You don't like it?
I'm sure I just need to get used to it...
That suit comes from one of the finest Italian brands.
It cost 700,000 yen.
Be careful with it.
Y-Yes, ma'am.
As I told you the other day, today they will be dining with the president
and a member of the board of Chikamoto Shipwrights,
and two members of the board of their business partner, Sea Japan United.
Hinako was attending one of Kagen-san's business luncheons,
and I was asked to come along.
For my education, Shizune-san wanted me to experience high society atmosphere.
When Your Ladyship was seven years old,
you exchanged pleasantries with the president during a social event.
See that you are on your best behavior.
So annoying...
Please.
They're both so stubborn.
A small vacation home nearby...
Wasn't that what she called it?!
Your Ladyship will enter through the front door.
The luncheon will be held on the terrace,
so we'll be waiting there.
Itsuki.
Yeah?
I gotta go talk to strangers.
Please don't make it sound so criminal.
Itsuki.
What now?
I'm gonna do my best.
Sure.
I won't be right by your side,
but I'll still be watching over you.
Once we get home, let's relax a little together.
Yeah. Want more ice cream.
Itsuki-san, what was that about ice cream?
Dammit, Hinako!
EPISODE 5: KIDNAP ME
I appreciate you coming all this way.
It was my idea that we enjoy a meal in the fresh air of the countryside.
Hinako-san, wasn't it? It's been a long time.
I believe we met once before, correct?
Yes, when I was seven years old,
my father brought me to a flower-viewing party, where we became acquainted.
I'm so pleased that you remembered!
You've grown into a fine young lady.
A friend of mine's child attends Kiou Gakuin.
Apparently she's seen as the perfect young lady.
I'm honored.
Well, gentlemen, will you join me at the table?
Itsuki-san, how would you interpret what you're seeing?
Well, let me see...
Their manners seem completely effortless.
That's the sign of proper manners.
Their behavior is not labored in the slightest,
yet carries a slight hint of grandeur to emphasize the courtesy being extended.
By adhering to this unspoken contract, they build trust with each other.
Build trust?
Etiquette is considered less important than it once was,
but there are times when it is crucial.
In particular, for heads of organizations,
who must be cautious about speaking their minds.
Manners allow them to build trust through behavior rather than words.
This is why breaking etiquette is considered a terrible faux pas.
Your daughter lives up to her reputation.
She's so poised and demure.
I'm sure she has her choice of suitors!
I'm afraid we haven't had the pleasure of an offer yet.
Oh, haven't you?
As it happens, I have an acquaintance with just such an interest...
Could I ask you to elaborate?
I'd be happy to.
What do you think they're talking about?
Why do you ask?
Oh, nothing.
Maybe it's all in my head, but Hinako suddenly seems kind of disengaged...
His business puts him in frequent contact with the jet set,
and so he considers a wife with proper manners a must...
The family in question deals in international trade and the jet set.
Not bad at all.
I'll certainly look into it.
It sounds like I shouldn't get my hopes up.
To the contrary! I'll give it my earnest consideration.
Your dessert course.
Pastries!
These are certainly one of my favorites.
I'm very glad to hear that.
May I relay your interest in the match to the man in question?
Yes, as immodest as it may be for me to say,
my daughter's talents are beyond reproach.
Hinako, I hope you'll—
Three-second rule.
Well, perhaps I was misinformed after all.
This isn't good.
What's going to happen?
I do not know.
Knowing Kagen-sama's personality,
this is as close to a catastrophe as I can imagine.
Let me thank you again for joining me today.
Not at all. I enjoyed myself tremendously.
It's important to get away from the hustle and bustle.
Oh, and Konohana-san...
I'd appreciate it if we could put the discussion of marriage behind us.
My reputation is tied to my recommendations, after all.
Of course.
Shizune.
Sir.
Who taught Hinako that deplorable behavior?
Sir, I...
I'm sorry. It was me.
I have always wondered if a caretaker was truly necessary.
I should never have allowed her to indulge herself at all.
Allowing a behind-the-mask personality
is what leads to situations like this.
Shizune, teach Hinako to maintain her facade in private.
Sir, I believe such a request would cause immediate collapse.
Then fix it.
This is what comes of indulging her collapses.
It's not as if she's actually sick.
Do what it takes to make her conquer her issue.
Her birth into the Konohana Family obligates her to protect her family name.
No... but then...
The unmasked Hinako will disappear?
W-Wait!
I really do apologize for ruining your dinner.
But surely there's a better way—
This isn't your fault.
She's been unable to keep a single caretaker for long.
I assumed you would quit too,
and anticipated that your influence on Hinako would be trivial.
The fault does not lie with you,
but with me for allowing that,
and with Hinako for being so easily influenced.
Shizune, give Itsuki-kun his payment when we return.
Yes, sir.
My payment?
Hinako no longer needs a caretaker.
Your employment with us is officially terminated.
It can't be true.
I've included more than we agreed to.
If you have nowhere to stay, you can afford a roof over your head for a while.
Gather your things at once.
We will file the paperwork to remove you from the school.
It ended in such a short time.
The entire life I had here...
Well, it all felt like a dream to begin with.
I wish that's all it had been.
It would mean Hinako wasn't suffering.
My lady, how do you feel, physically?
Feel fine.
Where's Itsuki?
Itsuki-san has already departed the mansion.
Itsuki lasted a month as caretaker, right?
Indeed.
That's a long time.
Indeed.
My lady?
If he can't be a caretaker,
can't we hire him as a servant?
I've heard we don't have enough gardeners.
My lady...
Maybe a cook?
Or part of the cleaning staff...
We have lots of jobs that need doing here.
My lady.
Kagen-sama does not wish to keep Itsuki-san in his employ.
No...
I want to see Itsuki.
I would advise you against doing anything to further upset Kagen-sama.
Whose side are you on, Shizune?
Kagen-sama is my employer.
Fine. I'll find him myself.
You will not.
If you will pardon me, I must return to work.
For caution's sake, I will put someone at your door.
Do not do anything reckless.
I need you to run an errand at the main residence.
There's something Shizune doesn't know.
I'm a woman who gets things done.
Itsuki?
Hey, that is you, Itsuki!
Narika, what brings you here?
O-Oh, just out on a walk.
I'm free now.
I beat my father.
Kendo, judo, aikido...
I've beaten him at all relevant martial arts.
That was the condition for me to come and go when I wanted.
I see.
You're amazing, Narika.
What's wrong, Itsuki?
Did something happen?
I see.
What will happen to Konohana-san, then?
They didn't even let me see her before I left.
But the way things looked,
she'll probably be even more restricted than before.
I doubt she'll be able to attend the tea parties and study groups either.
I see.
The Konohana Family seems really strict.
All that over one mistake...
It was all my fault.
If I hadn't taught her that nonsense, this never would have happened.
A commoner like me who knows nothing about etiquette...
I never belonged with Hinako in the—
That's not true.
Itsuki, that's not true at all.
Narika?
Remember how I used to be.
I'm the person I am now because you came into my world and changed it!
I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
How tasty the snacks were, the way we went shopping,
the commotion of the town, the serenity of the park...
I wouldn't have experienced any of them without you in my life.
I wouldn't have thought of earning my freedom from my father either.
Remember? I said I'm grateful to you.
I'm more grateful to you than I can ever express in words.
I'm sure Konohana-san feels the same way.
You taught her the joys of the outside world too, right?
Have more faith in yourself!
That's one of the things that I...
l-l-l...
list among your strengths.
I see.
They're things that seem silly and trivial to me,
but maybe they're precious to Hinako and Narika.
Narika, thank you.
I'm heading out.
Where are you going?
To negotiate directly with the Konohana Family!
I just sent salt to the enemy army!
Hinako, huh?
I wonder what their relationship really is...
I just made that promise, didn't I?
That I'd be with her and always support her!
If her family, her classmates, no one else can do it...
Then I'll do it, as her caretaker!
What are you doing back here?
Please let me inside.
You know that we can't.
You need permission.
I did it without thinking!
Hey, you!
Give yourself up!
I'm sorry! I'm just in a hurry!
Intruder! Someone grab him!
Dammit! Where'd he go?
He shouldn't have gotten inside yet.
Now, how do I get in there?
Hinako, thank you!
No sight of him out front.
Not in the entrance hall either.
What about the northern side?
He may be using the back entrance...
Found you!
Give yourself up!
You'll never catch me!
There he is!
Report to command!
I've internalized it all... everything we did...
Send support to the northern stairs at once!
Thank you, Shizune-san!
I'm pretty sure the office is on the top floor.
Hinako?!
Hinako!
Hinako! What are you doing?!
C-Can't hold on!
Catch me!
Hey!
Nice catch.
What were you doing?!
Just wanted to see you.
I got a proposal.
Her Ladyship's been kidnapped again!
Oh crap!
I've been kidnapped again.
Never thought I'd be the kidnapper...
I think we lost them.
So, what's your proposal?
I'll be your hostage.
So please convince Papa.
That sounds more like extortion.
Extort him, then.
No, that won't solve the fundamental problem.
Let me try to convince him.
Can you, though?
Yes, I know I can.
Where do you think you're taking Her Ladyship?
Shizune-san?
I forgot to mention it,
but you do seem to have natural talent in the martial arts.
You've come a long way in such a short time.
If you think that highly of me, could I ask you to let us go?
I cannot do that.
Shizune.
Please, let me stay with Itsuki.
I'll stick to the performance all the time.
I'll never drop the mask.
I'll keep up a perfect facade all the time, everywhere.
My lady...
Hinako, you can't do that.
I don't want you to push yourself so hard.
That's why I want to be with you.
I want to be someone you can be yourself around.
Itsuki...
So please.
Don't voluntarily sacrifice the thing I want to protect.
Got it.
I...
I trust you, Itsuki.
I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your moment,
but Itsuki-san, I must inform you that this will not end the way you expect.
Wait just a little while longer.
W-Wait?
Excellent timing.
Yes.
I will be there soon.
Kagen-sama is calling me,
so I must be going.
I would ask you both to wait here.
Shizune-san, whose side are you on?
Kagen-sama is my employer.
However, I am on Her Ladyship's side.
Shizune, what is all this?
Replies to invitations to the Konohana Family's social gathering.
As you'll be staying in this residence for a while,
I had the main residence's mail delivered here at once.
I understand that.
But I'd like you to explain about these four invitees.
Understood.
Asahi Karen-sama is the heiress to J's Holdings.
A home electronics company—
I don't need you to tell me about their businesses.
The Asahi and Taisho families weren't invited,
but they're valuable connections.
The head of the Miyakojima family I only know in passing,
but not long ago, he gave me a courtesy call that he would attend if his daughter did.
And for the Tennoji daughter to attend...
I've found our rivalry a difficult one to navigate...
But this could be a valuable chance to establish greater trust with the Tennoji Group.
What I want to know is why these four agreed to attend.
They are Her Ladyship's friends at school.
It appears that way.
You're saying Hinako invited them, then?
Yes.
She's never invited anyone before.
And suddenly she's making connections like these?
If I may make a humble suggestion,
if you find this change in Her Ladyship behavior a pleasing one,
then to dismiss the one who inspired the change seems highly inadvisable.
The one who inspired it, eh?
A shipwright with whom I had few dealings despite being partners,
and four major companies that could be valuable connections moving forward...
It's clear which should take priority.
Call back Itsuki-kun.
Y-Yeah, I stand out like a sore thumb...
Hey there, Tomonari-kun!
Hey, nice suit!
I-Itsuki! Help me!
This high-society stuff is freaking me out!
Really, you mustn't be intimidated.
You must come with me to mingle!
Wh-What?!
I think I'll go for a drink first.
Same here.
You all look very nice in your dresses and suits.
I greatly appreciate the accommodations you've made for us.
Hinako is a genius.
Yes, she does have the best grades in the school.
I'm talking about more than that.
Her personality presents issues,
but she possesses an inherent head for business.
Despite it all, she is a worthy heir to the Konohana Family.
I want a son-in-law to inherit the business for appearances,
but the one I really want running things is Hinako.
Even if it's hard on her now, her talent will blossom someday.
I really can't understand how Kagen-san thinks.
I can't do anything about the Konohana Family's future, either.
But still, I'm Hinako's caretaker.
Itsuki.
Hinako?
Papa told me you'd be here.
I see.
Thanks for staying as my caretaker.
I was really happy about what you said back there.
I'll keep putting my trust in you, okay?
S-Sure.
Though I might forget my real role sometimes...
You okay?
I'm tired from so much mingling.
Pat my head.
Yes, ma'am.
Wh-What?
What is it? You're all red.
It's nothing.
If you don't feel well, you should get some re—
I-It's seriously nothing!
Huh?
This is weird.
I feel so... weird.