Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Itazura na Kiss 2: Love in Tokyo Episode 9 Recap



Kotoko stirs awake, rolling over to face a sleeping Naoki. She thinks to herself; how lucky she is to be married to Naoki. It has already been two and a half years since their marriage. Kotoko says good morning to the now awake Naoki... he tells her to not look at him with her swollen face; its not good to look at... Naoki gets out of bed.

Kotoko heads down to help cook breakfast with Naoki's mother. She thinks to herself how lucky she is to have a nice mother in law. As Naoki's father greets the two, Kotoko also thinks what a great father in law she has... Naoki joins the table requesting for coffee from Kotoko.

Yuki comes stomping into the kitchen, Kotoko had washed his shirt with his student handbook in the pocket. The family sit at the table to eat, Naoki's mother reminds everyone that Rika is staying with them for a month until her parents fly over.

Rika is Naoki's cousin who has been abroad for the past 7 years but will be coming back to Japan for good. Rika is an overachiever, having won piano and cooking competition. Yuki reminds Kotoko that Rika is not an idiot like her.


Coming home with bags of groceries, Kotoko bumps into a cute little girl who she mistakes as Rika. The little girl denies it, Kotoko asks whether she is Yuki's friend. The girl gets shy and runs off. With the bags repacked, clumsy Kotoko bumps into Naoki, spilling everything once again.

They come into the house, Yuki runs to the door announcing Rika's arrival, she makes her entrance. Kotoko notes to herself how cute she is, Rika runs to give Naoki a hug.



Rika tells Naoki how much more handsome he has gotten, Naoki tells her that she has become prettier. P.S. All this is said with her arms still around his shoulders. Kotoko's face changes into one questioning what this situation is suppose to mean.



Dinner Time

Naoki's father toasts Rika's safe return. Rika is going to be attending Sumiregaoka Gakuin (school) which is known to be a school for top students. Rika even scored full marks on the transfer admission test. Yuki chimes in that Kotoko should learn from Rika. Rika states that Kotoko's pretty amazing, having won Naoki's heart; a larger feat than scoring 100.

Rika asks whether Kotoko made the first move, Kotoko nods. Rika sniggers... having thought that was the case, otherwise... Rika continues to say she should have claimed Naoki for herself before leaving to America. Kotoko gets riled up, thinking Rika is way too clingy even for a cousin.



Kotoko confides in Motoki. The two discuss the situtation, Kotoko tries to rule out the possibility for Rika having feelings for Naoki. Motoki refutes. Kotoko mentions how alienated she feels since Rika has arrived, Motoki lays it out straight. All this time Naoki's family has been on her side but now it's the opposite. Telling her to not settle for complacency; Naoki may be stolen from beneath her feet. 

On her way out of the cafe, Rika and Kotoko happen to meet. The two walk home together as Rika discusses who so many guys have already tried to pick her up at school, complaining of the lack of good looking guys in her class. How they don't compare to Naoki. She asks whether Kotoko could give Naoki to her??! After Kotoko's hesistance to answer, Rika says it's a joke.



As Kotoko is bathing, Rika asks to join. Kotoko is hesistant but Rika insists as they are both girls, she strips infront of Kotoko who takes a little peek, noting Rika's great figure.

Rika asks whether Kotoko proposed first. Kotoko says no, whilst prep talking herself into being more confident (not to be afraid of Rika taking Naoki away). Rika then asks whether Naoki is a good kisser... Kotoko is startled with the question, settling with: I don't know, having only kissed Naoki.

 Rika goes on about having many boyfriends in the US, then having kissed many boys. Kotoko starts feeling dizzy, she steps out. Rika states that so far Naoki has been the best kisser, she's jealous that Kotoko can kiss Naoki at anytime; wanting to have him once more.

Rika was in 5th grade whilst Naoki was a junior in high school when the two kissed on the lips. Kotoko is taken aback, Rika thinks it was both of their's first kiss. Kotoko starts to really feel dizzy as she realises that Naoki's first kiss wasn't with her, she falls to the floor.



Kotoko starts to imagine the worst. Rika walks into a dark room, confronting Kotoko, that Naoki should be hers as they shared their first kisses together/they look better together. Naoki steps into the conversation, saying that it was indeed their first kiss. All this time we only see Kotoko's hand attempting to reach the two. Rika asks Naoki to kiss, he agrees. Just before they do, Kotoko jolts awake in her bed.

She checks the clock, she slept in. Frantic Kotoko leaps out of bed to find Rika already helping Naoki's mother with breakfast.



The two fight over who will cook Yuki's omelette, both not willing to let go of the bowl. The egg is accidentally launched onto Yuki's head. Later that night, Kotoko is in Yuki's room, wanting to know more about Rika.

Yuki had a crush on Rika, her response was if he wanted her to stay Yuki had to help her marry Naoki (so she can become his sister)... Kotoko recalls the conversation she had with Rika whilst walking home, wondering whether she was actually serious.

The next morning Kotoko awakes early to her alarm but apparently not early enough as Rika is already in the kitchen. The girls have a stare down as Naoki's mother gushes over the food they have made, thinking they have gotten along.



Both girls bring their dishes for Naoki to try, he refuses to eat both. But after a little nudge he relents, Kotoko serves him a BURNT fish which he skips. He drinks her soup which was bad as well. Rika serves her dish which he enjoys. Naoki's mother cheers on Kotoko, telling her to not feel discouraged.

Naoki asks for coffee from Kotoko, Rika butts in, volunteering to make coffee. Naoki refuses, saying he likes Kotoko's coffee. Awwwww~ Rika gives a disapproving glare.

As Kotoko happily skips through the park, Rika is waiting for her. Rika confesses to liking Naoki. Rika argues that she liked him first, if she didn't go to America, Kotoko and Naoki would not have married. She rehashes their kiss; Naoki having held her tightly...

Rika accuses Kotoko of having forced herself onto Naoki. Kotoko defends herself, Rika retorts by pulling the key chain ( with wedding picture) off Kotoko's bag, calling it childish. Kotoko attempts to grab it back from Rika's grasp, in the process she pushes Rika to the floor which Naoki happens to see. He slow-mo runs past Kotoko to Rika.



Naoki snaps at Kotoko when she tries to tell him it was an accident. Naoki takes Rika home leaving Kotoko to retrieve their wedding picture. Tears fall on the picture.

Later that night Motoki, Marina and Tomoko bring home a drunk Kotoko. At the door, Naoki's parents answer, they tell them that she has been upset since the morning having injured Rika. Naoki also approaches the door, thanking Motoki for the trouble - Motoki is ecstatic as Naoki addressed him by his name.

Naoki carries a drunk/loud/high-pitched talking Kotoko in. Kotoko complains of Naoki's distain for her violent ways and liking Rika more. Rika appears from her room, asking whether Kotoko fell asleep, Naoki reminds Rika to not taunt Kotoko too much which she tries to deny.



BBQ TIME~ Rika chooses the best meat pieces just for Naoki. A jealous Kotoko watches on as the two interact. Kotoko is asked to bring beer out, Rika follows.

Inside, Rika asks when Kotoko first fell for Naoki. Kotoko answers confidently - first year of high school (8 years ago). Rika says she has liked Naoki since she was two, so 15 years. Kotoko mentions their conversation (about giving Naoki back). At this time Yuki comes in to ask what is taking so long, the two do not notice him, Yuki notes the dangerous aura/situation.

Kotoko firmly says she can NEVER do it. Rika disregards Kotoko as it is her opinion, if Naoki liked her she should allow him. Kotoko urges Rika to ask him then.



Of course, Naoki has been listening to conversation for the most part. Rika asks why he would fall for Kotoko as she is more suitable. Kotoko exclaims that she shouldn't have left for America then, Rika retorts that she was only a primary school kid.


Kotoko: That doesn't matter! I could never stay away from the person I love. If I were you, I wouldn't have gone to America. If it were me, I'd stay near Naoki even if all I could do was watch him from afar. You might have loved him longer, but... you will never love him as much as I do!

Kotoko then grows quiet having voiced herself she leaves the kitchen crying. Naoki tells Rika that right there is the reason he fell in love with Kotoko; although she can't do anything, he likes her power. Rika asks whether he likes Kotoko over her. Naoki says he does.





Naoki finds Kotoko crying by the garage door. He asks why; she thought it was possibly over between the two, having made a resolution to herself to become stronger by herself. Naoki swoops in for a kiss, Kotoko then hugs Naoki tightly. Naoki asks whether she reached that resolution, she shakes her head.

Naoki asks for Kotoko to be more confident; he chose her.

Yuki heads back into the kitchen to see Rika, he tries to explain that Naoki fell for Kotoko without noticing. Rika is upset as he did not withhold their promise; to make her his sister/to help her marry Naoki. Whilst she blames Yuki she hugs him, sobbing. Yuki apologises.
Rika is moving out. She vows to bring back a boyfriend even cooler than Naoki next time. Kotoko confidently says that there is no such person alive.

Rika says this day reminds her of the day she left for America; the day she kissed Naoki. Rika volunteers to demonstrate what she did that day, Kotoko is quick to block her. So Rika deomonstrates on Kotoko and gives her a peck on the lips. Admitting to having dramatised the kiss. Rika actually forced herself onto Naoki.

Rika gifts Kotoko with a present before she leaves, she also announces that she accepts Kotoko as Naoki's wife (having no choice).



At the gate, Rika says her final goodbye to Naoki (letting him go).

Rika has gifted Kotoko with a new keychain (she broke the other). With a note, apologising for breaking it in the first place. We hear Kotoko's voice over - she wants to become closer to Rika the next time they meet.
Related Posts

Written by at
Tags: , , ,

2 comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)