Tokyo Love Story

-Nagao. -Yes. Good morning.

Join me for lunch.

-What's going on between you two? -What?

Are you guys fighting about her transfer?

No.

You don't want her to go?

Has she always wanted to work abroad?

Yeah, for a long time.

She grew up overseas,

so the restless life in Tokyo

doesn't suit her.

Lately, it's not so much,

but she used to look like she was constricted.

Japan is too confining for her.

She was drawn to you

because of your big heart, right?

That's not true.

Manager, you always give me too much credit.

I

don't have the capacity

to accept all of her feelings.

That must be why

she was looking depressed yesterday.

She called me in the middle of the night.

Don't get the wrong idea.

We just had coffee at a cafe.

Her love is too much of a burden for you, huh?

I thought you'd be able to accept her.

Well, if you want to get out of this relationship,

just let her go to Los Angeles.

I'll wait for you

at Algernon tonight.

At seven.

Come if you feel like it.

I want to talk with you.

About what?

About us.

About our future.

‪WRITTEN BY FUMI SAIMON‬

Oh, you're still here.

I was thinking about all sorts of things.

I came up with a great plan.

I had a speech prepared for when I saw you at work.

So that we can stay together.

I came up with a good plan,

but I forgot it all.

I used to pull an all-nighter and get 95 points on my tests.

But I forgot everything the moment I saw you, Kanchi.

But all of this

wouldn't matter at all if I go to Los Angeles.

-You're going? -I haven't given them my answer yet.

Why not?

Oh.

-I thought you were going to stop me. -Why?

To say, "Rika, don't go. Stay by my side."

I can't say that.

Why?

You've been wanting to go, right?

I heard it was your dream to work abroad.

Although you never told me that even once.

Because I didn't want to go abroad when I was with you.

But still…

You want me to go?

That's not what I'm saying.

I want you to choose what's best for you.

I'm glad you're quick on the uptake.

You don't mind if I go, huh?

-What's best for you-- -Yeah.

Got it.

Results from last month's research.

Thank you.

You look a little livelier today.

Sorry to make you worry.

Did you decide about the transfer?

It's a good opportunity.

I'm sure it would've been an easy decision six months ago.

You can't go?

I might go.

What did Nagao say?

He said to go if I wanted to.

-I see. -Yes.

Do you want to go?

-Manager. -Hey.

I'll be off.

-I need your signature. -Sure.

Here.

You'll come, right?

Of course.

This Akikawa is going to take on your family name?

Give it back.

It doesn't matter. I'll go even if you don't invite me.

To do what?

To drag you away from the ceremony.

I've always wanted to enact that scene from The Graduate .

I'll lock the doors and hire security guards.

That's a good idea.

A perfect wedding for a bird trapped inside a cage.

You have some complaints?

Of course I do.

A woman I like is about to get married.

A woman you like?

Stop joking.

Joking?

Yeah, it's a joke.

You want to replace your ex-girlfriend with me?

Have more confidence.

You're not someone who should marry for the sake of her parents,

or be a replacement for another woman.

You're worth more than that.

Thanks for having me.

It has to be hot pot during winter.

-Maybe we bought too much. -Hey,

you should invite a guy.

I don't have anyone I can invite.

Right.

You don't know any other guys aside from your two

princes from childhood.

Leave me alone.

Then let's go with Satomi's request,

and invite Nagao.

Where's his number…

-Stop it. -Hey.

-Why not? -He's probably still working.

Then how about this?

Let's invite him if he's home.

You pretend not to care,

but you can't wait to see him.

You should be more honest.

Hello?

Please wait one moment. Satomi, take this.

-He answered. -What? You really called?

He answered.

What?

-Um… -Yes?

-Um… -Sekiguchi?

Yeah.

What is it? What's the matter?

-Well… -Is this Nagao?

Would you like to come over? We're about to make hot pot.

Oh.

Mikami.

-Hey. -Hey.

How about a drink?

It's done.

Looks good.

I heard about you from Satomi.

What did she tell you?

-No need to know. -She said you are trustworthy.

-Tokiko. -That's what you said.

She said you're trustworthy and that she likes you a lot.

I didn't say that I like him a lot. I just said that I like him.

You see this? She's always like this.

She used up all the nice words she knows to describe you.

It's not like that.

Thanks.

She was frustrated, saying,

"If it wasn't for Rika, Nagao would be mine."

Oh.

Did that hit too close to home?

Let's eat. It's really good.

-Let's eat. -Yeah.

Los Angeles?

Are you serious?

I'm kidding.

Oh. Stop scaring me.

That's a lie. It's true.

What?

I put in a request to work abroad a long time ago, and got accepted now.

What did Nagao say?

You're going?

I'm going… probably.

You want to go?

I don't want to go.

Did you tell that to Nagao?

Why not?

Because I get shy.

What's wrong with you?

Because even if I don't tell him that,

I think Kanchi will tell me not to go.

But knowing him,

he's probably prioritizing your feelings.

What other reason is there for him to not stop you from going?

Just like you said, Mikami,

I think my love is too burdensome for him.

He's not that type…

Kanchi is single-minded.

He can't easily forget someone that he loved.

You're okay with that?

Of course not.

Then why?

When Satomi and I broke up,

why did you send him to her?

You're digging your own grave.

I can't help it.

That's how I am.

What are you going to do?

All right, I'll be going now.

-Oh? -I'm making tea right now.

-Drink it with Nagao. -No.

-I'll be going too. -No, don't do that.