Yuki is heading home from school, discussing with his friend his perfect mark on their test (humbly). Crossing the road behind them is Konomi, she
Yuki stops walking; sensing somebody following them. Loudly asking what she wants, Konomi retreats back behind the pole. Yuki says a stray cat has been following them. Konomi gathers the courage to speak to Yuki (she calls him Irie-kun). She introduces herself and class.
She confesses to having known him for a while although he may not recall who she is. Yuki continues to be cold and asks what she wants. Konomi suggests being friends. Yuki rejects the offer, "not wanting stupid friends from Class F". Konomi is taken aback.
News travels to Kotoko from Konomi.
Kotoko is surprised at the pace Konomi is moving at. Having been inspired by their past conversation, Konomi had decided to "go for broke". Konomi's mood is down once again as Yuki had told her she must make it into the top 100 in the upcoming test for him to consider her offer. Kotoko reminisce about how this situation is so nostalgic.
Konomi is defeated, saying she should give up now, having felt satisfied since she confessed her feelings. Doubting she will make it to the top 100, Kotoko jumps up disallowing Konomi to give up. Recalling her own experience of being in Class F and having made it to the top 100. Kotoko volunteers to help Konomi study... telling herself she was half responsible (for making top 100)...
Konomi is motivated once again.
Konomi comes over to study the following day, she is greeted by cold Yuki who asks why she is here. Before answering, Kotoko swoops in to invite Konomi inside to her room. Yuki is surprised that Kotoko knows Konomi let alone that she will be tutoring her.
Konomi tells Kotoko of her envy; that she gets to live in this house with Yuki. Kotoko encourages her as this may be her first step towards a life with Yuki. The two get started...
What started out to be the afternoon turns into nightfall as Kotoko confuses herself more and more for over an hour. Not one question has been solved, diverting Konomi to eating snacks to refresh the brain. Naoki comes home, Kotoko greets him happily.
Kotoko introduces the two. As a word of advice, Naoki tells Konomi that even though Kotoko is helping her, he doesn't think it will be of much help. Kotoko vows to make her top 100, this triggers Naoki's memory, recalling the past. As Kotoko and Konomi drift off into Kotoko's fantasy world, Naoki reminds the two to not waste time.
On the other side of their bedroom door is Yuki with his ear pressed up against it. Naoki catches him, asking him what he is doing. Yuki nervously says he was just passing by. Naoki suggests that Yuki help Konomi study instead as it would be more realistic. Yuki doesn't want to help her reach top 100 because if she did it will only leave him troubled.
Naoki doesn't buy the excuse, he knows that there is a more complex reason behind it. Yuki denies it, throwing a little tantrum as he storms off. Naoki smiles at this.
Back at the study session, Kotoko is dosing off with her eyes rolling back as she sways side to side. Konomi calls Kotoko's name to wake her. Moving from her seated position, Kotoko sits on sofa only to stretch out her body to rest. Telling Konomi that she can't help but get sleepy every time she sees Math equations, before falling into a deep sleep.
Konomi is unable to wake Kotoko.
Naoki comes back in to tell Kotoko it is time for dinner. Seeing the situation he calls Kotoko useless.. so much for tutoring her. Konomi suggests it's about time she head back home then, Naoki asks what question they got up to. They had finished one... after three hours.
Naoki takes a seat asking which chapters are tested. Naoki tells Konomi that they can't let anymore time be wasted. He volunteers to help. Konomi calls herself stupid and will only be an annoyance to Naoki...
Naoki tells her he is used to teaching those type of kids as his head turns toward Kotoko.
Konomi gets excited when she solves a question. Naoki gives her a smile. Yuki enters the room as Kotoko quickly sits up awoken from her somber. Kotoko is confused by the situation then realises she fell asleep.
Yuki warns for Konomi to not bother his older brother as he will be taking the National Medical Examination soon. Asking Konomi what she will do if something goes wrong...
Yuki steps up to tutor her, starting from tomorrow for one week until the test. From when school ends to 9pm, he walks out of the room before she answers.
Konomi thanks Kotoko for all this happening, the two hug. Kotoko suggests that they kill two birds with one stone; love and exams. Naoki tells Kotoko that she is becoming more and more like his mother as he unhooks her arm from his.
As Yuki's spartan like tutoring continues, Konomi doses off. Yuki comes to check on her progress, ready to yell only to see she answered the equation correctly. The two double high five, before retracting their hands awkwardly. On Konomi's way home she continues to study book in hand she bumps into a tree, proceeding to apologise to it.
On the final study day, Kotoko comes in with tea. Encouraging Konomi that boys who bully a girl usually do it because they like them. Yuki denies it.
Kotoko takes out an envelope for Konomi, who opens it to find photos of Yuki and Konomi studying.
The last one is of Yuki smiling at Konomi as she sleeps on the table (taken by Naoki's mother of course). Kotoko urges for Yuki to stop being stubborn, if he likes Konomi he should just accept her feelings.
Yuki gets agitated, he grabs the photo and rips it throwing it on the ground, telling the two that he is not a toy. Konomi apologises repeatedly before running out of the room teary eyed. On her way home she continues to cry before tripping (whole body) onto the pavement. Yuki having followed her asks what she is doing, reminding her that he had promised to tutor her for one week, after school to 9pm, but it is only 7:30pm. Konomi apologises as Yuki hands her bag to her.
He also give her the photos back, having taped up the one he ripped. Calling it a good luck charm.
Konomi thanks him once again as Yuki leaves she runs towards him linking arms, she tells him to look at the photos together. Kotoko and Naoki are hiding as Kotoko snaps pictures of Yuki and Konomi. Naoki asks for Kotoko to not get too carried away. Kotoko tells him that his mother requested her to.
Naoki thinks aloud that Yuki is going to follow in his footstep.. "poor thing". But smiles as Kotoko continues to look over the snapshots.
It is the day of Naoki's exam, Kotoko clings onto his arm wanting to go to the examination hall with him. Naoki of course doesn't want her to come. Kotoko slighly suggests that if he fails this exam that they can graduate together next year. Naoki tells her he doesn't intend to fail.
2 WEEKS LATER
The results of the examination are to be posted today. At home, Kotoko is pacing back and forth as Naoki, Yuki and their mother are seated in front of Naoki's laptop. Naoki's mother reminds Kotoko to breath in and out. It's 2pm and the results are out, to no surprise Naoki passed.
Naoki is leaving Tanabe Laboratory, as he leaves he is told by his professor that it is not a bad thing and to think about it. He is unsure what to do.
At home Naoki's mother suggests to invite people over to celebrate Naoki graduating, suggesting Kotoko to invite everyone in her nursing class... Kotoko answers yes hesitantly. Yuki is suggested to invite Konomi. Yuki asks why as he still denies being friends with her. Kotoko chimes in to say she got top 100, Yuki presses that she was 97th. Yuki puts it down to his great tutoring skills.
Naoki's mother reminisce about Kotoko and her achievement, the strength of love. The conversation flows to Naoki's graduation ceremony and its date. Kotoko tries to confirm again with Naoki that it is him who is going to give a speech, he doesn't hear her question so she asks again.
Naoki tells the family that he is considering working at a hospital in Kobe. Kotoko reminds Naoki that Kobe is really far away (6 hours to and back). Naoki plans to live in a house in Kobe, he is going to study there for a couple of years then return. Kotoko suggests that she find a school in Kobe... Naoki tells her to stay; for her to study properly and graduate then find him after a year.
Kotoko refuses; afraid that she will take longer than a year to graduate and hating the thought of being apart from him. Naoki snaps back, whether he should wait for her to become a nurse then go to Kobe. Naoki's mother defends Kotoko, saying that couples shouldn't be separated that he should don't only think about himself. Naoki says he understands but Kotoko disagrees.
Kotoko poors her heart out. Telling Naoki that he may be fine separated from her but she isn't. He doesn't understand because she loves him more than he loves her. She questions whether he made the choice with her not in mind. She runs to her room. Naoki lets out a sigh of worry (having anticipated her reaction).
Behind the door, Kotoko thinking to herself how troubling she is for Naoki. That she is a failure as his wife. But she really doesn't want to be separated from him.
Naoki enters their room, asking whether Kotoko has skipped dinner again (she is fully under the blanket). She says yes and says she is sleepy. On his way out of the bedroom he bumps into Kotoko's father returning from work, Naoki asks to talk to him.
Kotoko's father asks how Kotoko is, "Is she sulking as usual?". Naoki had intended for this reaction but seeing her like this upsets him. Naoki changes his mind on Kotoko staying, telling Kotoko's father that he will bring Kotoko with him. Naoki suggests that transferring Kotoko to a nursing school in Kobe is possible but moving to a city where she knows no one and is unfamiliar with is what is worrying him. He believed the right choice was to be separated for a year but... he notes that Kotoko still doesn't seem to realise the love he has for her.
Kotoko is behind their bedroom door, crying having heard the whole conversation.
It is the day of Naoki's graduation ceremony, Kotoko watches Naoki's speech fondly as she tries to remember how it was when Naoki gave a speech during their high school graduation. She remembers her friends; Jinko, Satomi and Kin. She remembers being rejected for the second button. But her thoughts about Naoki are the same; she loves Naoki like an idiot who knows nothing else, she will love him always. No matter then or now it is the one thing that has will never change.
After the ceremony, Kotoko walks around campus. Recalling the Science department where Naoki was at in the first year, also the place she first met Matsumoto Yuuko. Now at the tennis courts, she feels nostalgic remembering their doubles match. In the cafeteria she recalls the lunches she had with Naoki and the bickering with Kin. At the medical lecture rooms, the place she would search for Naoki.
In a classroom she calls out loudly for Naoki, the third time he responds. Naoki suggests talking about Kobe but Kotoko stops him, she tells him she will definitely become a nurse in a year and then she will come to Kobe. She asks for him to wait for her, asking him to not cheat on her, to not get mad if she calls him everyday and for him to visit during holidays.
He kisses her mid sentence then holds her tightly, Kotoko mentions that someone may pass by. Naoki tells her he does not care if someone were to pass by.
They kiss again.
Naoki and Kotoko are heading to the train station. Naoki asks for her to send him off at the crossing rather than on the platform thinking she may somehow stop the train. Kotoko convinces herself that it would be better here as she will get too emotional. Naoki leaves with literally a see ya, Kotoko stops him to remind him to buy lunch at the station and to call when he arrives.
Kotoko tries to give him advice as to which stop is before Kobe but corrected by Naoki. She then grabs onto his coat sleeve, he asks whether it really is ok if he leaves now. She asks for a goodbye kiss... rather Naoki wishes her good luck and she tells him to work hard.
Kotoko breaks down when he leaves. Naoki turns back as Kotoko wipes her tears to shout over the crossing, wishing him all the best, then quietly wishing herself all the best.
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