Original subtitles

Please calm down.

Did something happen to Kimio-kun?

Suicide?

I'll go right away.

Yoko-san, is something wrong?

Sorry, I'll be right back.

I'm sorry for being so abrupt, Yoko-chan.

Where is Kimio?

I heard something being broken from inside the room.

I though he might commit suicide or something.

I got worried,

so I called you.

The sound has stopped now,

but there was no response when I called out.

Excuse me.

Kimio-kun?

It's me...

Your parents are worried.

That you might commit suicide.

I wouldn't do that.

Hey, look at me and talk...

Please leave.

I'm sorry, Yoko-chan.

I'm sorry for coming all the way here.

No, but what happened?

When his father asked what he planned to do from now on...

He got angry, thinking that I was in the way.

I recently had a health check-up...

Huh?

It's not something to be concerned about.

We're both in our 70s

and realize that we're no longer young...

If one of us were to die before the other...

The one left behind

and Kimio would be left in a difficult situation.

Yoko-san is everything okay?

You left without taking anything, so I'm worried.

I'm sorry for making you worry.

But it was nothing serious.

But...

It's already past working time.

Both of you should go home.

Did you go to Igarashi Kimio's place?

Huh?

The only job seeker that you're handling, right?

I've been curious since I saw his name in the database.

He has been registered since Shepard Career was founded.

Until now, not even once...

There's a record of you conducting an interview with Igarashi-san.

What is your relationship?

We were lovers.

Huh?

Well,

I guess we're ex-lovers now.

Episode 8 [Who decided that shut-ins are unproductive]

He has been a shut-in for 10 years.

I think I met him about 13 years ago.

Please wait a moment.

Okay.

Sensei, should I hold it for you?

It's okay.

You look a little wobbly.

Really? I don't think so.

Let's go!

I messed up...

Sorry.

See,

I told you.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Did you mess up again?

Everyone!

Thank you!

Don't get so emotional over something like this.

Igarashi-sensei is easily moved.

Really?

It's always like that.

I'm Ochiai Yoko from Hibari Tourist.

I want to make it a memorable school trip for the children.

I look forward to working with you.

Likewise, I look forward to working with you.

Please have a seat.

Okay.

He's really a good person.

He really cares about the children.

The children had a great time, didn't they?

Yes.

I think it became a memorable school trip.

Thank you very much.

Likewise, thank you very much.

Umm...

Yes.

Do you like liver and leek stir-fry?

Liver and leek stir-fry?

There's a delicious set-meal restaurant nearby.

Their liver and leek stir-fry is amazing.

I'd love for you to try it too...

You don't go to a set-meal restaurant, do you?

I'm sorry.

What am I saying.

I like it.

Huh?

Set-meal restaurant.

Really?

Then let's go!

Yes.

Yay!

That's a relief.

I didn't know what to do for a moment.

Liver and leek stir-fry!

We had been dating for about two years,

and I had also been introduced to his parents.

But...

Sorry to keep you waiting.

What's wrong?

You look really tired.

Can't you take a break?

I'm fine, I'm fine.

But...

When I'm tired,

I always come here and look at the river.

It makes me feel better.

Really?

Yoko-san, how's work?

You submitted a new travel plan, right?

The plan got approved.

Really? That's amazing!

Thank you.

Seeing your face always cheers me up.

However, one month later...

I received a call from his parents.

Kimio-kun.

I heard you quit your job.

What happened?

I can't take it anymore...

I know it's tough.

Didn't you always say

that seeing the children's smiles...

Stop it!

Just leave me alone...

Let's talk properly, okay?

Please forget about me.

From that day on...

He locked himself in his room.

Even when his parents contacted the school...

They couldn't figure out why he resigned.

He was a serious person.

Maybe he got too busy and tired.

I don't know why I didn't realize it before it's too late.

I wondered if I was even looking at him?

It's not your fault...

I think I'm also responsible.

Because he was the person I wanted to marry.

I went to various places for advice.

But it didn't go well...

Is that why you started Shepherd Career?

One day,

I learned about a job called job change agent...

And I thought, "This is it."

If I could develop an agent who helps each person...

It might lead to his social reintegration.

So you quit the travel agency and started your own business?

After that, I tried to introduce him to jobs many times.

But he never went for an interview.

I also didn't know what to do...

But with this incident, I clearly understood.

There's not much time left.

I've to do something.

Is there anything I can do?

I want to handle his situation myself.

Your thoughts that count.

I had no idea that

Yoko-san had such circumstances.

Even though she always supported me.

Why can't I be of any help?

Please stay strong,

it's about your aunt.

And it's not only you who's worried.

Huh?

I feel the same way.

She's my benefactor.

Everyone...

I've something to tell you...

Yeah.

If someone who is a shut-in comes as a job seeker...

What would happen?

That's a difficult question.

It depends on how many years they've been shut-in

and their age, I think.

For example,

if they've been shut-in for 10 years

and they're 43 years old...

I think that would be quite difficult.

If they need to care for their parents

or face other unavoidable circumstances...

There is a possibility that companies would understand, but...

Hmm, if there's such a long period of inactivity...

The employers would hesitate, I suppose.

It's difficult, isn't it...

In the first place,

whether the person intends to work or not

is the main issue, isn't it?

But a lot of people like that

actually want to work but can't.

I had a friend from elementary school who was like that.

They had the desire,

but they couldn't move.

Surprisingly, it could be someone's close family member...

who becomes a shut-in, right?

It's not something you can easily talk to others about, right?

Once you become a shut-in...

both the shut-in themselves and their family

end up isolated from the people around them.

It would be great if we could support those people.

It's difficult...

Hitsujitani-san.

Would you like to go for lunch?

Huh?

Hello.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Nice to meet you.

What a lovely restaurant.

Thank you very much.

By any chance, are you Chiharu's boyfriend?

No, he's not.

This is Tenma-san, who recently joined Shepard Career.

I see.

I hope our food suits your taste.

I heard about you from everyone at Shepard Career.

It's the best restaurant for capturing everyone's appetite and doesn't let go.

And you're also an ideal couple as a married couple.

You're praising too much.

Dessert is on the house!

Sorry to keep you waiting!

Wow, amazing!

Please enjoy.

Thank you very much.

Wow.

As expected of the Angel of Career Advisor.

You've captured their hearts at the first meeting.

You think so?

But thanks to you,

we can enjoy such a luxurious dessert.

Let's dig in!

It's delicious.

You finally smiled.

Huh?

You look better when you smile.

Thank you very much.

Is the shut-in you mentioned a person you know?

I can't go into details...

I wanted to help someone who has always supported me.

That sounds just like you.

You think so?

But I wonder what can I do?

Isn't it better not to rush?

Even with this parfait...

You can't reach the bottom right away.

First, take it easy

and start little by little with your surroundings.

From your surroundings...

Thank you very much!

I'm glad I talked to Mr. Tenma.

Oops! Sorry.

I'm going to Igarashi-san's house.

I'm not sure if I can be of any help,

but I still want to do something.

In that case,

please quickly get your bag.

Huh?

I already made an appointment with Igarashi-san.

Yes.

I apologize for the sudden visit.

It's fine.

You're Yoko-chan's niece after all.

Why are you here today?

Yoko-san told me about Kimio-san.

We want to help Kimio-san in any way we can.

We might not be able to hear directly from him...

We were hoping to hear it from you.

Our foundation as career advisors

is to be there for others.

Thank you,

it's reassuring.

You're kind, just like Yoko-chan.

Did Yoko-san always come here?

She has come here

virtually every month for the past ten years.

She brought job offers

and asked if the job conditions were acceptable.

She spoke through the door multiple times.

I think your teaching qualifications would be valuable.

I'm truly grateful to Yoko-chan.

What kind of teacher was Kimio-san?

He liked children.

The children adored him too.

When he quit,

there were children who called to express their concern.

Some even wrote him letters.

When those children graduated,

they brought the yearbook and the group card here.

But he never opened them.

Is that so?

Do you still have those yearbook and the group card?

I wonder where they are.

If not mistaken...

He still hasn't seen them.

He probably found it painful to look at it.

I also couldn't notice his pain and help him.

Please don't blame yourself too much.

These yearbook and group card,

may I borrow them?

Is there something in that yearbook?

Huh?

This kid hasn't written anything?

What about the messages from others?

All the other children's names were there.

There was no name for Fujikawa Kousuke.

What does this mean?

Fujikawa Kousuke-kun.

Does this have to do with Kimio-san quitting school?

We won't know that until we talk to him.

But where is he now?

Address.

Not listed.

Should we search the entire school district one by one?

That's not realistic.

Yeah...

Can I talk to you for a moment?

Can you at least listen to me once?

Even just one day a week is fine.

They said it would be good if you could gradually get used to it.

They understand our circumstances.

I also know the president well.

So this time, it'll be alright.

What do you mean by "alright"?

It's enough.

As for me...

I'm going to die like this.

I won't cause trouble for anyone.

But neither your father nor mother...

Will always be there for you.

I know that!

If that's the case, you have to do something.

Do you think

I can get employed again?

Please,

just leave me alone!

I don't want to see

your face anymore.

You're already...

Just a stranger.

Yoko-san,

are you okay?

You look pale.

Did something happen with Kimio-san?

No, I'm fine.

Yoko-san...

I think it's okay for you to rely on someone.

Please don't bear everything alone.

There's no one who can live alone.

It's pathetic, isn't it?

I somehow believed I'm still special to Kimio-kun.

But...

In the end, I wondered if everything I had done was meaningless.

That's not true.

Absolutely not true.

When we first met...

Do you remember what you told me?

You've been through a lot.

What made you want to work again?

A fair-weather girl...

Huh?

I met someone...

I knew I couldn't continue like this.

I see.

I guess it takes a person to move someone's heart.

I'm sorry.

It's nothing.

Is there a place

where someone like me can work?

I'd like to present you with one job offer.

Yes.

Would you like to work with us?

Huh?

Based on your resume,

I think you'd be a perfect fit as a job change agent.

And we are also understaffed and in need of help.

The person who can guide a lost sheep

was once a lost sheep themselves.

Don't you think?

You really think highly

of someone you just met today.

I'm in the recruitment industry,

so I believe I've an eye for people.

You'll be a good career advisor

who can think about job seekers.

I also want to believe.

Even if you have scars on your heart or body,

you can still make a difference in society.

When you thought about hiring me back then,

wasn't it because you had Kimio-san in mind?

What will you do?

Are you giving up on him?

Is this how you want your life to be?

This could be the key.

The class Kimio-san's in charge of?

Only that kid named Fujikawa Kousuke

didn't write anything in the yearbook or the group card.

There might be something going on.

Did he quit school

not because of overwork?

To find out for sure,

everyone at Shepard Career is looking for him.

Can I ask you something?

What are you two investigating?

Is it for the president?

Huh?

How...

You can tell if you pay attention, right?

That's right.

I can tell too.

Isn't there something we can do?

Please let us help.

Everyone...

We're looking for a young man named Fujikawa Koussuke.

He's a graduate of Meiyo Elementary School in the Central District

and he's 22 years old this year.

Fujikawa-kun.

Understood.

Let's split up and search.

Okay.

Isn't using SNS the best option?

You're not alone.

Thank you.

I'll search too.

I don't want to see

your face anymore.

You're already...

Just a stranger.

Please let me talk to Kimio-kun one more time.

Of course.

Please come in.

Kimio.

Yoko-chan came.

I've something important to discuss.

There's someone I want you to meet.

Kimio-kun?

Huh?

I wonder where he went.

Yoko-chan!

I'll take a look around nearby.

Where is he?

When I feel tired...

I always come here to look at the river.

It cheers me up.

Yoko-san said that Kimio-san is missing...

Kimio-kun!

Don't come here!

If you come, I'll...

Don't be hasty.

Hasty?

Hasty or not...

My life is already over.

Since ten years ago.

I'm already dead.

Ten years ago,

I heard from someone about what happened in the class you oversaw.

A boy named Fujikawa Kousuke

was ignored and bullied by everyone in the class, right?

As his homeroom teacher,

you tried to create a place for him in the class.

But it had the opposite effect.

They said he was a tattletale for the teacher...

And it only made the bullying worse.

Fujikawa...

What happened afterwards?

He refused to go to school

and locked himself in his room.

Please stop!

Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't want it to be known.

It's because of me.

My student ended up becoming a shut-in.

Many times...

I visited Fujikawa's house.

Hey, Fujikawa.

If you really don't want to go to school...

I don't think you need to force yourself.

School is not the only place where you belong.

But...

Whatever you do,

I don't want you to give up connecting with people.

Shut up!

I can't go to school anymore

because you did something unnecessary.

Because of you,

my life is a mess!

I...

I couldn't save my student.

I'm making everyone miserable.

Including Fujikawa

and my parents...

And you.

That's not true.

Why do you keep trying to be involved with me?

Please, just leave me alone.

I can't.

What you suffered so much from 10 years ago...

I couldn't even notice it.

I didn't want you to notice!

I didn't want to burden you.

Forget about me.

I wanted you to marry

someone who could make you happy.

Because of me...

I've ruined your life...

Indeed, my life has changed.

But not in a bad way.

I encountered my current job.

I believe that this job

is necessary in today's society.

By supporting those in need.

No matter how much you stumble,

you can start over.

I hope I can become a force that helps society change.

I love this job.

I take pride in it.

Believing that happiness only comes from marriage is your misconception.

I'm truly happy.

I've something I want to show you.

I've been waiting for you.

Sorry for being late.

This...

Everyone worked together to prepare this.

Thank you for always taking care of me.

This time...

We've decided to host a social gathering to help shut-ins reintegrate into society.

I'm calling to invite you and everyone from the support group

to participate if possible.

It's done.

What do you think?

It's wonderful.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

[Future Session]

Thank you.

It has already started, so please come quickly.

Here this way.

When I was in 6th grade,

I was bullied...

And I became a shut-in.

Fujikawa...

I've been a shut-in for about five years.

When I was 17 years old,

I started to think that I couldn't continue like this.

That's because

of what my sixth-grade homeroom teacher said to me.

School is not the only place where you belong.

Whatever you do,

I don't want you to give up connecting with people.

He kept saying that to me.

I don't want you to give up connecting with people.

But when I was in elementary school,

I couldn't accept that.

I vented my frustration about not fitting in at school

and rejected my teacher.

As time passed, I got calmer and reflected.

I realized that he

was really saying something important to me.

The reason I was able to go outside

was because of the words from him.

I attended a free school and made friends.

And this year,

I was able to get a job.

If I could meet him, I would like to tell him

I'm sorry for back then.

And also,

thank you very much.

This time,

thanks to everyone at Shepard Career

inviting me to this shut-in social gathering,

I hope that my experience

can be of help to someone, even just a little.

Wait.

Seeing Fujikawa made me realize.

How much I've wasted my life.

I'm already 43 years old.

It's not easy to start over.

I'm an unproductive shut-in.

Who decided that shut-ins

are unproductive?

Even if you can't go outside.

There are ways to connect with society while staying at home.

The past cannot be changed.

But the future can.

Don't be trapped in the past

and live in the present.

With family and close ones,

sometimes there are problems

that can't be solved because you're too close.

That's why

there is a job called career advisor.

Would you allow us

to help you take the next step?

Whatever you do,

I don't want you to give up connecting with people.

Are you really going to walk home?

I want to walk.

I had forgotten how hot the summer is.

For the first time in 10 years.

I feel like I can breathe again.

Should we take a little break?

Yeah.

First, I need to exercise.

I'm too out of shape.

It's good to take breaks along the way

just take one step at a time.

I'll be here with you.

Yoko-san.

For ten years...

I'm sorry.

Thank you

for not

giving up on me.

Thank you so much for everything.

Stop it, you're overly formal.

It's too polite, it's actually scary.

What do you mean scary?

How is Kimio-san doing?

First,

getting himself in shape

by building a healthy body.

All he housework that he used to leave to his parents,

he's starting to do them himself.

That's amazing.

In the future, when he returns to work

he wants to support people who were shut-ins

to reintegrate into society.

That's great, isn't it?

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

Please feel free to rely on us anytime.

We are very capable, you know.

Right.

Please rely on me too.

Inukai is a part-timers, so...

I'm the best employee, even if I work part-time.

The world's number one...

It's amazing, isn't it?

A company where everyone supports each other.

It's beautiful.

Beautiful.

Yama-san, we're beautiful?

What's going on?

Everyone seems excited?

Good work.

Good work.

Really?

Yeah.

Did something happen?

Well...

It's a secret.

Well then, everyone, see you.

Yes.

When someone says it's a secret...

I get curious...

Tell me, Kurusu.

I'll pass.

Huh?

Yokoyama-san.

What?

Earlier...

You received a call from Otoha Pharmaceuticals.

Maybe there's a job opening?

Seriously?

Yes.

I don't have time for this.

Take care.

Good luck.

I'm off.

Good job, Hitsujitani.

You've gotten better at handling Yokoyama-kun.

It's troublesome if he argues with Kurusu-san.

Kurusu-san.

Thank you very much.

What is this for?

It's a thank you

for helping my aunt as her niece.

But I'm glad

to know when Yoko-san and Kurusu-san first met.

I never imagined

she'd be scouting you, who came as a job seeker.

That sounds just like her.

I see why you referred to her as your benefactor.

And I want to believe.

Even if you have scars on your heart and body...

You can still make a difference in society.

Please carefully consider it.

Yes.

How unusual.

To greet someone for the first time.

This child is called Tapioca.

Tapioca...

A member of our company.

My niece found it and brought it home.

The president isn't my only benefactor.

What do you mean?

Kurusu-san.

Did I interrupt something?

No, not at all.

The president is calling for you.

It feels good, doesn't it?

Yes.

Tenma-san,

thank you very much.

Did I do something to deserve your thanks?

You gave me advice

while eating the parfait...

That's why I was able to solve the problem.

Thank you very much.

You truly are an angel.

I'm glad.

I was able to be of help to someone important.

Huh?

Feel free to consult with me at any time.

I wonder what he meant earlier...

Kurusu-kun,

please take care of the Osaka branch.

Huh?

We're finally starting a new office.

It's going to get busy.

I'm entrusting the Osaka branch to you.