A Mysterious Messenger

**A Mysterious Messenger** is the fifth episode in Season 5 of the Netflix series *Aggretsuko*.

## Netflix Synopsis

"A suspicious looking man comes up to Manaka after an OTM Girls' show and asks her about 'Aggressive Retsuko.' Haida meets up with Tadano."

## Summary

OTMGirls are having a performance. After the show, they are having a handshake event, however to Manaka's surprise, a fan comes with 100 tickets for the handshake event. Manaka tries to act normal and agrees to hold his hands for five minutes so that he gets his worth in tickets, but the fan doesn't want them to hold hands. The fan mentions that the group performed with a woman named Retsuko and would like for them to connect him to her. Manaka then gets serious and asks him who is he.

The fan states he want to consult her on something, but prefers if they don't discuss in there. Manaka wonders if he is a stalker as there have been many fans who buy tickets just to harass them. The fan is surprised and tries to explain that he isn't a pervert and reaches for his pocket to take out a card and introduce himself, however, Manaka blows a whistle, which summons her fan staff and tells them that the fan has reached for a weapon. Hyoudou also tells him to not remove his hand from his pocket and everyone start telling the fan to just leave and go home. The fan then rages for calling him a stalker and not letting him explain himself. He takes his hand out and reveals his card, but at that moment the staff have already jumped on him.

Retsuko shows Fenneko the picture her father took of them with Haida and guesses he may want to tell her something. Looking at the picture with cut out Haida, Fenneko states that he doesn't want Haida and haven't given his approval of him yet. Ton overhears them and states that since his girls will also have boyfriends one day, he knows what Retsuko's father is going through right now. Retsuko ignores Ton and explains that she wants to meet Haida's parents and explain them the situation so they don't get the wrong idea, but Haida told her to not bother. Fenneko guesses that he may not want to meet them right now, since he is unemployed, however, REtsuko reveals that Haida is working right now at a grocery store. Ton makes another comment, but Retsuko tells him that she prefers if he stop butting into their conversation.

At the grocery store, the women there learn that Haida is living with his girlfriend and get excited. One asks Haida if Retsuko likes fruits and Haida confirms it. The women then explains that her parents send her fruits each year, but its too much for her to eat them and tells Haida to take the box with fruits from her car and give them to Retsuko. At home, Retsuko looks at the box full of persimmons and states she doesn't consider them to be edible food. Retsuko then wonders what to do with them as they are so many and Haida wonders if someone at her workplace likes them. Retsuko doesn't know, but states that people either love or hate them. Haida calls Anai and then Fenneko, asking them if they like persimmons, but both decline. Haida wonders what is the demographic of those fruits and Retsuko states its old people who couldn't get candy after the war. Haida goes through his contacts, wondering who may like them. He sees Shikabane number and texts her if she likes them. The door then rings and Retsuko and Haida wonder who it may be, since is so late already.

Haida goes to open the door and OTMgirls staff then rushes in and grabs Haida. They ask him what have he done to Retsuko. Manaka shows behind them and wonders if Retsuko is alright. Manaka then explains that a creep was looking for Retsuko and they chased him away. Retsuko thanks her, but explains that she is good and has Haida now. Looking at him, Manaka asks her if she wants one of her staff, but Retsuko refuses. From across the street, the fan from earlier had followed Manaka and is happy that he finally found Retsuko.

Haida meets with Tadano, who actually loves persimmons. Tadano comments that Haida looks much happier than before. Haida explains that he got a lot of stuff off his chest, but is struggling financially. Tadano explains that its normal for people over thirties to switch to programming. Tadano had checked the code Haida wrote and tells Haida that he is good. Tadano asks Haida which internet cafe he visited. Hearing its Anagura, Tadano tells ENI-O to find it and head there. Checking out Anagura, Tadano is excited as he had never seen an internet cafe and gets excited over the booths, manga and the juice available there. Haida goes to the clerk, who is surprised that Haida knows Tadano. Haida asks him if Shikabane is around, but the clerk explains he haven't seen her recently. Haida then asks about Dokachin, and the clerk explains he heard he hurt his hip on a work site and haven't come since. Haida wonders where is he and if he is in a hospital, but the clerk isn't aware of anything and states that a lot of people just drift away.

At home, Haida shares that Shikabane and Dokachin are no longer at the net cafe. He managed to get back on his feet thanks to Retsuko, but he doesn't know if Shikabane and Dokachin have somebody like that. Retsuko wonders if they had hired actual rooms, but Haida doubts it, guessing that Shikabane is in another net cafe as she had given up and doesn't care anymore. Retsuko wonders what he means and Haida explains that she got everything she wants and she had turned her back on the world as there is nothing left to want. Retsuko then states she understand what he means.

The next day, after Retsuko leaves for work, Haida gets a call from an unknown number. Its Jiro, who wonders what happened to Haida's job and if he quit. He also tells Haida that their father said that Haida should come home right away.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Manaka
* Migi
* Hidarin
* Hyoudou
* Masuo Ikari
* Retsuko
* Fenneko
* Ton
* Haida
* Anai
* Tadano
* Kobayashi
* Jiro Haida