Original subtitles

It's done. It's done!

It struck! Lightning struck!

Love.

Morning.

Morning.

Morning, morning, morning.

Morning, morning, morning.

It has spots, so how about Spotty-suke?

Oh, wait. It's a hyena, so...

How about Zero Leftovers-suke?

- Good morning... - What...

What is it?

Are you Starving Burglar-suke?

No, it isn't. Please eat this.

- What? - Time for Operation Brain Activation.

You have a mountain of things to think about.

Don't you know? I don't like fish.

So, any ideas for the backstory?

Does it have a family?

Where did it come from? The savanna?

Also, it's got this fluffy tutu-like thing. Does it do ballet?

That's still just a faint hint... or more like, an elegant touch?

And most importantly, what's its name? Hey, what's its name?

I just want to call it by name!

Like, "I love you!" or, "You're cute!" or something.

But it's always just "it, it, it"... Wow!

Oh, my!

This part. What's the inspiration for it?

Inspiration? Well, uh...

Why a hyena, anyway?

- Like I said, it just popped into my head. - And what's with the tutu here?

- Just as I thought, from my story... - Hey, we've talked about this,

- like, 20 times already, right? - Oh, my!

Its birth has my influence in it, my essence in it...

Ah... I just want to call it by name, name, name...

It's like my child. I'll give it the best name.

And then...

- A huge hit. - A huge hit.

I have to go now. So, please eat that. I mean it.

And the backstory and the name. Backstory and name!

Backstory! Name!

You don't have to be so considerate.

I'm taking up your time when you're busy.

I'd appreciate your opinion from a calm, neutral standpoint.

Oh, so this is about the plushie you're making?

Well, so the production cost is one million yen?

That's after squeezing the recent profits of Seo Design for all they're worth.

And the distribution... What?

In-store only?

We'll do a homepage and social media,

but I want people to only be able to buy it at the store.

Like, I want them to touch it before buying it.

That retro approach might actually spark some interest.

I see.

So right now I'm struggling with how to use that one million yen.

I want to make the most of a limited budget.

One million yen, huh?

So, I'm really sorry, but if any ideas come to mind, could you hit me up?

Sorry, I have to go now.

- What? - I want to go check out a few toy stores.

The plushie isn't finished yet, right?

No, but I want to be ready to display it as soon as it's done.

Ah, well then... Just to confirm.

- About your fee... - Oh, yeah! Guess what?

The plushie sample arrives tomorrow!

Oh, my! It's just an 'Oh, my' kind of day!

Well then, take your time!

- Huh? No... Wait... - Thanks!

[Mugi]

Sorry!

What? Could it be that you're also thinking about a name?

- A name? - Yeah.

No, an acquaintance of mine treated me to a fancy meal,

as a sort of consultation fee.

But according to my info,

the company that person is at has been defaulting on payments,

and that meal was probably paid for out of pocket.

Wow, a fancy meal. Nice.

All I got was fish! Fish!

Well, I feel like that person is being exploited for passion.

Exploited for passion...

Well... What exactly is that again?

It's when someone uses your passion or experience as an excuse

to make you work for cheap or for free.

I feel like someone was doing that to me...

Takai Create.

Ah, no.

I feel like someone else was doing it too...

These days, exploiting passion

- is an immediate red flag. - Who was it again?

Just the other day, a company promised verbally

to pay based on results, but kept stiffing people.

That company got massively flamed for passion exploitation,

and then ended up going bankrupt. Bankrupt.

Based on results...

You can pay me based on the results.

- That's me! - Well,

if that kind of shady management continues,

I do think my acquaintance will eventually quit.

What about deferred payment based on future success?

Is paying later based on future success also bad? The same thing?

If you're attaching uncertain conditions to the payment of a fee,

it's the same thing.

The same thing?

Takai Create and me?

I'm Takai, from Takai Create.

Famous for the name Takai, but also for fees that are low.

Thank you very much for agreeing with our company's business philosophy.

Thank you very much.

No, no, no! I'm not agreeing!

Non-payment, cheap rates, very welcome!

If we're found out, bring on bankruptcy!

Now, let's advance together, into the garden of passion exploitation!

I said, I'm not into passion exploitation!

Well... Are you okay?

Oh, my, it's no use! I can't focus.

Thinking about the plushie sample arriving,

I'm just so wired that being subtle is impossible.

Look, my hands are sweating like crazy...

What are you...

Here's 500,000 yen for your consulting fee.

Where did this come from?

Well... an investment, I guess?

There's a good one right now.

Like a new big bro? Something like that.

- Sort of a new older brother? - Where did this come from?

From the one million yen for the plushie production.

So are you telling me to make it with the remaining 500,000?

The plushie of this?

Well, yes, that's what it means.

Thank you for the sentiment.

But as I said before, the consulting fee could be paid

- based on results... - I said no!

That would make me the same!

What... What are you...

Besides, even one million was really tight, so 500,000 is way too little!

For its sake, we absolutely need that one million yen...

This is also for its sake!

In fact, not accepting this would be worse for it!

What? How is any of that for its...

It's here! Oh, my!

Anyway, let's put that conversation on hold.

Time to take a look.

Welcome to our home!

Who's this?

Ah!

[Episode 4] I told you clearly, didn't I?

That it's a hyena with a fluffy tutu-like thing.

And this is a rice cake?

You changed it to a freshly pounded rice cake?

What about the factory?

Which country did you say?

The Republic of Textorian?

Anyway, just please check with the site.

Please.

- Wow! - Wow!

- Sorry for interrupting your call. - No problem.

What? Are you going on a business trip?

A business trip? Oh, right, I didn't tell you.

I quit Merry.

- Mandatory retirement... - No, not that.

Well... I had various things to think about.

Huh? What's this?

I know! A freshly pounded rice cake, right?

No, it's a sample of a new character.

And this is the real one.

Cute!

What? Could this be a hyena? It's insanely cute!

Just as I'd expect from you, Mr. Hirose. It's just so... so...

- Oh, my! - Oh, my!

But for some reason, it turned into that freshly pounded rice cake thing.

By the way, did Mr. Seo make the pattern?

[Pattern: Paper guide for plushie-making,] No, the factory said

[cutting, and sewing into 3D dolls] they were good at patterns, so...

If I'd known it was going to turn out like a rice cake, I would have made it myself!

I'll make the pattern.

- What? - No, I mean, because it's so cute...

No, I mean, I want to make it! I want to make it like crazy!

Please! I'm begging you!

Let me go crazy with its pattern!

And of course, I don't need any money!

- No, wait! That's totally not allowed. - No, it's absolutely not allowed.

So...

This isn't much, but...

Let me show you work that's worth 100 times this!

Starting from Germany, the home of the original teddy bear,

Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa...

Seeing plushies from all over the world

became a journey to rediscover what I love.

To the two who gave me this chance, I'm truly grateful.

No, we didn't do anything. No gratitude necessary.

I wanted to return that feeling of gratitude,

so I was looking for souvenirs.

I found this at a secondhand store in the Czech Republic.

Even though it's from decades ago, it's in good condition.

I thought, "Berry was loved by someone even in a faraway country."

I want to do that kind of work again.

So I'm really happy that we can work together again.

Well...

Thank... Thank you.

No gratitude necessary.

No way!

You have zero interest in cute things, Ms. Kusakabe, so here, take this!

Peanuts! So many...

Well, do you properly understand the meaning of a harsh review?

- Yes. - Please forget it quickly.

The old Merry style.

Understood. I'll correct it.

The coordination with major goods shops is also done.

We can secure a very good spot

for the first week of Harsh Review Molco's launch.

I see.

The launch date is also as you instructed.

Mr. Omishima.

There's a rumor that Director Yamakawa of Product Planning is resigning.

He says that if Mr. Hirose quits, then so will he.

That's convenient.

Low-level talent like that will eventually drag the company down.

I see! To show your love for that character,

that "Oh, my" from earlier was kind of like "Oh, my," right?

But it feels like I'm holding back somehow.

I understand.

But I think you should be more honest about what you love.

I myself think I would have regretted it if I had stayed at Merry.

So don't hold back. Go full throttle and enjoy your love.

A rising dragon... Ouch!

Full...

throttle.

♪ I can live without love ♪

♪ Goodbye to the past where I believed that ♪

♪ I can't live without love ♪

♪ Out of my way, heart-pounding full speed ♪

♪ Now, all at once ♪

♪ I love it all ♪

[Mugi] ♪ I love it for no particular reason ♪

Any response?

[Anna]

[Production Cost] If I pay 400,000,

[Kusakabe, Hirose] it's not passion exploitation.

Mr. Seo, I'm going full throttle. No holding back.

What?

To get our character to as many people as possible,

I'm going full throttle, no holding back.

Oh...

So first, I'll establish a research institute for it.

A brain trust that gathers experts to research cuteness.

I'll name it... the Cute Think Tank.

Cute Gun Tank?

We'll research its cuteness and reason for being.

[Think tank: Experts researching] Academically research,

[business issues to guide strategy] investigate, and analyze,

and add value so that everyone who sees it wants to hold it.

We'll add that kind of added value.

- Added value... - Now, let me introduce the members.

Please.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Tomioka Accele.

Huh? Wait... What... What?

Mr. Accele worked in the planning and strategy department

of a major advertising agency.

He went independent three years ago, and is now active worldwide

[Tomioka Accele] as a brand strategist.

Stra... Strategist?

Mr. Seo, humans are always seeking their own special something.

So I advocate for a secretly special feeling.

Secret...

What is this? What is this person saying?

For example, for this character's eye material,

we could secretly change it

to a lacquered one handled by a Wajima craftsman.

This secretly special feeling secretly stimulates the desire to own...

This is Ms. Sachie Sachi.

Are you happy? I'm happy.

[Sachie Sachi] I'm Sachie Sachi.

Huh? This person too?

A member of the Cute Think Tank.

Ms. Sachie earned a doctorate in psychology in Brazil,

and is now active in the media as an IP Happy strategist.

I've heard that your company's 'Happy'

is to deliver this plushie to more people.

So, I recommend giving this character a 'Happy' item.

IP refers to intellectual property like characters and works.

Hello Kitty, Snoopy, Anpanman, they're all IP.

This strategy of adding such a 'Happy' item on top...

- Are you happy? - Are you happy?

- No. - So, the recommended

'Happy' item this time is a golden lotus root.

Hello, my name is Shinako.

Ms. Shinako is a Harajuku-style creator

[Influencer Shinako] with a deep knowledge of cuteness.

She is an influencer with lots of support from the younger generation.

Today, I'd like to eat this character.

- Eat? - I'm going to dig in now.

What... What are you making without permission?

- Hey. - Shh... Listen.

First, listen.

- Right? - Right?

Adding a gimmick that makes a nice sound when bitten.

It's worth doing.

Secretly... IP...

- Item... Gimmick... - We could discuss the materials and such,

but I think it's worth doing.

- Since that's the case, then... - What?

500,000 yen for the plushie production is far too little.

Let's go with the remaining 900,000, all of it. Let's pour it in.

- That's why I said... - Please don't worry about my fee.

- I will worry, because of that... - It's all for this character.

It's for the character's sake, on my side too!

Full throttle, no holding back. Come on, Mr. Seo, you too.

- I won't do it. - Full throttle, no holding back.

Full throttle, no holding back...

Full throttle, no holding back, full...

At this rate, the entire amount will go to production costs.

That'll be passion exploitation and malnutrition confirmed.

Flaming, bankruptcy...

There's no way I'll let that happen.

A hallucination again?

And it's coming closer!

A hallucination! Another hallucination is coming!

It's been a while, Mr. Seo.

The hallucination called my name!

What?

I am very sorry.

I understand.

I understand why you'd look at me that way.

Since that day, I've turned over a new leaf.

To live up to the name Takai, I'm paying high compensation.

And, well...

Today I wanted to ask you to do a job for me, Mr. Seo.

[Production Request Form] This is... the picture I drew.

Could you draw other characters in the same style as this one?

It's an important time for us right now.

I don't want to cause any trouble.

And frankly, your face looks suspicious.

So I'm offering 100,000 yen per character.

And ten of them.

Ten... That means...

- That means... - One million yen.

I see. Got it. Well, I look forward to working with you.

Yes. All right, please excuse me.

Hey, wait... Anna! Anna!

Ah, Mugi! Sorry, I didn't notice you.

Working late is tough, huh?

I'm sorry about that phone call earlier.

I meant to call you back, I meant to, but when I got home...

It's okay. Don't worry about it.

Well, you're coming, right? Let's go. Let's go.

Ah, well... Today, I... Well...

I was hoping we could talk here.

Is that so?

Well... Anna.

Let's break up.

Or rather, I want you to break up with me.

- Wait, wait... What do you... - I've met someone I like.

You've met someone you like...

Sorry, sorry.

Hello.

So, this is the situation.

Sorry.

- Let's go. - Yeah.

And then... And then...

And then... And then...

[Official Character Launch Event] ♪ I'll always think of you, muscles ♪

- ♪ Love, this is love, this is love ♪ - Come on! Come on! Come on!

- ♪ Love, love, love... ♪ - Come on! Come on! Come on!

Zapaan.

Hey, you look pale.

Are you eating properly?

Nothing seems to go down my throat.

Nice muscles!

Everyone!

- Thank you! - Mugi...

Why?

Next up is the long-awaited Muscle Shoulder Ride event!

Zapaan, which comes with a chance to win a shoulder ride ticket,

is on sale over there.

See you later.

Mugi...

100 Zapaans, please.

Yeah! Thank you very much!

Right this way!

This customer is receiving 100 bottles.

Thank you very much.

- Hurry, hurry! - Yes.

Why is she in a place like this?

Why? Because she's a fan, obviously!

[Not a winner] A fan? Of the muscular guy? Mariko Mondo?

What? Is she an acquaintance of yours?

No, no. Wait, you don't know?

She's the designer of Berry!

What? Really? Seriously?

- I'm even wearing Berry socks today! - I'm not... I'm not interested.

- Here, look... - What's going on?

Sorry, it's nothing.

Sorry, this girl is a bit emotionally unstable.

Apparently she got dumped by her boyfriend yesterday.

Hey, don't just go casually telling people that!

Sorry.

Fancied anyone?

Some young girl...

I'm not talking about your boyfriend.

I meant you.

What?

If that's the case, it's only natural that you'd be dumped.

The things you fancy are tremendously big.

If you keep holding them, something will inevitably spill out.

Didn't you have that kind of resolve?

Here it is! Muscle Shoulder Ride!

[Character Submission Materials] This is great.

It's all great.

- A wave is coming. - A wave.

The promised one million yen. I'll transfer it to you tomorrow.

With this, the consulting fee...

Well, about that schedule, is everyone okay with it?

- Sachie is okay with it! - Yes.

- Yes! Shinako is okay with it! - It's okay.

Accele is also okay with it.

All right, let's call it a day. Thank you all for your hard work.

Thank you for your hard work.

- Thank you for your hard work. - Thanks for your hard work.

What? There was a Gun Tank today?

You should have woken me up.

Sorry, but you didn't look like you were very awake.

Besides, it can't start without me.

I'm a one-million-yen man, you know?

Haven't you heard? Million-Yen Mizuki Seo.

Or Trending Wave Mizuki Seo.

- Or Seo's Wave is natural... - Well, it's a bit early,

but I'll be going home now.

Thank you for your hard work.

Something's weird, isn't it?

Oh, the bread is bigger than usual.

That's rich.

No, not rich. It's the wave, you know.

The wave is really coming.

We're in a different phase from companies that exploit passion, so to speak.

Big wave.

- Wave. - That's nice.

Compared to that, I'm...

What? I'll listen to your troubles.

I tend to ride the wave and listen to troubles.

No, actually, recently,

I introduced some people knowledgeable in a certain genre to an acquaintance,

but then later I realized they charge a pretty hefty consultation fee.

What? So they charge money just for giving advice?

Seriously, who is that dude with such a sweet gig?

Do you know a guy named Tomioka Accele?

Tomioka Accele.

Seems like his fees start at 300,000 yen per session.

My acquaintance is probably paying that money out of pocket.

Good morning.

- Well... - My grandma used to say that

people who are hiding something usually greet you with a loud voice.

What are you talking about?

Once upon a time, at a certain design office,

there was a consultant named O-Con.

One day, O-Con gathered his companions,

whose names were Accele, Happy, and Shina,

and established Gun Tank Consulting.

- What are you talking about? - However, those companions

all charged outrageous consultation fees.

The office didn't have that kind of money.

So what on earth did O-Con do?

To be continued.

How do you think they got that money?

O-Con paid for it out of pocket, right?

Your complexion...

What's the matter?

I'm just Kusakabe, a sole proprietor,

paying for that on my own as a necessary business expense.

I mean, a consultant paying out of pocket for our project,

then having no money left to eat and ending up malnourished.

That's not okay! It's absolutely not okay!

What are you talking about?

It's for this character. Everything we do is for it.

That's not for its sake!

Huh?

What's this?

Ah, no...

This is...

Takai Create! That one, right?

Why were you hiding it?

I wasn't hiding it.

- I was going to tell you later. - Is it about money?

Blinded by money, you took that gig with a shady company like that?

If you get involved in something weird again,

and this character can't make its plushie debut,

- that would be... - That's why!

You're the one who's getting involved in something weird!

You don't have enough food to eat, right?

If you collapse and our company goes bankrupt,

our character won't be able to make its plushie debut then, either!

How is any of that for the character's sake?

Working with that look on your face just makes me more uneasy.

I'm very sorry...

for mixing personal and business matters.

Please let me take some time off.

To make it feel rounder here and bring out a sense of childishness...

The number of dots... Hey, are you listening?

What time is it now?

It's just before 7 o'clock. Why?

Well, he said he'd transfer the fee today.

The number you have dialed is in an area without signal...

What's the name of that other company?

Takai Create.

Takai Create?

Huh? I feel like I've heard of them before. Takai Create.

Takai...

Wait, look at this! Takai Create!

[Fake Company Owner Busted in Character Investment Fraud]

Arrested on suspicion of character investment fraud.

Arrested?

Wait, wait! Then what about the fee?

Never mind that. First, contact Ms. Kusakabe.

Well, calling her now on the phone is...

Huh?

What is it? Are you two fighting?

You have to treasure Ms. Kusakabe, okay?

There's no one else like her.

Someone who understands both you and this character that much.

It's a miracle.

[Mugi]

Mr. Takai?

[Fake Company Owner Busted in Character Investment Fraud]

Fraud?

[Related Locations Also Searched]

Well, I was originally alone anyway.

Wow!

I never thought you'd quit and go on a trip.

Mr. Seo, there's something I want to ask you...

I know.

I know, I do.

- You know? - I'll talk first.

I'll talk about this properly.

How should I say this?

From a casual part-time job to becoming a consultant,

and as a result, a new character was created.

But... you're always talking back,

and always getting angry.

What's with this mouth-sultant?

Well, if this is going to be a long story, then maybe later...

But...

even if just a tiny bit,

it was fun, I thought.

So, for everything up to now...

thank you.

What meaningless time spent!

Huh?

- I'll say it again. - That's enough. Never again.

More importantly, Mr. Seo,

regarding the rights to the characters you drew in your work with Takai Create,

did you ever sign a contract or make a verbal agreement?

Wait, wait, wait, what about the characters?

Did you say you'd give or transfer the rights to Mr. Takai?

Huh? I don't think I did.

Really? This is important. Are you absolutely sure?

I didn't say I'd do that, and he never asked about it either.

Understood. Do you have your passport?

- Huh? - Just bring it and come with me now.

Huh? Where are we going?

To the Republic of Textorian.

- Tex... - Mr. Takai was doing IP business there.

Using the characters you drew without permission.

This character's local name is Cho-cho-cho-cho-cho-cho-cho.

Apparently, it's very popular with children.

Cho-cho-cho-cho...

Probably after tasting this success, Mr. Takai had you draw new characters

and was planning to expand profits further, but he was arrested before he could.

If you haven't transferred the rights to Mr. Takai,

then this Cho-cho-cho-cho-cho-cho-cho belongs to you, the designer.

We don't really have to go all the way there, do we?

No, we absolutely must go.

Because... Because...

It...

Its design was stolen due to someone's sloppy management.

If this continues, it could also be misused!

I see.

Regarding this matter, I also have some responsibility.

Before saying "Oh, my" and "Get dumped",

I should have properly handled these procedures.

IP business often draws attention to the profit aspect, but it's not just that.

It's also about the right to protect these characters.

So, this fight, we will definitely win it.

For its sake as well, we'll absolutely win it!

Yeah.

[Mr. Mizuki Seo]

So it was making this much money? Cho-cho-cho-cho...

Like I said, Ms. Kusakabe is amazing. She really is.

In a country where the language is different,

she won the rights for Cho-cho-cho-cho, and protected its rights too.

Do you understand? From now on, royalties will be coming in.

Really amazing. Incredibly amazing.

Well, I was there too, on the ground.

You were just signing, right? On the contract.

No, no, no. I also ran the bath and did the cleaning.

There's a concept in IP that human talent is also intellectual property,

and I think you need to properly grasp that too.

Anyway, I didn't come here to talk about that.

I'm here because it's arriving soon.

Thanks for your hard work.

Zapaan.

Good morning.

So,

regarding the Cute Think Tank, I need a quick word.

Yes?

I'd like you to disband it for now.

May I ask why?

Because you're paying those people out of your own pocket,

a considerable amount.

And I... can't enjoy that.

If making the plushie is built on someone else's burden, I can't enjoy it.

I want you to eat properly.

Even though it's annoying, like usual,

it's better if you get angry at me.

How should I say this... It feels right.

It's really annoying, though.

It's not just for the character. It's for me.

But for me becomes for us,

and for us becomes for the character, I think.

I see. Understood.

I'm sorry.

For always causing a commotion.

Alright.

Well then, this is urgent. The documents and data entry.

Okay.

[Its Backstory Proposal]

Well...

[Its Backstory Proposal]

It is a hyena boy who was born on a planet called Planet Tutu.

He lives in a burrow and is always alone for some reason.

Maybe everyone is scared because he is a hyena.

He wants friends, but he can't muster the courage.

Then, one day, he really wanted to see a dance called ballet on Earth,

because everyone was wearing a fluffy thing just like the one on his belly.

He gathered his courage, jumped out of his burrow, and went to Earth,

but he still felt lonely and was downcast.

A person on Earth who saw him said,

"That fluffy thing is cute, like a ballet tutu."

He cheered up and came to love the fluffy thing even more.

"I hope I can cheer everyone up too."

I'm sorry for becoming like this all of a sudden.

I know it's an important time.

This is really selfish of me, but...

I got dumped.

But that's not work-related, right?

But...

it just feels weird.

I'm sorry.

Really, talking about this... Really.

It just arrived.

Its name is Tutu-Tuesla.

Tutu is from the memory you told me about the other day,

from Jigoku-guruma Ballerina.

And Tuesla apparently means "You are there" in French.

Mr. Seo.

I'm being supported right now...

by it.

Thank you, Mr. Seo.

Welcome, Tutu-Tuesla.

Cute.

Cute...