Tenma Sumeragi/Complete Satisfaction

Igawa's Manners Course

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Staff	Cut! Oh, that was great!
	Let’s take a break!
Hiro	You’ve gotten better at responding to my adlibs.
Tenma	It’s because you took them in a direction that made it easy for me to respond to. It was pretty fun.
Hiro	That just means you’re able to play along with my antics, Tenma. I actually thought I was being a kind of unreasonable.
Tenma	I knew you were doing it more than usual… So that’s why.
	Well, now we’ve gotten more opportunities to work together, I think I might have a better grasp of Hiro-san’s tempo than before.
Hiro	You’re quick-witted, alright.
Tenma	Thanks… Speaking of wit, there’s this thing I wanted to discuss with you.
Hiro	What is it?
Tenma	Recently, I accepted the role of an elevator boy for a department store. We’re going to be unveiling some new White Day cosmetics, but…
	Even though there’s going to be some prior practical training, I’m having trouble imagining elevator boys in the first place.
Hiro	Wouldn’t it just be the same as an elevator girl?
Tenma	I’m not that familiar with elevator girls either.
Hiro	….Seriously. I’m starting to feel a very sobering generation gap…
Tenma	I’ve only ever seen elevator boys in hotels, and I never really gave them much thought until now.
Hiro	I definitely used to see them in department stores, but they must not be as common nowadays.
Tenma	I don’t remember much about them. I’m sure it was glamorous, though.
Hiro	…Hang on, have you never been to a department store? No, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had some type of foreign businessman…
	*hiro's imagination starts*
Foreign Sales Manager	Sumeragi-sama, I’ve been expecting you. These are the new products.
Tenma	Thank you. …Heh, these are nice. I’ll take all of them.
Foreign Sales Manager	Understood. I’ll prepare them for you.
Tenma	Yes, please do.
	*hiro's imagination ends*
Hiro	…You seem like you’d have something like that.
Tenma	What are you imagining! I usually just go to department stores to shop!
	Jeez...
	Anyway, I’m guessing the job is just to put people in an elevator and guide them around. Is that right?
Hiro	Asking an actual employee would probably be best… But I’m sure there’s also a customer service aspect to it too, not just guiding them around.
Tenma	I see. The request also has us promoting the items too, so it’s not exactly the same.
Hiro	Manners are particularly important there. Why don’t you ask your manager? He’s pretty experienced in that department.
	The job’s different, but both require a lot of consideration and care. Managers are like a culmination of that.
Tenma	Got it…. I’ll ask Igawa about manners.
	Thank you for the advice.
Hiro	Tenma as an elevator boy, I’d like to see that. Well, good luck.
Tenma	Yeah.
Igawa	Thank you for your hard work today, Tenma-kun! Everyone on site was raving about you!
	Now, I’d like to take a moment to explain your schedule for the coming months.
	Your next film location will be here. As for your co-stars–.
Tenma	(Until now, I’ve always taken these discussions for granted…)
	(Confirming all of my future plans in advance via a quick meeting during my free time… This is exactly the type of ‘consideration and care’ I’m looking for.)
Igawa	…And that’s it for your schedule.
	As we confirmed earlier, you have an upcoming job as an elevator boy–.
	I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere with your next job, so please rest assured.
Tenma	.....
Igawa	....Tenma-kun?
Tenma	Yeah, sorry. Thank you for the schedule review.
Igawa	Did you have any issues with it?
Tenma	No, it doesn’t have anything to do with what we’re currently talking about. Well, sort of.
Igawa	What is it?
Tenma	During a film break, I asked Hiro-san about the role of elevator boys.
	Even though I’m going to get some hands-on practice, he thought I should study the manners required for the job, too.
	He mentioned that my manager, you, might know a few things about taking care of others.
	Again, thank you for all the fine work you do.
Igawa	Tenma-kun...!
	Well then, let’s study manners that could be useful for this request together!
Tenma	Let's.

Igawa	First is a basic greeting. When bowing to customers, keep your legs together and your back straight… Like this!
Tenma	Is this right?
Igawa	Yes, that's it.
	The next greeting is for when they leave. Another bow here looks especially lovely.
Tenma	When they’re leaving… How do I do that?
Igawa	It’s customary to bow after you speak. It looks much better if you bow at around a 30 degree angle, like so.
	“Welcome.”
Tenma	Ooh, that looks very polite.
Igawa	I know your actual job will be very busy, so this is just an example, but…
	Remembering this will inspire you to greet customers more courteously.
Tenma	Of course. I’ll give it a try too.
	“Welcome.”
Igawa	Good job, your bowing angle is perfect!
	Next let’s discuss the standing position inside the elevator.
	Tenma-kun, you’ll stand in front of the elevator’s operation panel and guide customers to their desired floors.
Tenma	Alright.
Igawa	If there are two control panels, the one on the left side of the elevator is lower status than the one on the right.
Tenma	So, what would I do then…?
Igawa	Basically, the elevator operator would remain to the left!
Tenma	I see. I’ll keep that in mind when I use elevators in the future.
Igawa	Yes, I’d hope so.
	I’m glad I could help you. If you need anything else, please feel free to ask me.
Tenma	Good morning.
Izumi	Good morning, Tenma-kun. Perfect timing.
Tenma	What is it?
Izumi	I was hoping for a little help with my shopping, but it seems everyone’s out today…
Tenma	I'll go if you want.
Izumi	Sorry, I know it's your day off.
Tenma	It’s fine. It’s a nice change of pace.
Izumi	…There’s more bags than I expected.
	Thanks so much for coming, Tenma-kun! I’m sorry you have to carry so much.
Tenma	I don’t mind carrying the bags, but you’re buying way too much.
Izumi	There was a sale on daily necessities, so I got greedy…
Tenma	Well, I guess you do have to buy a lot, considering how many people live in the dorms.
Izumi	That’s right…. Oh, looks like there’s an elevator coming.
Tenma	Just in time, let’s ride it.
Tenma	….So this elevator has two operation panels, huh.
Izumi	Ah, Tenma-kun...!
Tenma	Hm?
	Crap, it's closing! *holds door*
Izumi	T-Thank you...!
	*elevator door closes*
Tenma	Sorry, you okay?
Izumi	Since you immediately held your arm out to block the door, I’m perfectly fine!
Tenma	Do elevator doors always close that quickly…?
Izumi	Both this building and the elevator have been around for quite some time, so it probably closes so quickly because of its age.
Tenma	I’m glad you weren’t hurt.
	…If I remember correctly, the lower status panel is on the left.
Izumi	Lower status?
Tenma	Igawa told me that if there’s two operation panels, the one on the left is used by lower status passengers.
CHOICE 1: Now that you mention it... [+] Izumi Now that you mention it... Tenma I never really thought about it before, but there’s so many different manners in the world. Thanks to the elevator boy request, I noticed ways people are considerate, and I learned from them. Izumi Knowing even just a little bit of manners makes others appreciate you more. Tenma Yeah, you’re right. I’m sure they’ll also be useful in my future endeavors.
CHOICE 2: You're studying hard. [+] Izumi You're studying hard. Tenma It’d be a problem if the elevator boy didn’t know elevator manners. Igawa also taught me how to bow properly. Izumi Well then, your customer service must be perfect. Tenma Obviously. I’m going to turn myself into a perfect elevator boy.
Izumi	Fufu, I’m looking forward to seeing elevator boy Tenma-kun.

BAYLI