Pretty Proofreader

KEIBON COMPANY

-Good morning. -Good morning.

That lady is so fashionable! Where does that editor work?

She's not an editor.

What? Whichever way you look at it--

She comes in every year to take the mid-career recruitment test,

but she gets rejected every time.

She's a bit famous around here.

RECRUITMENT

-Excuse me. -Come in.

I'm Etsuko Kono. Nice to meet you.

-You again. -Yes, it's me.

-You came again. -Yes, I'm here again.

KEIBON PROOFREADING DEPT.

-Please have a seat. -Excuse me.

And how many times will this be?

This is the seventh time since graduation.

Seventh time?

Haven't you applied to other publishing companies?

-Absolutely not. -Why not?

I don't want those jobs.

Excuse me?

I don't want anything except to become an editor in your company.

I've read your magazines for years…

I just love them.

EL Teen. Lassy. CC. Every. Enough.

Above all, Lassy gave hopes and dreams

to a small town girl like me.

The cover story on the November 2004 issue on

"Maiden and Madam Jackets"

had the perfect items, color scheme, layout…

it was incredible!

October 2005 was the

"Mixing and Matching with Our Top Editor."

That inspired me.

It was like falling in love for the first time.

Then, one day I realized

this is not the place for me.

My place is at Lassy!

I knew I belonged in this fashionable,

glamorous, and sophisticated world.

-Okay. -Well, well.

We understand your passion for our fashion magazine.

However, as indicated in the application guidelines,

we're not currently hiring editors.

I understand.

But you are mistaken.

Huh?

I understand

that Lassy is selling fewer copies each year.

Isn't that because you've not hired many new graduates or

done any mid-career recruitment

for the last few years,

and have resorted to using

outside editors and freelancers for a lot of the magazine creation?

However, if you hire me

I'll print articles that readers want to see

and bring the sales back up.

So please hire me, Etsuko Kono,

as the editor of Lassy! Please consider my application!

I see.

Well then, that will be all.

Yes. Thank you very much!

Thank you very much!

Excuse me, but do you have a minute?

Can I help you?

This tie pin…

What brand is it?

I have no idea.

What about it?

No, nothing.

Excuse me.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Good morning.

Ms. Morio.

A writer named Mr. Watanabe came to see you a while ago.

Huh?

Ah.

Did you miss an appointment?

Huh? Hold on a second.

I screwed up.

I remembered when I left today.

All-nighter?

It was the final proofreading.

I can't believe I forgot.

-I'm sorry! -Sorry about that.

I'm sorry. Please.

-Morio? -Huh?

You're Morio, right?

We were in the swimming club.

Etsuko Kono. It's been so long!

How many years? We graduated high school at 18…

What, ten years? No kidding! That long? I can't believe it.

Wait, what are you doing here?

Interview? I just finished mine.

I see.

It's so tough, isn't it?

Good luck.

Sorry, but I need to go. See you around. Bye.

So you know her.

No.

Huh?

-Excuse me. -How may I help you?

-Welcome back. -I'm back.

ODEN TAISHO

Here's your change, 300,000 yen.

Thank you for your patronage.

Thank you.

-I'm home. -Welcome home.

-How was it? -I think I made it.

I think I'm going to make it!

You said the same thing last year.

Ready to eat?

Yes! Let me see, radish and two eggs.

-Go wash your hands. -Yes!

Delicious!

Would you like another one?

-Yup! -Boss.

-Radish for Etsuko please. -Yes.

-Thank you for the treat. -Good.

Hooray!

-So when will you find out? -About what?

Whether she got the job or not.

You idiot!

Don't ask the same thing every year.

She'll get a call within a week.

If they're going to reject her, they shouldn't get her hopes up.

-They should call her right away. -I agree.

This is nice!

It's the Editor's Bag.

Editor's Back?

You mean Editor's Bag.

"Editor" refers to the person editing a magazine.

Many editors use this bag.

The fashion editor is the only one who can

use a bag as beautiful as this.

Beer?

Yes.

This is Suzuki from Keibon's Human Resources Department.

Is this the mobile phone number of Ms. Etsuko Kono?

Yes! Yes!

Thank you for coming to interview with us today.

Thank you very much.

-After careful consideration… -Hey! maybe…

We've decided to officially hire you.

Huh?

Yes.

Yes. Thank you for calling. Goodbye.

-I passed. -Huh?

I got the job at Keibon!

-Etsuko, I can't believe it! -Is it true?

-Yes! -Thank you!

-Hooray! -Etsuko, congratulations!

Good morning!

I look forward to working with you.

Likewise.

Excuse me.

I'm so happy to be here. I'm Etsuko Kono. Pleased to meet you!

-Excuse me, but… -Yes?

I think you're in the wrong department.

Go to the room at the end of the basement.

Excuse me.

Um…

You're Ms. Etsuko Kono, right?

Yes.

Welcome to the Proofreading Department.

Proofreading?

PROOFREADING DEPARTMENT

Hold on a second. What's proofreading?

Proofreading is

checking documents for any mistakes or typos

before they go to print.

That's not what I'm asking.

I did mention in the interview

that I want to be a fashion editor, right?

So why am I here?

Unfortunately, no editor was hired this year, same as last year.

However, I…

requested you

for the Proofreading Department.

Huh? Why?

Because there's no one as perfect as you for our department.

But why?

Aren't you Ms. Kono Etsuko?

If I shorten it…

SHORTENED KOETSU

Koetsu?

It means proofread!

Well…

Enough with the jokes. If you do well here

you will have a chance to transfer where you want to.

Is that true?

There is more than one way to your future.

Why not give it a try here?

KOETSU/PROOFREADING

TO CHECK DOCUMENTS FOR MISTAKES

PROOFREADING DEPARTMENT

Everyone, may I have a minute?

I'd like to introduce our new team member.

This is Ms. Etsuko Kono.