Saviour

Episode 1: Saviour

Yukimura’s life is ordinary and boring, except for a girl he fell in love with as a little boy. She once helped him fight off bullies, boxing one of them in the face. He never found the courage to thank her or speak to her throughout elementary and high school, even though they attended the same school. He was content just observing her from a distance.

But the day they finally met was different—it was dark, and Yukimura was holding a bloody knife. His life changed from that moment.

Mariko Nose head of the Brand Business Department at Velel Company, proposed opening a new branch at the NEWoMan Takanawa mall near the terminal station. She explained it could increase overall sales by two or three percent. Takumi Sano of the second brand division said he would try to secure it, later telling Ryoko Hashimoto that Mariko was “scary.”

Mariko instructed her secretary, Izumi Takeda, to schedule a meeting with Ms. Hara from NEWoMan. On her way to the branch president’s office, she passed Yukimura.

Yukimura overheard colleagues gossiping about Mariko’s search for a husband, which made him drop items from the tray he was pushing. They said she had already been on several dates.

Izumi later found Mariko brooding over a failed date in the snack room. Mariko explained that she had nothing in common with the man, who criticized her for not having seen Top Gun. Izumi teased her for only watching Marvel superhero movies and reminded her that dating for marriage is about learning each other’s quirks and compromises. Showing Mariko a photo of her child, Izumi said that even though she was divorced, her child was her greatest treasure. “There’s no such thing as destiny,” she emphasized.

At a café, Mariko’s credit cards failed, and she had no cash. Yukimura offered to pay her bill. She asked for his number, so she could pay him but he refused, so she gave him her card instead.

Her father, Ginjiro Nose, president of Velel Company, criticized her proposal, saying production costs needed to be lowered and ingredients weren’t strong enough. He asked her to revise it before the executive meeting.

Excited staff discussed revisions, with Ryoko suggesting stem cells. Mariko insisted they needed something original. Yukimura overheard her mention PDRN and offered research on plant-based stem cells.

Later, Yukimura bumped into Mariko, and their papers got mixed. She recognized him, paid him back for lunch, and noticed his research notes. He explained his idea of using plant-derived stem cells to get ahead of competitors.

Transferred to the Brand Business Department, Yukimura was tasked with drafting a proposal. Mariko encouraged him, despite his hesitation. Izumi teased Mariko, saying Yukimura might be her type.

Meanwhile, Mariko’s grandmother, Akiko Nose, arranged for her to meet Taisuke Sakura, a civil servant she deemed “perfect husband material.” Mariko objected, but Akiko insisted.

In the background, Mariko’s stepmother plotted against her, conspiring with Mr. Tateiwa to prevent her from gaining Ginjiro’s favor and a position in the company.

Yukimura, meanwhile, obsessively browsed Mariko’s social media to study her likes and dislikes.

At a restaurant, Mariko and Akiko met Sakura, who praised Mariko’s beauty and revealed his profession as civil servant. Her stepmother secretly photographed them together.

Mariko continued working late at cafés before returning to her office. Yukimura appeared with dinner at the office with her favorites from a cafe. She notices the photograph in his cellphone and asks about its location in Argentina. They bonded over Marvel movies, sharing photos of filming locations like Iguazu Falls and Grand Central Terminal. Mariko was stunned to find someone who shared her passion.

But competitors like Mr. Tateiwa watched both of them that night.

Mariko is frustrated by the time she invested in the project and confronts Mr. Tateiwa about his underhanded tactics. He claims her group copied his proposal, accusing her of using her father’s influence to steal it. He insults her, saying she only believes she has ability but is nothing more than a spoiled rich girl.

Back in her office, Mariko tells Yukimura to give up. He leaves the proposal on her desk, insisting he knows how hard she worked and that he will not give up.

Meanwhile, Yukimura follows Mr. Tateiwa home, begging him to withdraw his proposal or else he would expose the fake partnership he obtained using company funds. He kneels and pleads, but Tateiwa beats him and refuses to withdraw the proposal.

President Nose decides to approve Mariko’s project instead of Tateiwa’s. He instructs her to prepare all documents for announcement at the next executive meeting.

Mariko shares the good news with her team, who congratulate each other. She directs them to proceed with developing the new skincare formulation and to coordinate with the PR department for the campaign.

Yukimura admires Mariko from a distance, proud of her popularity and presence in the company. He dreams of sitting beside her one day, determined to help and protect her. Unknown to Mariko, he has been researching for her and making subtle attempts to gain her attention. His transfer to her department finally brings him closer, though he suffers along the way, driven only by the desire to make her happy.

He uncovers Tateiwa’s fraudulent partnership deal and threatens to expose it unless Tateiwa withdraws his proposal. Takumi and Ryoko notice the scratch on Yukimura’s face, but he brushes it off, saying he fell.

Mariko thanks him for completing the proposal materials that secured company approval. Yukimura is happy.

The cashier from the café teases him about finally catching the attention of the girl he has loved for 25 years. Yukimura admits he feels both happiness and guilt. He compares his love to cilantro—at first unbearable, but eventually something you grow to like when it’s always present. “Do you think I could become her cilantro?” he asks. The cashier laughs, saying he still hates cilantro no matter how many times he tries it.

The cashier marvels at Yukimura’s devotion, calling it scary. He asks if Yukimura thinks Mariko would be happy knowing he loved her for so long. Yukimura replies that she saved him, and that is why he loves her.

Reading his old diaries, Yukimura recalls being bullied in grade three until Mariko intervened. She was strong and cool, but he never managed to thank her. He once saved her from a kidnapping attempt by calling for help. He worked hard through school and university to follow her path, striving to protect her. Now, at work, he is finally close to her and no longer invisible.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nose reads a magazine about the release of Satoru Hatano, a child kidnapper and murderer freed after 25 years. Hatano, the same man who once tried to kidnap Mariko, declares he still holds a grudge against the world. He chillingly says Mariko “deserves the light.”

Police investigator Taisuke Sakura discovers Tsuyoshi Tateiwa stabbed multiple times under a pedestrian overpass.

Yukimura sharpens his pencil, vowing not to let anyone interfere with Mariko’s life. He has protected her for 25 years. He declares that destined love will never find him, so he will create destiny himself and become the person she is meant to be with.

Meanwhile, Mariko opens the documents and finds Yukimura’s note, asking her to check the separate file. She smiles.

#25YearsOfYou 

#DestinyCreated 

#DramaSeries 

#CorporateIntrigue 

#RomanticObsession 

#DarkSecrets 
#FamilyConflict 
#MarvelConnection 
#SupernaturalForeshadowing 
#DarkMystery