.
Ryuichi, until the next shareholder meeting,
will the Bangkok urban development project be in a presentable state?
Yes. I'm working with this end in mind.
If this becomes a success,
I'll propose on the shareholder meeting to make you the next president of Takada.
Thank you very much.
That's great. You did it, Aniki.
Of course, I will still stay involved in the management.
Keeping the company stable and making a smooth transition to the next generation
will help the development of Takada.
Yes.
But I'm sure that Aniki
will become a president just as good as you, Dad.
Now that you will become president, you should marry Azusa quickly, right?
For having to come all the way here to greet us
we're very sorry.
No, no, no, no, I should be the one to apologize.
I happened to be in Tokyo and so I asked you to meet me.
Thank you very much. Hyodo-sama, we have heard a lot
about you from the people near Shirakawa-ko.
You are a key man in the local political and business world.
No, I'm not that important.
But you see, developing this area
is a very pleasant thing.
I wish to cooperate with you as good as I can.
Thank you very much.
Our company
would like to contribute to local development by all means.
We think when the outlets are completed,
they will preferentially hire local people
and so the surrounding area will profit.
I would welcome this very much!
- Can I make a suggestion? - Yes.
Since we spoke about local preference,
we have several construction companies in our area.
Couldn't you allow them to make an offer too?
- Huh? - No, no, no, no.
Of course, you will make a fair judgement whether their bid was successful.
I just want you to give the local companies a chance.
Well, how should I say...
- It would be a bit difficult. - Why?
This is a large-scale project and...
Right, Yahagi-kun?
That's why it puts very high requirements on technical abilities and cost control.
And the entries are already closed, you see.
Takada-kun! Please do something about that.
Azusa-san!
- Dan-kun! - Yes.
My reputation is at stake!
Yes, but... how should I say,
in this case, it would be difficult. We're very sorry.
Is that so? I understand!
I'm sorry for taking your time. Will you allow me to contact you again?
Is that alright?
We can't listen to those requests every time.
Those local construction companies are probably small
and their technical abilities low. Could we leave such a site to them?
Well, that's certainly true.
Then, why did you meet Hyodo-san at all?
He came for a courtesy visit so I couldn't send him away.
And also, if you become acquainted with influential local people,
you can consult them in case anything goes wrong.
Oh, I see.
At 16 o'clock,
the inaugural ceremony for Nishiwa Trust's managing director.
After that, we'll head to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.
- Alright. - And,
- there was a message from Bangkok. - From Bangkok?
They sent a mail and asked you to contact them urgently.
Urgently... Alright.
This is Takada Bangkok Office.
Vice President Takada speaking. What the hell does that mean?
I'm very sorry. When we noticed it,
the debt had already exploded.
The loan of 5 billion yen won't be sufficient.
What is the opinion of the local counselers?
We have no choice but to provide the funds.
Are you saying we have to provide 10 billion yen?
There is no other way.
If in this stadium the local general contractor collapses,
the whole development project is thrown back to the starting point.
I know that!
Choosing the general contractor is not so easy too.
It's a damned lot of work.
What? Did you notice that only now?
I noticed it.
Here, grilled mackerel pike. It's on the house.
Thank you very much.
- Here please. - Thanks.
But, until now I've never realized
that our business with buildings and resorts
is really hard work.
Well, some kind of trouble can happen anytime, right?
My father and my brother
surely had to weather various crises.
When I think about it, my brother is really great.
In all these years, he set his own objectives
and continuously delivered results.
Seen in this light, I'm miserable, aren't I?
Yu-kun, you have your own good points, haven't you?
You think so?
When you've married my brother, how shall I call you?
- Oneesan (older sister)? Aneki (sister)? - Oneesan, I guess.
Really? Oneesan...
Oneesan... Neesan... Aneki...
Azusa-neesan...
- You will marry Ryuichi-san? - Yes.
- It's still a secret, though. - Congratulations!
- Thank you very much. - Delicious!
- Saki-san, this mackerel is delicious. - Really? I'm glad.
Oh no! It's time for me to go.
- To Aniki? - Yeah. We promised to meet.
- How much is it? - 2,000 yen.
- Is it your treat? - Split bills, of course.
- That's stingy of you. - I'm not stingy.
- Thanks for the meal. - Thank you very much.
- Then, see you. - Good-bye.
Good-bye.
Thank you very much.
What a face are you making?
You look so sad.
What!
Hello, Ryuichi-san. Right now, I'm...
Sorry, but I have a few things to do at work,
and it must be finished in the course of today.
It's something that I absolutely have to do myself.
I'm sorry, but we can't meet today.
Okay, I understand.
But, are you alright?
It's alright, it's alright. I'm absolutely fine.
Don't worry.
See you.
So she was here.
Hikari-chan? Welcome!
- What's that? Hikari? - What do you mean, "What's that"?
Give me another Shochu on-the-rocks. (a sake brand)
Yu-kun, aren't you drinking too much?
It seems your pace is a little fast today.
Are you alright?
Of course I'm alright! Would you like a drink too?
- One more Shochu on-the-rocks! - Okay, okay.
- You're too close. - So what!
I'd like to talk to the person in charge of the outlet construction in Shirakawa-ko.
- Please wait a moment. - Yes.
What?
I got it. Let him in.
Takada-kun, Yahagi-kun, would you come with me for a moment?
What happened?
The leader of the ecology group in Shirakawa-ko has asked for an appointment.
- Because of a claim? - That's quite possible.
If we mishandle this, it could become a big problem.
If we don't proceed with caution,
this project could be blown away at a single stroke.
What brings you here today?
Are you aware that at the site where the outlets shall be constructed
a lot of wild birds are living?
Yes. Of course, we are aware of that.
In order to protect the natural environment of these birds,
we want you to reconsider the construction of the outlets.
Completely.
Completely?
Wait a moment please.
We gave sufficient consideration to the natural environment when we planned the construction.
We've run countless times to law offices and government offices to get the permission.
So please rest assured about that.
People who live somewhere else
don't know anything about this place.
I don't think they can protect its valuable natural environment.
We will deal with it as far as possible.
Can't you trust us in this matter?
- But... - Excuse me, how should we do this?
The construction process has already begun.
There's no way to make it completely undone.
I see.
I understand. It's sad, but it can't be helped.
I'm sorry for bothering you when you're busy.
No...
- Dad. - Oh, welcome home.
Actually,
the Bangkok...
Good timing, Ryuichi. I also have something to say.
It's about Azusa-san!
Yes.
Such a good girl!
Are the preparations for the wedding ceremony under way?
A wedding overseas is out of the question.
The person you've chosen to become your partner
must be properly presented to everyone.
I understand.
Building strong family ties
leads to trust in business matters. Remember this.
Yes.
- Morning. - Good morning.
What is this?
- What does that mean? - What happened?
- Sorry, excuse me. - Sorry.
We're now on the site where employees of Takada Real Estate
are working since recently.
At this place...
That's Sano-san!
Director, isn't that the guy who came to talk with us?
That's right. But we convinced that guy.
Didn't he say he understood?
Seems we have a big problem.
Takada, Yahagi, this here is urgent.
Go to the site and check the situation.
- Hurry up! Oi! - Yes. Excuse me.
Somehow I had a hunch
when Sano-san gave in so easily.
Hey!
Huh?
Yu-kun!
What are you doing there?
- You can see the cherry blossoms from here. - Huh?
- Yu-kun, let's go! - Okay. Good-bye.
This here is really a nice spot.
What's that supposed to mean?
Starting this protest movement...
We followed the proper procedures and asked you to reconsider the development.
- Still... - But, the director of your house
wouldn't listen at all and produced a handful of counterarguments.
In order to protect the natural environment of those precious wild birds
we have no choice but to do this.
No, no. I have listened, but didn't he say he understood?
That may be so, but...
Sano-san seems to have got the impression we didn't want to go into details
but refuse it unilaterally.
What's that? Do you mean my response was wrong?
[Garden Party Wedding Plan A]
More splendid, I guess.
I want to have a feeling of glitter.
Did you get my point? Do you understand?
Yes.
Make a new plan immediately. Do it at once!
Yes. Understood.
- I'm back. - Welcome home.
Momo-chan, what's up here today?
I'm arranging the garden party.
But, our garden is smaller than I had expected.
I wonder if I should cut down that obstructing big tree in the middle.
Say, what does your new husband do for a living?
He manages investments for a fund. Right now, he's in Shanghai.
He also works in New York, Singapore, and London.
He's so busy flying around that I never see him.
Is he sound? Maybe you're being cheated.
- We are all worried. - This time it's the right one. Don't worry.
The guy before told you he was a doctor but it was a fake.
It was not a fake. Wasn't it from a proper medical faculty?
In such matters you're just too naive.
This time, I will introduce him properly to you.
Voting rights...
Are they planning to take over Takada?
As it is now, it won't be easy to proceed as planned.
- It's a difficult situation. - Director Dan.
What's your decision. Shall we give up?
- We can't do that. - But...
This outlet construction is a project to advance the company.
We cannot let it go down.
Yahagi-kun, Takada-kun, I'm very sorry,
but can't you go there and contact Sano-san once again?
- Understood. - Yes.
I can't believe we're late!
It was you who fell asleep on the bus.
It was your duty as junior to wake me up when I slept.
- Run faster! - No, no, no...
Sano-san, is there no room for discussion?
We can make only 1 suggestion.
Please review this plan completely.
If we did this, our current program came to a total standstill.
For our company this would mean a huge loss.
Don't you think we should somehow be able to find a compromise?
We're begging you.
We would also be happy if the local people profited from the development.
But protecting our natural environment is more important than anything else.
That is understandable.
But shouldn't it be possible to find a solution?
We'll protect the nature and the wild birds as good as possible. It's a promise.
- We're begging you. - Please.
Raise your heads please.
Accomodating you so far was not my intention.
But now I feel forced to say it.
The company who knows the natural environment of this area best
is the local Shirakawa Construction. Can't you ask them to do the construction?
Shirakawa Construction... you said?
Shirakawa Construction has talked with us countless times about the situation.
They have a record of constructions where they considered the needs of wild birds.
They are a construction company that's well known for keeping the balance between environment and development.
- But... - Alright.
We will go home and discuss it within our company.
You could say we reached a kind of compromise, but...
It's no use, right?
Shirakawa Construction is a small company with little technical abilities.
We have to bite the bullet.
No, wait a moment please.
Didn't you say before that such small local companies
have little technical skill and can't be used?
However,
there is no other way to proceed with the construction but to ask Shirakawa Construction.
Listen!
If the progress of this project stopped, who do you think would be responsible for it?
That would be me. My dependability would be questioned.
I will definitely not let this project stop.
I won't allow it!
We don't want the project to stop, so it's got to be Shirakawa Construction, huh?
Director Dan has good reasons for his decision.
Everyone is burdened with the thought
that this is Takada's first outlet mall.
Still, until the end...
...we won't give up. Right?
Right.
Then, I'll go ahead.
- Good work today. - Good work.
Excuse me!
Yes?
- Do you have to tell me anything? - Ah, yes. Yu...
Yu-kun?
No. I'm sorry!
Wait, wait.
Shall we go for a drink later?
Yahagi-san, I think you're great.
You're the only woman who made it into the project team,
and we all admire you.
Eh? Is that so?
- You must be great, Yahagi-san. - No.
Tell me. How is he, our colleague?
- Colleague? - I mean Yu.
He has his shortcomings and isn't reliable,
but somehow he's a nice guy. Well, you cannot leave him unobserved.
Hikari-chan, are you in love with Yu-kun?
No, I'm not. We're only colleagues.
It's the truth.
We're really only colleagues.
I wonder if that's true.
Saki-san, please stop with this!
So tell me, Azusa-san. What do you think of Yu?
Me?
To me, Yu-kun is like a colleague.
No more, no less, I'd say.
- Besides, I have a boyfriend. - Eh, really?
Of course you have!
I wish I was like Hikari-chan
and could love somebody so purely.
- Like I said, you're wrong! - Well, let's drink today!
I'm back.
Aniki, you're back?
Did anything happen?
No, everything is alright.
- Takada, come here! - Takada!
- Oi, turn this way. - You should have heard, Takada.
- About the protest movement. - Really, I have to go.
- Is it alright? Make an effort! - That's true.
Because we'll begin recruiting the tenants now.
Sorry for causing you this inconvenience.
Oi, oi, I hope you don't let us recruit the tenants
and then say the construction is cancelled.
- No, such a thing... - Takada!
Everyone is waiting for the completion.
It must become a success.
Yes, I understand. This is the report.
Do your best!
- Okay, let's go! - Yup!
Have a nice day.
Alright.
This is the result of the competitive bidding. Suzuhara Construction in Minato Ward got the highest score.
- Suzuhara Construction? - As expected, huh?
And Shirakawa Construction?
The lowest score.
It's certainly not what we really want, but in the present situation
we have no choice but to chose Shirakawa Construction.
Are you serious? This is quite strange.
Don't make me repeat that we have no choice.
In order to proceed with the construction as planned, we have no choice.
Director!
Can you give me just 1 more day.
Why? What are you going to do?
I'll try to talk with Sano-san 1 more time.
Vice President, is it correct that you'll go to a meeting
with the president of Yotsuba Bank this afternoon?
Yeah. I made the appointment myself.
Understood. Then, I will also come.
No, it's sufficient if I go alone.
Excuse me, Vice President, the Bangkok business...
That's alright. Don't worry.
Excuse me, but is the President informed about the Bangkok business?
This business is up to me.
You will stay here.
And you don't have to inform Director Michibata in the Foreign Business Department.
Yu-kun, I think you understand
it's not wise to say that Shirakawa Construction got the lowest score.
- We will just condone it. - Yes.
Sorry for letting you wait.
Sano-san, please let us perform the construction as originally planned.
We're begging you.
Wait a moment please. Last time, you said
you'd make concessions in order to find a compromise.
What became of Shirakawa Construction's bid?
They got the lowest score.
The work for this construction must be completed within a limited time span.
This requires high technical skill and experience.
Only a company with these qualities can be engaged for it.
But Shirakawa Construction is not on this level.
Leaving the whole construction work to them is just not possible.
The stakes are high for Takada with this project.
It absolutely must become a success.
Telling me such things...
We people here have our own convictions.
We should consider our environment more
and develop it slowly step by step.
Anyway, finishing the basic construction till 30th of Mai next year is absurd!
As we said, our company is willing to take the environment and the wild birds into account.
Seems we're talking at cross purposes.
Anyway, we won't let you continue with the construction just like this.
Please inform us when you've made your final decision.
Yu-kun, I told you not to mention that Shirakawa Construction got the lowest score.
Wasn't it strange?
He said, "30th of Mai next year".
This information was only given to the general contractor candidates.
That's true.
Seems he uses his ears not only to listen to wild wirds.
Perhaps this protest movement was custom-made in order to put pressure on us.
Now that you say it, it seems possible.
Protest movement, Shirakawa Construction, local preference.
In order to protect the natural environment,
we want you to reconsider the construction of the outlets. Completely.
Now I feel forced to say it.
Can't you ask the local Shirakawa Construction to do the construction?
We would also be happy if the local people profited from the development.
Finishing the basic construction till 30th of Mai next year is absurd!
Azusa-san.
Bingo.
For the Bangkok business we need a little more capital,
and so we ask you.
I know this is very unusual since we received a loan of 1 billion yen just recently.
As far as predictable, this business will certainly become a success.
So could you consider granting an additional loan please?
Last time already, there have been various objections.
Only in deference of my acquaintance with Takada-san
and your future I granted the loan.
But, an additional one...
I'm begging you, can't you somehow make it possible?
Indeed, superficially it's a rosy plan.
But as far as we can judge from here,
the general contractor in Bangkok seems to be in a critical financial situation.
That's the reason for your sudden visit!
I'm very sorry.
If you had told me the truth, I had considered to support you.
But you lied to me.
Please leave.
Let's forget what happened today.
I have not talked with you and we have not met.
Azusa.
Is anything troubling you?
No, not really. There's no problem. Why?
Because last time on the phone you said, "I'm absolutely fine."
You say this each time you have some kind of trouble.
What are you talking! Please stop with this.
Alright.
Then, sorry to disturb you.
When your brother was in serious trouble,
what did he do then?
I mean, how did he react when he was still a kid?
Well, to be true, I can't remember that Aniki has ever been in trouble.
I guess even if he was in trouble, he wouldn't ask anyone for help.
Well, maybe he never had any trouble.
Because Aniki would do everything perfectly, whatever it is.
Anyway, he's strong, my brother.
Perhaps he is.
But I don't think so.
Sorry for asking you to come here, Hyodo-san.
No, no, I guess it's something urgent, right?
You know that group that protects the environment around Shirakawa-ko very well, don't you?
- Of course. - The real one is heading to the scene right now.
You see...
- No outlet construction! - No outlet construction!
Shirakawa...
Who might you guys be?
We're the Shirakawa-ko Environment Protect Association.
Oh, seems we're alike, huh?
I'm from the Shirakawa-ko Environment Protection Association.
"Protection Association" is the correct name.
I'm the representative of the real one. Kiuchi is my name.
If you make such a fuss here, the birds will be restless, won't they?
Sano-san, what does that mean?
Representative Sano, what does that mean?
What does that mean?
- Sano-san! Representative Sano! - That's bad, that's bad, that's bad.
- Retreat! Retreat! - The opponents are running away!
- A great victory! - Yeah!
We explained the construction to the real Shirakawa-ko Environment Protection Association.
And they accepted our proposals.
Even so, it was well observed, huh?
Hyodo and the construction company and the opposition movement were all connected.
I noticed a remark Sano-san made and researched a little.
It was all Hyodo-san's work. I noticed a remark Sano-san made and researched a little.
It was all Hyodo-san's work.
From the beginning, Hyodo-san wanted to get Shirakawa Construction the order to build the outlets.
But he knew they had no chance in the bidding,
and so he made Sano-san and the others start the fake opposition campaign.
He instructed them to say first, "This is a place where you absolutely cannot build",
and then they should recommend us to give the order to Shirakawa Construction.
Damned, this is an intolerable tactic.
The order goes to the contender with the highest technical abilities,
- and that's Suzuhara Construction, right? - Yes!
And now, we will push the construction forward with a collective "Oh"!
It was lucky, wasn't it, Director? Now you don't have to take the blame.
The problem with the protest movement
was solved smoothly.
We will announce the result of the bidding tomorrow.
I see. Good work.
That's right. Takada Yu-kun scored a big point.
He is now a valuable reinforcement for the team.
As expected, he has inherited the Takada family genes.
Not only did he rid us of the fake environmentalists, we're now good friends with the real ones,
and so the project should run smoothly.
I'm glad to hear that.
Excuse me!
Ryuichi-san? What brings you here so suddenly?
Come in.
I'll make us a coffee, okay?
I'm sorry.
Yes.
What do you want at this time?
Giving you this.
Isn't this...
It's dad's fountain pen that we found on the beach a long time ago.
No, no, no. He gave it to you
as reward for finding it.
Besides, it's 2 o'clock in the morning.
Yu.
Your recollection is wrong.
The one who found it that time was you.
I said we should give up and go home.
Yu, it's no use anymore. We won't find it. Let's go home.
I don't want to! It's precious to papa and I'll search for it.
Found it!
We did it! We did it!
That's great, Yu! Well done.
Papa will surely be happy too, right?
I will keep it so it won't get lost.
Alright! Thank you!
I handed it to dad.
Dad was very happy
and gave this fountain pen to me as a reward.
The one who should really have received it was you.
See you.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
- Where's the Vice President? - Huh? Strange, isn't it?
I'll try to contact him.
No, he has not yet arrived.
And I can't get in touch with him.
I will try to ask him. Excuse me.
- One moment, Takada-kun. - Yes.
Say, do you know where the vice president is? He's not yet in the office.
Well, they're waiting.
I'll try to call him.
- His phone seems to be off. - I see.
It's okay. He will just be late.
Okay.
Azusa-san, was there anything with Aniki yesterday?
Last night, he was somehow strange.
Maybe he won't come back anymore.