The 46th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Bakebake " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Akari Takaishi , was broadcast on December 1st, and viewers were drawn to the words and actions of the debt collector Zentaro (Maehara Mizuki).
In episode 46, a cold winter has arrived in Matsue. Zentaro arrives at the Matsuno household early in the morning, and Fumi (played by Chizuru Ikewaki) hands over some money, saying, "This month's worth." Zentaro roughly takes the money, saying, "Let me count it," and begins counting it.
Having been easily repaid the huge sum of 10 yen, Zentaro shouts, "What a pain!" and "I'm so disappointed!" When Zentaro snaps, "You're a poor man, but you keep paying it back every month like you're rich!", Fumi replies, "You have to pay your debts back properly."
Zentaro couldn't hide his irritation as he said, "The whole point of debt collectors' business is to slap the face and buttocks of poor people who want to pay back but can't, bully them, make women and children cry, and act all high and mighty. But...if they pay back so many of them, it's a loss of business!"
Zentaro then said, "It's winter, and it's cold. So... take good care of yourself this month so you don't catch a cold, take plenty of rest, and take good care of yourself. And then... give me a little money back next month. Is that okay?"
To the confused Matsuno family, Zentaro emphasized, "I'm telling you, your debts are still so great that they could fill Lake Shinji. Don't get too cocky. Got it?" and then left the house.
Comments on social media included, "Tsundere Zentaro had me laughing my head off this morning," "Zentaro is a debt collector who just can't bring himself to be the bad guy," "He's a kind and good guy deep down," "He's just too good, lol," "Zentaro is an honest person to the core, from being surprised to the fun of being a debt collector!", "He's so kind, he worries about you lol," "It's cute how Zentaro becomes so tsundere in his desire to live up to the image of the 'ideal debt collector'," and "Zentaro is great, he's trying so hard even though he's not suited for it."
