Itazura na Kiss 2: Love in Tokyo Episode 16 Recap [END]

I have finally found the time to recap the final episode. YAY! Without a further delay, lets start.

 

It is Kotoko's birthday. The restaurant staff serenade Kotoko whilst holding her birthday cake. With odd vocals may I say so myself, some weird mixture of a church choir and something else I can't pin point. The cake is placed on the table as Kotoko continues to smile at Naoki.

It's time for Kotoko to blow out her candles, confusion washes over her face when her attempt doesn't work. Trying again and again, she becomes more and more confused. We transition to Kotoko in bed, eyes closed, trying her damn hardest to blow the candles out.

She opens her eyes to have Naoki watching her.

Naoki tells her of her funny face making whilst she was asleep. One moment she is laughing the next she was making clown faces.

At the hospital, the gang minus Keita are chatting but notice that Kotoko is not her happy self. Kotoko's arm is slouched on the table with her head resting on her hand. Kotoko does a 'just to let you know but I know you know' that her birthday is on September 28th... She is suspecting that Naoki won't remember. The three reply with shock. Making the situation worse, Tomoko says that it may be because Naoki doesn't input (into his memory) what he isn't interested in... Marina and Motoki give each other the awkward side eye.

Kotoko is down as Naoki never acts excited to celebrate her birthday, rather she thinks he is forced by his mother to do so (as she is the one to throw a party every year). Motoki suggests that this is because there is no love. Whilst Marina perspective is that everything would be fine as long as she were to receive an expensive present. Marina asks what presents Kotoko has received thus far.

 

Kotoko has to think hard about this one before coming to realise she has never received a present from Naoki. As the three take pity and blame Naoki, Kotoko defends him. Marina whispers to Motoki whether there is another women in the picture.

Kotoko declares that this year she will make sure Naoki gets her bouquet of roses as many as her age, champagne and a present filled with love. The three take wagers, all three wager: $10 that it won't happen.

 

Kotoko interlocks her hands as she hints to Naoki (in the medical office) something is happening on the 28th. Naoki looks at his calendar to tell her he has a surgery scheduled and is on a night shift. He asks if anything is happening on that day... Kotoko is not deterred as she fist pumps in the air to encourage herself before she leaves. As Naoki's face has a sorta/half/little/tiny realisation?? Maybe/Maybe not.

Funatsu comes rushing into the office, volunteering to take Naoki's night shift on the 28th. Naoki doesn't see the need to, Funatsu almost blows his cover, nearly mentioning how it would make things difficult for Kotoko. Naoki catches on to the difficult part. Naoki pressures Funatsu to spill and he does, Kotoko made a deal that if Funatsu would switch shifts she would set him up on a date with Marina. Funatsu gives Naoki a 90 degree bow, asking for him to promise him as he runs out of the office.

 

At home, Kotoko tells Naoki's mother that she wants to spend her birthday with just Naoki this year. Having looked forward to setting up the event, Naoki's mother is saddened but agrees. Their mission now is to subtly remind Naoki of Kotoko's birthday. The two look into the air as they scheme... the camera pans down to reveal Naoki watching the two from the hallway.

Naoki mentions the secret deal she made with Funatsu. Now recalling around this time of year is when his mother gets extra excited, but he is not interested. Kotoko's eyes almost pop out of the socket as her head twirls in disbelief. Naoki asks if Kotoko had really wanted to spend her birthday with him to this extent, its her dream to. He asks what kind of birthday she wants.

Kotoko describes getting super dressed up, Naoki holding a bouquet of roses as many as her age. The two have dinner when the chef brings out a cake, the staff sing her happy birthday (same scene the episode opened with). Then Naoki and her will drink a glass of champagne. Essentially a night with just the two of them.

Naoki now understands her passion towards her birthday, willing to switch shifts. Kotoko jumps for joy as she literally floats up to the ceiling before landing on two feet. She gives Naoki a big hug as his mother takes the opportunity to snap some photos.

The day of her birthday has arrived.

Before Naoki departs for work, Kotoko reminds him to meet her at the Royal Hotel lounge at 7pm. Before he leaves she mentions it isn't necessary to get the bouquet of roses as large as her age... Naoki grows more irritated as he shouts that she has mentioned it every single day. Naoki's father and Yuki watch on from a distance feeling sorry for Naoki.

Kotoko makes her way back to her room. She lays on her bed attempting sit ups? Then stretches her arms up and outwards. She reaches the Naoki doll giving it a kiss then smothering her face against it. Kotoko looks into the mirror excited for the day, she goes to the salon for hair and makeup.

Kotoko steps out of the salon with a sullen expression. As she walks, passerbys turn their heads. One child mentions to his mother that Kotoko's hair looks like a parrot. Kotoko questions why her hair turned out this way, she tries to convince herself that the hair do is not that bad but catches her reflection on a glass building. A rooster is heard in the background... She regrets not telling the staff she disliked it.

 

Nearby Kotoko hears a commotion, she looks over to see a person laying on the ground. The bystanders inform her that the woman was tottering and fell down, hitting her head. Kotoko takes charge asking for a handkerchief from a bystander to compress the wound on the woman's head then asking for another to call an ambulance. One of the bystanders is surprised having thought Kotoko was a hostess rather than a nurse.

The ambulance arrives to transport the woman. The bystanders give Kotoko a round of applause. Realising the woman's bag was left behind Kotoko grabs it, placing it in the ambulance before being pushed into the vehicle.

Now nightfall, Kotoko is running late by three hours. Hoping Naoki is still waiting as she arrives at the hotel. She looks around in the lobby and is approached by a staff who asks about her dress and whether she is injured. It is only now Kotoko realises her dress is ruined, stained with blood. She informs the staff that she was suppose to meet someone, the staff suggests that he could call for him over the speaker. Kotoko is on the verge of tears as she mentions it is the first time Naoki was to celebrate her birthday but she can't now because of her dress.

 

Naoki walks up behind her, placing his hand on her head, worried that it was her who was injured. Kotoko spins around, hugging Naoki, apologising for not coming on time. Naoki reassures her that he knew she would come today even if it meant she had to crawl her way here. He couldn't just go home.

Naoki takes his blazer off to cover Kotoko. The restaurant they had made reservations at is already closed and with Kotoko in the state she is in... before finishing his sentence a lady with blonde hair *COUGH his mother* approaches with a bouquet of roses and a spare change of clothes in a bag that Kotoko supposedly left lying around. The lady leaves with the excuse that her flight is about to leave. As she exits the door she snaps a few photos.

 

Naoki obviously doesn't buy the get up. Kotoko is out of the loop, Naoki rolls his eyes.

In the bag was the banner Naoki's mother had made for Kotoko's birthday. Kotoko wonders whether his mother had been waiting for her all along. Naoki now wishes Kotoko happy birthday and asks what she wants as a present. Now sitting beside her, as a present Kotoko bashfully asks for Naoki to say that he loves her. Upon asking, Kotoko is quick to cancel the wish. Trying to quickly rethink of a new one, Naoki swoops in for a kiss before telling Kotoko that he loves her. She tells him that she loves him very much.

They go in for more kisses and a hug. Kotoko thinks to herself why her heart is beating so fast having already known Naoki for a long time and why she loves him so much. The two do the deed. Later that night, Naoki sits staring out into the night sky. He turns back to look at Kotoko sleeping, he suddenly remembers his gift. He slips a ring on Kotoko's ring finger. Kotoko's voiceover is heard, she asks whether Naoki loves her the way she does, he makes her heart beat faster everyday even now, she continues to wonder if she makes his heart beat faster. Naoki strokes her head fondly.

At home, Kotoko grins stupidly at the ring on her finger. Yuki asks for her to stop, as it has been 2 months since she had received it. In the mail, Kotoko receives a postcard from Chris. The postcard is of a picture of the happily married couple in their wedding dress and tuxedo.

Written on the card, Chris informs that the wedding was held at a castle where their vacation house is. Chris and Kin will be on their honeymoon and be in England for some time. She continues to say she will be a happy couple just like Naoki and Kotoko. Having read the card, Kotoko realises that Chris must be from a very rich family... Naoki agrees. Naoki mentions that Kin looks good in the tuxedo. Whilst his mother mentions that the two look so happy.

The three divert their attention to Yuki who is lying lifeless on the sofa, feeling ill. His mother checks his forehead, he has a fever. Yuki recalls that he might have caught it from Konomi. Kotoko wonders what happened between the two for that to happen... Yuki is quick to bounce up, asking what she means by that comment.

The next morning everyone is in their pajamas feeling under the weather with the flu besides Naoki and Kotoko. Naoki uses his stethoscope to check his "patients". In addition to using a spoon to check their throats. The same symptoms are growing rapidly in the hospital, many patients are arriving with flu-like symptoms.

Both Kotoko and Naoki have been reallocated to help with the sudden influx of patients. Kotoko is over the moon to be working with Naoki. The nurse in charge asks for Kotoko to snap back into this world, she informs Kotoko of her schedule. Naoki sees patients as Kotoko assists him.

Having recovered, Naoki's mother is making soup. Kotoko calls home to tell her that she won't make it home yet. Naoki tells Kotoko that he will be staying as well, Kotoko once again is on cloud 9. Naoki asks for her health. Beside feeling slightly tired from running around and not having meals consistently, she isn't feeling too bad. Kotoko gushes about how much Naoki cares about her as she playfully hits his arm repeatedly.

The two are called in for an emergency.

 

A young boy is with his mother. He is crying. He had crashed into a glass window whilst on his bike. The blood hasn't stopped despite applying pressure. The mother keeps apologising to her son for not being able to do anything for him. Naoki proceeds to take the glass fragments out as Kotoko calms the mother asking her to cheer on Takashi. Kotoko reassures her that Naoki is the best at removing glass fragments.

The procedures goes smoothly and Takashi is bandaged up. His mother apologises for being so distraught. She thanks Kotoko for bringing her back to her senses. Before leaving she once again expresses her gratefulness for such a skilled doctor and kind nurse.

Naoki comes to knock Kotoko on the head. He asks whether the feeling of being complemented as a nurse for the first time feels great. Sarcastically he says he feels honoured to be known as Japan's best glass fragment remover. Kotoko is impressed with the power of a mother protecting her child, despite the mother's small stature she was able to carry her son all the way to the hospital.

Naoki is called in once again for another patient. Another nurse has stepped in so Kotoko is now free to go home. She is glad to stay aboard to help but her vision starts to blur and collapses.

Kotoko opens her eyes to see her father, Naoki's parents and Yuki hovering above her with worry. Naoki's mother calls for Naoki to come over, she apologises for Kotoko catching their flu. Kotoko reassures that she is feeling better with the sleep and will recover after taking some medicine. Kotoko gets the medicine from her drawer, Naoki enters asking for her to not take the medicine yet. She apologises for making him worried. 

Naoki asks when her last period was, he asks whether she is pregnant.

Everyone is shocked. The family all get dramatic slow motion shots of their expressions. 

Naoki's mother is now seen tidying up the nursery room. Kotoko is seen telling the good news to Funatsu and the gang minus Keita. Naoki's father is arriving home with many presents in his arms. Mr Aihara is relaying the news at Mrs Aihara's tomb stone. Keita runs up behind the couple to congratulate them. Konomi and Yuki go shopping for baby clothes. Kotoko is having a picnic with Satomi, Satomi's daughter and Jinko. Chris and Kin return to Japan with Chris' hand sewn matching red knit sweaters, they hear the good news over the phone. Lastly, Kotoko is cradling her Naoki doll as Naoki sits beside her. They both touch her belly before kissing.

In the future, Naoki and Kotoko are walking with their daughter, hand in hand. Kotoko calls Naoki's name, he responds but she says "nothing". Naoki does the same back to her as they both smile.

Thoughts

It's sad to see this drama come to an end, the ending was satisfying, it was nice to see Keita one last time. I was wondering where he went. That last scene is the most I have seen Naoki smile but I'm more than satisfied. Thanks for reading my recaps, it has been fun.

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