Mei Nagano is Back with "Unicorn Ni Notte"

Sana Narukawa (Mei Nagano) hasn’t had it easy- she grew up in a very poor upbringing with a single parent, But still has dreams of one day creating her own company. And when big-shot CEO Sachi Haneda (Ryoko Hirosue) gives a lecture at the college encouraging her to pursue her dreams, it gives her the incentive to make it!

Fast forward to 2022, and Sana has indeed “made it”, a young CEO of a popular education app called Dream Pony which also employs co-founders Ko Suzaki (Yosuke Sugino) and Jiro Kuriki (Kou Maehara). 

Sadly, sales have been in decline over the past few months, and the higher ups tell he she needs to drastically improve her customer base.

The company decides to hire a new employee to rejuvenate the company and “bring in some fresh blood”. The trio interviews a whole host of potential candidates, but the ones that make an impression on them are Satoshi Kotaro (Hidetoshi Njishijima), an older man whom they are shocked to see applying for such a newbie type job...

...and the morose but highly talented Kaito Morimoto (Ryota Bando) who, though poor with communication, WOWs them with his computer animation talent, a huge boon for the app company!

While they ponder which of the interviewees they will choose for their new employee, an unexpected situation develops- 

It seems CEO Sachi Haneda is out looking for potential candidates to invest in, and Narukawa places her hopes on being chosen to get them out fo their slump and jumpstart their business!

Her proposal is shot down in flames, however, and when a distraught Narukawa confronts Haneda with queries of why her company was rejected, Haneda curtly tells Narukawa that she feels Narukawa is a One-Trick-Pony (no pun intended I swear) and has been getting press sympathy and publicity simply because of her back story as a poor person who rose up and became a president of her own company.

 “You got by on the story of your success. But now, what do you really have to offer?” Narukawa is devastated.

Retreating back to the library which she spent many a day back in her youth, she bumps into Kotori, who, despite his slim chances of being hired, is fervently studying up on things. He realizes he’s woefully behind on things and is earnestly trying to educate himself to catch up.

And it’s here that Narukawa gets the inspiration for what will ultimately become other next project- A virtual school where anyone, regardless of age  or status, can come in and learn.

She once again barges in on the stern Haneda (This CEO must be the easiest person in the world to interrupt!) who, though still stand-offish towards her at first, warms up considerably when she hears Narukawa's new pitch about the virtual learning center. It sounds like something worth pursuing, and they agree to meet up to discuss things!

Finally comes the day when Dream Pony’s newest employee is set to start, and it’s no surprise that it’s the highly talented Morimoto… 

but THEN, Narukawa announces that they’re in fact going to be employing TWO new hires, and the other new hire is, of course, Kotori, who though lacking in computer skills, has the heart to make things work and, above all, believes in the same standards as Narukawa and her team themselves!!!

Well, this was the first of the “big” new dramas this season and I was dying to see it- After watching it, I hope this one works out because I have to say,  Nagano's character scrambling to come up with a “hot new item” for success reminded me not just a little of her similar exploits in the latter “Hanbun Aoi” episodes, a scenario I’d REALLY NOT like to sit through again!!!

Well, I’ll continue watching, but if she start selling roasted mochi bars,  I’m out! LOLOL