Does that mean I'm being dropped?
...not just the dramas. And all 11 of the commercial companies you're contracted to.
That sign...
I don't know how long it's been gone.
The bag with the USB stick in it...
Sasahara Tsubaki took it.
Hey! Hey!
This is real instantaneous movement!
Hey!
Don't you think you shouldn't be in the actress's house?
You're comfortable crying in front of me, right?
I'm the easiest person to get along with, right?
Then come with me.
I'll be responsible for our family for the rest of our lives.
I'll answer now.
My answer is...
Why isn't she home yet? What time does she think it is?
I'm glad. I thought Toyama-sensei was already asleep.
What do you want?
I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?
This is not a diner.
Just today, please.
Because my birthday isn't over yet, right?
Bon appétit!
Delicious, delicious.
Cup ramen for supper is the best!
Didn't you eat?
I went to a restaurant with Hiroya, but I couldn't eat much.
But when I got back, I suddenly had an appetite.
That's unusual for you.
Did you have something more important to do than eat?
There was, but...
Why?
Because I don't want to be used as a diner again.
Be kinder to the birthday girl.
Oh, by the way, I haven't gotten a birthday present from sensei yet.
Why would I get you one?
Get a phone, for my sake.
It's a necessity for a manager.
Who said I'm you manager?
Aren't you worried?
A top actress is being harassed.
I don't need a cell phone.
Just having you with me makes me feel safe.
It's like a good luck charm.
Think about it for now.
Sasahara Tsubaki watched the video.
He's the one who's crazy!
What's this?
Before she tells the police anything...
I'll take immediate action.
I'll look for the USB drive as well.
Yes.
Do you have a minute? Yeah...
It's about a new service our engineers are developing...
Sorry, but firstly...
It's about Tsubaki-chan.
Have you heard anything from her about Bando Reiko?
About Reiko-san?
I haven't heard anything. Why?
I remembered a magazine interview I did with her once.
So I was wondering if I should go to her funeral.
Who could this be?
Hello?
It's me.
Toyama-sensei? Did you buy a cell phone?
Yeah. Here's my number. Just so you know.
Because I asked you to?
I see. You bought it for me.
I'm blocking your number.
No, no, no. I'll save it right away. Thanks.
If you're out...
Buy me an ice cream on the way home.
It's so hot, I don't feel like going out.
Thanks!
Idiot.
You say that while you stretch the bottom of your nose.
You're the one who wouldn't buy a cell phone no matter how many times I asked.
But when Tsubaki-san asks, you buy it immediately?
Only out of necessity.
Let me see.
Oh...
My number's not saved.
But Tsubaki-san's number is!
I'll put my number in here too.
You treat 30 years of friendship like a fleeting thing.
Toyama Mitsuru...
Is Toyama Mitsuru one of the wealthiest men in Japan?
Yes. He owns a lot of real estate,
and it's all prime real estate too.
For a university lecturer?
He was adopted by a wealthy couple and moved to the U.S. as a child.
The real estate seems to be an inheritance from his adoptive parents.
I was really surprised when I was sorting through the real estate you own.
How exactly did you manage your assets?
In the 19th century, I bought a piece of wasteland for next to nothing.
It was bought up for railroad development and turned into a huge commercial complex.
Left on its own, it would've naturally amassed a fortune over the next 400 years.
I'm jealous.
I wonder what my ancestors were doing.
After I'm gone, the land will go to a reputable charity.
Antiques, and art pieces should be donated to museums.
It'll look suspicious if all these national treasures show up at once, so please be careful.
Understood.
But when you start sorting through your personal belongings like this, you start to feel sad.
You realize you're going to miss them.
Welcome back~ Did you buy me an ice cream?
You satisfied now?
All the ones I like.
I knew you could do it, manager. Let's eat together.
Hey, why aren't you coming?
You're a woman after all.
It's not good manners to come into your apartment.
Didn't you barge into my place the other day?
Don't be shy now. No thanks.
Just come in.
Let go of me! Hey...
Just come in!
Hey, you...
You're pulling...
Hey, sorry for making you wait.
Here we go.
I'm quite surprised with your new manager.
Yeah, we're neighbors, too.
Do you know who he is? Everything's in order, right?
Of course. He's a college professor from Harvard.
He works as my manager during his days off, right?
Yeah.
Yes.
Ahaha, a college professor.
I'm a lecturer.
Lecturer?
Hey, Mom, what are you doing here again?
Because I'm worried about you, of course.
Your contract with the agency was terminated.
You also have to pay a penalty, right?
It's not me you're worried about, it's the money, right?
At least I stopped coming.
Making your parent worry like that...
Why don't you just marry Hiroya-kun?
You can live comfortably for the rest of your life without having to worry about money.
By the way, he said yesterday,
"I'll be responsible for our family for the rest of our lives."
What?
Is that a proposal?
That guy's really into you.
So, how did you respond? You said yes, right?
No, I declined.
You declined?
Why?
Oh, poltergeist.
I don't like it. Maybe you're possessed by a strange spirit.
You shouldn't have said no.
There are no evil spirits here, that's ridiculous.
I have to earn my own living.
Hiroya-kun?
Oh, you're here, Yukino.
Yes...
I'm sorry for calling you out so suddenly.
No. I'm happy.
But what's with you all of a sudden?
I just wanted someone to listen to me...
Yeah.
I...
seriously proposed to Tsubaki yesterday.
What?
I'm sorry that my mother is such an embarrassment.
My brother's a little weird, too.
What you said earlier...
Is it true that you turned down his marriage proposal?
Yes.
But the truth is, I was anxious about what would happen next.
Before I said no, I was going to say yes.
You don't have to give an answer right now.
Just think about it...
It's fine.
I'll answer now.
My answer is...
For a moment, time seemed to stop.
A second felt like an eternity.
Hiroya...
My answer is...
"I'm sorry."
I was actually going to say, "It's okay."
I thought it'd be easy with you, and that living in luxury might be a good idea.
Tsubaki...
But... in this one moment, I changed my mind.
I can't get married.
I'm glad I didn't rush to an answer.
It's a very important part of my life.
She said no...
Yeah...
But...
I was happy.
What?
Tsubaki...
That for the first time, Tsubaki was really thinking about me.
So...
Someday, for sure...
I'll propose to her again.
At that time, I'm sure...
To be loved by Hiroya-kun.
Becoming a star.
Which one should it be?
Why can't I beat Tsubaki?
Hey.
What's Toyama-sensei's family like?
Family...?
Isn't the mother the one who usually brings over the food?
You must be really close with your father.
My family is...
It's pretty normal.
Normal...
I'm a little jealous that you can say that.
Until that day, we were normal, too.
How could you pay off someone else's debt...
using her money to do so?
It's all your fault for being the guarantor!
I don't need to justify myself to you.
Just look at how much money you have wasted!
I did all this so she could earn more money!
Sister...
Tsubaki, it's not like that. I...
Stop it! You're not my father anymore!
Tsubaki!
I never want to see your face again!
Tsubaki!
Then my parents got divorced.
I don't know where my father is anymore.
Because of what I said...
He never came to see me.
Now, 12 years later, I understand.
I can see how desperate my father must have been back then.
Do you have a wish you'd like a star to fulfill?
Stars don't make wishes come true.
They're just man-made delusions.
You have no dreams.
That's what makes you unpopular.
If my wish came true...
There are two people I'd like to meet.
One is my father.
I'd like to have a drink with him and talk about all kinds of things.
And who's the other?
Twelve years ago, the day my parents got into a fight...
I ran out of the house and...
Who are you?
I think that was my first love.
I don't remember his face, but...
but when he holds me in his arms again, I will remember his smell.
When you see that person again,
what are you going to do?
"Please be my husband"
If he was a cool guy, I might say that.
But if he turned out to be an old man with a bad smell...
That won't happen!
How would sensei know?
You're so weird.
Oh, no...
I'll be right back after I get the USB drive.
I'm not crazy...
He's the one who's crazy!
Open the door... please open the door!
It's been 5 years since your wife disappeared, right?
Do you still have no idea where she is?
Yeah.
I've done everything I can.
I know....
You know too, don't you?
Aargh!
Hey! Are you okay?
Toyama-sensei?
Huh?
Hmm?
Is this... your work?
"Artistic eruption!" I got carried away.
I got covered in paint, so I screamed.
A false alarm.
You came here on your own.
This place isn't soundproofed very well.
What's this?
I was trying to figure out if I had any talent as an artist.
Creativity is unrelated to one's age after all.
Jakuchu taught himself how to paint when he was 30.
He was 50 when he finished his first big work.
Who's Jakuchu-san?
Ito Jakuchu, a genius painter from the Edo period!
He wasn't good at socializing, but we hit it off for some reason.
You're making up funny stories about old men again.
I'm serious!
I'm serious too!
My life depends on it.
All I've done since I was 12 is acting.
I don't have any qualifications or education. What else can I do?
Maybe it's a good time to get married.
You're not going to continue acting?
Even if I wanted to, I could only do it if I was in demand.
It's very rare to find someone who's been through what you've been through.
From now on, your acting will have more depth, more presence.
If you continue acting, you will be unique.
Thank you.
This... this hopelessly poor and shoddy picture...
I can't let the world see that.
Like a Van Gogh, it might be worth something in future.
Yes, I've only sold one painting in my lifetime.
But painting is my hobby.
I have to clean up before the TV starts.
[Arrival of Love]
Why do I have to watch TV with you?
This is the drama where they narrated my death.
Aren't you curious how it turned out?
I'm sure it was terrible.
It was supposed to be canceled, but they just dropped me.
I'm sure the ratings will drop to single digits.
Because this script relied on me as the lead.
There's no one else who can play the part but me.
You've suffered enough from that person.
Yukino?
She's already...
turned into a star.
From now on... I'll be by your side.
So...
Just look at me.
Yukino: Let's talk. Shall we meet tomorrow?
We've arrived. Get off here.
Don't leave.
Can you wait until I'm done?
Looks like yesterday's ratings were good.
Up eight percent.
The highest rating of any station.
Congratulations.
You should've told me you got the lead role.
I felt distant.
Did you think I'd stand in the way of you becoming a leading lady?
We've been like sisters since we were kids. We've worked so hard together...
You're annoying.
You're always acting like a big sister.
I'm tired of being Tsubaki-chan's supporter.
Yukino?
Every time I'm asked to play a supporting role in Tsubaki's works.
I'm always hurt.
You were always looking down on me.
That's not true! I approved of your acting.
How dare you say that?
"I'm the center of the world. Everyone else are extras."
It's the same with Hiroya-kun.
You know how he feels... and you're toying with him, right?
I'm not toying with him.
Why don't you make him feel better?
Don't tell me Yukino... Hiroya...
If you love him, why didn't you just tell him?
You think you can do anything just because you say so?
I'm the star now.
Don't get cocky.
The miserable feeling you're experiencing right now, Tsubaki-chan...
That's the same feeling I've been experiencing.
So I don't feel sorry for you at all.
Right.
It's true that I'm at a low point,
and a lot of people have left me.
But it's times like this that I understand who really matters.
I don't need any more fake friends.
As a lead actress, you have to be ready to take on all the responsibility that comes with it.
Good luck.
Hospitalizing me is unecessary
Ugh, these ugly pajamas.
Just to be safe. Rest till tomorrow.
There were no abnormalities in the tests, right?
I just fainted. I'm not hurt badly.
In acute subdural hematoma cases,
the patient may experience headaches, paralysis, paralysis of the limbs, and paralysis in the next few hours.
You'll need to be monitored.
You're starting to sound like a real doctor.
I'm better than most doctors.
Really? Don't tell me you can do surgery too.
Anyway, you were in the car earlier, right?
How did you save me in an instant?
You're mistaken.
No, but I'm sure...
Tsubaki, are you okay?
You...
My manager helped me.
What?
Toyama here.
Yes. I understand.
The culprit from earlier was arrested.
The police want to talk to him. I'm going to the station.
I can't allow something like that to happen. I'm not settling out of court.
I'll call you when it's over.
I'm going talk to him for a while.
Talk?
Don't start a fight.
Oh, hey... aren't you Kitano-sensei?
That's right, Kitano Kenji-sensei.
It's been over 10 years since...
you operated on me over 10 years ago at Yokohama Aoba Hospital.
I'm Nakamura.
You've got the wrong guy.
Excuse me.
Hiroya... Tsubaki...
Oh, here... happy birthday.
Sorry.
Tsubaki...
Tsubaki! Where are you going?
Oh no...
You're kidding, right?
Seriously?
Tsubaki... Are you okay?
Yeah...
Surgeon Kitano Kenji
Yes.
Kitano-sensei is missing?
He suddenly disappeared?
Don't tell me it's him...
What are you mumbling about?
Nothing...
I'm tired and want to rest a bit.
Okay.
Manager, you're late...
Excuse me.
I'm here to administer your medicine.
Please...
Sasahara Tsubaki watched the video...
Before she tells the police anything...
I'll take immediate action.
The police admitted him to the hospital?
When he fell on the roof...
he broke his leg.
The details of the attack on Sasahara Tsubaki are still under investigation.
In addition to this case...
It seems he has other committed other crimes against Sasahara Tsubaki.
However, regarding the stuffed animal...
he claims that he did not give her that gift.
What?
Why?
Unable to connect Sasahara Tsubaki
Please! Help me!
Help me!
Help me, manager!
Hey, help me! Please... Toyama Sensei!
Side Story #5
Seriously, that girl.
Turning down a marriage proposal...
I think she's crazy.
I knew it. That room...
I wonder if there's something there.
Oh, poltergeist.
You're talking nonsense too.
Tsubaki is the only one who's crazy.
But the other day, in that room...
I took a picture... and it was a bad one.
Something bad?
Like a ghost?
No way!
Do you want to see it?
Yeah.
Let's see...
Here.
Oh no! A ghost!
Oh, that was me.
What?
It's true.
Ahh...
Built in a warehouse in Tokyo.
Mitsuru's room and Tsubaki's room.
Because it was filmed in the middle of summer, it was like a sauna inside.
That's why when they cut...
And, cut. Okay.
Okay.
(Director) Can we blow the fan over here a little?
It's really hot!
Let's turn on the air once.
Let's air it out for five minutes.
From above, from above.
From the blower outside the room...
They used a long tube to blow the air in.
It's not easy to get it into the set.
Okay.
Is it like this? If we go too far...
Yeah, like this.
That's about right.
It's cool.
But it's getting weaker. It's not connected.
It doesn't look good in a stylish room.
But to survive the heat...
it was a very important piece of equipment.
The story is livened up by...
the Tsubaki family, with their unique personalities.
The actors who play their roles are all very unique.
Q. Tell us about your role
For me, this time...
I was asked by the director to play the role of a poisonous parent.
But I really like this role.
She's really self-centered, isn't she?
I was thrilled with the role.
I tried not to make her so easy to hate, but...
you know...
Speaking of co-stars...
Q. Toyama Toshiya and Nagano Satomi as co-stars.
I'm so honored to be playing a married couple with Nagano Satomi.
It's really a great honor.
Really? It's true. Because...
When we first started acting, Nagano Satomi was...
in the world of small theater...
She's really the heroine of the theater world.
Like this? Yes, like this.
Yes, like this.
Young people nowadays... don't know anything.
I want to be clear about that. She's an amazing person.
She was the actress of our dreams.
But now she's like this. -No, no.
This is what happens to people. -This time...
What are you talking about?
The younger brother who calmly supports his older sister Tsubaki,
is Takuro, who is played by Mizusawa Rintaro.
Q. Tell us about your role
There are some similarities between myself and Takuro.
In some ways.
I don't know that much about space or anything like that, but...
but there was a time when I was into that kind of thing.
I've always kept my cool... if I do say so myself.
Well, in a way, he's very caring.
In a way.
So in that sense...
I wonder if we're similar in some way.
That's what I think.
Q. Impression of Tsubaki
If I had a sister like that in real life, I'd probably leave home.
But for the role...
I think she's a really interesting person.
I wondered if it was possible to have an older sister like her.
I was thinking of all kinds of things I could do with her.
With Mitsuru and Tsubaki...
Q. Most impressive scene
There was a time when it was just the four of us, my mom and I.
I've never eaten so much watermelon in my life.
I don't like watermelon.
I was almost traumatized by it.
But...
It's not often that you get to experience something like that.
When I thought about it again, I felt...
really glad.
Please pay attention to the story of Tsubaki's family...