Please take me.
Go wherever you want to go,
no matter where it is.
Your eyes and warmth were so pure
that they could make me
earnestly dream of such
a childish idea like eloping.
Somewhere far away,
where nobody would berate us,
I just wanted to tell you
that I like you.
I guess you're not coming.
"Love is Better the Second Time Around"
"Episode 2"
I did it.
Chief Editor!
Umm...
Please assign someone else
for Iwanaga-sensei.
Huh? Is there a problem?
It seems that
they don't like me over there.
No, our personalities don't match.
Ah, about that,
I just got a call from
Iwanaga-sensei a while ago.
Huh?
There's no editor as splendid as
Miyata-kun.
I look forward to continuing
to work with him in the future.
Well,
seems like he's quite taken with you.
Huh?
Aren't you looking a bit pale?
Just a lack of sleep.
Oh well,
are you okay?
Iwanaga-sensei is a writer
who can bring in good numbers.
So we'll continue to rely
on you for the job.
- Yes. - Alright then.
What's going on?
You agreed to change to someone else,
didn't you?
After kissing me,
there's no way that's okay.
(Business Now)
Dammit.
He's got a nice face.
Talking to that pretty face
throws me off my game.
(A new message)
(When can we meet this week?)
I have my own life.
I have work. I have a life.
I'm not in high school anymore,
I won't conform to your pace.
(Iwanaga Takashi Regarding the next meeting)
(Regarding the next meeting)
Regarding the next meeting.
I'd prefer to have
a face-to-face meeting if possible.
Every single time,
calling me for something that
could have been handled through email.
Miyata-san,
sorry to keep you waiting.
Iwanaga's running late
due to an unexpected visitor.
Can you wait a bit longer?
Sure.
If you'd like...
Thank you very much.
I'll accept it.
Um... so,
have you been at
the university for a long time?
From my student days.
I wasn't sure what to do,
and after failing to find a job,
Iwanaga-sensei picked me up.
He's my benefactor.
I see...
Miyata-san, you're an old acquaintance
of Iwanaga-sensei, right?
So you're aware.
I heard it from sensei.
You were his junior in high school.
Oh yeah, that's right.
I moved away midway though.
I heard you were very cute.
Oh no, no, that's not true.
Just average, really!
Just average.
Well, Iwanaga-sensei
was a famous person back then.
I suppose so.
Miyata-san.
Yes?
You bitch.
Don't you dare lay a hand on sensei.
Huh?
Don't be fooled by lip service
and fall for his invitations so easily.
You should know your place,
you're just a editor, nothing more.
Sensei seems like he's coming now.
Excuse me.
B...
Bitch?
Me?
Bitch?
Why did he have to
say it to that extent?
Hey.
Sorry for being late.
Shall we begin?
It's you! You're the cause!
I'm definitely going to
get changed in assignment.
- Miyata-kun! - Definitely going to...
Caught up with you.
What is it?
We've had enough of our meeting.
Here, you forgot this.
Ah...
Sorry about that.
Geez...
Look at your face.
Face?
Even if you make a face
like you want to be kissed,
I can't fulfill your expectations
at school.
Please refrain from
joking around too much.
I really don't want to be misunderstood.
I don't want to be called a bitch again.
A bitch? Miyata-kun?
That's what he said.
Could it be...
Shiraishi-kun?
Yes.
Ah, I see,
sorry about that.
Maybe he misunderstood something,
even though we're not lovers.
But you two already did it.
Of course he would misunderstood.
That was a long time ago.
Miyata-kun, hey.
I've had enough of being pushed around.
What I should be focusing on now is
enriching the life
I've built up until this point.
(Everything about marriage proposals)
(Engagement ring)
I used to think vaguely about
being with her eventually...
but after three years of dating,
at 30 years old,
maybe now is the best time.
This is quite unusual,
a restaurant with this atmosphere.
Thought it might be nice for a change.
Yeah...
Ako-chan.
Will you marry m...
Hiro-kun!
Huh?
They say love and marriage are separate,
but for me, I want to marry after love.
Thank you for everything until now.
I loved you.
(Please marry me)
Sorry to keep you waiting.
I'm glad you contacted me.
So, what's up?
It's all your fault, senpai.
A proposal?
Wow, I'm so happy.
That's three months' worth of salary.
Mm.
Got rejected.
Mm.
Since reuniting with senpai,
everything's been messed up.
My life is a mess.
How are you going to
take responsibility for this?
I'll take responsibility.
Go out with me,
Miyata-kun.
Stop fooling around!
How much more will you ridicule me?
Go out with you?
And if I accept,
will you laugh like last time?
Did you make a bet with that assistant?
I'm sorry.
I didn't realize I hurt you so much.
Well, I've said what I wanted to.
Excuse me.
About us going out,
I'm definitely saying no to that,
so please understand.
Got rejected.
It's okay, work is proceeding as usual.
I can manage just fine on my own.
I'll take responsibility.
Go out with me.
Could it be was he serious?
No, no, impossible.
He's just teasing me again,
there's no way he was serious.
Sensei.
Hmm?
No.
Why not?
You said you're single now, sensei?
I told you we wouldn't do that anymore.
Let's forget about what just happened,
and please leave.
I'm fine with a
no-strings-attached relationship.
I just want to be held by you, sensei.
I won't ask for
a romantic relationship.
Just call me whenever you feel like it.
You're okay with being a casual hookup?
Yes.
I've never wanted someone like that.
Even at that previous time,
I didn't treat it as just a hookup.
I like you, Sensei.
I've always liked you,
always, forever...
At that time, I was swayed
by your desperation...
But I regret it now,
I'm sorry.
Besides,
just because I won't be yours,
it doesn't mean I can overlook you insulting Miyata-kun.
I won't forgive it next time.
Sensei, you've been
acting strange lately.
Is it because of that person?
It's none of your concern.
Just go home.
Since reuniting with senpai,
everything has gotten weird.
Things has gotten weird.
That's my line.
But
we're not kids anymore.
We won't be shaken by
something like this.
Please stop posing.
It's beautiful.
Come over here.
This is still a business meeting, right?
Of course.
It's also a part of our research
for the first web article,
'The Economics of Dating Spots'.
Should we hold hands too?
Huh?
I'm not joking.
What should be the theme
for our next magazine article?
Right.
How about 'The weak yen currency
and Honeymoon Destinations'
or 'Is Inflation Always Bad?'
Something like these?
Hmm, either one works for me.
I think a softer theme with
broader appeal would be better.
Thanks to your looks,
we might attract a new audience.
Oh, really?
Do you like my appearance,
even just a bit?
Come on, tell me.
I like it!
Since high school,
I've always thought
your face was beautiful.
Really,
your face is just amazing,
just your face alone.
That was fun, wasn't it?
Please, just stop it.
I don't want to be pushed around by you.
I want to be pushed around by you.
Stick to the agenda for next meeting.
Come on, come on.
Do you have some time after this?
Let's take a walk.
I think that's enough.
You
have things you want to ask, right?
There are things I want to tell you too.
Remember when
we went to the local river together?
Yes,
That's an embarrassing memory.
I can't forget the you from back then.
Please, forget it. Right now.
Mm...
Your lips were so soft.
Back then,
I actually made a bet with a friend
whether you'd run away with me or not.
Right.
Senpai, you're heartless, after all.
But
it's true that I also felt affection
for you back then.
That time...
I was a little shocked
when you didn't show up.
I hid my own guilt.
If we could get somewhere far away,
I had so many things
I wanted to tell you.
What about you?
You wanted to ask me something, right?
Which side did you bet on?
Did you expect me to come
or not?
Not to come.
I was afraid of
getting hurt if I expected it
and you didn't show up.
I'm sorry,
I was young then.
So,
let's start over.
We're adults now,
we can make it work this time.
Is it okay?
Is it really okay?
Is it really okay for me?
I won't be fooled,
I'm an adult now.
We're both in our 30s,
what's this about starting over
and making it work?
Life isn't that sweet,
I know that well enough.
A fleeting romance
that only last a moment,
I don't need it!
Don't think that you can say
anything with a melancholic expression
and a beautiful face,
and I'll accept it all!
And also, the deadline!
It's until next Wednesday at 3 p.m.,
so excuse me!
I got rejected again.
How thrilling.
I'm the one who wants you
to take responsibility.
You were deep inside my heart,
and now that you've reappeared,
stirring up my feelings
for you once more.
(This is a fictional work)
(Next episode)
Isn't that my relationship
with you, sensei?
That we're lovers?
Apparently, he couldn't
contact Iwanaka-sensei.
Why do you have to mess with me?
We're not high school students anymore.
We still have time to stop.
Because we're adults, so we can't stop.