Original subtitles

The town's decked out in Christmas lights... huh?

Between the rush of business day trips

and doing the rounds making year-end greetings,

I've been left behind by the world.

Oh, that reminds me.

Yay! I'll be partying on Christmas with my wife and daughter.

Jingle bells!

Eh, unlike Suzuki, there's nothing I particularly want to do on Christmas.

There's probably a big crowd lined up at the counters tonight.

Hey, somebody dropped a tangerine.

Did it fall out of their shopping bag?

I'm not mad!

I'm not mad you flipped the box over, okay?!

So please just leave me alone!

I'll be the only one stuck here all night like this!

Everyone else left in a jolly Christmas mood...

December overtime doubles the feeling that I've been left behind all alone!

I know that feeling.

Why does this always happen to me?

I'm so stupid! I hate myself!

I wanna go home!

Not like I have anything planned, though.

Excuse me.

Should I put these tangerines in that box over there?

Cig 10 Shining Behind the Supermarket With You

I-I'm so sorry!

N-Not only did I take up your time, I also made you get your coat dirty.

P-Please, raise your head. It really isn't a big deal.

It must be rough, dealing with the high tangerine demand in winter.

Compassion

Thanks for all your hard work.

Touched

Okay, I'll take my leave now.

U-Um...!

A-Aren't you g-going to smoke tonight?!

Say what?!

How do you know that?

Huh? E-E-Er... I'm a smoker, too.

I've spotted you two smoking together a few times.

B-But I didn't join you because I don't like crowds in cramped spaces.

O-Okay?

Two's a crowd...?

Crowds?

You're the sales rep for some condiment we carry, right?

I-I just thought, why not have a smoke while you're here?

Sorry if I'm out of line.

I haven't felt this awkward since the first time I ran into the manager.

Heck, I ended up lying to him.

That's right. I'm a sales rep.

I knew it.

Sorry, Tayama-san! What do I do now?

U-Um...

Wh-What is your name, Mr. Sales Rep?

Oh, my name? I'm Sasaki.

Sasaki-san...

I-I-I'm Obata.

I'm in the enjoy of this store and chief of the produce department here.

"In the enjoy"? Hobby talk? Is this a marriage interview?

Wow, you're a chief, Obata-san?

That's so impressive for one so young.

Eek!

I'm not impressive or anything!

I just got promoted because I'd been here long enough.

You don't have to downplay it.

Oh, yeah, Obata-san.

What do you do with those tangerines?

Oh...

W-We wipe the dirt off the peels,

bag them, and sell them.

What? You pack them yourselves?

We get better prices buying singles, so we can sell them cheaper to customers.

I know ours are cheaper and tastier than the ones in other supermarkets.

Wow.

I really love that kind of dedication.

Very cool!

Oh, I wouldn't call it dedication!

I just try to make up for things.

Make up?

Yes.

I get lots of complaints about my customer service.

I'm so big and shy,

and I cause problems for every branch I'm sent to.

But...

There's someone here I really respect.

No matter how much of a burden I am,

they tell me that I just need to focus on doing whatever I can to help.

That's why I brainstorm all these ideas

so I can increase sales and improve the branch's reputation.

I want them to feel that despite all the problems I caused,

they were glad to have me here.

Man, wh-who do I think I am?

I should be improving my customer service first, right?

It's not like these sales are guaranteed...

You can do it, Obata-san.

Besides...

I know you've already made this person very happy with all the effort you put in.

Mr. Sales Rep!

Obata-san! You're crying all over your cigarette!

All right! I'll do my best!

Thank you very much for talking to a guy like me, Mr. Sales Rep.

L-Likewise.

I-I have to go put in another shift.

Okay.

So I'll be taking my leave.

Good luck.

Mr. Sales Rep...

If you don't mind, please sm...

What was that?

What a nice kid. I hope his shy nature doesn't give him too much trouble.

Shoot, I'm starting to tear up.

I like people like him who are fully dedicated to their work and workplace.

Actually, I remember someone else like that.

Huh? Right, there used to be a different supermarket here.

I wonder where they moved.

Obata-kun's just so cute, isn't he?

Ya...

Yamada-san?!

Hello there. Good evening.

H-Hello!

Sorry for using the smoking area. Actually, I can explain.

You two seem to have gotten awfully friendly.

Huh? I... guess?

Since you're such a nice person,

I feel like you'll make friends with all the smokers here in no time.

And then you'll get to smoke with everyone, not just Tayama-chan.

Yamada-san.

Tayama-san's the only one I want to smoke here with.

I'll never forget it!

It was her who graciously invited me to use this smoking area!

Have a smoke, mister.

Tayama-san will permit it.

This place wasn't supposed to be available to any old customer.

Tayama-san's the one who granted me the right to use it!

So it has to be Tayama-chan?

Yes.

Not Obata-kun or the manager?

Right!

Is that so? I see.

I think that's lovely!

Sasaki-san?

Are you okay? You're sweating buckets.

O-Oh, uh...

I-It's just my andropause.

What a blessed Christmas night!

Really? Must be rough.

I swear, this gaffer!

This easy-to-sway, softie, Sa-slow-ki, clumsy, corporate slave, andropausal,

mochi-chips-feasting, beanpole fan of mine, I swear to god...

All right, good work over Christmas, team.

Meat sales were through the roof at every branch as usual,

but we saw increased sales across all departments due to our teamwork.

In particular this year, Oba...

You had the highest fruit sales among all of our branches.

Way to go!

Thank you very much.

Good.

I see you're doing everything you can.

Still, try to keep the overtime in check.

Yes, ma'am.

Oba.

Yamada.

You smoked with Sasaki-san last night, didn't you?

O-Oh, yeah. He helped me pick up the tangerines.

Tangerines?

He's fun, huh?

Huh? I-I mean, he's just a great guy.

Why is she proud?!

Wait, you're here watching again?

Why not just go join in?

Wanna go with me?

Nah.

S-Say, Yamada, what do you usually talk about with Mr. Sales Rep?

It's mainly just me having fun messing with him.

Wow, Yamada, that's high-level.

Ahem. Please submit your plans for next month by the end of this one.

I know I say this every time, but make it clear what you want to promote.

Just a year after joining fresh out of college,

she made chief of the counter team,

Lucky Bag Daikons 1 per Customer

Rejects

Lucky Bag Daikons 1 per Customer

planned sales events whenever business was slow,

and tripled the branch's revenue,

landing her a role in HQ's storefront planning department in her third year.

Superfresh Supermarket

Superfresh Supermarket

I'm a superwoman.

Seven years later,

she returned to the front lines saying it'd be better if she were more hands-on.

Superwoman Gotou now works as a branch manager here.

Every member of this organization knows her name.

It's obscured by her curt nature and deadpan expression,

but she cares a lot about her staff,

and lots of people love and respect her.

I'm no exception.

The manager? Mess up in her work?

I've never seen that happen.

I've never seen her absent without leave.

Gotou-senpai's a machine!

Wa-ha

Wa-ha

Wa-ha

Wa-ha

Wa-ha

Wa-ha

Wa-ha

Wa-ha

If the manager has flaws, there's no one who knows what they are.

I finished writing up my monthly plans!

Better go submit it to the manager right away!

Office

E-Excuse me, Manager.

I-I brought my monthly...

Just my imagination?

King

of

Yums

Chicken Stock and Soy Sauce Ramen

This is sure to be delicious.

Yamada!

What's up, Oba? Nobody at the service counter?

No, no, it's not about that.

Then what?

I-I saw the manager...

Should I really talk about it?

Mention the manager's weakened state to one of her most trusted staff?

Everybody here loves her, you know?

If I share this with Yamada,

the shock may spread throughout the store and bring it to a grinding halt!

The boss is depressed? That's depressing to me, too.

Blah, blah, chatter, chatter.

blah

blah

chatter

chatter

Oh, no!

Is she gonna pull through?!

Seriously, what is it, Oba? What's this about the boss?

Oh, nah...

It's nothing. Never mind.

Wha?

Sorry for interrupting your meal. Thanks for everything.

Is he dying today?

What's the matter? Are you ill? Are you busy? Did HQ get mad at you? Is there something bothering you?

might be rude if she can't share ->

->

keep it casual

Is there something bothering you?

Is there something bothering you?

Okay, I'm gonna do this.

I'm a full-time employee, and I owe her a lot.

I have to be the one to look out for her!

I've got to lighten her load!

Please give me strength, Mr. Sales Rep!

You can do it, Obata-san!

Hey, Oba. Good work.

You too, Manager!

You know, these days...

I just get so worn out.

Manager, if I may ask...

Is there something bothering you?

Why do you ask?

Well, just like how you're always looking out for us,

we're always looking out for you, too.

Obata!

I can't believe I have such a considerate subordinate!

You've made me one proud boss!

It'll work!

That's it. Nice and natural.

Natural?

Does the sight of me startle you that much?

Hello there.

Yeah, hey there.

S-Sorry about that. This seat's a little precarious.

Oh, yeah, Oba.

There's something I've been meaning to ask you.

Y-Yes?

Monthly Plans

Produce

Moromoro Station Branch Obata

May I take it this monthly plans sheet is ready to submit?

I found it outside my office.

Right, I thought I heard someone call out to me.

Was that you?

If you had a question of some sort, I can answer you.

I... I...

I didn't see you crying or anything!

Okay.

Let's have a smoke.

And you can hear me out.

Man, you saw me crying while reading manga on break?

Well, uh, please kill me now.

You're a funny guy. That's why I'll kill you never.

It's amazing how she gets into everything.

I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions.

All good. I'm glad you have one less thing to worry about.

I'm also glad I didn't end up disappointing any of my subordinates.

Huh?

D-Disappointing?

Huh? I mean, if you thought your boss was moping about,

who else could you turn to for help?

I mean, you're absolutely right there.

But I...

If there's something troubling you,

I want you to come to me for a change. If you feel like it, of course.

But who am I to worry about you, huh?

You can do it all.

What was I thinking?

Heck, if that manga's good enough to move you to tears,

maybe I should buy and read it, too!

Obata.

Actually, I really always wanted to be a manga artist.

I gave up on that dream, which brings us to today.

She'd be so cool as a manga artist.

What could've possibly made you give up on something?

You see...

I couldn't handle sitting glued to a desk all day long.

W-Well, that's a shame.

Obata.

You're a full-timer. You must've heard why I still work the storefront.

Y-Yes. They said you thought it'd be better to be more hands-on.

It's the same thing.

I just couldn't deal with working a full-time desk job.

But people make me out to be some kind of superwoman.

Um...

Hmm?

Why are you revealing all these secrets to me?

Wha?

Are you being serious right now? For real?

I-I'm for real.

Huh...

I was trying to say that it's okay for you to worry about me.

I'm really, truly sorry, but I never would've got that!

My bad.

Anyway, if you see me acting strange again,

let me lean on you, whatever it turns out to be.

Are you sure I'm good enough?

You're plenty.

I...

I'll do anything I can.

I've realized that I'm a nasty guy.

Because from that moment on, I've been secretly waiting

for the day she needs my help.

Catch Me at the Melon Farm

Catch Me at the Melon Farm

Nishizono Hanako

Nishizono Hanako

You said you were interested, right?

So read it. I even wrote up a list of highlights for you.

That manga's got a ton of volumes, so hang in there.

Thank you so much!

Yes!

Translation: Sriram Gurunathan

Editing & Typesetting: Geoff Mazzolini Subtitle Timing: Krzysztof Kunc

Quality Check: Zachary Carlysle Translation Check: Sho Stifler

Cig 11 Hello From Behind the Supermarket