Black Leather Notebook (黒革の手帖)

Good morning.

Good morning.

One moment, please.

Haraguchi, this is Seika Maruyama.

The manager wants you to teach her bank teller duties.

Nice to meet you.

Haraguchi is a temp, but knows all about this bank.

So watch her and learn.

Go to it.

Nice to meet you.

Likewise.

Why?

Unless you present an ID, we are unable to issue you a card.

Huh? But here's my passbook and seal. So reissue my card.

I'm sorry.

I'm Saito.

I'm sorry.

I'm Saito.

I'm...sorry.

Huh? Don't you know who I am?

I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

Allow me to explain in my office.

Just reissue my card!

I'm sorry. This way, please.

Your service sucks.

Her family owns Maruyama Department Store.

So she has connections.

Shh. She'll hear you.

How nice to come from a rich family.

Poor Haraguchi. She always has to train the new hires.

Well, she knows the job better than any regular employee.

Teach them everything we know, and in no time...

...they're bossing us around.

Regular employees can transfer or get promoted.

But temps get no bonus or severance pay.

Same position, same job, and same pay, forever, for us.

We're like robots.

Disposable robots.

You know.

Yes?

No smartphones on the floor.

Weren't you told that during orientation?

Sorry.

We had a good time.

Thank you. Please come again.

Why, Dr. Narabayashi.

Full house?

I always have a seat open for you, Dr. Narabayashi.

On your lap, mama?

Of course.

A new face?

She started 6 months ago, but comes only 3 times a week,

so you may not have seen her until now.

Have you been evading the good Dr. Narabayashi?

How do you do?

Will you tell the waiter to get a seat for Dr. Narabayashi?

Yes.

Just my type.

She has a straight day job.

Doing what?

I don't give out personal information.

You interview her yourself.

Public servant?

School teacher?

Not so close, doctor.

Police officer?

Come on, tell me.

Don't give yourself away so easily.

A mysterious woman is always more attractive.

Yes.

Another reason for me to come back here.

How are plans coming along, doctor,

for your new hospital?

Well?

I may be able to acquire a prime stationfront location

for a 5th of the market price.

Oh?

By getting a VIP to intervene and sell off public land to me.

What VIP?

How about I tell you after hours tonight?

Of course.

Excuse me.

Want to join us?

I'm a temp.

A temp?

I'm working here on a temp basis through an agency.

Temp hostesses are barred from after hour activities,

so I'll have to check with the mama.

Temp bar hostesses?

There are temps for everything nowadays.

Yes, nowadays.

Excuse me.

What is it?

Dr. Narabayashi asked me to join him after hours.

Why not? Let's go.

But...

We don't have to tell the temp agency.

It's all part of training.

What are you writing?

About new patrons.

I note down who, what, when and where I talked to them

so I can pick up where we left off the next time.

Nice and fresh today.

Help yourself to whatever you like.

Thank you.

It's rude not to. What do you like?

You fix her something, chef.

With sabi?

Huh?

With wasabi?

Without, please.

Chef's choice, without sabi.

She's such a child.

Just how I like them.

Here you go.

Thank you.

One moment, please.

Nice to see you, Ms. Nakaoka.

The manager wishes to say hello to you

in the reception room.

Bring all that to the reception room, Haraguchi.

This way, please.

See you.

See you tomorrow.

Haraguchi, have plans tonight?

It's my birthday.

Over here.

White plates are 120 yen. Yellow plates are 450 yen.

So beware.

Go for it.

I'll start with this.

Excuse me.

Excuse me!

Lots of wasabi for me, please.

OK.

Nice and fresh today.

With sabi?

It's my birthday. Can I splurge?

Splurge?

That's 450 yen. Here goes.

Hmm.

Happy birthday.

Come on, get on!

Go!

Let go!

No!

My money...my money!

Let go!

What the hell are you doing? I'll call the police!

My money...my money!

You OK?

Be careful. Guys will kill for 10,000 yen nowadays.

Thanks.

There you are, Ms. Haraguchi.

Let's see now.

Your monthly installment is...

I'll pay off my balance.

All of it?

Yes.

That's fine.

Ms. Motoko Haraguchi, effective today,

you've paid in full the 5,000,000 yen loan

taken out in 2012. Here's the IOU.

Your late mother must be grateful to you.

Thanks.

Chairman!

Sorry I'm late.

This is "Club Shokudai" mama, Eiko.

This is...

Motoko Haraguchi. How do you do?

Very happy to meet you.

You bring two beauties and I bring nothing. What a clown.

This is Josei Seminar chairman Hashida.

How do you do?

Thank you.

How do you do?

Acceptance rate of his students to

Medical/Dental College is tops in Japan.

He has no shortage of students.

You have patients waiting in line at your hospital.

Those are my fans. They're all little old ladies.

Now, now.

Huh?

Where's Yasujima?

He's late. He's usually right on time.

A future Diet member can't afford to be tardy.

Diet member?

He's Minister Wakatsuki's secretary now but expected

to run for the Minister's post when he leaves.

So he's the one.

Shh.

What are you two talking about?

It's just between the two of us.

Sorry about that.

There.

There was a traffic jam from a freeway accident.

Sorry about that.

Don't look so lovestruck.

Sorry.

You can get acquainted as we play a round.