# E1 - A Closed-Door Hire / The Athletic Black Cat
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GZ7UVG892/a-closed-door-hire--the-athletic-black-cat)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:00] Sign**
Even cats "could use
a hand from a human"
— T.K. Angus
**[00:04] Narrator**
* The human phrase "I could use*
* a hand from a cat" is used to express*
**[00:07] Narrator**
*when things get too overwhelming.*
**[00:10] Narrator**
* But from a cat's perspective,*
* they could "use a hand from a human."*
**[00:14] Narrator**
*This is a ramen shop run by cats.*
**[00:15] Sign**
Ramen Akaneko
**[00:18] Sign**
Ramen Akaneko
**[00:18] Narrator**
*It's called "Ramen Akaneko."*
**[00:20] Sign**
Ramen Akaneko
**[00:21] Narrator**
*At present, only cats are employed here.*
**[00:23] Sign**
Ramen Akaneko
**[00:31] Sign**
Ramen Akaneko
**[00:33] Sign**
Prepping
in Progress
**[00:40] SIGN**
Ramen Akaneko
**[02:07] Sign**
A Closed-Door Hire
**[02:14] Sabu**
Oh, welcome!
**[02:18] Tamako**
Hello, I'm—
**[02:19] Hana**
Table for one? We're still prepping,
but we can make an exception, meow!
**[02:24] Tamako**
Oh, no, I mean...
**[02:26] Hana**
That's okay, isn't it, Sabu-chan?
**[02:27] Sabu**
Sure. We're just about to open, anyway.
**[02:31] Hana**
Is a counter seat okay, meow?
**[02:32] Tamako**
Uh, sure.
**[02:35] Hana**
Is this your first time here, miss?
I recommend the Akaneko shoyu ramen, meow.
**[02:41] Tamako**
Well, you see, um...
**[02:44] Hana**
So is shoyu ramen okay?
**[02:46] Tamako**
P-Please.
**[02:47] Hana**
One order of shoyu ramen!
**[02:49] Sabu**
Coming up!
**[02:50] Hana**
Oh. I forgot your water, meow. Sorry.
**[02:56] Hana**
Here's your water.
**[02:58] Tamako**
Th-Thank you.
**[03:04] Sasaki**
Hana-chan.
**[03:06] Sasaki**
Aren't you being a bit *too* pushy with
the customer with all that rolling around?
**[03:10] Hana**
Not at all. It's how I usually am.
**[03:15] Sign**
Service first,
flavor second
**[03:15] Sign**
A Notice About Cat Hair
**[03:15] Sign**
Our employees take great caution.
However, there may be times when
cat hair can get in the ramen
**[03:15] Sign**
We thank you for your understanding.
Please enjoy your meal.
**[03:34] Sabu**
Order up! Akaneko shoyu ramen!
**[03:36] Tamako**
*That looks good.*
**[03:40] Tamako**
Thanks for the food.
**[03:51] Tamako**
It's delicious!
**[03:53] Sabu**
Thank you.
**[03:54] Hana**
Good job, boss.
**[03:56] Bunzo**
Mhm.
**[03:57] Bunzo**
Hana, go put out the sign. We're opening.
**[04:00] Hana**
'Kay.
**[04:03] Tamako**
Oh, um, Mr. Boss!
**[04:06] Tamako**
Uh, you see, I-I'm...
I'm h-here for the job interview!
**[04:10] Tamako**
My name's Tamako Yashiro.
**[04:12] Sabu**
Interview?
**[04:13] Bunzo**
Oh, was that today?
**[04:15] Tamako**
Huh? That's what I was told.
**[04:18] Hana**
Boss, you're hiring a human?
**[04:19] Bunzo**
Yeah.
**[04:20] Hana**
Seriously?
**[04:22] Bunzo**
Answer honestly, Yashiro-san.
**[04:27] Bunzo**
Do you like cats?
**[04:31] Tamako**
Well, in all honestly, I prefer dogs.
**[04:38] Bunzou**
You're hired.
**[04:41] Hana**
Why, boss?
**[04:49] Hana**
Brushing feels much better
when done by humans.
**[04:53] Tamako**
Um, is this really okay?
**[04:56] Hana**
Hm? Is what okay?
**[04:58] Tamako**
Shouldn't I be helping around
the store? It seems busy.
**[05:05] Hana**
What are you talking about?
**[05:07] Hana**
It'll be a letdown if they see
a human running the shop instead.
**[05:11] Tamako**
Oh, I see. Sorry for asking.
**[05:15] Hana**
Anyway, thanks.
**[05:16] Tamako**
No problem.
**[05:21] Tamako**
I'm glad I was hired,
but this isn't what I imagined.
**[05:29] Sabu**
Can I get brushed, too?
**[05:31] Tamako**
Oh, yes. Of course.
**[05:35] Sabu**
This is the best. Thanks a bunch.
**[05:38] Sabu**
We usually put in a lot of effort to make sure
our hair doesn't end up in the ramen.
**[05:43] Tamako**
What? Is effort all it takes?
**[05:46] Sabu**
Totally. With training, that is.
**[05:49] Sabu**
The boss is particularly amazing.
He never gets hair in the food.
**[05:54] Sabu**
Thanks! I feel refreshed!
**[05:56] Tamako**
I-I'm glad to hear it.
**[06:03] Tamako**
*He shed a lot. Amazing.*
**[06:06] Tamako**
Come in.
**[06:08] Sasaki**
Can I get brushed, too?
**[06:12] Tamako**
*So busy.*
**[06:16] Sasaki**
Sorry that you have to keep brushing us.
**[06:18] Tomako**
Oh, not at all.
**[06:20] Sasaki**
Yashiro-san, isn't it?
**[06:22] Sasaki**
So what do you think?
Will you stay with us?
**[06:24] Sasaki**
We used to just brush each other,
but it didn't really work.
**[06:28] Tamako**
Ah.
**[06:28] Sasaki**
And when we looked for new hires,
we only attracted cat lovers.
**[06:33] Tamako**
Is hiring cat lovers not a good idea?
**[06:36] Sasaki**
Well, how should I put it?
**[06:39] Sasaki**
All of our customers are cat lovers,
so if our employees are *also* like them...
**[06:43] Tamako**
Oh, I get it.
**[06:47] Tamako**
You all shed so much.
**[06:49] Sakaki**
We try to be careful
since this is a restaurant,
**[06:52] Sakaki**
but we're cats, so we can't help it.
**[06:57] Sasaki**
It happens sometimes.
**[07:00] Complainer**
You punks think you can feed me food
with a hair in it? Get me the manager!
**[07:04] Bunzo**
Like I told you, I'm the boss.
**[07:07] Complainer**
Huh?
**[07:08] Bunzo**
We have a notice regarding cat hair
on the wall there. Please read it.
**[07:10] Sign**
Our employees take great caution.
However, there may be times when
cat hair can get in the ramen.
**[07:15] Bunzo**
Since you've already eaten your meal,
we cannot give you a refund.
**[07:19] Bunzo**
You may leave now.
**[07:21] Complainer**
You really don't hold your tongue
when speaking to a human, huh?
**[07:24] Complainer**
Ah, this *can't* be good!
**[07:26] Complainer**
I'll tell the health department about this
place, where filthy beasts make ramen.
**[07:30] Complainer**
There'll be a thorough investigation!
It'll take one—no, *two* weeks!
**[07:34] Tamako**
What's with that guy? How horrible.
**[07:36] Sasaki**
We get folk like that.
**[07:37] Complainer**
Is that what you want, "boss"? *Well*?
**[07:38] Sasaki**
They try to get money from us
by causing a scene,
**[07:41] Sasaki**
thinking they can mess with us
'cause cats run the place.
**[07:43] Tamako**
Wh-What should we do?
**[07:45] Sasaki**
Don't worry about it.
**[07:48] Sasaki**
Krishna-chan.
**[07:52] Sasaki**
I'll leave this to you.
**[07:54] Complainer**
What's wrong, boss man?
**[07:56] Complainer**
Cat got your tongue?
**[07:59] Complainer**
You understand me, don't you?
**[08:02] Krishna**
Excuse me, sir.
**[08:04] Complainer**
Whaddaya want, uh, punk...
**[08:05] Krishna**
Is something the matter, sir?
**[08:15] Krishna**
Was there something you wanted
to say about our ramen?
**[08:18] Complainer**
Oh, uh, no.
**[08:20] Complainer**
No, nothing at all. Thanks for the meal.
**[08:24] Complainer**
I'll be on my way now.
**[08:29] Krishna**
Sorry for the disturbance.
**[08:32] Krishna**
I apologize. So sorry.
**[08:40] Mayu/ customer**
That was Krishna-chan! She rarely shows up!
**[08:45] Sasaki**
Thank you, Krishna-chan.
**[08:50] Krishna**
I was so scared, Sasaki-san!
**[08:52] Sasaki**
There, there.
**[08:53] Sasaki**
Sorry for making you do that
even though you hate it.
**[08:57] Sasaki**
Wait, I know. Can you also brush Krishna-chan?
**[09:00] Tamako**
What?
**[09:00] Krishna**
Huh? You'd do that?
**[09:03] Krishna**
That'd make me so happy!
**[09:05] Tamako**
Sure. I'll do my best.
**[09:08] Sasaki**
Yashiro-san, Yashiro-san.
**[09:10] Sasaki**
She may not look it, but Krishna-chan's kind
and a big ol' scaredy-cat, so don't worry.
**[09:20] Sasaki**
Have fun.
**[09:28] Krishna**
It's been a while since I was last brushed.
**[09:32] Tamako**
*This is kinda hard.*
**[09:38] Tamako**
* This job is very different*
* from what I thought it'd be.*
**[09:44] SIGN**
Ramen Akaneko
**[09:44] SIGN**
Ramen
**[09:44] SIGN**
Akaneko
**[09:49] Bunzo**
The stress of the day just melts away.
**[09:52] Bunzo**
Sorry to keep you so late.
**[09:54] Bunzo**
Today was supposed to be
a trial day for you, but it got so busy.
**[09:58] Tamako**
Oh, no. It's no problem.
**[10:02] Bunzo**
All right. Follow me.
**[10:06] Bunzo**
Are you all done with the clean-up?
Attention, please.
**[10:10] Bunzo**
Let me introduce you to
the staff of Ramen Akaneko.
**[10:13] Bunzo**
Though you've already brushed all of them.
**[10:17] Bunzo**
This is Sabu, our head chef.
He's in charge of toppings and the sides.
**[10:21] Sabu**
Nice to meet'cha.
**[10:23] Bunzo**
Our customer service rep, Hana, is popular
with her cunning customer service skills.
**[10:27] Hana**
Hello.
**[10:28] Bunzo**
Sasaki, our service rep and cashier.
He also handles the finances.
**[10:31] Sasaki**
Nice to meet you.
**[10:33] Bunzo**
And in the back...
**[10:35] Bunzo**
Krishna, who's in charge of our noodles.
She's shy, so she works in the back.
**[10:40] Krishna**
It's very nice to meet you.
**[10:42] Bunzo**
And finally, I'm Bunzo,
the boss here at Ramen Akaneko.
**[10:48] Bunzo**
Now, Yashiro-san, time to introduce yourself.
**[10:50] Tamako**
Oh, u-um... well...
**[10:56] Tamako**
I'm T-Tamako Yashiro.
**[11:00] Tamako**
M-My aunt introduced me
to this store, and um...
**[11:06] Tamako**
I-It's nice to meet you all.
**[11:11] Sasaki**
Welcome.
**[11:12] Sabu**
Happy to have ya!
**[11:13] Krishna**
Nice to meet you.
**[11:14] Sabu**
Who's her aunt?
**[11:15] Bunzo**
The previous owner.
**[11:17] Bunzo**
There aren't many people
who would sell their store to cats,
**[11:20] Bunzo**
so I'm very grateful to her.
**[11:23] Sabu**
Did you know the store before we took over?
**[11:27] Tamako**
Yes. I used to eat here when I was younger.
**[11:30] Sabu**
I see.
**[11:30] Bunzo**
Interesting.
**[11:31] Hana**
Hmph.
**[11:32] Hana**
So she's a nepo-baby.
Life's so easy for a human.
**[11:37] Hana**
Boss, I'm heading out first.
**[11:40] Bunzo**
Hey!
**[11:42] Bunzo**
Save the catnip till you're
back in your room, Hana!
**[11:46] Tamako**
Um, did I do something to offend Hana-san?
**[11:53] Bunzo**
Don't worry about it. It just takes
Hana a while to get used to you.
**[11:58] Bunzo**
Ask Sasaki if you have any
questions. I've got prep to do.
**[12:03] Sasaki**
You're good to go for today.
**[12:05] Sasaki**
Can you come in at nine tomorrow morning?
**[12:07] Tamako**
Oh, yes, of course.
**[12:10] Sabu**
Here, take these home. It's gyoza.
**[12:13] Tamako**
Oh, thank you.
**[12:15] Tamako**
Well then, I'll be off.
**[12:17] Bunzo**
Good work today.
**[12:18] Sabu**
See ya!
**[12:19] Sasaki**
Thanks for today.
**[12:20] Krishna**
Thank you for today.
**[12:27] Tamako**
I'm beat.
**[12:31] Sign**
Ramen Akaneko
**[12:36] Sign**
The Athletic Black Cat
**[12:49] Tamako**
Good morning.
**[12:51] Sabu**
Oh, morning.
**[12:53] Bunzo**
Morning.
**[12:54] Hana**
Good morning.
**[12:55] Tamako**
Morning.
**[12:57] Hana**
Head to the back to get
instructions from Sasaki-san.
**[13:00] Tamako**
Okay, I'll go do that.
**[13:09] Tamako**
Good morning.
**[13:11] Sasaki**
Oh, good morning.
**[13:13] Sasaki**
You can use that locker for your
belongings. Top right, I mean.
**[13:23] Sasaki**
Yashiro-san.
**[13:24] SIGN**
Ramen Akaneko
Staff Manual
**[13:24] Sasaki**
Here. Our manual.
**[13:27] Sasaki**
It's still in the works,
but use this for today.
**[13:30] Tamako**
Okay. Thank you very much.
**[13:33] Krishna**
Good morning.
**[13:35] Tamako**
Good morning.
**[13:37] Sasaki**
Feel free to ask me
if you have any questions.
**[13:40] Sasaki**
First, please start with Krishna-chan.
**[13:47] Sign**
Brushing the Staff
**[13:50] Krishna**
Thanks for brushing me
first thing in the morning.
**[14:00] Krishna**
Thank you so much. I feel so much better.
**[14:05] Tamako**
No worries.
**[14:07] Tamako**
*There's so much fur.*
**[14:10] Sign**
More Brushing
**[14:19] Bunzo**
Hup. Thanks.
**[14:29] Sabu**
Can you brush a li'l harder?
**[14:31] Tamako**
Sure.
**[14:33] Sabu**
Thanks!
**[14:38] Sasaki**
Ah, that's good.
**[14:40] Sasaki**
It's harder than you thought, right?
**[14:42] Sasaki**
Be careful not to get tendonitis.
**[14:46] Tamako**
Right.
**[14:53] Tamako**
Um, Hana-san, your brushing...
**[15:01] Hana**
I'll pass. I had one yesterday.
**[15:03] Bunzo**
Hana.
**[15:04] Bunzo**
Go do it.
**[15:07] Hana**
Is that an order?
**[15:08] Bunzo**
Mhm.
**[15:09] Hana**
Fine.
**[15:10] Bunzo**
That's the spirit.
**[15:16] Tamako**
Please take a seat.
**[15:17] Hana**
Hold it. I don't want *that* brush.
**[15:19] Tamako**
Huh?
**[15:20] Hana**
You see those other ones there?
I want a rubber brush.
**[15:24] Tamako**
Oh, I'm sorry.
**[15:37] Tamako**
Um...
**[15:38] Hana**
Hm? What?
**[15:40] Tamako**
Is it possible that everyone
has their own preferred brush?
**[15:46] Hana**
Well, of course. Don't say you've been
using the same brush this whole time.
**[15:51] Tamako**
I have.
**[15:52] Hana**
Huh. Everyone's so nice to you.
**[15:56] Hana**
You have to check with each of them.
**[15:59] Tamako**
Right.
**[16:01] Hana**
Are you looking down at us
'cause we're cats?
**[16:03] Tamako**
Not at all. I'm so sorry.
**[16:08] Hana**
Ah! It's time already?
**[16:10] Hana**
Hurry it up!
**[16:11] Hana**
No! With that thin comb!
**[16:14] Hana**
Ah! There's no time!
**[16:20] Sign**
Store Opens
**[16:21] Hana**
Welcome, meow.
**[16:24] Hana**
This way, meow.
**[16:27] Tamako**
*She switches personas so quickly.*
**[16:29] Hana**
I'm happy you're back, meow!
**[16:35] Tamako**
"After opening, clean the staff room, etc..."
**[16:41] Tamako**
So I need to clean this?
**[16:44] Tamako**
All right.
**[16:47] Tamako**
* Since the store's open,*
* I can't use the vacuum.*
**[16:52] Tamako**
*So much cat hair.*
**[16:56] Tamako**
* I need to organize things*
* before I can start cleaning.*
**[17:03] Tamako**
*Snacks? They've been stashed here.*
**[17:07] Tamako**
*Someone's toys?*
**[17:09] Tamako**
*An extra chair?*
**[17:11] Tamako**
*It's all worn. Maybe it's a scratch post?*
**[17:14] Tamako**
*Everyone really is a cat.*
**[17:17] Tamako**
*What am I saying? Of course they are.*
**[17:22] Krishna**
Huh?
**[17:23] Sasaki**
After she's cleaned the staff room,
I'll get her to help you, Krishna-chan.
**[17:27] Sasaki**
You can show her the ropes.
**[17:30] Krishna**
But she's not here?
**[17:31] Krishna**
Tamako-san?
**[17:33] Krishna**
Whoa! It's so *clean*! Did you do all this?
**[17:37] Tamako**
Oh, Krishna-san.
**[17:42] Sasaki**
So you were cleaning this whole time?
**[17:44] Tamako**
Yes, I got a little carried away.
**[17:47] Tamako**
I'm sorry. I think I went too far.
**[17:51] Sabu**
My hideout's gone!
**[17:53] Sasaki**
Those two just messed around in
that space, so don't worry about it.
**[17:58] Sasaki**
They never cleaned it,
no matter how many times we asked.
**[18:01] Tamako**
But I ignored the manual.
**[18:03] Tamako**
It's all right.
**[18:05] Tamako**
You can pick things up
one at a time. There's no rush.
**[18:10] Tamako**
Thank you.
**[18:12] Sabu**
Oh!
**[18:13] Sabu**
That's *my* snack!
**[18:16] Sasaki**
Well then, lunch time's over,
so you can clock off for today.
**[18:22] Sasaki**
We're closed from two to five,
so I'll have you come in tomorrow evening.
**[18:27] Tamako**
Ah, okay.
**[18:29] Tamako**
Well then, I'll see you tomorrow.
**[18:32] Bunzo**
Want some lunch before you go?
**[18:35] Sasaki**
You should do that. I've got some things
to give you, too, so have a seat.
**[18:38] Tamako**
Okay.
**[18:46] Sasaki**
Here you go.
**[18:47] Sasaki**
Your notice of employment.
**[18:51] Sasaki**
Sorry it took a while. Be sure to bring in your
notice of unemployment from your last job.
**[18:55] Sasaki**
We'll need your employee insurance
number to process your new insurance.
**[19:02] Tamako**
You're being so thorough.
**[19:05] Sasaki**
Yeah, it's hard to employ
humans with all these steps.
**[19:11] Sasaki**
What's the matter? Why are you crying?
**[19:15] Tamako**
I-I'm sorry.
**[19:18] Tamako**
My previous job was just
such a horrible place.
**[19:21] Tamako**
They were so careless about my insurance
and stuff. Even quitting was difficult.
**[19:30] Tamako**
I'm just so relieved and grateful.
**[19:33] Sasaki**
I see. That must have been hard.
**[19:37] Bunzo**
Here. Your lunch is ready.
**[19:41] Bunzo**
The Akaneko Special.
**[19:43] Tamako**
Thanks for the food!
**[19:45] Sasaki**
We take great care of
any human staff we employ.
**[19:47] Hana; Sabu**
What about the cats?
**[19:49] Sasaki**
Cats don't have labor laws.
**[19:51] Hana**
What's up with that?
**[19:52] Tamako**
I see.
**[19:58] Hana**
You always come out with
weird cat jokes, Sasaki-san!
**[20:01] Sabu**
Yup, yup!
**[21:42] Sign**
The Daily Akaneko
**[21:44] Bunzo**
The Daily Akaneko.
**[21:48] Sasaki**
After "A Closed-Door Hire."
**[21:51] Tamako**
Hello, auntie? It's me, Tamako.
**[21:55] Tamako**
Yup. At Ramen Akaneko.
**[21:58] Tamako**
Yeah. It wasn't really an interview.
We just spoke a bit.
**[22:02] Tamako**
Yeah. Thanks.
**[22:04] Tamako**
Yup, everyone's a cat. There's even a tiger.
**[22:08] Tamako**
I'm serious.
**[22:10] Tamako**
Mhm. Don't worry, they're nice.
**[22:14] Tamako**
Thanks.
**[22:17] Sign**
The Daily Akaneko
**[22:18] Bunzo**
The Daily Akaneko.
**[22:22] Sabu**
After "The Athletic Black Cat."
**[22:25] Sasaki**
We've hired a good person.
**[22:27] Bunzo**
Yeah. I just hope Hana
will get used to her soon.
**[22:31] Sasaki**
I agree. Hana-chan can be
super strict about this job.
**[22:34] Bunzo**
Take good care of them.
**[22:36] Sasaki**
I know.
**[22:37] Hana**
Hey, Sabu-chan. What do you
think about that human?
**[22:41] Sabu**
I think she's great. She seems dedicated.
**[22:43] Hana**
Huh.
**[22:45] Sabu**
Hana-san, you're the type
who judges people first, huh?
**[22:48] Hana**
What do you mean?
**[22:49] Sabu**
You were like that towards me at first, too.
**[22:52] Hana**
Was I?
**[22:54] Krishna**
It's been so long since someone
brushed me that thoroughly!
**[22:59] Krishna**
She's a keeper.
**[23:01] Hana**
Oh, really?
**[23:04] Tamako**
How did you guys brush yourselves before?
**[23:06] Krishna**
We brushed each other.
**[23:09] Krishna**
But we always felt bad, and to be honest,
we weren't really good at it.
**[23:14] Tamako**
I see.