Please Love the Useless Me

- Season 1

(2016)

Thirty-year-old woman has been let go from her last job and, while she is interviewing and seeking work, remains unemployed. She has a boyfriend, but the relationship is one-sided. She is his fan, that is. Her bank account is empty, she has no skills and even her mother hangs up on her. Things need to change.

She is hard at work looking for a job, partly because she needs one and partly because she has debts to pay back. The incentive to receive Japanese wagyu prompts her to work harder to win a position, which nets her a role. In the meantime, she wonders who Haruko is whom her boss called out when he kissed her in his sleep. He pretends he does not know a Haruko.

Michiko has a fate. After thirty years on this planet she has been asked out by a co-worker and she is looking forward to it. However, she first ha to buy new lingerie because it has been pointed out that he granny briefs won't do. Armed with new panties she test drives them and even asks her cat for an opinion.

Michiko finally has a suitor and she is ecstatic, but her boss at her part-time work at the cafe manages to plant doubts in her mind. She has been used in the past after all. Matters become worse when she notices the other office ladies using the same hand lotion as the one she has been given. Her self-doubt increases.

The rumour has spread that the two colleagues are dating and apparently a few of their co-workers are unhappy or jealous about it. A dinner date goes well and the couple are making strides and progressing in their relationship. Michiko's self-chatter and mental calculations continue to guide and confuse her.

Michiko has basically agreed to move in with her man, but is having all sorts of anxieties as this is her first time and a big move for her. She is asking Akira for advice and taking cues from her part-time boss and house-mate. Her boyfriend is moving fast and Michiko finds it dreamy. She is playing it out in her head.

Michiko is pinching herself and double checking to make sure it was not all a dream. She was really propose to. Her fiance is organized and has a list,a schedule, plans and eager to meet her parents. She is distracted and giddy at the same time. her former manager is admitting that he was wrong and this was not a case of a charlatan.

It is official and the entire office knows it too. The couple has broken up. Mogami does his best to be civil and remain friendly. He has not given up the hope of being together with his former fiancee. She has her heart elsewhere however. At the same time Akira asks Michiko to move out in case the former meets a man who is willing to come over.

Michiko has decided to be frank and forthright and consequently asks Shunin to marry her. It is all too surprising and sudden and, therefore, it is not surprising that she gets rejected off-handedly. She insists and given the rejection has to endure an awkward ride back to the city from her parents.

Michiko has received a promotion as her product idea was accepted and shall be commercialized. The co-workers are happy for her and cheer her on, but ironically she has nowhere to live and little money so is apartment-hunting. She attends a cooking class of a celebrity. Her former boss is taking care of an ill friend.