KAITO - HARUKI
SHOU
Why?
Why is this happening?
CLUB SHO-TIME
Dad...
Mom...
Are you all right?
You've really hung in there...
There's nothing to be afraid of here.
Anyway, get some rest for now.
Manager...
They've come again.
I'm sorry!
There's a small meeting I need to attend.
Let's take the time to talk again later.
You can wait by yourself, can't you?
It'll be all right.
I'll definitely come back.
It's a promise.
Okay.
Let's do this.
Yeah!
CLUB SHO-TIME THIRD GENERATION
Hurry, give me another one!
Okay!
Don't do it, Akemi! Stop--
Damn it.
I wanted to become number one... just like Shou...
Let's do whatever it takes to protect this place!
Put some spirit into it!
Yeah!
Phew...
It's been a while since I was last here, but...
Shinjuku is just as I expected it to be.
It's really packed here.
But, I know you wouldn't just lay down and die!
Wait for me, Kencho!
Now that I've quit, I can grow any kind of beard I want.
I wonder if there's any way I can get it to grow in any cooler...
MANLY ESSENTIALS
Nope, no way.
I'm shaving it.
9. WINE AND DINE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT 10. GROW A COOL BEARD
What should I do today?
It's working!
I've got messages!
The internet must be back up!
Come to think of it, for the past three years,
I was so bogged down with work that I've had to turn down invite after invite.
BEEN FOREVER! YOU GOOD?
There're tons of people I want to see after all this time!
QUIT MY JOB! NEED A SURF BUDDY?
Oh, right.
I can only use my phone now because internet traffic is down.
Which means there aren't as many people using it.
I sacrificed time I could have spent with friends, for what?
What good did all that overtime do me?
KENCHO
You should just quit already!
Kencho...
There's no way a guy like you would just lay down and die.
I knew it. It's no good.
There's no way out!
Nothing but water for three days.
Worst of all...
I've been stuck in here with this monster.
I'm losing my goddamn mind!
That said,
I'm glad my drunk ass just happened to pick the bondage room.
Damn it.
I'm starving.
And I'm so exhausted by all this.
Is this how this all ends for me?
In some stupid place like this?
Hey, that's wild!
- Why am I thinking of him now? - My sides hurt!
Oh... that's right...
You always laughed at my stupid jokes, didn't you?
- Do it again! I want to film it! - Those were the days! In college...
Is that you, Akira?
Whoa! You picked up!
Kencho, you're alive!
It's been a while!
Has it really been a year since we last went out for drinks?
Yeah...
What's wrong?
You sound down!
Uh, well... why do you sound so hyped?
I'll tell you all about it when we meet!
Where are you right now?
I'm in Shinjuku.
Okay! Shinjuku! I'll be right over!
No, it's impossible.
The place is swarming with zombies. Just forget about me!
It'll be fine! It'll be fine!
Anyway, text me your address!
- Huh? You-- - Bye!
Back in college, Kencho and I went through a lot together
during our four years in the rugby club.
He was a handsome, smooth talker.
But despite being popular, he'd go all-out to be the life of the party.
He was my closest friend.
He became a big-time real estate agent after college.
With his natural talent for communication,
things were smooth sailing for him at his job.
Yesterday, I was entertaining some Diet members!
Those guys spend money on a whole other level!
Oh, that's right.
Check out my new girlfriend.
She's a model!
- Took a day trip to Paris last weekend. - Meanwhile...
My soul was getting crushed in the gears of an exploitative corporation.
So I didn't have the patience to listen to other people's success stories.
What's the deal with your company?!
It's super exploitative!
Just walk away!
You should just quit already!
What the hell...
I'm seriously struggling, here.
My serious advice is that you should quit!
Staying with a company like that is stupid.
You're just an idiot!
And you're being obnoxious with all your bragging about your personal life!
You should stop doing that!
Bartender!
Check please!
Wait for me, Kencho!
I'm on my way!
So, this is the end, huh?
Considering my life...
It's a pretty great way to go out.
I'm sorry
I couldn't keep my promise.
What happened?
Am I... safe?
What's that noise?
All right!
Okay!
What's happening?
The zombies are gone?
What's going on here?
Kencho...
Akira...
You really came.
Kencho!
You were right this whole time!
I should have just quit a company like that!
But instead of listening to your advice...
I got jealous of how successful and happy you were.
I got annoyed and took my anger out on you!
Even though we're friends... I'm sorry!
I really am! I'm sorry!
You... came all this way
just to tell me that?
I'm really sorry!
Well...
How should I say this?
I should...
They're back!
I shouldn't have shouted!
Our only chance is to go up!
Kencho! Behind you!
It's no good! It's not gonna hold!
Hang in there!
That won't be enough.
They'll get through soon!
What should we do?
Ugh, damn it!
What should we do, Akira?!
Hey, Akira!
We jump.
The next building over is close enough to leap across.
What? No way...
We can't make that distance!
That's impossible!
Hey... Akira?
Guess we'll find out by jumping!
Akira!
Are you all right?!
How'd you like that?!
How'd I like it?!
You've got balls of steel, man!
Hurry up and get over here!
Kencho?
Akira...
I know you came all this way to save me, but I'm sorry.
I don't think... I can jump that.
Before the end, there's something I want to tell you, Akira.
The truth is...
I didn't enjoy my job at all.
Day after day, I had to smile at people while lying to their faces.
I tricked them into bad contracts.
The praise from the higher-ups, the company's acknowledgement...
The gorgeous models I dated...
Dining out with big-time politicians and famous athletes...
didn't make me happy at all.
Hey, Akira!
I was just showing off!
I was just lying to myself to feel less empty inside.
So, I pretended like I was having fun.
I was a horrible person... always bragging!
I'm the one who needs to say I'm sorry!
I really am!
I'm sorry!
Well, that makes sense.
That fun-loving panache of yours
always came through to make sure we were all having fun!
That's right!
I wanted a job where I could sincerely entertain my clients.
I actually
wanted to be a stand-up comic!
In that case...
Just quit already and become one right now!
Take it from me!
You should always listen to your friends when they give you advice!
If you're a stand-up comic, get ready and show me you can jump that distance!
Yeah!
Hey, Akira! Give me a hand!
This time, it isn't a joke!
Is this how I'm going to die?!
Completely buck naked?!
Akira!
Up you go!
What's the matter, Kencho?!
Were you bitten by a zombie?
I scraped... my balls!
I didn't expect you to cry out like a baby.
And buck naked too...
You idiot. It was highly sophisticated new material
inspired by my rebirth as an entertainer.
New? You always do naked jokes.
I'll be doing that more often from here on.
Oh man, I'd really like to stand on a stage.
Hey, do you have any connections from work?
Work? What's that? I've never done it.
Who's the one who looked like he was going to die from the exploitative company?!
You looked worse than the zombies!
What the hell?
You?! A stand-up comic?!
What kind of comic cries?
Anyway, you were seriously amazing today!
Guys who quit their jobs, drop everything, and move on with their lives
tend to be really successful later on.
Like entrepreneurs or artists...
You might even be...
the guy who saves us all from the zombie infection.
Me?
No way. That's not gonna happen.
Yeah, probably not.
That ain't happening.
Whoa, I just thought up a new bit!
It probably involves you getting naked, doesn't it?
32. DRINK AND LAUGH 33. MEET DREAM WOMAN
Next time: Flight Attendant of the Dead.