Our Dearest Sakura (同期のサクラ)

Sakura...

"Summer 2019"

I'm 33 years old now...

but I have no end of worries both professionally and privately.

I wish you could hear me.

Say...

do you remember this?

It was my fifth year.

I used to brag all the time about being a CEO material

but when it turned out I was no good...

you gave me this.

"Very well done"

It gave me the courage to aim for the CEO position for real.

"September 2019"

"September 2013"

How are you, Grandad?

How is your heart?

I'm in my fifth year at Hanamura.

I'm still going okay, except...

the bridge project to our island has been postponed indefinitely.

I wish the project could be reinstated

but it's the government's call and not for Hanamura to decide...

so I don't know what to do.

I don't believe it! You quit again?

- The job didn't suit me-- - How can you be so calm?

We can't survive on my pay!

No need to shout. You'll make Yoshiki cry.

However, I'm not giving up.

I believe the bridge will be built one day, so please be patient.

Okay, Yoshiki, say bye-bye to Mummy.

Bye-bye.

See you--

Watch what you're doing!

The lady next door will get angry.

Sorry, I'll clean this up later.

Not to worry. It's a child's job to play.

That's right.

Except, please refrain from smoking on your balcony.

Second-hand smoke has three times the tar and nicotine

which poses a serious risk to people's health.

So you were smoking outside!

- When you promised to quit. - No!

She's confusing me with somebody else!

This is good, very good.

It's dangerous to text and walk.

You hinder commuters and risk injury, as you may collide.

So please stop it.

What nonsense.

What are you doing?

There are other risks too.

Thank you very much.

It's dangerous to text and walk.

Thugs may deliberately bump into you to extort payment.

It's dangerous to text and walk.

It's dangerous to text and walk.

It's dang...

It's dangerous to text and walk!

"Our Dearest Sakura"

Sorry, going up.

This is bad, very bad.

"Episode Five"

Sorry, I'm late.

Taking photos of buildings again?

No. I was asking people to stop texting on my way to work.

There were just so many...

You'll get hurt if you keep that up.

What's that?

My daughter hates studying, so this is to motivate her.

This one's for you,

so please do what you're told and don't cause trouble.

Thank you very much.

- Morning. - Good morning.

The winner of the CEO's prize has been decided,

so please see Public Affairs about printing it in our newsletter.

Also, please arrange the award ceremony.

Yes.

Please email the winners listed here.

There you go again. What is it this time?

Why do we need to publicly commend employees?

None of us work here to get awards.

Well that's right except...

Not everyone working here is as motivated as you.

There's plenty who are motivated if they know they may get a reward.

It's also good to praise staff that are normally ignored.

I see. I understand.

- Oh, Kitano... - Yes.

Urban Development's Aoi Kijima joined the same year as you, right?

He's very talented which is more than I can say about you.

Winning the CEO's prize at just 27 years.

"CEO's Prize Winners list"

Ah, the CEO's prize...

I wonder if it does any good.

My manager said it's good for staff who don't normally get recognition.

That's a hoot!

Only those who decide to run are entered.

Really?

Candidates write an essay on their contributions

to the company and their manager selects the ones to enter.

So that's what Aoi did too?

Of course!

It's only the braggers and show-offs who get selected.

I see.

Next is the CEO's Prize for individuals.

Mr Kijima from Urban Development.

"Commendation CEO's Prize Urban Development Aci Kijima"

Mr Aoi Kijima.

You're the youngest member of the Bayside Development Project

and a model employee for the company.

I present this award in honour of your achievement.

Thank you very much.

Mr Kijima, please say a few words.

I'm overwhelmed to receive this honourable award.

Whenever I'm faced with a problem, I always thought,

"What would the CEO do if he were here?"

By doing that, I'm able to overcome no matter how hard it gets.

Hearing that makes me happy.

Of course!

One day, I hope to be like you and lead this company...

What a performance just to get in the CEO's good books.

I'd be grateful for your advice.

Mr Kijima...

Yes.

My regards to your father.

- Yes. - Congratulations.

Are the CEO and Aoi's father friends?

Aoi's father is a high-ranking bureaucrat in MLIT.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism?

Oh, it's the little sprite from the initiation ceremony.

How's it going?

Well, thank you very much.

Work hard and you can win the CEO's Prize too.

Excuse me, do you have a moment?

What is it?

I believe the CEO's Prize would be valued more

if you actually walked the offices and observed how staff work.

Hey, Kitano, never mind that now.

I'd be grateful if you would talk to MILT

about getting the Misaki Island bridge project reinstated.

H-hold it. That's enough for now.

Please forgive us.

I'm terribly sorry.

What did I tell you?

I told you not to cause trouble.

I'm sorry but the CEO was right there.

Give me a break!

Now I'll get reprimanded for not supervising you properly!

Jeez.

"Try harder"

Speaking your mind as always, I see.

The only thing you'll win doing that is a termination notice.

"Try harder."

Did you nominate yourself, too?

No, no, no.

I didn't want to, but my manager insisted.

It was unprecedented to be selected for the Bayside Project so young,

and this year, I was made team leader.

- You're doing well. - Yeah.

If you agree, let's all get together to celebrate.

Oh, really?

- Is tonight okay for you? - No problem.

Then let's meet at our cafe after work.

Okay, see you.

"Urban Development Bayside Project Team"

Congratulations for winning the CEO's prize, Kijima.

No, no, no, it's nothing at all.

This should be good.

Sorry, I'm back.

Nobody cares.

Mr Sugihara, thank you very much for recommending me.

Forget that, we've got a problem.

What is it?

Ground breaking has been deferred.

Huh, why?

Reconstruction costs deficit, so our project has been deferred.

I also just took a call from the MILT.

What should we do? This is a major blow.

Without government funding, there's nothing we can do.

Bureaucrats don't care about the private sector anyhow.

The criteria for deferred projects are vague too.

It's crazy relaying something this important with a phone call.

There's nothing to worry, we'll work as a team for a solution.

I'll go and ask the subcontractors to cease work for now.

There's something more important you can do.

Uh, what's that?

Ask your father to take our project off the deferred projects list.

He's sure to listen to his dear son.

Well, I don't know about that.

I'm relying on you.

I know you can't take the loss we'll suffer if this falls through.

I understand.

The venue for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics...

Good evening.

Oh, where's Aci?

He's not here yet.

What's up? I finished work early to be here, you know.

What do you get for the CEO's Prize?

A commendation and a book about the CEO's life.

Who needs that?

"Dad"

Welcome.