Kono Kaisha ni Suki na Hito ga Imasu\u2019s<\/em> survey course of the modern workplace relationship continues. This was an especially productive week, checking off several road hazards. Christmas (in Japan, a big one). Karaoke. Bounenkai<\/em>. For good measure we also got age-gap romance. No one ever said this was going to be easy (it isn\u2019t in RL). But the overall tone here remains relatively low-key as compared to something like Kekkon suru tte, Hontou desu ka<\/em>. The focus on the challenges is mostly about working through them.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve enjoyed Somei-san and Hayakawa-san every time the spotlight has shifted to them. They\u2019re a nice contrast to the main pair in addition to being a needed change-of-pace generally. They\u2019re at a very different place in the courtship dance to be sure, not even a couple yet. But they were in a different place to begin with. Hayakawa outranking Somei is important from the workplace side, even if they are in different departments. She also outranks him on the calendar by eight years \u2013 she\u2019s 32 and he\u2019s 24. That\u2019s far from insurmountable (it passes the \u201chalf plus seven\u201d rule, anyway). But it\u2019s not trivial, because those are ages at a very different point in the average person\u2019s journey, both personally and professionally.<\/p>\n Make no mistake, Hayakawa has definitely fallen for this kid<\/a>. It\u2019s harder to tell with him, because Hayakawa has the world\u2019s worst poker face and Somei is pretty stoic. But he drops plenty of hints, including not-quite hiding his disappointment when she stops coming to \u201ctheir\u201d cafe. She does this because she\u2019s worried about what she\u2019ll do, quite honestly (and she has a history with bad workplace romances<\/a>). But now that this is in the air between them their paths seem to cross incessantly at the office. And since the Planning and Accounting departments are co-hosting the bounenkai (year-end drinking party) that\u2019s sure to continue.<\/p>\n There are no huge breakers for Yui and Masugu this week, but it\u2019s not 100% smooth sailing. He\u2019s somewhat surprised at her seeming lack of interest in celebrating Christmas as a couple. But as it turns out she\u2019s laser-focused on trying to get her next project greenlit, and the sight of all her rivals\u2019 holiday products<\/a> harshes her mellow. Masugu is swamped himself \u2013 both with calendar-year end stuff at work and studying for his exam. But as usual he occupies the role of supportive partner quite admirably (and eventually, she learns that her contest submission won).<\/p>\n Then it\u2019s time for the bounenkai. The highlight here is definitely the karaoke after-party (it\u2019s always the after-party that\u2019s the true minefield). Morizono-san (thus, Taichi You) shows off some serious enka pipes<\/a>. You know things are serious with Masugu and Yui because they sing the OP<\/a>. Somei belts out a track from the CD Hayakawa loaned him<\/a> (d\u2019aww) but that\u2019s too much for her, and she bolts the room. But their corridor exchange \u2013 where he makes his position pretty unmistakable \u2013 only serves to deepen the couple vibe.<\/p>\n
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