Take The Day Off Work Today (Kyou wa Kaisha Yasumimasu / きょうは会社休みます。)

I'm…

getting worse as a woman.

DESSERTS - RAW MATERIALS

UNIT PRICE, 60

-Can you please check these? -Sure.

Check these back-numbers.

OK, I got it.

Hey, listen to this!

There's a ridiculously handsome dude

in the company upstairs.

I didn't know this until I rode the elevator today,

and he helped me press the button when I didn't say anything.

I was like "What?" and he smiled,

saying he saw me get off here by coincidence.

How smug of him.

Senpai! Have you met him before?

Sorry, I don't think so.

I'm pretty sure he's an employee of Sapphirus Trading on the 6th floor.

You're going for him?

Well, I did give him my contact for now.

Already?

See you.

Another get-together?

Yeah, my university friends

are saying that they want to make up for not celebrating my birthday last month.

I see. You're loved by everyone no matter where you go, Hitomi.

Nah, a birthday party is just an excuse for us to get together.

Everyone just wants to drink.

Really?

If you're attending this gathering in the first place,

then that already means you have lost as a woman.

What? Why is that?

Because those who got married stopped coming,

and only those who are single get excited about this.

Oh Ooshiro, good work today.

-Good job. -Thanks.

Hey, Aoishi. Are you free later?

I'm planning to go see a movie.

You can do it another day, no?

A friend asked me to introduce a girl who's single.

We're going for a drink at 8:00 p.m. later. Can you come?

Does the blind date have to be today?

Sorry, Hitomi. He said he wanted someone who is not too young.

He's a really earnest dude,

so you guys seem like a good fit.

It's time for you to get serious about finding someone to marry, no?

I…

have someone whom I'm dating.

-Huh? -What?

Senpai, you got a boyfriend?

So, you're going to a movie date?

Well, yeah, I guess.

Hey, wait!

Who is it? How old? His name?

-Hey! -Oh, welcome back.

Guys, apparently Aoishi has a boyfriend.

Seriously?

Cool.

This is my first time hearing romantic gossip about Aoishi.

Well, she didn't look like she had one.

Ooshiro, you were being pretty persistent,

always urging her.

So, this is all thanks to me, right?

So, who's her boyfriend?

She said he worked at a security company.

So like network security?

Not that. It's more like household security.

His name is apparently also Mamoru.

He works in security with that name? How tough is the dude?

Perfect guy for her, don't you think?

Well, all that's left is waiting for her to get married, huh?

I think they're good for each other.

They even have the same hobbies.

-Such as? -Going for walks and eating while at it.

IWAO AOISHI HANAE MITSUO

Wait.

I'm sorry, Mamoru.

We ended up "dating" each other.

OK, you can eat now.

My second baby today!

If he was born a day later, he would have had the same birthday as you.

So close!

Did you bring Mamoru out for a walk?

I brought him to the park in the evening, but it didn't go well.

He was trembling when he saw the other dogs.

He never barks at home, right?

No, he barked at me.

Oh, yes!

It barked at your dad when he went to feed it.

Oh, I will be back late tomorrow too, so I'll be eating out.

Then, you want me to just buy a cake?

It's fine.

Anyone celebrating for you?

No, it's just a welcoming party for newcomers.

Then, have a cake when you get back.

You're saying it for yourself, no?

What? Your dad also wants to eat the cake.

Hm?

Oh, by the way, Ichika had her second baby.

-See? -Let me see.

Aw, how cute!

Hey, tell her to bring her kids to visit us again.

You guys were

so happy when she brought her kids here.

We weren't, right?

Well, yeah…

Hm?

By the way, Hanae, are you still a…?

YEAH, I'M STILL

A VIRGIN

You have to buck up! You're almost 30!

It's not like I didn't have the chance.

In the spring during my first year of university,

he was a senpai whom I admired from my club.

Sorry, I have a curfew.

I found out later that he had a girlfriend,

and I thought I made the right decision.

But now that ten years have passed,

I wonder if I'd have continued dragging on

if I did not reject him.

Hello, um… would you happen to have a vacancy tomorrow night?

Yes.

MASSAGE, STRECHES HOGUSHI NO SATO

BIRTHDAY DEALS

Yes.

OK, then I'll settle for 9:00 p.m.

A 60-minute course, please.

Oh, um… it's my birthday tomorrow, about the free course…

Oh, then I'll take the 30-minute foot massage.

Yes, thank you very much.

WELCOME PARTY, 9:00 P.M. MASSAGE

And that is how my twenties ended.

I wake up at such a regular time that I

don't need an alarm anymore.

Is the hospital where Hanae was born still there?

It's long gone and turned into a multi-level parking lot.

Oh, I see.

I've never thought of moving out and living alone,

and my parents have never rushed me into marriage.

I can't tell whether they can't let go of me or the other way round.

So far, none of us have moved an inch.

It's like a four-way standoff.

When I just joined the company,

I dreamt of Prince Charming coming to this bus stop to pick me up.

So far, there's no sign of anything other than a bus coming.

THE FIRST LOVE OF A WOMAN WITH LOW SELF-ESTEEM

There.

-Morning. -Good morning.

You're as early as usual.

-Shall I make you a coffee? -Yes, please.

-Oh, Aoishi. -Yes?

If you don't start taking your paid leave soon, this year will be over!

You haven't taken a single day off, right?

Oh, speaking of which.

Take a long leave

and go to Hawaii or something with your boyfriend.

What?

I've heard from Ooshiro.

Oh, so that's why.

Chief Tachibana is the boss of the dessert ingredients section and my direct boss.

His wife was a former employee here,

and they married after a well-concealed office romance.

And I can't help but unconsciously say "Aloha!"

He's a reassuring boss who's always looking out for me,

but he's a bit of a nag.

Here you go.

You know, I thought I'm the type

who'd never say "Aloha!"

At first, I couldn't believe it, and I looked around.

"Who said that?" I'd say it's me and laugh it off.

OK…

-Good morning! -Morning.

Didn't I say to not tell anyone?

-About what? -Don't give me that…

-How was the movie date? -Like I said, don't talk about that…

What? You went to a movie?

I can't say any more than that. I have a promise to keep.

What's this? Suddenly becoming tight-lipped.

Ooshiro is the linchpin of the company, and he's energetic all year round.

He's liked by business partners for his collected personality and cheerfulness,

but he lacks a sense of depth that it's hard to believe that

he grew up with the four seasons in Japan.

As his colleague, it's really sad to know that his favorite food is ketchup.

Good morning.

-Morning. -I drank too much yesterday.

Are you OK?

In contrast to Ooshiro, Hitomi's energy level varies

from morning to night like a different person.

She is the idol of the company and is liked by everyone.

Please?

The way she looks up at people when she's relying on them is worth seeing.

The newcomer, Kagami, has been

arriving at the very last minute from the very first day he joined

and has never greeted anyone on his own.

In that sense, he's gutsy, and he's like a big shot,

but we haven't seen even a glimpse of his talent yet.

Obama's visit to Japan postponed, huh.

I've seen enough to know that you're a big shot.

Just show us a glimpse of your talent.

Aoishi, the photocopier seems to have a problem.