Episode 1

**The Eccentric Driver** (変わり者の運転手, *Kawarimono no Untenshu*) is the first episode of the *Odd Taxi* anime series.

## Synopsis

* In his taxi, Odokawa wakes up from a nightmare about a body bag sinking into the ocean. The radio news mentions a high school girl who has gone missing. Odokawa switches the channel to the Homosapiens, where they reveal they have passed the first round of the N-1 Grand Prix preliminaries.
* Shibagaki complains about the judges for eliminating them at the second round the previous year. Baba tries to diffuse the situation by reading a fan letter from Satoshi, who straight up tells them they were not funny and proceeds to give constructive feedback. This only angers Shibagaki further, causing Baba to quickly switch to Mystery Kiss' new debut single.
* Mystery Kiss makes their public debut with Choujou Koi Genshou as they are broadcast live.
* Odokawa meets Kabasawa, who wants to make viral posts, as he sees this as a way to become important in life. Odokawa considers that making viral posts only expresses the vanity of others.
* The Daimon brothers stop Odokawa, and question him on whether he saw Dobu. Although Odokawa denies it, Kenshiro says he does not trust him. Later, Odokawa notices Dobu in the background of a selfie Kabasawa took of the two of them.
* It is implied that Odokawa is keeping somebody in his home. Their identity is unknown, and when Odokawa talks to them through a closed door, they do not answer back. He makes it clear they can leave whenever they wish. He asks if they need anything.
* During his visit to the clinic, Gouriki asks if Odokawa has any issue sleeping. Odokawa dodges the question and starts having a discussion with him about their favorite singers, much to Shirakawa's exasperation, which ends up with Gouriki frustatedly giving Odokawa his prescription before telling him to get married. After that, Odokawa catches the older Daimon inspecting his taxi and confiscating the SD card of his dash cam as part of the investigation on the missing girl. Before leaving, he threatens Odokawa not to go to the police as it is probable that he will be shot to keep him quiet.
* While at Taeko's tavern Yamabiko, Kakihana uses a dating app to get a match by lying about his income. However, according to Taeko and Gouriki, it is unlikely to happen due to Kakihana's lack of understanding what a woman wants. Later, Taeko reveals that the reason Dobu is wanted is because he beat a whole gang by himself, although the story is doubtful according to others.
* Gouriki gets a call from one of the nurses. She reveals that someone has been stealing medicine from the hospital with Shirakawa being the main suspect.
* Odokawa drives Shirakawa who admits that she enjoys his humor. Dobu watches Odokawa driving Shirakawa, and receives the recording from Odokawa's taxi from the elder Daimon.

## Characters

* Hiroshi Odokawa
* Missing High School Girl (mentioned)
* Kensuke Shibagaki (radio)
* Atsuya Baba (radio)
* Satoshi Nagashima
* Eiji Kakihana
* Taeko Harada
* Miho Shirakawa
* Ayumu Gouriki
* Rui Nikaidо
* Fuyuki Yamamoto
* Yuki Mitsuya
* Shiho Ichimura
* Dobu
* Shun Imai
* Taichi Kabasawa
* Kenshiro Daimon
* Koshiro Daimon
* Donraku Shofutei (TV)

## Trivia

* Kabasawa's post, posted to twitter Oct 10, 2020
* The lucky ballpen can be seen in the tavern behind Taeko.
* Shirakawa is stated that she is the only alpaca in the city.
* N-1 Grand Prix is a reference to the M-1 Grand Prix annual Manzai competition, currently the most prevalent manzai competition in Japan.