-Good evening. -Good evening.
Terrace House is a show about six strangers living together,
and we observe how they interact.
All that we've prepared is a beautiful home and automobiles.
-There is no script at all. -Yes.
In the last episode...
Kenny asked Haruka up to the roof for a chat.
I thought the right thing for me to do in that moment
was to be completely honest.
But that's not my ultimate answer.
He's basically taking back what he'd said before.
What was the purpose of that?
-What's he after? -What's his deal?
He's keeping her on the sidelines for insurance.
He's making sure both women are still options.
Last week, we also had Kenny's birthday party.
-Yes. -Risako brought up some things with him.
Did you have a good talk with Haruka?
You guys chatted the other day, right?
I think it was less awkward after our talk. We parted happily.
-He fudged the details. -Yes, he did.
He didn't mention that Haruka is still in the game for him.
He didn't mention it.
Ruka and Kaori went on a date.
-It was wonderful. -So freaking cute.
-It looked like fun. -Good for them.
-They went shopping for "art tools." -Right, "art tools."
And Ruka took her to a tamago kake restaurant to thank her--
Egg over rice after "art tools" and chill?
-It was a deliberate pairing. -I see.
You could say he's pretty good at pairing activities.
He's quite cheeky.
Your wit amazes me.
What type of hero do you want to become?
My idol is Spider-Man.
That would be ideal.
By hero, you literally meant you want to become a Marvel character?
That's right.
And they made plans to have drinks.
She still sees him as a kid.
-She paid. -Even though he wanted to treat her.
She wouldn't let him pay for dinner.
He got really down on himself about it.
She still sees me as a younger brother. I get that sense from her.
I wonder if I'll ever see him as a man.
We'll have to see.
I don't see it happening if things stay the same.
The last scene we saw was the Zara Home scene.
Risako and Kenny bought stuff to decorate the rooftop.
I thought it'd be for everyone, but it was just for them.
-They threw a party for themselves. -And popped a bottle of wine.
-Yeah. -The mood was great.
They sat in the hammock together, pressed hip-to-hip.
-Even so... -Risako was dropping hints,
but Kenny would only reply with "I see."
In my eyes, it seemed like you were checking in with her
to make sure she was okay.
I'm assuming you were hoping to preserve the friendship.
It gave me hope that you were the kind person that I've known you to be.
But honestly, I wanted to talk to you before you talked to her.
You're right.
But I get it. That's how you express kindness.
Yeah, that's true.
Kenny came to Terrace House saying he wanted an honest relationship.
-When he first arrived. -All the women remember that.
-What did he mean by that? -He isn't honest.
-Not at all. -No, he isn't.
He's trying to paint a pretty picture for his fans.
Yeah, we assume that's the case.
The promotion for his band will end once he gives a clear answer either way.
That's my theory.
-I agree. -Thanks for the support.
So, what it is--
-When did these two become so close? -Who knows?
They're like master and apprentice.
-They've bonded too strongly. -But...
what Kenny's doing won't work in his favor.
It's actually hurting his popularity.
-Right. -It's just confusing to watch.
He misunderstands the effects of his actions.
He thinks he looks cool.
But I feel like I'm at a point where I need him to take action.
My feelings will fade
if he doesn't become more proactive in expressing his interest.
-Whoa! -That is the inevitable outcome, huh?
We'll get to see who Risako focuses her interest on next.
Does she like anyone else?
There was a pretty abrupt shift when she lost interest in Ruka,
but initially, she was acting like she was head-over-heels for him.
-It was abrupt. -I even thought I missed an episode.
-Right? Me, too. -Something could still happen there.
Have you asked Kaori out yet?
-To what? -To whatever.
Weren't you planning to?
Yeah, we're supposed to grab drinks.
-You have a drinks date? -Yeah.
What about you?
-Me? -Yeah.
I've talked to Kenny about taking a drive to the beach.
-Then you should go ask him. -About what?
-Ask him when he's free. -I don't want to initiate any more dates.
Why?
-Well, because... -Yeah?
I'm attracted to guys who are proactive and will ask me out.
-I see. -Yeah.
So I'm leaving it alone.
You're gonna wait?
Yep, and if he doesn't say or do anything, I'll move on.
Okay, I see.
-Welcome home. -Likewise.
I'm home. Where were you, Shohei?
I was in the playroom playing video games.
-Gotcha. -Yeah.
-Have you eaten? -What are you cooking?
Pasta with tomato sauce.
It's a chilled pasta?
-No, not at all. -What's happening here, then?
I'm rehydrating the noodles this way.
-Isn't that so involved? -I wanted it to cook faster.
That dry pasta has been soaking since this morning.
I had no clue what he was doing at first. Turns out he's rehydrating it.
-Wow! -It looks so good.
-Bon appétit. -Bon appétit.
Look at this.
So good!
-Right? -Is it?
The texture of the noodles is perfect.
Yay.
-You're a genius. I knew it. -Insane.
-You're a great chef. -Delicious.
Have you asked her out?
I'll do it as soon as possible.
-Has the timing not been right? -Well...
I just haven't done it yet. Waiting for the right moment.
The timing of these things can be tricky.
Have you been thinking more about your Marvel dream job?
Well, these days...
I wanted to know how serious he was about it.
Right now, my mind is in tangles with too many thoughts.
I don't have the answer yet.
I'm not really sure where I should start with everything.
What are you most interested in doing lately?
Right now, I know I don't want to be a stunt person.
But you want your face to appear on screen?
-Yeah, once I'm a hero-- -Like Robert Downey Jr.?
-Yeah, like that. -As an extreme example.
-Or Tom Holland. -So you want to be an actor?
Yeah.
I admire them and would love to follow in their footsteps.
You want to appear in a Marvel movie as an actor?
I've heard you say that you want to be a hero
or that you want to become rich, and other ideas like that.
Even with the Marvel dream, I feel like you tend to flip-flop a lot.
It comes off like, "What?"
-I know, you're absolutely right. -I get how you feel.
I know it's hard to figure out.
At this point, when people hear you say,
"I want to appear in a Marvel movie," we don't know if you're serious.
We're not saying that it's unrealistic or impossible.
Yeah. It's easy to say things,
-but much harder to act on them. -Yeah.
Perhaps you could take an acting class or English lessons.
Something to help you move forward in that journey.
Yeah, you have a good point.
I personally don't think you have to deliberate so much about your first step.
-If you feel it's not right-- -But, you know,
you'd need to be able to speak English, and obviously, you'd need to study acting.
Anyone can figure that out.
I'm talking about those types of baby steps.
For example, are you motivated enough to start studying English here,
then eventually fly to the US and study acting and English there?
And get to the point where you can finally audition?
Can you imagine yourself doing those things?
How exactly do you want to achieve this dream?
Sorry, I didn't mean for it to be like a job interview.
I get it. These are really hard questions.
-We just want to support you. -I get that you might feel lost,
but we also don't want to let you off the hook.
-I almost feel like a parent. -I'd rather...
That's how I feel, at least.
I guess you can't tell if Marvel is your true dream yet.
In my case, I've really come to regret
the three years I spent working in the corporate world.
Sometimes I think I could be further than I am if I'd spent those years drawing.
It was a really hard decision, but I was so drawn to creating art
that quitting the job felt like the best thing to do.
Without that experience, I wouldn't appreciate my current job.
When I see you unable to make a decision or take a step in any direction,
it makes me want to say, "You're so young, just try something!"
Would you like to come to the workshop that Shohei and I are going to?
-I feel like it's too soon. -You should try it.
-Just try it! -Maybe you could watch?
-Could I just watch and not participate? -You should try.
That's what we're saying, you have to be open to trying things out.
-She's right. -Exactly what she said.
-Otherwise... -Yeah, I guess so.
-Haruka does have a point. -Yeah...
The other thing that bothers me is that you seem to think you can...
achieve success without any hardship.
I would love for that to be the case, too, but things don't work that way.
Without challenges, we can't grow. We'll never achieve success that way.
It'll never be easy.
I'm hungover.
-I'm hungover. -You are?
-You're in prep mode for your movie? -Yeah.
-I need to prepare. -That's awesome.
VIRGIN CONCERTO
Hey, so...
-The other day... -Yes?
I hung out on the roof with Risako.
Yeah, I remember.
After that, I lost focus of what I wanted.
Wait, what do you mean?
The mood that night was great.
But something...
-Yeah? -...was holding me back the whole time.
I feel like...
if the mood was that great, it would've made sense for you two to at least kiss.
Just to see how it felt.
Not that you should expect failure,
but there has to be a point where you just take the leap,
no matter where you end up landing.
Otherwise, you won't be able to move forward with the relationship.
Well, I suppose...
it is a man's job to make the first move.
She didn't say too much,
but Risako did tell me the gist of how things went on the roof.
For real?
Something she touched upon was that
she was expecting something more to come of that interaction.
It wouldn't have been odd if I'd done something?
Yeah. She was emotionally prepared for something.
-She was expecting it. -For real?
KAORI WATANABE, 28 ILLUSTRATOR
SHOHEI MATSUZAKI, 25 ACTOR
HARUKA OKUYAMA, 24 ACTRESS
KENJI YOSHIHARA, 32 MUSICIAN
RISAKO TANABE, 21 FITNESS TRAINER
RUKA NISHINOIRI, 20 PART-TIME RETAIL EMPLOYEE
-Is it going well? -Yep.
Okay.
-I'm done prepping. I'll leave these here. -Okay.
Where did you learn how to make green curry?
It's one of my favorite dishes.
-A go-to? -Yeah.
-I make it quite often. -Look at you.
-I'm self-taught. -Cool.
Looking good.
-You had that many in your room? -Yeah.
Wow.
This looks delicious!
-Bon appétit. -Bon appétit.
It's so spicy.
-For real? -Yeah.
-The heat hit you that quickly? -It's delicious, though.
-I'm going to go change. It's too hot. -Okay.
Who do you spend the most time with these days, Ruka?
Let me think...
It's hard to form bonds, isn't it? I've noticed that...
you wake up right before you go to work, then you come home and go straight to bed.
Do I?
It seems like you haven't been yourself lately.
-I'm home. -Welcome home!
-Since when... Long time, no see. -Likewise. Long time, no see.
-Great to see you. -How have you been?
-Kenny made green curry for everyone. -Cool!
Are you tipsy?
Yeah, I drank a bit today.
-At a work gathering? -No.
Well...
lately, I've been really blessed to have received a variety of job offers.
I've gained some popularity.
-Any difficulties with work? -No, that's not it.
I question if I've earned all of this through my actual talent.
I was venting to friends over drinks.
-I see. -Yeah.
-It's a topic that requires some drinks. -It really is.
-That's a difficult question to answer. -It is.
I went to college for product design, so, whether we had talent or not,
most of us found jobs either freelancing or at a design firm right after college.
In my case...
I've always felt pressured to repay my parents
for all of the money they've spent on my education.
I see.
I started my corporate job thinking I needed to repay my parents.
I felt ashamed that I didn't follow my passion.
Everyone around me was following their inspiration,
but I was only motivated by money.
So, you went to an art school?
My major was in product design...
so I didn't draw much in college.
Product?
Basically industrial design.
I had lost touch with my college professor for a long time.
But yesterday, I finally decided to email and get back in touch.
I talked about how I worry that my talent is not up to par
with the work I'm receiving, and that I don't know where I'm headed.
The reply I received was... It was a brutally honest response.
How so?
-He criticized you? -He didn't criticize me, per se,
but he gave me an honest opinion because he cares about me.
I've felt like a fraud for not having gone to art school.
My drawing skills aren't that great...
Frankly, I was able to get where I am on sheer luck.
People seem more interested in my résumé than my actual talent.
It's becoming harder and harder to accept that fact.
I feel like my popularity is growing.
I've been getting offers for interviews lately.
Yeah...
But there are plenty of artists who are far more talented than I am.
I'm really not sure what I should be aiming for next.
But...
from my point of view,
I see your work and I have a lot of admiration for you.
I've heard Ruka mention how much he respects you.
We see you as a person who's doing really cool things.
But I can't really...
How should I say this?
I don't...
There's just something that...
One of the things my professor mentioned,
was that I've been tremendously lucky to have come this far.
I feel like I've been cocky about my abilities.
I've been able to find many job opportunities so far.
And I thought that was fine.
I was focused on working hard to become a reputable illustrator.
But a professional artist must see me and think I look horribly arrogant.
-I get it. -Yeah.
Your professor's reply landed that harshly?
What did he say that was so rough?
I'd been avoiding it for a while.
-I see. -Having that conversation?
Yeah. I'd just been keeping my distance.
But once I said that I wanted to hear honest feedback,
my professor gave me his honest opinion,
and made me realize it's true that my drawing abilities...
are weak.
He expressed that he was genuinely concerned for my future when I started.
At some point, I realized that that's the impression that I give off,
but actually hearing that feedback hit me really hard.
We have plans to continue the conversation in person.
It'll be a good opportunity to figure out my goals
and the direction of my career moving forward.
That's been on my mind.
Even you have worries like that, huh?
This might be the first.
-Really? -Not exactly the first, but...
I've been pretending not to hear those opinions.
-Sorry for ranting. -I don't think you should worry too much.
In conclusion, you're still super cool.
-Just keep drawing. -Thank you.
You might be right.
That might be true.
How's the preparation for your art show coming along?
Yeah, things are going okay.
-Not great? -No, it's fine. I'll make it work by July.
I already think you're amazing.
But I look forward to seeing how much further you'll excel in the future.
-Agreed. -I'll try my best.
Yeah.
So cute!
-Ruka had a much better response. -Agreed.
-Ruka is the best. -You're right.
His response was much more appropriate.
-Ruka had the best response. -He did good.
-Ruka is the best! So good. -Right?
He acknowledged her potential for the future.
What a great thing to say.
That was a good response. Kenny, on the other hand...
Does he not feel anything?
He kept going back to what was said by her professor.
Also, his scene with Shohei,
where he was reiterating the things that Risako told him...
-Was Kenny being genuine? -No, I highly doubt it.
That scene was set up to make him look good, right, Shochan?
-Exactly. -For a moment,
we thought we were getting a glimpse of his honest feelings.
-But it wasn't convincing at all. -I'm not sure what to make of him.
It gave us hope that he might try to be more assertive, but nothing changed.
-He's exactly the same. -Right.
-Not his brightest moment. -He's not proactive.
Kenny's personality is looking very flat.
-Yeah. -He's so aloof.
Kaori was really baring her soul in that scene.
He had such an unempathetic response to her situation.
-Like, who says that? -I'm unimpressed.
The old you wouldn't have caught on to such vulnerable workings of the heart.
You were like, "From the tone of that conversation,
she was saying this
and the response should've been that. His take was awful."
-You're so right. -Something has changed.
I'm such a married person now.
That was a really good observation.
He explained the emotions with a grounded perspective.
Have you been hiding this all along?
People don't gain amazing relationship and communication skills all of a sudden
just because they got married.
-You've been hiding this wisdom all along? -Not at all.
-This is a new change? -Things just look different to me now.
You've suddenly shed your old ways?
That might be. I'm starting to see a new world.
I see...
-You've been taking after-school tutoring. -For real?
Now I have success in both love and after-school activities.
You're going to start advertising for that after-school tutor.
This situation is exactly as you said. I totally agree.
It's not the type of concern that you'd respond to with "don't worry about it."
-That's the thing. -Wrong response.
That wasn't the right answer.
It's so jarring to receive a response like that in that situation.
When the person that you opened up to simply says, "Everything will be fine."
Like, "That's not even something you should be worried about, Torichan.
Just eat something."
I'd want that person to perish immediately.
I relate to that so much.
I would feel sad for entrusting my feelings with someone so shallow.
I'd regret trusting them as a confidante.
-Exactly. -Me, too.
Even a smidge of enthusiasm to support or oppose would've been appreciated.
-Ruka's response was great. -He did well.
His response was very true to him. It wasn't based in logic,
but you could feel the care he has for her. That must've felt uplifting.
Even though he was also in a difficult situation--
But Marvel, though?
-Yeah... -He's aiming for Marvel? Really?
It might be too late for him to try to work with Marvel.
He's only 20 years old.
-Let the boy dream. -Who is he hurting? Exactly.
In three years, he'll have something figured out.
-Exactly. -We should let him be.
He's in a place where he'd need to begin immediately, but...
-It's fine. -At least he has a dream. That's great.
Right. He's only 20.
Kenny's facade is crumbling. How delightful!
I really hope that Kenny will start behaving more genuinely.
-We really can't tell what he's after. -That's true.
Perhaps he's just not a good listener.
-Well... -I wonder that, too.
-That might be true. -He was drinking and a bit tipsy.
Based on his response, it seemed like he wasn't listening.
I don't know how to make okonomiyaki.
You can just throw stuff on top of this...
-Can I have that? -That's the Nagoya style?
Nothing special like Nagoya style. It's just the regular style.
I asked Kenny to get more oil.
We're only on the first one. It's fine.
Everything okay?
-And then-- -You'll flip it together?
-No, right? -Wait, hold on.
The ingredients might fly everywhere.
Whoa!
-It looks delicious. -Yeah, good job.
I'm relieved.
Great job. It looks yummy.
-I'm home... Whoa! -Welcome home.
Wow. Wait...
-Hey. Yay! -You guys.
For real?
-Bon appétit. -Bon appétit.
Yum.
So good.
-Yeah, it's yummy. -I should've taken a picture.
Tastes great.
-So good. -Yeah, it's really good.
Who planned this?
-It was Shohei. -Good call.
I wanted to have a dinner for the start of pool season.
-Pool season? -A pre-pool season celebration.
-Nice. -Yeah.
-I'm gonna go change. -It's hot, isn't it?
-I'm gonna change my shirt, too. -I might faint in these long sleeves.
Ruka was really bummed out. Did I tell you about that?
-About what? -Why?
He wanted to treat you to dinner.
-I get it, but... -Maybe next time.
Next time...
Not until he becomes mature.
-What? -Right?
-What? -He's too childish for me.
You don't agree?
He does have some childish ways about him.
-But still-- -It's not about his age.
It's not because he's younger than me.
-But he has a job, doesn't he? -He does make a living for himself.
-More than me-- -But the things he says are not grounded,
like, "I'm not sure when to quit my part-time job
and seriously pursue my dreams." Or, like--
It's okay that he hasn't decided on a path yet.
But I don't get the feeling that he's seriously thinking about his future.
His view on life is immature.
Having someone like that treat me to dinner is--
-You hate it? -It's not that I hate it, but...
When I hear him talk about his ideal self,
I feel like it's centered on looking cool to other people.
That doesn't resonate with me.
I would rather see him make mistakes trying.
-Seeing that would... -That would look cool?
...make me feel like he's trying to figure things out,
even though he may not know where he's headed.
-I could support that. -Yeah.
He's misunderstanding what it means to become a "cool" person.
-It's kind of-- -Really immature.
Life is not that easy.
-I'd like to see some sense of urgency. -Yeah.
Shall we clean up?
-Have you been drinking? -Quite a bit.
So, the thing you were talking about yesterday...
Have you come to some conclusion about it?
Have you digested those thoughts?
Have I digested them? Not really.
Let's talk about it.
-Okay. You're up for that? -Yeah.
First of all,
what made you want to reach out to your old professor?
I was really happy to have landed the job with Beams.
-And then-- -That's a great gig.
Yeah. But as I got further into the job, I realized...
there are two designs that I was asked to do,
-and they're only printing 50 pieces each. -For real?
I was like, "Only 50?"
Many artists that I admire have created T-shirt designs for Beams.
I thought that I had achieved a milestone.
I thought I was finally able to get the types of jobs that I wanted.
But now that I have it...
It's almost like they don't believe in my skills and don't want to invest too much.
Until now, I've been content creating work that satisfies me
and feels true to who I am.
I didn't think I was motivated by money or even popularity when it came to work.
But after doing this, I've realized that those things do affect my decisions a lot.
-I am swayed by those things. -I see.
I feel naive to have thought of myself so highly.
-And that's why you reached out? -Yeah.
But that was rough, too.
To hear that my drawing skills are elementary.
You'll be fine. You're doing great.
For real.
I've been impressed by how you manage
-your public image. -Really?
Like how I come off?
You post a steady flow of drawings and photos on Instagram,
keeping your fans engaged.
I think you're very detail-oriented in that way,
and you're very good at creating a profile that's easy for fans to engage with.
That's right. That reminds me of something I've been wanting to say.
Moments of doubt like this happen, right?
When you find yourself in these slumps
and you're having a hard time getting back up,
I think it could be helpful to switch your focus to creating art for your fans.
That could lift you up.
I really don't think the issue is that you lack skills as an artist.
Of course it's good to have a foundation. I should work hard to be good at guitar.
Of course practice is important.
I don't think that fans necessarily care about that.
I don't know. I guess that's...
This could be where we differ.
Personally, I don't think it's honorable
to only create things that my fans will like.
-That may be harsh to say. -Not at all.
Like Shohei, I only want to create things that genuinely interest me.
But after noticing my own reaction to the job with Beams,
I'm starting to question who I really am.
-Who you are? Like your style of art? -Well...
Yeah, I do question whether I've only been creating
within the constraint of what I think people will like.
Perhaps I haven't been true to my own philosophy as an artist.
Right now, I'm an illustrator,
but ultimately, I'd like to become an artist and sell large canvases.
Knowing that that's where I want to end up,
I can't proceed with the same mindset as before.
That's become clear to me after recent events.
WASEDA, TOKYO
PLANEAR, WASEDA
Matsuzaki is arriving on set.
-Hello! -Hello. Excited to work with you.
Thank you for having me.
Please allow me to introduce our actor.
This is Shohei Matsuzaki who will be playing the younger employee.
-Thank you for having me. -Great to have you.
Thank you for having me.
-Let's get started. -Okay.
You can keep your underwear on.
-Okay. -I'll hold this for you.
NAO FUJIKAWA, 23 ACTRESS
-All right. Let's start rolling. -Ready? Okay.
You have to acknowledge your desires.
I want to sleep with you.
Do you understand?
I know you'll understand me, Nao.
-I do understand. -I...
You like feeling good, don't you?
And cut.
-How was that? -Good.
-Good take? -Yes.
Okay, moving on from the kiss scene.
-Okay. -Bring the mat.
-The mat, please. -Let's shoot the next scene.
I haven't seen a full moon in a while.
-Isn't it great? -Yeah.
-It's been raining a lot lately. -Yeah.
I haven't been on the roof in a while.
It's supposed to be sunny for four days.
-Starting today? For real? -Yeah.
I want to go out, don't you?
-I do. -Let's go somewhere.
-I've wanted to ask you out. -Really?
-Were you thinking something like dinner? -I'm up for anything.
I've noticed...
you're always sitting on that side whenever we talk or you're in the house.
You're right.
I also only ever see you wearing the clothes you wear around the house.
Shall we switch up our outfits and go somewhere, then?
Switch up our outfits? What do you mean?
-Let's go somewhere dressy. -For real?
Nice! That sounds fun.
-I'll find a spot. -Okay.
Do you ever find yourself in a slump, Kenny?
-I do, of course. -Really?
I get worried thinking about the future.
Everyone seems to have something they're concerned about. Even Ruka.
He wants to become an impressive person.
He doesn't want to be called cute.
He says he doesn't want to be seen as a little brother.
So both of us... I've only really had this conversation with Kaori.
For Kaori, she's not even sure how to interact with him.
I see.
Ruka stays asleep right up until he has to leave for work.
-He's asleep until he has to leave, right? -Yeah.
He needs to wake up earlier if he wants time to interact with her.
He shouldn't be waiting around for a chance.
I told him that, too.
I think that's great advice.
But he says he's too sleepy.
-I'm like, "That's all you got?" -For real?
It does make me sad to see Ruka so down.
Yeah.
You should have a sit-down with him.
-Good idea. -Especially about...
the stuff with Kaori.
I wonder if they're being cuddly on the roof.
-They're still on the roof? -They may have come down. I don't know.
They're not back yet.
-On the roof-- -It's been a while, hasn't it?
-Yeah. -They've been out there for a while.
Would you like some pasta?
-I'm good. -You want a little bit? No?
Hey, Ruka, I was just chatting with Kenny, and you came up in conversation.
Ah! Oh, no!
Do you have time to come chat, just the three of us?
-While you eat your pasta? Is that cool? -Yeah.
Let's head to the playroom
-once the pasta is done. -Okay.
-I haven't been here in a while. -Right?
I've noticed that you haven't quite been yourself lately.
Yeah?
I'm wondering what's been bothering you.
It's about my life direction.
I'd like to have goals to work toward.
Like going after a job with Marvel or whatever.
I'd like to become an actor.
I'm feeling impatient.
I wish I could just find the thing that I want to do.
I keep wondering if I have other options.
You do.
-You do. -There are plenty of options.
But you may need to put in more effort to figure out what those options are.
You've asked Haruka and Kaori not to treat you like a child.
It's not that they do that because they want to.
It's more that they're reacting to how you behave.
More like they're adjusting to you.
Like, "How are you, Ruka? How's work going?"
"Would you like something to eat?" and such.
I wouldn't like it if people doted on me like that.
But you accept, so they continue to treat you that way.
You said you wanted to become an admirable person,
so it makes me wonder why you put up with them treating you like a child.
If you don't like it, then I feel like
there are things you can do to change that dynamic.
That's what I've been thinking.
You have to show that you're mature.
-It's hard to explain. Do you follow? -I'm not sure I do.
Kenny!
-Please say something. -Well...
I got lost partway through, too.
"What do you want to do, Ruka?"
"Do you want to become an actor, Ruka?"
"Would it help if I took you to a workshop?"
The way they say those things tells me that they see you as helpless.
They think they know what you should do,
and you go along with it like, "Sounds good. You're right."
I would want them to see me as an equal.
An equal?
-Like, on equal levels as a person? -Well, like...
I don't think I'm anywhere near where they are in life.
I'm just a part-timer.
That's not what I mean.
You went on that date with Kaori, right?
Based on that interaction,
Kaori said she can only see you as a little brother.
-She said that after the date? -Yeah.
You asked her not to treat you like a little brother.
But when it comes to whether or not you're putting in the effort
to be seen as a potential romantic partner,
it doesn't seem like you are.
I don't think the ladies are saying these things
solely based on the status of your work-life.
It's about the way you carry yourself.
They would like to see more maturity
in the way you carry yourself in everyday life.
Do I give off a younger brother vibe that intensely?
To me, it's less of a younger brother vibe,
and more that you rely on others too much.
-I'm too reliant? -Yeah, too reliant.
Haruka told me that she checks in with you often
just to see if you've eaten that day. It came up in our conversation.
Kaori even mentioned that she looked up dishes
that she thought you might like. But...
you don't need her to do that for you.
You can just prepare what you want whenever you're hungry.
But everyone is under the impression
that they have to help you because you can't do it yourself.
You could start waking up earlier, too.
Small things like that add up
to make you appear less mature to others.
I understand.
You got this.
You'll do great.
-I feel kind of... bad. -About what?
Sometimes I feel like I'm too honest.
I really appreciate you...
explaining...
all of those thoughts to me.
-But it was too complex? -I'm confused about a few things.
Yeah, I get it.
-Morning. -Good morning.
It appears... there's construction happening.
Yeah, I noticed, too.
Apparently, we're getting a new porch.
-Where at? -By the front door, so I heard.
Good morning.
-Hey, good morning. -Morning.
-You live here? -Yes, I do.
Nice to meet you.
HISATO KOJIMA, 64, OWNER KAMAKURA LOCOMART & GARDEN
-I'm Ruka Nishinoiri. -I'm Kojima. Nice to meet you.
-Shall we take a break? -Sure, for a bit.
-How old are you? -I'm 20 years old.
-You're a college student? -No, I'm not in school.
-You're a part-timer? -Yes, that's right.
Nice.
How old are the ladies in the house this season?
One of them is 21,
and there's a 24-year-old and a 28-year-old.
I see. They chose a good balance.
Do they all treat you like a kid?
I really dislike being treated like a child, personally.
So I've been trying my best not to come off that way. But it appears that...
I'm far too reliant on everyone around me.
Look at this kid. He's so good-looking.
-Yeah, he really is. -I'm envious.
You must be really popular.
Well... I mean, I guess I am.
-I knew it. That popularity is plenty. -Plenty to be happy about.
-That's not what matters. -It's not, huh?
What is it you're after?
I was planning to give myself two or three years
to figure out what I wanted to do while I'm at my current job.
But right now, I'm feeling like I need to find an answer quickly.
As long as you're not married,
I think it's fine to give yourself time to try all sorts of things.
Once you're married, you'll have responsibilities.
Figuring it out might be intimidating, but you just have to go for it.
Right now, you should try out everything that sparks your interest.
You literally have all the options in the world.
He's right.
I see.
They won't even count as mistakes if you try them now.
-Really, you think so? -Yeah.
Okay.
But these questions you're asking about what to do with your future
or how to become a respectable adult,
your philosophy of what kind of man you want to be... That quest never ends.
It's not just 20-year-olds who are thinking about it.
To this day, I still think about
what becoming a cool old guy in the future would look like for me.
It's always crossing my mind.
Whatever you believe on the inside
-is what people will read from you. -I agree.
So you have to challenge yourself to grow,
-emotionally and mentally. -You're right.
I really don't like who I am on the inside.
Everyone feels that way.
Everyone has something going on inside.
Even people who are lucky and have everything handed to them
eventually have to come to terms with themselves.
You can't learn or move forward unless you keep trying and make mistakes.
That's very true.
-Look at that. -Aren't they so cute?
So cute! You can't help but google them.
-What? "Airport dog"? -I'd never heard of them.
Thank you.
What kind of pasta are you making?
I'm aiming for carbonara. That's the plan.
What did you put in here?
An egg... Why?
Hey, Kaori, he put an egg in here.
In where? Oh. Is he making a boiled egg?
No, he cracked it and put it in the water.
Oh...
Looks like it's baby's first time cooking.
Do you have experience cooking?
Do you cook often?
-Not really. Not at all. -Is this your first time?
It's my first time making pasta.
-Nice. -That's good practice.
-That's how... -We grow up.
Not that I'm in a position to criticize someone else's cooking.
-It's starting to look like samgyupsal. -Yep.
If he added a consommé soup base to that,
-maybe it would turn into soup. -Pasta soup.
It could work.
-Risako's in Nagoya today? -It's done.
It's great that you added a green element.
-Yeah, the broccoli is a nice touch. -I thought so.
Is it undercooked? How is it?
-Does it have flavor? -Yeah.
-Does it? -I'm curious about the flavor.
It doesn't have any.
Sorry, I need to focus. I'm working with deadlines.
Enjoy your dinner.
You're going upstairs, professor?
I have a few things I need to send out today.
-Hope everything goes well. -Thank you.
As of today, I've decided that I'm gonna learn to become a better cook.
-You're gonna practice? -Yeah.
That's good since there's nothing to eat when you get home.
That's true, and I also don't think it's cool
to always have someone else cook for you.
It's not uncool. We all know you don't know how.
I'm going to try my best.
Although, today was a failure.
-Does it taste bad? -It doesn't have any flavor.
Is it a fail if it has no taste?
-I don't think it's a fail. -Do I get negative points or just zero?
Well, no...
I'm gonna have seconds.
Wow, that was shocking.
-What a shocking scene. -I'm taken aback.
-So shocking. -He was aiming for carbonara.
When he was cracking that egg, I was thinking,
"You should drop the egg from much lower."
The problem was far bigger than that detail.
-Right. -I thought he was dropping it into a pan.
Plus, he asked while eating it, "Is it a fail if there's no flavor?"
It sounds like something the poet Mitsuo Aida would write.
"Is it a fail if there is no flavor?"
-In this case, he's just dumb. -There may be beauty in having no flavor.
It does seem silly, but I want to know how the egg came out.
-It just-- -It's tangled in with the noodles.
It went down the drain with the boiling water.
I wonder what he thought
-as he watched that egg go down the drain. -For real.
-Was he like, "Wait a second..." -Too funny.
This is not simply funny, Torichan.
This is horrific.
Haruka's response really felt like
she was dumbing it down for a kindergartener.
She spoke slowly and gently.
Shohei should give him some cooking lessons.
-Why don't they teach him? -They really shouldn't have to.
Just like Shochan said earlier,
he should look up a recipe on the internet.
He needs to use his brain just a little more.
-It's more work for everyone else. -He's always had someone else
-do things for him. -Right, so he needs to learn.
He doesn't want to be seen as childish,
and it's almost painful the degree to which he's seen that way.
I thought they were being harsh at first.
-But I would be that way, too. -I sympathize.
He wants to go from here to working for Marvel?
-It makes sense that everyone is worried. -So true.
It's as if he thinks he could ring a doorbell
and ask Mr. Marvel to put him in a movie.
I'm starting to think that
when Haruka and Kaori were lecturing him about career choices,
he must not have understood them.
-I don't think he did. -He wasn't worried,
he was wondering what they were saying.
But good thing he's here.
It's a blessing in disguise that he's in that house.
-But what's the deal with Kenny? -Kenny is the issue.
-He's the bad egg. -What's his deal?
He asks for all the details of each story and then just says,
"I think you'll be fine."
-It's completely unconvincing. -Not supportive.
-We need him to step it up. -He needs to do something.
He must just have no idea what to say.
He dragged Kaori back into that conversation
under the guise of offering to help her dig deeper and figure things out.
All we got is that he has no wisdom to offer whatsoever.
-You're exactly right. -The other thing is,
he wears T-shirts with his band's logo a little too often.
True. I noticed that, too.
When he was out on the roof, that caught my attention.
I understand that he wants to promote his band by being on the show.
I get it. I get it, but...
-that's not the way to do it. -Exactly.
It lines up with the other complaints we have about him.
-Are you only here for self-promotion? -Right.
We'd like to see an honest conversation that shows us what he's really about,
but I don't think we ever will.
The other housemates must be on to him by now.
-They've got to be. -I think so.
Any respect they had for him as the eldest will disappear if that's the case.
They'll ditch him if they find out they can't rely on him for anything.
Especially since the ladies are very insightful.
So true.
Have you had any new ideas about your goals? Still thinking?
I think that's fine.
Well, this is the first time I've felt pressured to figure it out.
Is there anyone you admire?
Anyone I admire? Ryoma Sakamoto, I guess.
What do you like about him?
He challenged himself with situations that he knew would be dangerous for him.
But he stood his ground
and traveled a lot in order to help communities reconcile.
-He did what? -He helped them forgive. Or, um...
-My memory escapes me. -Tell me some other time.
-Do you admire your dad? -Yeah.
He was only 20 or 21 when I was born.
-Really? -Yeah...
Once my brother was born, he went into business for himself.
-He paints homes, was it? -He waterproofs homes.
-He does all sorts of-- -For residential homes?
Yeah. He does paint exteriors, too.
Once, when we were driving,
you mentioned that you didn't want to become like your father.
I helped with my dad's business a few times in high school.
But the workday starts so early,
and it's hard labor right from the start of the day.
I don't want to do that.
You have to wear a helmet all day,
and wrap this weird towel around your head.
But if you were to work for Marvel, movie shoots start really early in the morning.
You'd have to wake up at 4:00 a.m.
-But-- -You'd be motivated to do it?
I could do that because it'd be something I'd like doing.
If you weren't at this house
and were still working at your job, living life day to day,
you wouldn't have considered the things you're thinking about now.
-That's so true. -Yeah.
I'm really grateful for the environment
that I'm in right now.
I want to make the most of it.
Let's do it.