The End of the Pale Hour (明け方の若者たち)

Uh, I'm Ishida from the Economics Department.

Thank you for coming today!

Thanks. Uh... In this tough economic climate,

few job hunters are getting offers at this stage in their search.

And if it's from the company of your first choice, it will be even more limited.

In other words, everyone here today is a winner.

So here's to you!

Cheers!

Yeah, cheers.

Smile, everyone.

Winners, yeah!

Hey, where did you get your job offer?

Tokyo Central Printing.

Wow, that's nice. It's a big company.

This guy gonna bring innovation to the printing industry,

so remember him. - Really?

I'm going to Dentsu. We might run into each other on the job.

Looking forward to it.

I don't have it yet.

Totally fine.

At least have a business card.

- Right. - It's okay.

Okay. Greetings. Shake hands.

- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

I have a friend who's in the same business.

- Really? - Yeah, I'll introduce you.

Please.

Sir! Two beers, please.

Gem...

Definitely study abroad while you're still a student.

I'm fine. I'm sorry.

You can't. One more time. One more time.

What's wrong?

I'm sorry. I think I lost my phone.

Really?

I'll give you my number. Can you call it?

Sure. What's your number?

Um... 080

6513 724.

724.

Well?

Well, you seem awful at finding it.

Sorry, sorry. Clumsy, right?

No, it's fine, really.

I'm leaving first. How much do I owe?

You're leaving already?

Yeah.

I just came by to show my face.

A thousand yen would be fine. I'll give it to them.

Thanks.

Okay.

Bye.

Good night.

Okay, drink, drink, drink, drink...

Here.

Thank you.

A bit noisy today, huh?

No, I'm really sorry.

They're happy so it's okay.

No... but aren't they a bit carried away?

Calling themselves "winners".

It's okay to be carried away.

They're young.

Hey!

You shouldn't be in here all alone.

Go upstairs.

No, I'll be right back.

- You will? - Yeah, I'll be back.

Oh, it's water...

Tasty.

Ma'am, three highballs, please.

Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay...

Such a nuisance.

You should go. Since you came all this way...

Yeah, yeah.

[ Maybe it would be more fun to have a drink with me, lol? ]

Um, this... is for two.

I'm leaving first. Please deduct that.

Whoa...

You look cheerful.

No, I don't. Shut up, really.

Whale park...

Hi, there.

That invitation was unfair.

Huh? What?

You didn't really lose your phone, did you?

What? No, no, I really did lose it.

Really?

I was so surprised that you cunningly asked me out like that.

Here.

Good job on the strange drinking party.

Cheers.

Oh, you like highball? I bought it on a whim.

Once I finish this, I'm gonna go to a store.

Oh, there's one over there, right?

Oh, yeah, yeah. That's where I bought these.

I mean,

why did you decide to drink again after leaving the party?

I was only invited to balance the numbers,

and it would be lonely to drink again by myself.

Well, yeah.

So I looked at my phone, and there was a received call log.

So you asked me out?

I guess I shouldn't have done that.

It's not that you shouldn't...

But I'm glad you came.

It's the third single, right?

No, it's the fourth single.

Huh? Are you for real? Because it has "Tremolo" in it.

No, Radwimps has "Yushinron" and "Futarigoto", right?

It's definitely the fourth.

No, I think it's the third one.

I listened to it in high school when it was released.

Huh? Wasn't the third single came out when we were in middle school?

- Did you failed to enter college? - No.

Yeah, but I'm a grad student.

Oh, so you're older than me.

Hey, should I speak in honorifics?

No, no, no, don't. You absolutely shouldn't.

Okay, okay.

What are you gonna do next year?

I'll be working at a printing company.

I want to come up with a plan that will surprise even the agencies

and make the whole world go wild.

Oh, sounds interesting.

You see, I wanted a job where I could entertain people.

I see.

I look forward to spring.

Yeah.

What about you?

I'm on apparel brand.

It's small, though.

We make cute bags using materials from developing countries.

Oh... So, do you go abroad or something?

Someday, maybe.

In the future, I hope to become a grandmother who wears flashy clothes

and enjoys growing old.

Oh, that's nice.

Yeah. I know, right?

Oh no, can we still make it?

Maybe, but...

What is it?

If I went, I'm sure we'd have fun.

Oh... Confident, aren't you?

I'm confident.

It's kind of embarrassing,

but thank you.

The train's leaving. Let's run.

Yeah.

Can we make it?

Right?

Hey.

Hey...

Hey.

Why did you leave before me the other night?

Ah, no... You see...

Come over for drinks again today. 7:00 p.m. at Dharma.

I'll be there if I can.

That one right there is never coming.

But I'll be waiting for you.

I'll be seriously waiting for you.

I'm home...

Welcome home. Will you be having dinner tonight?

Oh, let's see. Let's see...

If you don't want it, just tell me quickly.

I know, I know. I'm at a loss.

What's with that tone?

What's the matter?

No, no, no, nothing. It's nothing.

I see you like that kind of thing.

No, it's not like that...

this girl was an acquaintance of mine.

- Oh, really? - Yeah.

I see. Is she from your university?

No, not at all, just a very distant acquaintance.

Distant?

Yeah. Distant.

Oh... You just like girls with big titties.

It's not like that. Hey...

So you like them smaller?

Hey, stop checking my fetish in broad daylight.

Boobs, huh?

Stop with the boobs!

Yesterday, too.

I was on the same road yesterday, and the day before that, and before that,

and for many days, months, and years, I've been on this road, back and forth,

back and forth, back and forth.

There are plenty of other roads out there,

but I just follow the designated route to work,

like ants going back and forth, back and forth,

back and forth between home and office.

Where did the future I dreamed of back at that time go?

Am I the only one who still can't give up?

Mom.

How was it?

A bit disappointing.

I thought that the story

was just an extension of the drinking party we had the other night.

That winning group drinking party?