It all started with a single statement from Elma.
I demand improved working conditions!
I demand improved working conditions
What's this out of nowhere?
Are you hungry?
This company demands too much overtime!
For one thing, the workload demanded of each individual is excessive!
Elma's demands were justified.
However, we had no other choice with our scheduling.
Plus, our company has already made solid improvements since its founding.
It was slow going, but the working conditions have improved.
Our current busyness was just something we had to resign ourselves to.
I explained that to her, but...
Don't give up and accept it!
I'm fighting for it
and I'm going to seize our freedom!
Surrounded by those of us who had grown accustomed to exploitative labor
and aimlessly lived out our days,
Elma took a stand all by herself.
G'luck.
Work Conditions Improvement Proposal
Two days later,
Miss Kobayashi, please look at this!
Elma used the scant few moments she had in between work
to create a proposal for improved working conditions.
I was once again astonished by the capability of dragons.
However...
You're scoffing at me?!
Expand Personnel
The expansion of personnel?
Yes.
We're currently doing mid-career recruitment, but there's not a single applicant.
Why's that?
The programming language we use at this company is, well...
Even if we hired fresh graduates, it would take time to train them.
Couldn't they just learn it quickly?
Don't assume everyone is just like you.
At any rate, redo it, taking that into account.
Redo It, Taking That Into Account
The Next Day
I finished the revisions!
Work Conditions Improvement Proposal Ver. 2
That was fast!
I was surprised by her speed, but the content really left me shocked.
The rough spots had been completely revised,
none of the sections had any contradictions,
and the text was organized perfectly.
This is great!
Really?!
Submit it to our department head right away!
Got it!
It was a no-go.
He talked to her about the company's income and expenditures,
things those of us on the floor didn't have any dealings with,
and she couldn't fight back.
She was feeling depressed, so I said this to her:
Let's give up and get back to work
Dammit!
The Day After That
I revised it!
Work Conditions Improvement Proposal Ver. 3
That was fast!
We were all overwhelmed by Elma's intensity
as we began reading through the paperwork.
Then,
that paperwork had every individual's schedule written out in detail,
including bathroom breaks, pace slowdowns, portion of time away from their desks,
and even the time spent resting their head on their elbow at their desk
and how many times they recrossed their legs,
all laid out like a curse in a proposal to improve efficiency.
It was completely devoid of any concept of privacy,
and it dug so deep into each individual
Yamashita Current Work Analysis (Sample Excerpt)
that many employees thought it would have been more humane
Time Away From Desk 86% Main Activities: Bathroom, Vending Machine Beverage Purchases, One Yawn Time Away From Desk 100% Main Activities: Slacking, Chatting With Other Employees In The Office Or The Hallway Time Away From Desk 38% Main Activities: Staring At PC For Several Minutes With Head Resting On Arm, Recrossed His Legs Twice Time Away From Desk 16% Main Activities: Checking Schedule Chart, Drinking Beverages, Looking At Cell Phone Time Away From Desk: 0% Main Activities: Programming, Yawning
to publish nude photos of them without their permission.
[Work Behavior From 9:00~9:30]
The above outline is an example from one day. The main area of improvement for Yamashita is the time he requires before he's able to focus on work. To improve this, I recommend having Yamashita follow a set routine before he engages with work. This will allow him to consciously switch his focus. It would be best to have Yamashita decide what the best routine would be; for example, drinking a coffee. Making this a routine would allow him to settle into work everyday without stress. Such a minor change in his habits should be easy for him to accomplish. Once he's established a routine, it will shorten the time Yamashita requires to start work, improving overall efficiency. (See attached reference sheet.)
How on earth did she get such data?
According to her...
I used clairvoyance.
I turned my vision into a thousand screen multi-display.
Even her analogies were being tainted by work.
She triumphantly headed to submit her proposal.
Setting the shocking content aside,
it was amply convincing to serve in negotiations.
Maybe Premium Fridays could be more than just a dream.
However...
I just can't relax if I haven't worked at least eight hours.
Kobayashi-san...
However, we only enjoyed that hope for a short time.
All three of us were surprised when we were summoned by the executive director.
He wasn't firing us, was he?
We all headed to his office with anxiety and annoyance in our hearts.
Come in.
Excuse us.
Hey, you've been very kind to Shouta.
Oh, no.
To Shouta <3 Welcome home! I'll be home after I hit the store, so wait for me! From Mama
Shouta-kun's father...
is a mage, right?
Did you have a look at the improvement proposal?
Yes. It's very well drawn up,
Joui Elma-kun.
Or,
should I call you priestess of the holy seas?
Huh?
I'm currently an employee here, so whichever you prefer.
Why did you summon us?
That goddess that Shouta summoned...
Since she's friends with all of you, I wanted to meet you in person.
She's bad for your son's education, isn't she?
That pervert,
or rather, former goddess.
It's a family rule to take personal responsibility for whatever you summon.
Besides, I believe that woman will be good for Shouta's education in several ways.
Don't come to me when your son develops some twisted fetish.
Now, then,
shall we discuss business?
Man, it didn't work out.
There would be complaints if it did for our department but not the whole company.
He was certainly right about that.
But we did get him to take the time to look over the improvement proposal, didn't we?
Lately we've been getting out on time more regularly,
so eventually—
No!
No, not enough!
We must do anything we can to immediately turn this black company white!
What are you saying?
You were bought off by his luxury chocolates.
That is that, and this is this
Chocolates are low in sugar
That is that, and this is this!
Chocolates are low in sugar!
What's that supposed to mean?
Even after that...
Even after accepting his buy-off,
Elma wouldn't give up.
Now is the time to come together! We're holding a meeting for all employees to discuss improvements.
There will be tea and sweet snacks!
Place: Meeting Room Time: 12:30~13:30
Come Forth, Heroes! Let Us Fight Together!
She tried starting a labor union,
Seize Victory And Claim Sweet Days Off! Delicious Food! Reform The Way We Work!
creating a space for employee discussion,
Seize Victory And Claim Sweet Days Off! Delicious Food! Reform The Way We Work!
and she continued to appeal for better working conditions.
What surprised me was that Tohru was helping her with that.
If it all goes well, that means you'll come home earlier.
Let us change this company together! Labor is—
So that's why.
Don't hold us back, Elma.
I could say the same to you!
Rival forces were cooperating for mutual benefit.
It made me think it could work.
However, our executive director was a crafty one!
He used both logic and fallacies in the right places to parry every claim.
Damn it! Why?!
El—
Now I won't be able to line up for the station's limited sweets!
That was your reason for this?
I miraculously finished work and made it in time for the limited sweets!
Time-Limited
Three, please!
Three of them?!
Time-Limited
Two, please!
Time-Limited
Two, please!
Uh, one is fine.
Thank you so much!
Today I'm spending my day off eating delicious sweets!
Hmm?
Hello?
What's this?!
We want to go on a picnic,
but we can't go on a long trip without an adult.
What about Miss Kobayashi?
Oh, she did say she had to work on her day off.
And Tohru?
She gave me a letter for you.
Let's see.
Kanna suddenly wanted to go to the mountains after watching a survival show.
But I have to help out at the maid café today, so I can't go with her,
so I'd like to ask you to accompany her.
I do have some faith in you, so try to live up to it.
Tohru, you have faith in me?
The oddly condescending tone concerns me, though.
Okay!
In that case, I'll chaperone you!
Yay!
Way to go, Kanna-san!
Oh!
Let's set up our tent here.
We ran into Shouta on our way to your house,
and he said he'd come along.
It's nice to have him.
So, what are you going to do now?
Fish!
We rented them.
Fishing, huh?
Kanna-san, what are you fishing for?
That takes me back.
Anacondas.
Long ago,
I got fished out.
I'm bored.
That was fast, Saikawa.
Can't we fish anything any faster?
Want to catch them by hand?
Maybe that would be good.
Try further over there.
There's fish there.
Oh!
We caught one!
Yeah. That's where I would probably go, too.
You would go?
So good!
The curry and rice are ready, too.
Yay!
Kanna-san, there's curry on your cheek.
Chaperoning children is a piece of cake.
This curry's good.
Thank you for the meal.
Saikawa, there's a strange bug.
A poisonous bug!
I think I'll relax a bit, too.
Spicy.
Shouta, where are you going?
Investigating.
Lately I've been researching to see if I can draw mana from the ley lines.
The ley lines run especially strongly through the mountains.
Sounds fun.
I'll go, too!
You boys sure love settings like that.
Oh, no.
The children! Where did they go?!
They disappeared the moment I took my eyes off them!
At this rate...!
Huh?
You couldn't even handle that?
Pathetic
Pathetic.
No!
That's right, I have my clairvoyance!
I'll find them in no time with this!
What's the matter, Shouta?
Someone just tried to peek on us from afar.
I'm sure it was Lucoa.
She does that from time to time.
I blocked it.
Oh!
Jeez, you boys.
Why? I can't sense them...
I was wrong to rely on you.
Ridiculous
Ridiculous.
Everyone!
Hey, shouldn't we head back soon?
We might not know how to get back anymore.
Oh, we're fine.
We followed the ley lines here, so if we trace them we'll get back.
You boys.
Speaking of which,
we left without saying anything to Elma-san.
We should hurry back.
Did you two hear a loud cry just now?
Maybe there's a bear?
All right, we're back.
Huh?
Elma-san's not here.
Did she get mad and go home because we left on our own?
She might have gone to look for us.
Damn it, where did they go?
Idiot. Bow before me.
Ahh, useless.
Worthless.
Yes, yes, you did your best and it wasn't good enough.
I keep hearing Tohru being mean in my head!
Incompetent fool.
You're so funny and dumb!
You there, I'm looking for someone!
Have you seen any children?
Why you...!
Do you want to get eaten?
Damn it. One thing after another!
Where could they be?
Where are—
Where are you?!
Kanna-san, look! That's the one I saw at the river!
Sleep!
Lady Elma!
We're sorry.
I was worried, you know!
Yes.
Lady Elma, here.
What? A flower?
I picked it for you.
It's yours, so please forgive us.
Kanna-san, what about me?
Hey, what about me?!
Sweet! I forgive you!
So easy.
Man, thank you.
If only I had been at home.
Please don't worry about it.
The flower's nectar was rather yummy, anyway.
Flower's nectar, huh?
I picked it!
Oh? What kind of flower?
Well, Tohru? I won't let you call me pathetic or ridiculous!
A big one. It had a really good smell, too!
I wouldn't do that anyway.
Oh?
Here, your coffee.
You're not setting out cake?
Don't get carried away.
Oboro Shop
Candy Games
It's gotten hot, huh?
It is summer already.
There Are Various Reasons Behind It (It's Full of Elma)
Episode 9
Normally I would never listen to a request from a harmony faction dragon,
but I like your choice to rely on power.
I'll accept in honor of that spirit, this time.
You have my gratitude.
Today we're here with the mobile zoo, "Zoo That Goes Anywhere!"
The main attraction is this giraffe!
Coming!
What are you here for?
Now we'd like to talk to the zoo director, Miyamoto-san.
It's unusual for Elma to ask Tohru to go somewhere.
Apparently she said, "I've been getting rusty lately, so join me for some exercise."
It's even more unusual for Tohru to genuinely accept such an invitation.
Maybe the tension between them is finally coming undone?
Her attitude's softened a lot,
so I'm sure this will be the chance they—
Naive, Kobayashi.
Why do you think the two of us were called here?
Why?
Tohru!
Kobayashi.
You decide when it's time to stop them.
What was that about getting rusty, you liar?
Are you trying to settle things after all this time?
If I win, will you return to our original world?
You're still on about that?
You really are dangerous.
Dangerous?
You've claimed the hearts of humans.
Huh?!
You're not making sense!
She may talk about harmony
and guiding mankind,
but that's only because it's the position she's in.
She's been used and betrayed.
Somewhere in her heart,
she still distances herself from humans, too.
That's why she still mistrusts Tohru.
I don't think that's the case.
What?
I haven't thought about doing anything wrong,
and I don't plan on doing anything with any humans!
I just made a handful of acquaintances!
I'm surprised you can say that while happily working with humans at the maid café!
After all those times you told me you couldn't trust humans,
now you assert the exact opposite!
You're the one who made fun of me for being worshiped by humans in our original world!
That was—!
Because it was ridiculous to watch you enjoying yourself
when you were just being put on a pedestal
without actually joining them!
Even watching ants would be better than this.
But now you don't take offerings made to you,
you're able to go buy those things yourself!
But the food I ate back then was better!
I can't understand that at all!
It was better!
Then just hurry up and go back there on your own!
It was better because...
you were there beside me!
Yet one day you disappeared!
Do you have any idea how worried I was when I heard you had died?
That's right.
Then, when I finally found you,
you were cold to me
while you were friends with humans.
That's just...
Be friends with me like you were back in those days,
you dummy!
Sorry.
I'm sorry.
Tohru.
But, setting that aside...
Ow!
Let's settle this.
Fine, then!
Brace yourself, Tohru!
That's my line!
Hmph, this is stupid.
I'm going home.
Yeah, thanks for coming.
I've witnessed several battles between dragons,
but I guess I'm rather used to them now.
This battle
is reassuring to watch.
Tohru.
What is it?
I win.
Treat me to dinner.
No, I won.
You treat me, please.
No, I did!
I did!
I'll treat you both.
Yay!
Why are you happy about that?
Okay, that's a draw.
Next Episode Preview
Miss Kobayashi,
what are you treating us to?
What do you want eat, Elma?
Grade A5 Beef!
Tch!
You've learned the most useless things!
Episode 10
Kanna's Summer Break (Broadcast In Two Languages!?)
This Week's "Who's Rotten?"
Gemini
You'll get separated from your family or friends and get lost.
Lucky Advice
If you wait in front of a crepe shop, you'll be found.
Found by Elma, yeah.
This Week's "Who's Rotten?"
Gemini.