Filthy Casual for Life

EPISODE 4: THE PAST AND REGRETS

Haru is at his family’s gravesite pulling weeds. He tells his family about Madoka and how he was able to get a sponsorship. He tells his family that he only came in fourth, but repeats what Madoka told him. A win is a win.

A screening of Haru’s commercial happens. At the end of the commercial, they added Madoka’s picture of Haru crying. Haru was unhappy that the picture made it into the commercial. Madoka profusely apologizes to Haru. Trying to cheer Haru up, he mentions the commercial’s message is they empathize with people who are trying their best to include those who don’t win.

Walking home with Koutarou and Alice, Haru still refuses to forgive Madoka for the picture. Alice works for Team Belsorriso because of her crush on the lead driver, Satsuki. As they are walking, Satuski approaches Alice with her backpack that she left at the team office. Satsuki then approaches Haru about his commercial. At first, he is complimentary but then makes sure to point out that only Haru knows how it feels to lose and cry about it.

In the next commercial shoot, Madoka and Saeko are talking. She tells Madoka to not over apologize and that Haru will come around. Suddenly, Madoka notices that there are four purchase orders for the photo shoot. The commercial people want Madoka to take pictures of Haru. He is politely declining because he still has issues with taking pictures of people. When he hit his limit, Madoka yells that his pictures aren’t good enough.

Noticing everyone looking at him, Madoka makes up an excuse that he has a stomachache and runs out. Saeko finally introduces herself to Haru. She tells Haru a little of Madoka’s backstory. Madoka used to be a photojournalist. 12 years prior, there was an earthquake and Madoka disappeared. Saeko finally tracked him down 2 months later. He released a photo of a girl being swallowed up by the tsunami. He received a lot of hate and never took a picture of people since. Saeko tells him that the client wanted a picture of Haru on top of a podium, but Madoka fought against it to preserve Haru’s wish to win his place on the podium.

Haru forgives Madoka after his conversation with Saeko and messages Madoka to leave time for him on Saturday. Haru takes Madoka to his parents’ grave. He tells Madoka that he wished his father to do his best every race. Then, on a rainy day, his dad crashed. Haru admits that he blames himself. That maybe his words caused his father to drive irresponsibly. As Haru talks to his Dad, he introduces Madoka and then says when he gets on the podium, Madoka will take his picture so he can show his father.

THOUGHTS

We finally get Madoka’s backstory. His trauma is understandable. His job was to capture that moment, and yet, people criticized him for it. It is also very mature of Haru to understand what Madoka is going through. Haru comments that when one cheers for another, it is usually for their own sake. Therefore, when Haru tells his father that Madoka will take his podium picture, what does that mean? It is something to ponder. Is it Haru’s way of saying that he will believe in himself, so Madoka should believe in himself, too?

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Episode 1: The Man Who Races
Episode 2: Enthusiasm and Spirit
Episode 3: How Many Kilometers to the Winner’s Podium