Ep. 1 The Gym That Vanished in Seconds
The End
Ep. 1 “The Gym That Vanished in Seconds”
Read the English script
Ep. 1 “The Gym That Vanished in Seconds” — English script
Page 1
Nashigasaka City, out on the western edge of Tokyo.
Famous for two things: pears and hills.
This hill. Every. Single. Morning. I can't!!
Kosui pears — ripe and ready right now!
At the top of that hill stands City Hall. And one floor below it—
Page 2
Nashigasaka City Hall. The Special Trends Unit.
A unit that puts the latest trends to work for the public. Officially, anyway.
Four hours today... 1,120 yen.
Haaaaah... Oi, kid! What's blowing up today?
No idea. That's not what I'm paid for.
Page 3
This complaint, and this employee. Both go to the basement.
That same morning, in the director's office at the main building.
Note: “The main building” is City Hall proper, where the career track lives. The basement is where careers go to be forgotten.
...Understood, sir.
More trouble headed my way...
Genda. Suzuki. As of today, the unit gains one member.
...Does my hourly rate gain anything?
Page 4
Reporting as of today. Rena Akamine, transferred from Policy Planning.
W-why am I stuck in a place like this...?!
She said the right thing, in the right place, one time too many.
Tetsu. Don't tell me this is your unit.
Well, if it isn't Akamine! This is the Special Trends Unit — where trends serve the public!
We do nothing here.
Page 5
It came down from the main building. Nobody has managed to book a single slot at the civic gym in six months.
Solve this, and I'm back at the main building—! Ahem. I will solve it for the citizens.
Don't you 'ahem' me! You dropped from Planning to the basement. Nobody climbs back up empty-handed.
...It's the director's deal! Clear the complaint nobody could clear in six months, and he sends me back...!
Bwahahaha! So he dumped the complaint he couldn't fix and the employee he couldn't shut up into the same basement!
And if you don't fix it, you live down here forever.
Page 6
Little League, the moms' volleyball team, the seniors' tai chi club... not one of them has anywhere to practice next month...!
Nobody can get a slot... which means everybody wants one. Doesn't it? Heh. Heh heh heh.
A slot costs 1,000 yen, tops. People this desperate would pay 3,000. That's 2,000 a slot — grab a hundred slots and...
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND YEN!!
You're going to scalp them?!
Such an ugly word. It's a “transfer.” A transfer.
Page 7
...I see. Once you know how the system works, this is... easy money!
Every slot opens at midnight on the 1st. First come, first served. ...And it's three slots a day per group.
Note: Japanese public gyms are usually booked through a city reservation site that opens all slots at the same moment — hence the midnight rush.
1st of the month, midnight
Slots for the month after next, all released at once
First come, first served
Up to 3 slots a day per group
The cap is per GROUP... so we just make more groups!
I'm dragging you out of bed at midnight! 500 yen for every slot you grab!
Can't. Under-18s aren't allowed to work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Labor Standards Act, Article 61.
Note: Real law: Japan's Labor Standards Act bars anyone under 18 from working between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Then it isn't work! Tap away at home — as a “hobby.” Call it pocket money!
...If it's a hobby, I'm in.
Page 8
NGOOOOOOOOH!!
tap tap tap tap
Hobby. Hobby. Hobby...
R U M B L E
E-eighty-seven slots...!
Next month, that gym is ALL MINE!!
Page 9
murmur murmur
We can't book one single slot at the gym next month!
Where are our kids supposed to practice?!
Genda. Genda. Genda. Genda...
TETSU!!!
Oh? Customers?
Page 10
Mr. Genda. Might I have a moment of your time?
Note: In Japanese he switches from the casual “Genda-kun” to the formal “Genda-san.” When this boss gets polite, someone is in serious trouble.
City facilities belong to the citizens.
A-ah— aaah...
You took them in seconds. So you can give them back in seconds.
T-t-ten seconds?!
Page 11
A cap “per group” is meaningless! From next month it has to be a lottery!
You saved us! I asked about it and had an answer in ten seconds!
So. My commission.
ZERO!! I refunded every last yen!!
...It is, however, resolved.
Genda. That took eleven seconds. One more letter of apology, please.
Note: A shimatsusho is a written apology filed with your employer — a small, very real black mark on your record.
Hiiiiiiii—!!
This is a work of fiction. Nashigasaka City is invented, and nothing here reflects the real operation of any person, organization or public office. It is not an official publication of any government body.
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