"If Talking Paid"
"Coffee Shop Polaris"
"Fusae, Mitsuru Kishibe"
- Good morning. - Good morning.
- We'll run out of milk soon. - I'll get some from my coffee shop.
Thank you.
Harumi has been going to school every day since that time.
My sister didn't say thank you.
She is grateful.
I doubt it.
But what a relief.
Ayako might not look it, but she was quite worried.
She should worry more.
Don't say that.
All right, I'll go to bed.
- Sleep tight. - Good night.
"Mitsuru Coffee"
Have you been too enthusiastic?
It's a special day.
It's the first day you leave from my home,
so I want to cheer you up.
I can't eat so much.
Thanks for breakfast. It was very delicious.
You can have more soup and salad.
I have to go. I'm worried it'll be too crowded. See you.
See you!
See you.
You should at least say bye to him.
I was eating.
You would if you weren't eating?
I can't wait till next morning.
Nan, did you talk to Mitsuru?
I did.
What time in the morning?
Around 5:30 am.?
Yes. He makes me coffee every morning.
I was surprised when I went to the loo and heard you talking.
He wakes up according to when you do?
No way. He goes to bed after making me coffee.
He stays awake until then?
Yeah, probably.
What does he do until that time every day?
Does he stay awake until 5:30 am. Just to make coffee?
I don't know. Ask him yourself.
He sleeps in the morning and wakes up in the afternoon.
- You say nothing about that? - Don't lecture me in the morning.
I'm not lecturing you. I'm asking a question.
Eat or you'll be late.
That's right. I have to get some milk.
What? You're 32 years old?
How old did you think I am?
- 38? - What?
Nobody had said I was older than I look.
You're 32 this year?
Yes, my birthday is coming up.
Oh, you are as old as my son, Mitsuru.
Wow, you look so young, ma'am.
My mum is almost an old woman.
I am a decent old woman too.
- What's your granddaughter's name? - Harumi.
I'm glad Harumi starts going to school again.
Mr Makimoto.
That's right.
Morozumi, she goes to the same school as your daughter, Tomo.
My daughter is in another class, so she heard rumors too.
Did she hear why Harumi skipped school?
You want to know?
- I do. - It's none of your business.
Do you know, Morozumi?
Well, I heard.
Oh, stop it.
Seriously?
Gosh!
You're horrible.
"Chapter Three, Stir-Fried Noodles and the Sea"
"Coffee Shop Polaris"
Mitsuru, do you dream when you sleep?
Only occasionally.
I had a dream last night,
and I dreamed that I could be Harumi's biological father.
Somehow it's so real.
I was at a city hall.
They'd acknowledge that officially if I take the documents,
but the documents were blown away.
I desperately tried to collect the blown away documents
and thought I had to be her biological father,
and I was flying before I knew it.
It's the power of love.
But I was absorbed in flying and forgot about the documents
and made Harumi hate me.
The ending is non-fictitious.
I wish I could dream in a dream.
Your Japanese is extraordinary.
I'm back.
Welcome back.
- Oh, thank you. - I'm exhausted.
You want supper now?
No, Harumi's cram school lesson is over. I'll go and pick her up.
Why are you so serious?
Morozumi told me today why Harumi skipped school.
What?
Morozumi?
From the shop to repair the car you scratched.
The shop owner?
And? Why?
It seems it has something to do with her romantic relationship.
Relationship? She skipped school just for that?
Don't say "just".
A boy she's had a crush on
has started dating Harumi's best friend.
They betrayed her pretty badly.
But can you say nothing and skip school for a week?
I can't believe her.
It's hard to tell her parents or other people.
First of all, is that a reason to skip school?
The girlfriend of the boy she had a crush on is her best friend.
She must be upset.
When I was in middle school,
I gave my chocolate to a boy I liked on Valentine's Day.
He stepped on it and spat on it in front of me,
but I still went to school.
Why are you competing with her like that?
Sorry.
I have to go.
Don't tell Harumi.
Why would I tell her?
The two of you too. Okay?
She'll be hurt more if everyone knows,
and she might skip school again.
Why did you tell us then?
Because the secret is too big to keep to myself.
I'll borrow your car.
- Refill the tank. - Shut up!
But I'm glad that it wasn't bullying.
Indeed.
Can Ayako hold back and not talk to Harumi?
Mum told her not to. It should be fine.
But she might if she snaps.
Indeed.
"Coffee Shop Polaris"
Wake up, Mitsuru.
Mitsuru. Mitsuru.
What the heck? You're so noisy.
- I have a favour to ask of you. - I refuse.
Harumi insists to skip school.
I don't care.
Persuade her to go to school.
Ask Mum.
Mum has to do the preparations at the shop. I can only ask you.
You didn't talk to her about
the reason she skipped school, right?
I wasn't going to.
Why did you, idiot?
She whined and said she'd skip school without a reason again.
You asked for it.
You made her promise that she would go to school, right?
Take the responsibility.
You did not express your gratitude for that in any way though.
I'll give you 5,000 yen if you can persuade her.
Okay?
Pay in advance, please.
- Don't get carried away. - Forget it then.
Okay. Let's forget it then.
I was joking. I was joking.
You pay after it's done in business.
I'll tell the school that she will be late.
Wait, I don't know if I can persuade her.
If you do it now, she'll make it in time for the first lesson.
I'm counting on you.
5,000 yen, okay?
Don't forget it.
"Mitsuru Coffee"
Harumi, can I come in?
No.
I pray to my dad's Buddhist altar every day.
I've never seen you do that.
I was going to start today.
I'll leave right after I burn the incense.
Okay? I'm coming in.
What about school?
Not feeling well?
Are you listening?
- I can't hear you. - You can.
What 5,000 yen?
- What are you talking about? - I heard it just now.
It was 5,000 years. It wasn't "yen". it was "years".
What 5,000 years?
Well, that...
Man started rice farming 5,000 years ago.
You talk to Mum about that in the morning?
Stuff thousands of years ago is our only common topic.
Man started farming rice much more than 5,000 years ago.
You do well at school.
You'll do even better if you go to school.
It's no use persuading me. I won't go.
- Why? - Because I don't want to.
You were fine until last week. What happened suddenly?
I just don't want to go today.
- You'll go starting tomorrow? - Yes.
But you'll skip tomorrow too.
- It's none of your business! - It is!
Why is it? Tell me?
Don't make your nan even sadder.
Her son's already jobless,
but now even her grandchild skips school when she's working hard.
Put yourself in her shoes.
Look who's talking. How can you say that?
Your nan doesn't need someone other than me to make her sad.
- Go and find a job then. - Don't change the topic.
Who's looking away from reality?
If you're well enough to talk back, you can go to school.
- Find a job. - Why?
If you have time to mind someone else's business,
find a job now and make life easy for Nan.
Okay then. How much should I pay to make you go to school?
Do you think money can make me do that?
2,000 yen?
Don't look down on me.
- 3,000 yen? - It's impossible.
- 3,500 yen? - 10,000.
- I'll lose money. - I knew she promised you 5,000 yen.
Well, yes! You guessed it right! Your answer is correct!
So, please, I beg you.
Please go to school for me!
You promised to leave right after you burn incense.
"Tsurumi Teaching Materials"
Mr Akiba, did Tokushu Primary School change their curriculum coordinator?
No, Mr Kaburagi will continue to do the job.
He will, right?
Why won't we make music boxes for their graduation project?
Because they'll ask another company to make photo frames next year.
What a shame.
We started from a ruler
and worked hard to open up the market,
and the school is special to us.
I am sorry.
Takahashi, do you have a minute?
Have you given LNB's proposal to this client?
- No, not yet. - Why haven't you?
You have to tell him properly the options, pros, and cons
of his current life insurance plan.
Yes, I will.
Thanks.
Do you want stir-fried noodles?
I'll make some now. Have some if you're hungry.
What did you add last?
Curry powder.
Is it good?
You'll know after you try.
Not bad.
Can't you say "delicious" honestly?
Only critics and foodies say "not bad".
- Do you know? - What?
The reason I skipped school.
Yeah. I heard the outline.
It still bothers you?
No, not anymore.
Right?
You went to school last week, so I thought you'd gotten over it.
I just don't want to go today.
It isn't too late if you go now.
If you hold out this afternoon, they won't say you're absent.
I don't want to attend the lesson in the afternoon.
Then you should go all the more.
Why?
Go to the lesson you don't want to attend,
then you can say you've gotten over it.
Show your classmates that you've gotten over it.
You just went back to school, but if you skip today,
they'll think that it still bothers you.
Even if you go tomorrow, they'll look at you with pity.
You won't be able to endure their gaze.
Give me some more.
Take as much as you want.
- I mean say more good things. - What?
I can go if you encourage me more.
How arrogant you are.
You want me to go to school and get 5,000 yen, right?
Give me more motivation then.
I'll drive you to the train station then.
To the school.
How dare you. I'm not your driver.
I promise, I'll go if you drive.
Thank you.
Here you go.
Hello, Polaris.
Mum, how is Harumi?
Mitsuru will drive her to school. They just left.
Really? Thank goodness.
Surprisingly, she listens to what Mitsuru says honestly.
That's a problem itself too.
Her official profile says that she is 29 years old,
but she is actually 33.
She became popular after going to variety shows...
How is it?
It'll affect me driving. Take it off.
No way. That bad?
I'm an idiot, right?
I told my friend everything.
Tell her what?
I said he was quite handsome if he takes his glasses off.
He seems serious, but he's actually weird
and secretly nice too.
I was the first one to realise that.
You talked to your friend?
Yeah.
We changed seats in September, and his seat is next to mine.
She cheered for me and said it was fate.
She took him away when I got carried away.
Maybe we’ll just go to the beach.
But I just texted mum that I would go to school.
Did you? What a shame.
Why do people in the past go to the beach when their heart's broken?
You'll know if you go.
Take me to one next time.
Sure.
Sometime soon.
"Shurinkan Middle School Sports Day 20th October, 9 am."
I'm back.
Welcome back.
- What? - Reward for the job I did.
What?
You paid the wrong amount.
This is 1,000 yen.
It should be 5,000 yen, not 1,000 yen.
It's correct.
It isn't what you promised.
What's the matter?
She said she'd pay me 5,000 if I make Harumi go to school.
What? Did you?
5,000 yen if she made it to her first lesson, 4,000 yen the second.
It was the fifth, so it's 1,000 yen.
You're so nasty. When did you say those terms?
The result is evaluated according to time in the business world.
- Right, Kouji? - Sorry, I'm too busy for that.
If you talk about result,
it has nothing to do with why she skipped the first four lessons.
Of course it does. The lessons were over.
Harumi skipped school
because she didn't want to attend the 5th lesson,
so the key of this mission is to make her attend the fifth lesson.
What lesson is that?
Folk dance practice for sports day.
It brings back memories. Some schools still do that?
They did it on last year's sports day.
Did they?
Having her hand held by the boy she loves
is like scratching her heart,
and it was tough for her.
But she had to see the boy dancing with his girlfriend closely.
I'm impressed that Harumi endured such hell.
That means making her attend that lesson
is totally worth you paying me 5,000 yen.
Ayako, why don't you pay him a bit more?
Just 1,000 yen more then.
I haven't finished.
Talk after we have supper.
I have to pick Harumi up now.
I drove her to the school safely. I made her a well-balanced lunch.
Then when I walked with Harumi to make sure she attends her lesson,
the guard thought I was suspicious and nearly called the police.
I was hurt emotionally. Summarize them and judge.
I'll settle for 10,000 yen.
Gosh, you're so annoying!
Don't complain now!
Well...
Give me back the 1,000 yen note I gave you, Mitsuru!
Give me back the 1,000 yen.
- Don't be stingy. - We agreed on 5,000 yen.
You broke the promise first.
Give it back to me now.
I can pick her up at the train station for you.
What?
You're finally home after work.
It must be tiring to go out again to the station.
There must be days that you want to have fresh rice and fried chicken
and some beer to wash them down as soon as you can too.
You can buy all these with just 1,000 yen.
Isn't it cheap?
You startled me.
- Do you have a minute? - What's the matter?
What? What's the matter?
It was brilliant.
Your claptrap to raise the amount you charge to 10,000 yen
and make her more willing to pay 5,000 yen.
Then change the 1,000 yen you took into your pocket money
by tempting her with beer and sweet words.
The most important thing is
picking Harumi up at the station costs 1,000 yen now.
It's the standard.
No matter what she asks you to do,
you can use that standard to negotiate with her from now on.
That's right.
Please let me continue to learn from you.
Kouji, if you don't mind, let's go to pick Harumi up together.
Yes?
Well, I won't force you.
- I won't go today. - Okay.
But let me go with you another time.
Okay.
Thank you.
Hey.
Bye.
They'll take a detour for a bit.
- To where? - No idea.
- What about supper? - They’ll just eat something.
Well, it's okay if Mitsuru is with her.
Mitsuru has lots of money today too.
You lectured me for so long the other day,
but you gave him 6,000 yen.
I am sorry.
I only gave him a bit more change,
but she got angry and said I spoilt him.
I doubt it.
I'll totally corner him starting tomorrow. Just you wait and see.
Oh, wow...
Do you kind of get it now?
Get what?
Why people come to the beach when their heart is broken.
Somehow.
Wow, you get it?
I don't hate myself for gazing at the sea after my heart's broken.
What the heck?
Like I'm intoxicated by my depressed self.
Darn, you narcissist. You gross me out.
Just kidding.
Harumi.
I guess I have to take the initiative.
I had no idea I'd regret it so much.
Why does nobody teach me about the important things in life?
Occasionally, there are people who teach you that,
but you don't realise they're important when you're listening.
You have to learn most things by getting hurt.
But it's too painful.
It's just when you're young.
It'd better be.
Thank you.
Why?
For making me stir-fried noodles.
You're thanking me for the noodles of all things?
They weren't bad.
I'll teach you one important thing in life.
Girls who can say "delicious" properly are more popular.
I can when I have to.
Really?
"Coffee Shop Polaris"
"Congratulations! 17,856 wins, 593 losses"
"Chapter Four, Coffee and Kitchen"
You startled me. What?
It's true that you make coffee at 5:30 am. every morning.
What? You woke up just to check that?
You stay awake every day just to make coffee, right?
I don't stay awake to make coffee.
What do you do until this time then?
It doesn't matter.
Anyway, why do you make coffee for Mum every morning?
What? I can't be nice to my mum?
You stay up at night for that and don't go to work.
Can you call that nice?
Ayako, no man has ever made you coffee, right?
- It doesn't matter. - That's why you don't get it.
Because you've never experienced how delightful it is
to have some nice coffee every morning.
You should know whether
her son making her coffee or finding a job would make Mum happier.
No man has ever made you coffee,
how do you judge which one would make her happier?
Someone had made me coffee!
Instant coffee, right? That doesn't count.
Jerk!
What's the matter? Don't have a fight so early in the morning.
Someone was disturbing me today, so I'm not very confident.
Thank you.
Mum, did you ask him to make you coffee every morning?
I didn't ask.
He makes me coffee, so I have it gratefully.
Did you hear that?
She has it because you made it. She didn't ask.
I didn't say that.
I really think the coffee Mitsuru makes is great.
He uses different beans every day too.
You pay for the coffee beans, right?
Of course. I don't drink any.
Mum, which one makes you happier?
Mitsuru making you coffee every day or him finding a job?
Do you have to ask?
I'm asking Mum.
Well, I do think it's time for you to find a job.
When your dad just passed away,
this cup of coffee every morning has been giving me emotional support.
But it's been two years.
I think you'll be fine even if it stops.
Ayako, you think coffee is just some black, bitter drink, right?
But it isn't.
Good morning.
Morning. Did we wake you up?
I heard you talking cheerfully, so I thought I overslept.
The coffee smells nice.
- I'll go to bed. - I haven't finished!
You really are a pest.
Mum, do you want the cup of coffee every morning? Do you have to?
I don't have to, but...
You wake up so early just to have it, right?
Do you really want to continue?
There are days I want to sleep in too.
You heard her?
You make the coffee and wait for Mum,
so she wakes up for you.
If Mum says she doesn't want it, I won't make it.
I've never thought that.
Right? See? Mum wants it every morning.
She didn't say that.
Why do you want me to stop so much? It's okay if Mum and I are fine.
You do everything for money,
so I want to know why you continue to do what Mum didn't ask.
I said I wanted to be nice to Mum.
That's not why. You want to make coffee every day.
What?
You don't do it for Mum. You make coffee because you want to.
It suddenly got philosophical.
Does one live to make coffee or does one make coffee to live?
You know it yourself too.
You love coffee and still want a coffee shop.
You're bringing that up again?
It's like a fired baseball player keeps waving a bat or playing catch.
He doesn't want his skills and hunch to get rusty.
Moreover, making coffee calms you down, right?
You talk nonsense like you're right. I am impressed!
Then why did you move the boxes of coffee tools
to your room after complaining?
Did you?
You didn't throw them away?
Don't peek into my room.
I just happened to see them.
If you can't get over it, you should open one again.
Exactly.
You look the happiest when you make coffee, Mitsuru.
I said I had no regrets the other day.
What you do contradicts yourself.
Where does Kouji sleep if I hadn't moved the boxes away?
I'm not against you making coffee again.
Do you want to do it or not?
Make it clear and stop dragging it on!
Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. You aren't right about anything.
I have no regrets, I don't want to make coffee every day,
and I'm going to sell all the tools at the flea market next time.
I thought it'd make Mum happy and I was trying to be nice,
but if it's such an eyesore, I'll stop making coffee.
Don't worry, I won't make any tomorrow.
Mitsuru!
Mitsuru.
Will you be available tonight?
Let's have a drink at Kaisei's bar, where you took me the other day.
Are you trying to comfort me?
No, I am not.
I wanted to go again someday soon.
Sure. I was going to go there anyway.
You guys are energetic so early in the morning.
Good morning.
I should make breakfast now.
I'll sleep for a bit more.
Can you after getting so worked up?
You'll go to school today, right?
I'll cling to the sense of reassurance to try to sleep.
Ball.
Okay.
Strike!
Here you go.
Is 2,000 yen really enough?
I'm on trial terms at first,
but I'll charge 3,000 yen starting next time.
- Please come again. - Sure. See you.
Thank you.
- Evening newspaper. - Thank you.
Thanks.
Here you go.
Ma'am, I think it's time for you to find the purpose of your life.
Keeping my shop running is the purpose of my life.
I think you should look at the outside world more.
I think I want to try using a blowgun.
You want to be a ninja?
I heard that it's fun.
You use your abs too, so it's good for your health.
It's nice to have a hobby, but...
you can look for a future partner so that you can support each other.
A partner...
You spend too much time with Mitsuru and it isn't good for you both.
Is that really so?
Welcome.
- Are you waiting for someone? - No, I'm here alone.
Melon soda and omelette dry, please.
Omelette dry?
You know what omelette dry is?
Omelette rice made with dry curry.
Did someone tell you?
Omelette dry is a secret menu that only regular customers know.
And I am the one who came up with the idea of the dish.
Do you go to the same school as Harumi?
Harumi said it was her favourite dish here.
- Is it? - Yeah, seems that it is.
Please do me a favour.
What is it?
Would you not tell Harumi that I came?
It was this boy.
I knew it was him.
You knew?
I only told this jerk about Polaris.
Don't call him that.
What is his name?
Riku Takahira.
This boy? You two had been quite close.
Because our families are alike.
Alike?
Both our mums had divorced and married again.
Oh, Harumi.
Did you become close because you have that in common?
Not just that.
Is this the boy you had a crush on?
Why do you think so?
Mr Makimoto guessed that blindly.
Did he say anything after trying it?
He said it was delicious and would come again.
What does he want?
I want to know that too.
Today's team said they would like you to be the judge again.
- Will you go? - Anytime. Wednesday, right?
Yes, they're all property agents.
Why do property agencies close on Wednesday?
A jinx to prevent the contracts from being canceled.
Oh, is that so?
- Welcome. - Welcome.
- Sorry I'm late. - It's okay.
- Beer, please. - Certainly.
Should I keep it for you?
Just put it somewhere.
- Put it in the storage room. - Okay.
Could this be a P Bass?
Yes. Feel free to play it if you want to.
- Can I? - Sure.
Oh? I thought you had gotten rid of all your bass guitars.
Actually...
I keep it a secret from Ayako,
but I just couldn't get rid of that one bass.
How did you hide it?
Here you go.
Well, I put it in an acquaintance's home...
but three months ago,
he said he'd return to the country and couldn't keep it for me,
so I've been putting it in a locker at the station near my office.
What? For three whole months?
Yeah.
I can't just keep it inside,
so I take it out every few days and pay again.
It's such a nuisance.
It's amazing how attached you are to it.
This is why I asked you out for a drink today, Mitsuru.
You want to keep the bass at the bar, right?
- Why? - We'll keep it if you don't mind.
Really? Are you really sure?
We're totally okay with that.
Oh, thank goodness. That's so helpful of you.
You expected that when you brought it here.
I did have such secret intention.
I won't deny it.
But the reason I want to have a drink with you
is because you couldn't throw away the tools for making coffee,
and I sympathize with that.
I'm not as enthusiastic as you.
You kept them for six years because you feel attached to them.
You can't cut ties with the world you had always loved so easily.
I don't really know myself either.
Frankly, I don't want to open a coffee shop again,
but if you ask me if I'm not interested,
when I see new kinds of coffee beans, I can't help but buy them.
Isn't it okay to do so?
Yeah. I think that's okay.
Don't force yourself to understand how you feel about it.
Just take your time and wait for it to go naturally.
You said everything I wanted to say.
But back home,
Monster Ayako is waving her huge claws
and trying to threaten my peaceful life.
I'm not going to side with Ayako,
but if you say what you just said
and tell her you haven't sorted out your feelings
and ask her to wait for a bit more, she won't nag you anymore.
Then you should bring your bass home with dignity then.
It's a different matter.
Kouji had lied
and told her that he had gotten rid of all the bass guitars.
Kaisei, you always say everything I want to say.
That reminds me.
When I went to my friend's concert, I met Zutaboro's vocal.
Make sure you don't get close to him.
What? We exchanged numbers.
What? He's the most awful playboy in East Asia.
Make sure you don't go and meet him.
Please revive your band.
Don't tease an adult.
Mitsuru, if you like, I can keep your tools for making coffee too.
Impossible. There are six huge carton boxes.
I can't keep them at the bar, but I can keep them in my flat.
Is your flat that spacious?
There are three bedrooms, but I don't use two of them.
What's your flat like?
Just one for commoners,
and it has a spiral staircase and an ocean view.
Your Japanese isn't right.
My opinion is the exact opposite of Ayako's.
Now that you've come so far, then you'd better be patient.
I'm not getting impatient just because my sister is rushing me.
Welcome back.
Sorry I'm late.
- I thought Mitsuru was with you? - He'll have a few more drinks.
Yeah?
Was he angry at me?
No, he wasn't at all.
No? Glad to hear that.
Maybe it's none of my business,
but I told Mitsuru
that it'd be better if he makes coffee tomorrow morning too.
What?
I thought you must be looking forward to it.
Moreover, he should make coffee if he wants to.
What was his answer?
No, he didn't answer.
That boy is stubborn, so I'm sure he won't make me coffee.
Is that so?
Yes, of course.
If he does, I'll do a handstand naked.
I'll be rude whether I say I want to see it or not.
How frightening.
Sorry for keeping you here.
- Should I stay for a bit? - It's fine.
Good night.
See you tomorrow.
"Coffee Polaris"
Good morning.
You didn't sleep much?
Yes, I did.
I'll make some tea.
Sure. I'll have some then.
Hey, you have to fit those together!
- I told you not to work like that! - Sorry.
- Like this? - You talked back...
Hello.
What's the matter?
"Morozumi Motors"
May I borrow a minivan?
Yeah.
Let's move on to the next message.
It's from Ocha, a 28-year-old lady and office worker.
"I love dogs and I want to keep one. What should l..."
I'll pay 35,000 yen for all of them.
That cheap?
You won't sell them?
Wait. Wait a minute.
It'll be a waste if you force yourself to sell them.
I think you should come next time.
I'll sell them!
Do you think nothing about Polaris celebrating Halloween?
We were born in the Showa era.
We hate Halloween, right?
You might've destroyed evidence.
I wish you'd followed me to your father's grave.
Your dad thanked you for giving birth to Harumi.
- You were going to sell them! - How rude! I don't know you!
- I liked you too, Harumi. - You're ridiculous!
If you think I should break up with Rina, I'll think about it.
My dad isn't a god.
But he listened to everything I said.
If you say that in front of me, I'll really beat you up.