Quartet (カルテット)

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 75, 100, 200, 270...

You're Suzume-san?

There's a job I'd like for you to do.

Oh, if it's for a performance, I can do it anywhere...

Ah, no...

The job is to become friends with this woman.

- Hello. - Hello.

Is your violin okay?

Yes.

Winter in Karuizawa is pretty nice actually.

Though everyone closes their window shutters at 10PM.

The villa is in the inner part of Kyukaruizawa.

It's my grandfather's property so it won't be a problem no matter how much noise we make.

Sorry! I'm just rambling on.

I was so nervous last night I couldn't fall asleep.

- Sorry? - After watching some videos, I was wide awake.

- Videos? - Of baby ducks falling into the ditches...

...one by one.

You watched that?

I was really looking forward to having you, Iemori-san and Suzume-chan come over.

I believe it was destiny.

You see, we met by coincidence at a karaoke box in Tokyo.

What's more, the four of us are all instrumental performers.

Violin, violin, viola, cello.

Perfect for a string quartet.

We'll definitely become the best quartet.

I wouldn't say "definitely"...

Pardon me?

It's said there are three slopes in life.

Three slopes?

Upward slope, downward slope...

Ah!

Bye-bye!

Hello, Maki-san. I'm Iemori.

- Who was the woman just now? - A college student on a trip. She asked me for directions.

What? You were just asked for directions?

Yeah.

Not just the weekend but weekdays are fine too?

- If we live together, we can bond as a quartet. - I'll live here forever.

Well, Maki-san has a family though.

Beppu-kun, are you addressing Maki-san using her last name?

- Or first name? - Well, her name is Maki Maki so it's the same...

But your intention?

Her last name.

If you stay, won't your husband scold you?

- Your family is pretty well-known, after all. - "Just do as you like."

Pardon?

"Just do as you like."

Oh your husband said that...?

"Be yourself."

Wow.

Ah, right this way.

It's slippery so watch out.

We each have our own room on second floor.

There are also separate male and female bathrooms.

- Suzume-chan sleeps anywhere. - She even slept in the toilet yesterday.

She was excited about your arrival.

Suzume-chan. Suzume-chan.

Suzume-chan!

Suzume-chan.

Suzume-chan!

Yes.

Maki-san's here.

- What? - Ouch!

Are you two okay?

I'll bring it right away.

She just got here though.

Can you give me an A?

- What's the matter? - I don't know if I can play well.

The only person having professional experience here is you, Maki-san.

- The type that likes to worry, aren't you? - She couldn't fall asleep after...

- watching videos of ducks falling into ditches. - You should've watched something more fun.

I thought that too, so I watched "10 Premier League Own Goals"...

Why didn't you watch Super Goals?

- Well, let's just relax and see how it goes. - Yes.

This is getting much excite. (T/N: Suzume uses the word "mizo-mizo," which is not a real word in Japanese.)

- "Much excite"? - You know, feeling "much excite". ( T/N: Suzume uses the word "mizo-mizo," which is not a real word in Japanese.)

- "Much excite"? - You know, feeling "much excite". (T/N: Suzume uses the word "mizo-mizo," which is not a real word in Japanese.)

- It's all done. - Great.

What do you think?

Maybe it's better to have only one bow strike.

Ah, I see. Alright.

Food's ready.

Okay.

Looking forward to working with you.

- Let's eat while it's warm. - Wait, small plates.

I'll do it.

- Huh? - Looks delicious.

Hold on, hold on. What are you guys doing?

- We are eating deep fried chicken. - No, this.

- Lemon? - Yeah, lemon.

- Yes. - Why'd you squeeze the lemon on the chicken?

What do you mean why? Lemon over fried chicken.

- Everyone's different. - What?

- There's lemon here though. - That is only for those...

...who want lemon after we've divided the chicken into everyone's own plate, don't you think?

- "Don't you think?" - There are the type that squeezes lemon over fried chicken...

...and the type that feels squeezing lemon is ridiculous, don't you think?

- But it tastes better when you do. - First of all, the chicken loses its crunchiness.

It's healthier if you squeeze lemon, too.

The moment we eat fried chicken, health is no longer a concern, don't you think?

- It tastes better with lemon though, don't you think? - Wait, that's not it. What I'm trying to say is...

- There's no need to get mad at things like lemon though, don't you think? - We'll be careful from now on, so for things like lemon...

- "Things like lemon..." - Sorry?

- Ah, nothing. - Maki-san, what'd you say just now?

I just think this is not about the lemon.

Maki-san, you're the type that doesn't squeeze lemon?

To squeeze or not to squeeze... I'm sorry.

I don't think that really matters.

Then what does?

Why didn't you ask before squeezing the lemon?

Exactly! That's what I'm trying to say!

I'm not saying you can't squeeze lemon, but you're assuming that everyone wants it.

What Iemori-san's trying to say is, why couldn't you ask "Should I squeeze the lemon?"

Exactly. Beppu-kun, can you wash the fried chicken?

- I can't. - Right? Squeezing lemon is irreversible.

- Irreversible? - You can't restore it to its original state.

I apologize.

I guess I should have asked if you wanted the lemon.

Wait, am I wrong?

- With regard to the culture of asking to squeeze a lemon... - "Culture..."

- There are two schools of thought. - "Schools of thought?"

- You know what I mean? - I do.

If you were to ask someone if you can squeeze a lemon how would you ask?

- "Shall I squeeze the lemon?" - Ah, sure.

This is how it will be like right? "Shall I squeeze a lemon?"

"Ah, sure."

Since you make it sound like it's natural to squeeze a lemon they are gonna go with it even if they don't want to.

This is intimidation. I'm just putting up a defense.

So how should I say it?

"There's lemon, isn't there?"

Yes there is.

Like this.

That's kinda vague, don't you think?

- Are you making fun of me? - I'm not making fun of you at all, don't you think?

You are acting like us violists are an intolerant bunch of...

Iemori-san, I know how you feel...

- ...but look at the chicken. - Yes.

It's getting cold.

Sorry. That was my bad. Let's eat.

I'm digging in.

Looks delicious.

Well, my apologies.

Something similar happened when I was a fifth- year. I became the topic at every class meeting.

- Oh? How come? - Not telling you.

- I wonder what happened. - No need to imagine what trauma I went through.

Right! Did you know that in the Tohoku

What-?!

It'd be great if we can perform at the National Theater someday.

That's the dream.

Yeah, well. It's tough enough to make a living as a musician.

Maki-san, when did you get married?

3 years ago.

Her husband is an advertising agent.

What did you like about him?

Asking the important questions.

His normal body temperature is 37.2°C.

You liked him before his body temperature is high?

When your body temperature is high,

there's a nice smell coming from here.

Ohh.

Must be nice to have a family.

I'm home.

Upward slope~

Downward slope~

- Beppu-kun. - Yes?

Your grandfather is currently

...in Germany?

Yes, probably.

What are you doing?

Hey Contractor-san, you can't ask Beppu-kun to do this.

- Oh no, it's fine... - There's value in just having you stay here.

- Yamori-san. - It's Iemori.

- Shampoo. - Yes. Excuse me.

Oh? The owner himself is going to give me a hair wash?

No, I'm just an assistant.

Sorry, you look like you're in your 30s.

I'm 35.

I'm the leader of the part-timers here.

Breaking news.

The body of a man seemingly in his 40s was retrieved...

...from the lake at a park in Suginami, Tokyo.

At about 3PM today, a report came in from a man...

...who discovered a floating body in the lake...

while taking a walk in a park in 3 Chome, Kitamachi, Suginami.

According to the police, the body is of a man who is thought to be in his 40s.

There's no visible injuries.

I couldn't sleep well last night.

Did you watch some videos again?

The video collection of Ichiro's errors. T/N: Japanese baseball player.

You sure found some rare stuff.

Watch out for that spot.

What?

Seriously? Beppu-kun, you all right?

Careful.

Suzume-chan, watch out...

Careful.

Ah~!

Ah~!

Make it quick, make it quick.