Senpai.
Thanks.
Please take me.
Go wherever you want to go,
no matter where it is.
Miyata-kun.
Shall we go further than this?
I...
About Hoshizawa-senpai...
Who said Tokyo is difficult to live in?
I've been living there for 12 years.
You'll just get used to it.
Alright.
(Iwanaga Takashi)
Iwanaga Takashi-sensei
from the Faculty of Economics
at Tohou University.
Takashi...
Alright.
I'm off.
Ah, good luck.
I'm gotten used to being a
magazine editor for eight years.
And even having meetings with professors
and others for the first time,
I've become accustomed to it all.
Please come in.
Excuse me.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Miyata Akihiro from Tokyo Business.
Nice to meet you...
I don't think so,
Miyata-kun.
Hoshizawa-senpai...
"Love is Better the Second Time Around"
"Episode 1" We are targeting businessmen
in their thirties,
but from now on, we want to
approach the younger demographic
with themes that are not too formal,
and are easy to relate to,
And then...
Is something wrong?
I thought you'd become more mature.
Well, I'm already 30.
Miyata-kun.
So you did end up
in publishing after all.
You always loved books.
Let's proceed with the meeting,
Iwanaga-sensei.
Sensei?
Just call me like you used to,
Hoshizawa-senpai.
Your name has changed, hasn't it?
I was adopted
right after graduating from high school.
Is that so?
- About that... - Ah...
It's been so long.
By the way,
That day,
why didn't you come?
I waited for so long, you know.
Easily breaking the promise we made
while holding hands like that.
Why? Miyata-kun.
I was wrong. I broke the promise.
But...
And what about you?
I know.
You were just teasing
and playing with me,
you didn't really like me.
I'm sorry.
I'll contact you through email later.
Excuse me.
My dark history,
Hoshizawa Takashi-senpai.
He was such a well-known figure
in our hometown that
hardly anyone didn't know him.
Isn't that Hoshizawa-senpai over there?
How cool!
What is he reading?
- So smart. - He's also the top of his year.
Wow, amazing.
A remarkably handsome guy.
Born into a prestigious family,
wealthy.
- Incredibly smart, - Incredibly smart,
but
he always liked being alone.
Hey.
Why are you looking at me like that?
I was foolish.
I was just a kid.
To think I was in love
with a man like him.
Hoshizawa-senpai...
(A new message)
(Hiro-kun, can I go
to your place today?)
(Sorry, I'm still caught up with work. Let's meet another time)
(Got it)
Yes.
Excuse me.
For some reason,
the computer crashed and
you couldn't send emails,
I decided to come here to get the draft.
Sorry about that.
My computer just wouldn't work at all.
I guess analog methods are
the way to go in times like this.
I think there are plenty of
other methods available.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Since you're already here,
how about we grab lunch together?
No, I need to submit
this as soon as possible.
You're joking.
It's not that urgent, is it?
If it's not, then I wouldn't
bother picking it up.
You can just hear me out a little.
No, I'd better not.
I've been curious ever since then.
Have we
ever loved each other?
Excuse me.
Yes.
Ah, Shiraishi-kun, my assistant.
Nice to meet you,
I'm the assistant, Shiraishi.
I'm really sorry about
Iwanaga-sensei,
I said I'd send it from my computer,
but he said it's very important,
so he wanted to deliver it in person.
Sorry to trouble you.
No problem.
That's everything.
Thank you.
Sorry for interupting.
No worries.
Is he your young lover?
He's not my lover.
I see.
Actually, there's a
woman I'm interested in marrying.
Huh...
Is that so?
Let's forget about the past
and focus on being business partners,
shall we?
I'll leave the rest to you.
Miyata-kun.
Well then.
Even though I said that to Senpai,
but about the marriage...
Hiro-kun.
Hiro-kun!
Huh?
You seem too absent-minded lately.
Sorry, sorry.
Umm...
So, yeah...
Come to my house this time.
My parents really want
to see you too, Hiro-kun.
Ah... Yeah.
Of course, I'll come.
If you're not enthusiastic about it,
don't force yourself.
Huh? Why? I'll go.
What's wrong?
No, it's nothing.
I'd better go home now.
You're not coming over?
(Iwanaga Takashi)
It's from a business partner.
Pick it up.
But...
Ah, he hung up.
It must be hard since it's this late.
See you later.
Thank you for your support.
I'm feeling a bit uneasy,
I'm in a bit of a bind right now.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
(Ten thousand yen)
I'm really sorry.
Well then.
Hey, wait!
Since you're here, let's have a drink.
Huh?
After you just returned the money...
That's the thing...
I found it in my pocket.
Do you always come here to drink?
Yeah.
When I have things to think about,
I come alone.
That's pretty cool.
A glass of whiskey with
water for 3000 yen...
Heh.
But if this one drink
can make you stay
with me a little longer,
then I'd say it's worth the cost.
I don't know.
Are you really getting married?
Someday I think I will get married.
Think twice.
Why's that all of a sudden?
You might regret it.
Why?
Because
you can't love anyone other than me.
I've already booked a room.
Shall we talk over there?
That way of asking me out,
are you a perverted old man?
I'll sue you for power harassment.
Not sexual harassment?
Besides,
that assistant of yours might cry.
I only had one encounter with that boy.
That's seriously messed up.
Excuse me.
See you later.
Teasing me like that again.
What's wrong with him?
Despite his age,
he's still acting
like a high school kid.
Wow, Iwanaga-sensei's photo
really makes an impact.
Yes.
How many years since we had sold out?
(Business Now) Looks cool, doesn't it?
Yeah.
So old...
Ah.
Like...
He's at this age but still so handsome.
Ah, I want to say it clearly.
The truth is, I was involved
with him in the past,
and it was complicated.
It's not something
I can easily talk about!
Miyata-kun,
yo're not getting along with sensei?
Nothing's wrong.
Oh, I see.
Well, there's something I want to ask
Iwanaga-sensei for help with.
Huh?
We still haven't finished printing,
you're thinking about the next one?
Well, the response
was beyond expectations.
I thought it'd be best to start
looking for the next opportunity.
Can I count on you to approach him?
Isn't the sensei busy?
That's where your skills come in.
Then, I'll ask at the next meeting.
Yeah, thanks.
Oh, by the way,
once it's confirmed,
I'll have you handle it.
Please continue to coordinate
with the sensei.
I understand. Let's try to move in
this direction for the next phase.
By the way, Miyata-kun...
- After this... - Sensei.
Yes?
I was thinking if
I could ask you to publish
the new article on the web?
On the web?
Thank you for offer,
but I don't have time.
I already have my main job to handle.
Thank you for your hard work.
Ah.
Thank you for your hard work.
- Thank you for your hard work. - Thank you for your hard work.
- See you next time. - Thank you for your hard work.
- Thank you for your hard work.
Thank you for your hard work.
As expected, it's not possible.
Well, it's a request from you,
right?
No.
It's from the editorial department.
It's not a personal request.
Hmm...
I see.
It can't be helped.
I'll think about it.
Umm...
Professor.
Hmm?
I
don't have confidence
in handling your projects.
I'm thinking of asking the other editor to take charge of you.
It's impossible after all.
Becoming business partners with you...
Why?
Because you're reminded of the past?
No, it's not that.
I'm...
not as popular as you.
I'm hopeless,
completely different from you.
- Besides... - If you dislike it, I understand.
Fine then.
That's too bad.
I'm sorry.
I'll make sure to handle
the handover properly.
Yeah. Let's go for dinner.
Huh?
There's a soba place nearby.
You're probably going to have dinner,
why not join me?
You've been turning down my
invitations to dinner multiple times.
Well,
it might be the last time.
Let's just go get some soba.
Okay?
Two people alone in
a private room like this.
Wouldn't it be a disaster
if that kid sees us?
You mean Shiraishi-kun?
Why?
You two did it already, yes?
If you ask that, the answer is yes.
But it's been two years since then.
Besides, we already had an agreement
not to have a relationship.
You see,
let me say this,
but you seem too detached
from other people's feelings.
Such a young and innocent boy,
have you ever thought about
his feelings?
Well, but he was the one
who approached me first.
Even so,
it's like adults deceiving children.
Senpai, you're completely at fault!
You're right.
Even though he's old enough
to be working,
but I'm the one at fault here.
Exactly.
You like toying with
other people's feelings.
It's not so bad being lectured by you.
Are you a masochist?
I don't think so, but maybe I am.
You keep saying things like that.
But please take
responsibility for your words.
Each and every one of them.
I liked the honest you from high school,
but I like you more now.
Really...
Is that so?
Huh?
Good morning,
it's still midnight, though.
Umm...
This is my house.
You were sleeping soundly,
so I had to take you home.
Oh, I'm so sorry!
That was cute,
Miyata-kun's sleeping face.
I'll come back later to apologise.
The last train left a while ago.
Stay the night.
No, I'll call a taxi.
If you're this flustered,
it makes me happy.
No, I'm not.
It's outrageous to intrude
into a sensei's house.
Earlier, you were calling me senpai.
Stop calling me sensei.
Senpai.
Even so...
Why are you so alarmed
with a man you haven't slept with?
I've only kissed you once.
I remember it.
It was trembling,
enchanting,
warm,
and tender.
This is the worst.
I didn't want to realize.
That deep down in my heart,
I've always wanted you, Senpai.
(Next episode)
We kissed.
Of course, it's not okay.
Stop messing with Sensei,
you flirt.
I don't want to be misled by Sensei.
I want to be misled by you.
I've liked you
since I was in high school