Original subtitles

[March 2026]

Ugh...

[Horai Consulting]

Huh? You're quitting?

Yes, I achieved my whimsical gap FIRE.

Huh? Whimsical what? What's that?

Um, first, do you know what FIRE is?

As in burning?

[FIRE] Not that, but through things like

[Financial Independence Retire Early] investments and asset management,

I can cover my living expenses now.

[Consultant, Anna Kusakabe] And then I can just quit my job. That's it.

[Zapaan Sales Clerk] Oh, my! So that means you're now one of

[Kiko Kominami] those people who can live without working?

No, in my case, I just can barely cover my living expenses.

[Come work at Zapaan!] Well, I can live by whim to some extent.

But when I want to have fun or splurge,

I still have to pick up some odd jobs. Like that.

That's why I call it whimsical gap FIRE.

So would you call that wonderful?

Yes, it's wonderful. It's my dream.

[Consultant] Doing what I love when I want,

[Ren Fuchinobe] and doing odd jobs I love in my spare time.

So whimsical!

I'm against it.

Ms. Kusakabe is our top ace.

All her consulting clients' results have shot straight up,

especially this one.

[Case Introduction] The Kitchen Sakoda project.

In just two years, turning a local Western restaurant

into a brand capable of expanding worldwide.

Truly the stuff of legend.

And yet this is your last project?

And you're quitting the company, quitting consulting?

Yes, thank you.

But, you know, all that stuff about the past, this and that, it's all...

Zapaan!

It all washed away, didn't it?

So I'm going to fully enjoy my whimsical gap FIRE!

So cute!

I wonder if you'll get the one you're targeting?

This moment is so thrilling, isn't it?

Go, go!

Yay!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Whimsical, whimsical.

Welcome!

So good!

Whimsical, whimsical, whimsical...

Whimsical.

♪ Wanting to cry, wanting to laugh ♪

♪ My true self ♪

♪ Holding back, not laughing the whole time ♪

♪ I can't say painful things ♪

♪ But I'm right here ♪

♪ Wanting to cry, wanting to laugh ♪

♪ My true self ♪

[Whimsically traversing Japan, Hokkaido to Okinawa! Send support!]

♪ You live your life for yourself ♪

This spring, that Cynical Molco is going to be all cynical on screens nationwide!

Cynical Molco: The Movie!

Super love, that kind of thing. Hmph.

Is this what it was like, everyone?

So cute!

Who wants to see it soon?

Me!

Molco, how did you feel listening to everyone's wishes?

That kind of thing. Hmph.

Great work!

Hot, hot, hot! Summer, it's summer only for me!

Cynical Molco: The Movie, now issuing numbered tickets!

Thank you very much.

Serving somen here? You really know your stuff, Mugi.

Well, this is hiyamugi. And since I'm Mugi, here you go.

Kind of like love, isn't it?

No, no way.

N-N-No. That's cute.

- Love. - That's so cute.

Geez.

- Hey! Come on! Let's eat! - Hmm.

- Let's eat! - Let's eat!

Huh? What? You bought more?

Ah, Shiro.

I did FIRE, and then I thought I'd go all out doing what I love,

so I bought various things, but...

[Anna's boyfriend, Mugi Koitabashi] You haven't found something you love yet?

That's right.

Ever since I was born, I've lived a life without love or obsession.

And unfortunately, this time too, I also didn't get into it.

But the part-time job you did today was full of love, wasn't it?

That's right.

Everyone was going on about how cute Cynical Molco is.

I've had a life where I never got into so-called characters,

so I don't get cute.

Well, I get it logically.

But not that heart-throbbing, "I love it!" kind of sensory cute.

An encounter with the unknown.

Hmm. Well, when it comes to cute, for example, something like this as well.

Well, really, it's fine even if you don't understand love or cuteness.

That's right.

- See you. - Okay, see you.

My name is Kusakabe, and I applied through Suppori Gap Part-time Jobs.

[Seo Design]

Um, today...

I was thinking of digitizing receipts and other money-related stuff.

But then one thing led to another.

In the three years since I started here? Stuff has piled up like crazy.

I see.

No, I mean, I'll do my best.

- I'll be in your care today... - Alright.

Excuse me.

I've already organized all this, so just wrap it up quickly.

- Oh, okay. - Alright.

- Hmm? - Oh, sorry.

I heard this was a design office, but I was wondering if you specialize in characters?

[Character Designer, Mizuki Seo]

Do you really need that information?

- No. - Right, of course not.

Right, right, right, right.

Whimsical, whimsical, whimsical, whim...

Takai Create.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Excuse me!

- Why are you shouting all of a sudden? - Sorry.

There's something I'd like to talk to you about.

Yes?

Excuse me, I'm Takai from Takai Create.

Hello.

[Company Character Material] Yes, yes, exactly like this.

Let's go with this.

[Takai Create, Shinpei Takai]

All right, let's see.

How about 8,000 yen?

8,000... That's quite a lot.

All right, now the next one. Let's see.

There's a company called Marui Bedding.

- They want an original character - Um...

- for their storefront... - Excuse me.

What, eavesdropping?

No, I mean...

- That's too cheap. - Huh?

Of course, the fees for this kind of industry,

I know they vary widely, but from a quick check,

this is a third of the market rate, or rather.

A third?

No matter how you look at it,

- that's just not right. - But

paying the market rate to a no-name designer with no standout experience...

That's a bit, you know.

Hmm?

Anyway, I'm actually trying to support you here.

Even if the pay is low, I want you to build your career with us and seize opportunities!

I don't think that's support.

It's just coated with the nice-sounding word "support".

Wait, what are you saying?

But actually, there are people who have produced results from that.

Don't try to cover up your crimes with results!

Crimes, you say?

First, have you even issued an order specifying the amount?

Since the new freelance law,

starting work without stating the compensation for no valid reason,

and just proceeding vaguely, could potentially be illegal!

But even with all that said, Mr. Seo, you still need a job, right?

I'm saying that you should admit what you're doing first!

The fact that you're exploiting someone's liking for you,

misusing it,

is a crime!

Understood.

Excuse me.

- Hmm? - Hmm?

Um, no, that's not it! I just want a price that's within reason.

I see. But we'll probably never meet again, right?

I'm sorry, I messed up.

Yeah, you messed up all right! You messed up big time!

- Um... - That person is my biggest client,

and if they're gone...

So, uh, when the blood rushes to my head,

I kind of turn into that guy from The Shining...

Um, I'll go apologize.

I'll do something like bowing down

- and getting work again... - It's fine.

But...

Go home.

- I'll transfer the pay. - No! The money...

Then please let me help with the management.

Let me make up for the losses caused by this incident

by helping with the management.

For free, of course.

No, it's fine.

Um, no, that's not it.

I used to work at a consulting company, so please don't be suspicious about anything.

No, it's fine, really.

Huh? Why? Because I'm offering to do it for free?

But what I'm offering is a non-suspicious free service, a harmless freebie.

That's not it. Why are you doing this?

Please, let me do it.

Otherwise, I...

At this rate... At this rate, I'll once again...

Please let me pay you 10,000 yen.

Let me help you for 10,000 yen.

What do you mean, pay?

Then 20,000?

30,000? 35,000? 40,000?

- Oh! The Shining! - 45,000?

The Shining!

♪ The client's work ♪

♪ Meddling and erasing everything ♪

♪ Cuteness I don't understand at all ♪

♪ Declaring I'd help with management ♪

♪ Because I'm a girl who messes up ♪

♪ So I'm a girl who messes up ♪

[Episode 1]

In helping with the management,

I'd like to share the future vision of Seo Design that you envision.

And on that basis,

- as we move toward solving the issues... - A big hit!

A big hit?

No, I mean I want to create a character that's a big hit.

So first, can you think of a concept?

A concept.

A concept that will be a big hit.

Then I'll draw the character according to that,

which will guarantee a big hit.

A concept that will be a big hit.

Hey, you can do that, right?

Because you'll make up for what you messed up, right?

You want to make up for it, right?

By the way... By the way, the scale of that hit is...

This guy. I want to surpass this guy, at the very least.

[Cynical Molco] Hmph.

- Cynical Molco? - That's right.

- Well, it... - You can do it, right?

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

Zapaan!

Saying you'll make up for the losses by creating a big hit?

Isn't that a bit much? Ugh, just forget it.

But it was me who asked him to let me do it.

But Cynical Molco is so popular.

Huh?

Isn't Molco from the same company that made Hello Kitty?

No, Molco was made by a design company called Merry.

Merry... I've never heard of it.

Berry is also from Merry.

Hey! You mean Very Good Berry?

Hey, look, look.

Look! See? I've loved it for a long time.

But kids these days might not know.

That's true.

Merry is actually a pretty veteran brand.

They're known for the success of Berry,

which launched around the same time as Hello Kitty.

But after that, they couldn't raise their profile and stagnated.

But then, about five years ago, this person came from outside.

[Character Business Revolution] Giant salamander?

Takumi Omishima.

Once he became president,

Merry underwent reform, reform, and mega-reform!

And then three years ago,

a cute guinea pig that spouted cynical remarks,

Cynical Molco, became a huge hit, and their earnings made a V-shaped recovery.

Molco's signature line,

- That kind of thing. Hmph. - "That kind of thing. Hmph,"

went viral on social media like crazy.

I use that same expression too.

Breakfast smoothies, that kind of thing. Hmph.

Anyway, trying to surpass it could be extremely reckless.

[Asia Sunshine Market]

All the tests and everything tomorrow are really a drag.

Yumi is absent from school because of a fandom activity.

Really? That level of love is

- that kind of thing. Hmph. - That kind of thing. Hmph.

- Molco! - Molco!

It really is that kind of thing. Hmph.

Ah, that looks yummy. Which one should I choose?

[Seo Design] Modern society,

while making it easier to connect,

also has the contradiction of making it easier to feel lonely.

That's exactly why a character that connects people...

No, no, no. That's completely wrong.

Well, um...

Just as I thought, free stuff is cheap and nasty.

Yeah, it's that saying. You get what you pay for.

I really want to get going on drawing quickly.

Once the concept is decided, my right hand can draw anything.

I really want to start drawing quickly!

[Version Two, Concept Proposal] Modern society

is about respecting differences with others...

No, no, no. It's all wrong.

This concept is that modern society, in the name of respect...

Wrong!

[Version Three, Concept Proposal] Modern society,

despite having more freedom...

No, no, wrong. Wrong in a different way.

Then let me proceed with Plan B.

Huh?

Mr. Seo, please participate in this competition.

Competition?

[Official Mascot Design: Open Call!] It's a mascot character creation competition

for a new shopping mall in Nerima.

The concept has already been decided by the client, so just draw accordingly.

No, no, no. Why do I have to do this?

Creating a new character takes a long time to generate profit.

If you only do that, Seo Design could even go bankrupt.

Okay, that's an unnecessary worry.

This place is my grandma's house.

And honestly, my living expenses are just a drop in the bucket.

Then I'll be honest.

Mr. Seo, your track record is too weak!

Weak? Huh? That has nothing to do with creating a hit!

Yes, it does. Even if you create a new character in the future,

with this track record, no one will even look at it!

No, no. This is the Reiwa era now!

It's an era where even unknown creators can easily get hits from social media!

Creators and characters who never made it are a dime a dozen online.

Are you really okay with being one of them?

Man, such consultant talk is kind of scary. I'm going to the bathroom.

Shifting responsibility because you can't come up with a good concept is scary.

What are you doing? I'm going to the bathroom!

I will take responsibility for the concept to create a huge hit.

But in the meantime, you, who are just spacing out, should...

Who's spacing out? Even I, despite appearances, do actually...

If you don't draw, there won't be any hit!

Competition, competition...

♪ Making a face like a hitman ♪

♪ Lunging into the competition ♪

♪ Though I don't have any confidence at all ♪

♪ Aren't you leaving the concept making to me? ♪

♪ Because I'm a girl who messes up ♪

Concept.

Concept, concept...

Concept.

This is a big hit.

Berry.

[Nerima Design Competition Day] No, you know,

my right hand is telling me that

draw like this, and the first screening will be a piece of cake.

Is what you're doing really more important than my story?

Sorry, but I'm creating a big hit concept right now.

If you want, shall I listen?

Well, roughly speaking, why couldn't Berry become like Hello Kitty?

The law of hits learned from failure, something like that.

Please look forward to it.

- What are you saying? - No, so,

- why couldn't Berry... - Berry, a failure? Huh?

Huh, but actually...

Berry isn't on that kind of stage.

Don't talk like you know what you're saying, amateur.

Thank you for waiting. Number three.

- Yes. - Right this way.

Excuse me.

[Merry Co., Ltd., Takaaki Hirose]

Seo.

Wait! Seo!

Wait, wait!

- Mr. Hirose, now... - Excuse me. Well...

No, no, no!

Excuse me. Let me go.

Hmph, hmph, hmph.

Molco...

Mr. Seo, Mr. Seo, Mr. Seo!

Um, someone help! Please...

[Emergency Entrance] I'm truly sorry.

Yes. All right then, please excuse me.

Um, excuse me.

Excuse me. I'm really sorry about that.

No, it was my fault. I misjudged my strength.

You just like aikido, Ms. Sasaoka. Even though you're still a beginner.

Let me reintroduce myself. My surname is Hirose, I work at Merry.

Sorry, I don't have a business card. I'll take one, thank you.

At Seo Design, I'm not a consultant.

I guess I kind of help out. My surname is Kusakabe.

[Merry Character Producer, Suzuka Sasaoka Merry Planner, Takaaki Hirose]

By the way, you two and Mr. Seo...

We're colleagues. Ah, sorry. Former colleagues.

But you two both work at Merry, right?

Seo was originally a designer at Merry too.

What? He never said a word about that.

So he actually used to do proper character design.

Not only that,

Seo was the main character designer for this.

For Cynical Molco?

- Wait, Mr. Hirose, that... - Also, Bean Snack Mamepon,

Dreaming Kokeko, Petal Brothers, Hara, Hire, and Hore. He designed them all.

Sorry, that was off the record.

Merry has a philosophy that characters are the protagonists,

so we don't disclose the names of the designers in charge.

That's why even if you check his background, there's nothing.

Mr. Seo.

Didn't you forget this?

No, it's not mine.

Taxi! Taxi! Taxi!

Anywhere is fine! Just go straight for now!

What's this? Why are you running away?

Wait, wait! Seo!

Quick, quick! Go!

I see, so Mr. Seo is in the competition.

Understood.

[Merry President, Takumi Omishima] Consultant?

Her surname is Kusakabe.

I see.

Thank you for contacting me. Well, then.

What's the matter?

It's nothing. I just heard a nostalgic name, that's all.

It's the icing on the cake.

It's hot, so please be careful.

So, what is it you wanted to talk about, Ms. Mondo?

[Merry Chief Designer, Mariko Mondo] It's about Mizuki Seo.

Why were you hiding it?

If you have the title of Cynical Molco's designer...

I hate it.

What?

Cynical Molco. So don't use that title.

But you were the one who designed it, right?

I mean, even I, with the title of Molco's creator, could create a hit.

But no, I asked to do it without that title. To work hard without it.

Mr. Seo.

Don't you think that's a value that only you have?

Isn't it something that not everyone has?

So I think we should make that special value even bigger.

That way, we should be able to make

the characters that you create into huge hits.

So...

You are just like those people. I knew it.

Hey.

Is that value really that important?

Important to whom?

I have my own love, something that's important to me.

And you're not looking at that at all. Or rather, you can't even see it.

It's not me who needs that value, it's you.

Driver, please stop here.

And you can stop helping out with me, too.

Your cooking

[Kitchen Sakoda] is a victory that only you two have.

It's special, able to deliver the name of Kitchen Sakoda to the world.

If we can just rebuild the shop, that would already be enough.

[From a Local Western Restaurant to a Global Brand]

Again.

I...

Mr. Seo.

It's been a while.

Won't you come back to Merry?

As the chief of the character design team.

But Ms. Mondo is the chief...

This is also Ms. Mondo's wish.

Let's create the next hit character together.

President, it's almost time.

I'm looking forward to a good reply.

[Kitchen Sakoda]

Welcome.

I already told you, didn't I?

You don't have to force yourself to come here.

I'm not forcing myself. I just came here because I want to eat.

Thank you for the food.

[Kitchen Sakoda Owner, Tsutomu Sakoda]

Don't disturb.

Disturb, disturb, disturb.

- Disturb. - No, I...

Lately, I've been thinking that more and more.

I'll handle the end of this restaurant myself.

When you invited me to aim for the world,

without thinking deeply,

I entrusted all my precious things, things I love,

and it was my responsibility.

So no matter what,

I'll handle the end of this restaurant myself.

[Bean Snack Mamepon]

Did you say that Ms. Kusakabe is back in consulting?

Yeah, well, she said she's just helping out.

What was it again? Seo Design or something, right?

Seo Design?

Hello, this is Kusakabe from Horai Consulting...

No, I mean, Kusakabe. Just Kusakabe.

It's been a while. This is Fuchinobe.

Fuchinobe...

Ah, Fuchinobe. What's up?

Oh, nothing, I just heard that you've made a big comeback in consulting.

I heard through the grapevine.

That's not true! Tell the person who said that...

And that your client is Seo Design. I also heard that through the grapevine.

It's Kominami, right? That rumor, it's definitely Kominami!

Seo Design. That means Mizuki Seo, right?

The designer of Cynical Molco.

Wait, how do you know so much?

Because I'm Fuchinobe,

the communication monster of the consulting world.

But more importantly, are you really doing that?

Consulting for Seo Design?

No. Like I said, now it's already...

Oh, so you're not doing it.

That's good, then.

It's just that I heard something about

Merry asking Mizuki Seo to return to the company,

and I was worried you might have gotten caught up in something weird.

Back to Merry?

Seo?

What is it? What's wrong?

Oh, nothing. It's just...

If you don't mind, please come this way.

You came all this way, Mr. Seo.

If you had contacted me, I would have come to you.

About that talk of me coming back to Merry...

I don't think it's possible.

No matter how hard I try, I just can't think of you as being right.

So I can't create characters with you.

No, I'm sorry. It seems I've caused a misunderstanding.

It's not you who will create characters, it's her.

She's a new designer at our company.

[Merry Character Designer, Rena Kawasaki]

My name is Rena.

Then, that talk...

Until now, Merry has kept its designers' names hidden,

but from now on, I think we'll put them out there.

Doing that helps us gain fans,

which makes it easier to sell our next creations.

The same goes for past works.

Of course, the biggest impact is expected from Cynical Molco's designer.

What I want is your title.

We'll publish the designs she draws under your name.

Though, of course, lying is not good.

"The next work from the team of Cynical Molco's designer, Mizuki Seo."

That's the copy we plan to use. It'll surely sell.

So I definitely want you to come back.

Don't mess with me!

Who would...

I'm not joking.

Because you don't have design talent, do you?

You had several works that you handled at our company, right?

Did any one of them become a hit?

The same goes for Molco.

With the initial settings and designs you came up with,

it didn't look happy at all.

So I made some adjustments.

As a result, it became an unprecedentedly huge hit.

So who has the talent? You or me?

Three years ago, you left the same way.

I've been watching all along.

Three years of saying you'd prove you were right.

And what was the result?

You kept making new characters and posting them on social media every day.

But how many people actually saw them?

And then, about six months ago, the presentation of works stopped completely.

Why?

You didn't understand anymore, did you, Mr. Seo?

No matter what you drew, nobody ever recognized it.

Yet the Molco you rejected keeps selling.

After all that confusion and wandering, the only thing you arrived at

is the fact that you have no talent.

Mr. Seo, there are really only two paths left for you now.

Return to Merry, or...

quit design?

Well, then.

You have a look on your face saying, "You didn't have to say that much."

No, no.

You have to crush your rivals while you can.

Why such caution toward Mr. Seo?

She's formidable, that Ms. Kusakabe.

- Can I? - Cute.

Where did you buy it?

That's popular right now.

- Can I touch it? - Sure.

- So cute. - Really cute.

Molco kick!

- Are you okay? - Are you okay?

- Are you okay? - Are you okay?

Are you okay? Are you okay?

What should I do? I'll call someone over.

- Yeah. - Okay.

- Are you okay? - Are you okay?

Mr. Seo!

I made it in.

I'm sorry.

Your feelings, which should be the most important thing,

were neglected.

Consulting is just like that, isn't it?

No, it's just that I'm that kind of person.

And that's also the reason why I quit consulting.

But it's precisely because of that

I absolutely want to see this project through.

Then help me.

I'm thinking of quitting character design.

Even if I continue, it'll just drag on. I think I've done enough.

Please wait.

What? Neglecting my feelings again?

Throw that away.

No! Please stop!

- Huh? Let go! - No!

- Let go! - I'm not letting go!

Why is your face like in The Shining?

- I'm not letting go! - Let go!

What are you doing?

You can't do that to them!

You don't know anything about them, do you?

I do know!

This one is Bean Snack Mamepon, and its rival is Karinto's Karin!

This one is Dreaming Kokeko, its special skill is oversleeping!

Petal Brothers, Hara, Hire, Hore!

Their catchphrase is, "Please pick us up!"

I researched it all.

Thoroughly. About all these characters you created.

The motifs and concepts are different, but they're all kind of fluffy.

And there's something that really connects them.

Mr. Seo.

I really felt that you made these characters with care, that you love them.

- What? - It doesn't make sense, right?

Well, it doesn't make sense to me either.

It doesn't make sense, but I understood.

That you really love these characters.

Hey, what are you even saying?

Then do you prefer Cynical Molco?

I somehow understand that that's not the case.

If you don't need them, can I have them?

Give them back.

I don't want to.

Give them back!

I don't want to!

- Give them back! - I don't want to!

Give them back!

I really hate all that love stuff.

Ever since I was a kid, I've loved cute things.

- Gross, you're supposed to be a guy. - And because of that,

I was teased.

Don't run away.

I thought about giving up loving them,

but whenever I see cute things, I'm immediately pulled back.

Eventually, I wanted to create things like this.

I joined Merry, but nothing I made ever became a hit.

But the one I thought would be a hit turned out to be...

Full Tummy Molco.

She's always full.

She only ever says, "Full Molco".

That's what's so good about her.

But before I knew it, they changed the design and stuff without permission,

and made her cynical instead!

For so long, I couldn't forgive that.

So,

I quit Merry, thinking I'd prove them wrong.

But no one acknowledged me.

No one understood me.

It's painful.

It's hard.

Even though I want to quit already.

Why?

If you still want to create, then let's create.

Let's create together.

It's not that simple.

Then let's quit. Yes, quit. Quit, everyone, resign.

Congratulations on graduating from character design.

Huh? Why are you deciding that on your own?

If it's so painful, so hard, then why not just quit?

There's no reason to continue, right?

I said, it's not that simple!

What part of it isn't simple?

You can't think of anything that isn't simple, can you?

Fired, fired. Once again, fired!

We're not talking about that right now.

Don't pretend it's complicated for yourself.

It's the reason you can't quit. Reason, reason, reason!

I want to do it! I love it!

Even though it's painful, even though it's hard,

I just can't stop loving it!

Then just do it!

You loving it that much.

I'm already at the point where I want to see what happens.

In fact, I'm bursting with excitement, totally in 'let's do this together' mode.

I'm in 'let's make it a huge hit' mode!

I'll do it.

I'll do it!

Right back at you. I'll do it too!