Gokinjo Monogatari
50 Episodes76%FALL 1995FINISHED
The protagonist, Mikako Kouda, is a student of "Yaza Gaku." Specialising in fashion design, Mikako dreams of becoming a fashion designer with her own brand. Living next to her is her childhood friend, Tsutomu Yamaguchi. Even though they have been close since they were young, they share a platonic friendship. However, Tsutomu has been gaining popularity, especially with the girls, because he seems to resemble a popular vocalist from a band and somehow, Mikako begins to see him in a different light.
This is a story about how youths cope with dreams, love and friendship.
(Source: Anime News Network)
50 Episodes Total• Page 1 of 3
EP 1
My Childhood Friend
The story begins with our heroine Mikako Kouda demonstrating how she bootstraps herself for the inception of another school day and even wielding her childhood friend and neighbor Tsutomu Yamaguchi in a crass culinary comedy as she eats breakfast. We then have it demonstrated that it is normal for Mikako's mother Ruriko to frequently behave as a dependent elder sister rather than as a mother a session of nocturnal manga synthesis. The apartment manager Noriji Sunami often likes to tease Mikako and Tsutomu prior to their school commute; once at Yazawa Geijyutsu Gakuen, Mikako's friends Risa Kanzaki and Mai "P-chan" Oota teasing Mikako becomes the forum for demonstrating that Sensei Hamada has no qualms about detaining Mikako after school for clumsy handiwork. Tsutomu's friends Yuusuke Tashiro and Jiro Nishino are excited about a euphoric diurnal engagement of karaoke with Mariko "Body-ko" Nakasu; frightened for the oblivious Tsutomu when Mariko disposes him, Mikako races off toward Hiroaki Tokumori's bar after imparting her stamp of approval. Hiroaki ultimately mediates the lover's quarrel and warns Tsutomu to focus more for quality rather than quantity after Mikako heads home only to be forced into a rainy-day layover with a stray cat during which she reminisces about her collaborative prologue with Tsutomu who comes to her rescue and escorts her home.
EP 2
Dealing With a Childhood Friend!
The euphoria of successfully having won over Noriji quickly gives way to a vivacious divergent concourse between Mikako and Tsutomu over what to name the kitten that she rescued that is only extinguished when Mikako has to quickly take responsibility for her cooking. A pair of star-struck schoolgirls accosting Tsutomu with a love letter during the commute to school and Risa's remarks about the convergent cerebral chemistry demonstrated in the situation along with P-chan's exhortation of an author's signature to a sentimental manga sets Mikako to wondering what infatuation is like; while Tsutomu reads the love letter from the schoolgirls, Yuusuke emphasizes the upcoming diurnal karaoke engagement that he and Jiro want to take place after school that day. Unable to accept that her anguish is because she loves him, Mikako does not respond well to Tsutomu suddenly aborting the shopping trip even though Tsutomu later tries to check in with her. Yuusuke and Jiro's subterfuge backfires on them when Tsutomu becomes the center of attention for the girls and becomes Mariko's infatuation; the ultimate irony is that it is Mikako's vindictive rejection of his apology and the adversarial divergent concourse that it ignites the next morning that inspires Tsutomu to unequivocally return Mariko's sentiments.
EP 3
Nice Body-ko!
While prosecuting a series of practice stitches one night, Mikako reflects on the adversarial divergent concourse that she has visited upon Tsutomu whose honest mistakes she has lashed out against as malice only to find that she has become inattentive and clumsy with her work—the same inattention and clumsiness for which Sensei Hamada has detained her after school. The next morning finds that neither Ruriko nor Mikako has slept very much...and that Tsutomu has done some shopping for Kuro—the payload thereof delivered the day before. Deprived of ethical legitimacy, Mikako heads over to Tsutomu's place and acknowledges her fallibility. Tsutomu acknowledging his culpability gives way to accompanying Mikako in acquiring more pet supplies...that is, if Mariko had not exhorted Tsutomu's presence at her place at her convenience. While Mikako fumes at Tsutomu's »snub« and tries to wrap her mind around Tsutomu dating Mariko, Tsutomu superficially excavates into Mariko's prologue of finding the male libido rather than her character content as a person being the sole reason Mariko has been on so many dates. Tsutomu ultimately has more questions than answers as he tries to interpret the data he has seen regarding Mariko as he explains his perspective of Mariko as a misguided but not necessarily evil girl when Mikako is admonishing caution.
EP 4
A Fitting Direction For Defeat!
Even if she had kept it to herself, it is evident that Mikako is quite livid that Tsutomu has rejected her protective admonition about Mariko. Mikako's frustration is exponentially amplified with Hiroaki's perspective in Tsutomu's defense; unable to acknowledge her emotional fallibility, Mikako prosecutes an adversarial divergent concourse with Tsutomu prior to the school commute the next morning. Tsutomu's perspective of Mariko as a misguided person rather than a copulation milestone confounds both Yuusuke and Jiro when the boys set course for class; Mariko approaching Tsutomu with an entreaty for his lunchtime company inspires iconoclastic analytical concourse over the entire school. It seems that Mikako has interpreted Hiroaki's counsel as simply not allowing Tsutomu's activities with Mariko to affect her; this quickly becomes the elephant in the room but not by a large enough margin for Sensei Hamada to not detain Mikako after school. About the only silver lining is Tsutomu admiring Yuusuke's motorcycle before offering to escort Mikako home...or, he would have if not for Mariko's pre-emptive exhortation. Yuusuke volunteering himself becomes the preamble for him ironically falling for Mikako when she treats him to a »Thanks for the ride!!!« home-cooked meal; still, one has to ultimately wonder about the aftermath when everything is finally resolved.
EP 5
The Flaming Blond Girl!
Satisfied that she has restored social homeostasis by wielding Yuusuke in the same capacity that Mariko is wielding Tsutomu, Mikako decides to bleach her hair one morning and playfully tease Noriji before racing off to school where she inspires a lot of euphoric analytical concourse. Yuusuke is shocked to find that casually courting Mikako is easier said than done, especially when she is focused on her vendetta with the newly-arrived Mariko whose volition for Tsutomu is his company during a shopping trip. While Mikako prosecutes a a euphoric nocturnal engagement with Risa and P-chan where it is proposed to create a social circle from scratch, Ruriko converses with Hiroaki as she reminisces over her collaborative prologue with Mikako who once attempted a medically dangerous stunt as a child. Mikako gives the matter some serious thought and announces her decision the next morning —- a social circle that makes handmade items to sell at flea markets. The irony here lies in Jiro's inquiry of whether anybody can truly join cornering Mikako into a conundrum where her jealousy is the liability it actually is; fortunately, Mikako wisely demonstrates that her love for her new social circle is ultimately much greater than her hatred for Mariko as she races home past a very relieved Ruriko to get right to work.
EP 6
More than just a Circle!
While Mikako is back on track and chugging full speed ahead, Jiro is hard at work test-playing a computer game of his design for bugs -- one of which requires the whole night to identify and rectify. Yuusuke calls on the exhausted Jiro the next morning for a meal due to having been caught with his micro-economic pants down while Mikako and Tsutomu prosecute their daily school commute while trying to fully awaken. While Mikako tabulates Tsutomu's fond recount of his karaoke concert for Mariko and her friends in preparation for an appropriate response, Yuusuke nearly dumps Jiro on the pavement in a mad dash to school where Mikako exhorts everybody to come up with a name for the social circle before the bell rings to signal the start of class. While the girls have the question answered as to what they will sell at the flea market, Yuusuke is at a loss for how to contribute to the flea market before discovering his proficiency in art; after an unsuccessful brainstorming session, the concourse gravitating toward the rationale for enrolling in Yazaku strikes a chord within Jiro who has been grappling with that very issue from the start. The deus ex machina solution to what to call the social circle, Jiro's contribution to the flea market, and the rationale behind Jiro's attendance at Yazaku lies in the dream sequence that explains his prologue of proficiency at playing video games and how a classmate named Chika Ishida suggested that he investigate how to program them after sharing her dream to be an akindo for tea.
EP 7
Tsutomu and Akindo
Deciding upon the name of the social circle and learning to keep her hatred of Mariko in check are small potatoes as a jubilant Mikako is shocked to discover considering the less-than-receptive acknowledgment of her newly-created brand name from the other Akindo members; even as her fears that her ambitions will be sunk in the harbor abate somewhat when Yuusuke creates a sketch of her to extricate himself off the hot seat, Mikako quickly finds that she has bitten off more than she can chew while synthesizing clothes that night for the flea market. It quickly becomes evident the next morning that the stress has overtaken Mikako when she immediately takes the boys' absence along with Mariko's as a personal affront and races off much to P-chan and Risa's shock; after having the situation explained to him, Hiroaki advises Mikako to put into perspective both the Akindo circle and her issues with Tsutomu's relationship with Mariko who Tsutomu explains has offered her apartment as Akindo headquarters. Mikako's relief at Tsutomu's dedication does very little to compensate for her vendetta with Mariko; a frenzied foot race later, Tsutomu explains his activities yesterday and Mikako acknowledges her fallibility. Upon returning to Mariko's apartment with the raw materials necessary for the accessories that she wishes to make, Mikako ultimately realizes why the word »assume« is spelled the way it is when she has it explained that Yuusuke and Jiro have been as busy as Tsutomu has been.
EP 8
Fleamarket!
The day of the flea market has arrived and Akindo is ready to make its debut in earnest!!! Ruriko decides to wish everybody good luck by giving Mariko, Risa, Yuusuke, Jiro, and P-chan the communications device Mikako and Tsutomu use to contact each other known as the Tsuurabu. Once at the fairgrounds, Mikako wastes no time in taking charge much to Tsutomu's frustration and even counsels P-chan who has a bad case of stage fright. Mariko taking it upon herself to advertise the Akindo shop to help the other six members better do their thing obfuscates a little girl named Shizuka wandering around with an iconoclastic volition for Yuusuke to fulfill...that is, once he sees the folly in scaring away the customers; a brief adversarial divergent concourse later, Yuusuke sets course for a destination arcane that Shizuka promptly emulates only to find that Shizuka gives as good as she gets and insists upon the commerce she is more than willing to pay for while the other Akindo members have gotten back on track—especially since Mariko has brought back more merchandise. No sooner does Yuusuke get compensated for his commerce than Shizuka cries out a negation for her grandfather's company that conscripts him into a high stakes hide-and-go-seek game that requires the other Akindo members; upon having Shizuka's prologue explained to him, Yuusuke's contrition serves at the deus ex machina for Shizuka's reconciliation with her grandfather and for P-chan to do an excellent job of keeping shop to ultimately sell out everything.
EP 9
The Serious Crimes of Mom`s Boyfriend!
Mikako's euphoric home commute serves as the preamble for nearly being bowled over as her mother Ruriko is rushing out the door on a business trip to Osaka. Mikako's euphoria at being able to relax like a normal adolescent instead of having to cook and assist Ruriko with her work is quickly tempered not by Akindo failing to earn enough revenue to at least break even but that Hiroaki is accompanying Ruriko on her way home. Noriji immediately assumes that the two are paramours and tries to compute how to respond before deciding to tell a very frustrated Tsutomu who bursts out laughing at the prospect before daydreaming back to kindergarten when he observed Ruriko conversing with Hiroaki about his high school exams and concluding that Hiroaki having a crush on Ruriko is not really out of the question before deciding to go out for a walk. A demonstration of how Noriji concluded what he did panics Tsutomu into racing home and right into Mikako who forces his hand. As is usually the case, Noriji is clumsy with demonstrating his good intentions; the anguished Mikako hides herself away while Tsutomu frantically searches for her before recruiting Hiroaki to assist him—the deus ex machina of which is Mikako recalling her prologue with Hiroaki coming to fetch her from kindergarten when her mother had forgotten all about her along with Hiroaki coming to explain the whole situation.
EP 10
Love`s Perplexing Relay
The time of year for the Athletics Festival has come to Yawaza with Mikako and Risa dreading the whole experience until P-chan suggests that Mikako appraise her fortunes at the cheer-off competition between the teams. Upon having it explained that Mariko has been chosen as a cheerleader on the opposite team, Mikako's resolve intensifies and the whole competition becomes another vehicle for Mikako to act out her vendetta against Mariko along with her long-standing issues with Tsutomu's conduct. Mikako ferociously dedicates herself to devising her counter-strategy that night even going so far as to repulse a dinner date with Ruriko; alas, this gambit is more pain than gain as Mikako collapses from sleep and food deprivation. Concerned about Mikako even though they are on opposite teams, Tsutomu rushes to the rescue and finds that Mikako has recovered herself into a collusive game plan with Yuusuke who has a much healthier perspective of the Festival and gains new insight about her. The next day, Yuusuke and Tsutomu end up availing the sprint time study as the vehicle to resolve their rivalry over Mikako only to end up as the anchors for the relay race. The ultimate irony of the relay race is that as badly as she wants her teammate Yuusuke to win, Mikako starts to realize that Tsutomu has already won her heart many times over.
EP 11
Seriously? A Double Date?
Yuusuke summons the other Akindo members during an intermission between classes to announce the successful acquisition of five extra tickets to the amusement park which affords admission for the seven of them if Mikako has not already used the two tickets that he had given her. Murphy's Law wrecks the kids' plans -- the aftermath thereof a circumstantial double date. Sensing Mikako's silent fuming and Yuusuke's lust after Mikako, Mariko excitedly leads everybody through several rides before flirting with Tsutomu during the lunch break which ignites Mikako's frustration enough to vote with her feet with Yuusuke right on her heels with less-than-gentlemanly motives that quickly give way to his arduous attempts to keep pace with Mikako. Mariko accidentally hitting close to home while teasing Tsutomu instigates the deus ex machina epiphany that there is no way that she can ever have any euphoric convergent chemistry with Tsutomu who conscripts her into a hasty retreat when several fangirls accost the pair; an exchange of prologues and perspectives later, Mariko ultimately resolves herself to returning to Yokohama to resolve her prologue while Tsutomu takes responsibility for succumbing to Yuusuke's counterproductive wheedling and intercedes on Mikako's behalf.
EP 12
The Swinging Tsutomu!
While the Yawaza student body speculates the circumstances around Mariko terminating her romance with Tsutomu, the former paramours are actually good friends now that they understand what they can expect from each other. Aside from Mariko's crass comedy driving Yuusuke bananas, Mikako is bewildered when Tsutomu signals an interest in undergoing the training to legally operate a motorcycle and explains that he is not as fragile as she thinks. While Mikako computes her perspective of Yuusuke's budding relationship with Mariko, a daydream sequence illustrating the epilogue of the amusement park outing sets the stage for Mariko's gratitude to Yuusuke for transporting her home but not so much to accept his »tutelage« as payment. Tsutomu summons the other Akindo members the next day after school to explain about a high-school dance party and appends the admonition that it has to be conducted with much greater dexterity than the amusement park outing; a flashy entrance later, the Akindo members waste no time getting down to business. Jiro encountering his old friend Chika Ishida, Yuusuke dancing with a girl that felt put out by all the action, Mariko concurrently flirting with many different guys, and Tsutomu explaining about his trip to Ibaraki over the winter break for motorcycle training to both Risa and P-chan's delight...none of these things ultimately does anything to set Mikako's mind at ease.
EP 13
A Misunderstanding concerning a Bike
Mikako continues to be ill-at-ease as she agonizes over the sparse data she has about Tsutomu's current status as Ruriko compromises her manga synthesis workload in order to offer her home cooking along with a restaurant meal and even a late night snack in order to rejuvenate her daughter. For Ruriko, who seems to think that Akindo is a biker gang, the one thing that Mikako is after is beyond her economy's ability to easily bankroll it. It does not help matters that Ruriko wanders in on Mikako before an advertisement for adult entertainment and that Mikako refuses to properly explain what she plans to do while out and about. While Mikako finds slim pickings in the job market, Ruriko talks things over with Hiroaki before cornering the newly-arrived Mikako into properly explaining her volition. Hiroaki is taken aback at how easily Mikako cajoles Ruriko into purchasing the motorbike she wants; never one to waste a beat, Mikako next approaches Yuusuke with her navigation volition to a place to purchase the vehicle in spite of Yuusuke's libido polluting his logic with thoughts of Mariko. The ultimate irony is that while the newly-licensed Tsutomu is in seventh heaven that Mikako has successfully acquired the motorbike, it will be a calendar year before Tsutomu can piggyback any passengers—the calendar year in which Mikako could have saved up her money for the bike.
EP 14
P-chan Panic
The ordinary conclusion of another class session becomes extraordinary when P-chan cries out that her stuffed rabbit Petite Francoise is missing. The other Akindo members are not thrilled that Mikako has summoned them for such a petty purpose; a detailed explanation of Petite Francoise's origins and its collaborative prologue with P-chan later, the other Akindo members decide to participate in the search. Risa and Jiro forced to drop out because of work while Mariko entreats a motorcycle ride from Yuusuke, Mikako suggests that she and Tsutomu continue the search while prosecuting their home commute during which P-chan recalls that she was trying to beat the pedestrian signal that morning and probably lost Petite Francoise in the attempt; during a recess to regroup, P-chan shares her prologue and explains that the Petite Francoise she lost is the first one she has made on her own using her grandmother's instruction. Mikako resumes the search with P-chan the next day only to have some hilarious and humiliating adventures to show for her efforts; the deus ex machina is Tsutomu finding that a kindergartner named Yukari has discovered Petite Francoise; seeing the parallels between Yukari and herself as a child, P-chan ultimately decides to pay forward her grandmother's legacy and make another Petite Francoise for herself.
EP 15
A Present to Santa
During the intermission between classes, Mikako inquires the other Akindo members about their ability to have a Christmas party together on Christmas Eve only to find that they all have their own plans; about the only silver lining to having to prepare the neighborhood Christmas party at their apartment complex is the annual visit from Santa Claus which catches Tsutomu by surprise. Noriji prosecutes some preparations to be Santa Claus while Tsutomu grouses about how troublesome and cumbersome the preparations are; while he and Mikako are decorating, Mariko summons Tsutomu because she has gotten cold feet about her trip back to Yokohama. Mikako fumes at the whole dynamic of Tsutomu being at Mariko's beck and call while Tsutomu encourages Mariko with the tale of how he has been Mikako's Santa Claus for the past four years. Yuusuke encounters Mariko as she sets course for Yokohama with an offer of a ride and many sincere wishes of good luck. When the time comes for Tsutomu to do his Santa Claus thing, he finds that Noriji has the same idea and that Mikako has decided to give him a present this year instead of merely receiving.
EP 16
A Love Prayer! Happy New Year
While prosecuting a frenzied wardrobe configuration, Mariko has it explained that her parents will arrive in Japan with her little brother Shintaro the next day and that Shuuichi has parked his car outside. Fortunately, the excited and tremulous Mariko successfully resolves her wardrobe imbroglio and takes note of his new car while en route to Shuuichi's house. No sooner does Mariko find her courage after recalling Tsutomu's counsel to her than Shuuichi arrives with his somewhat childish college classmate Yuka Matsuyama. While the heartbroken Mariko hastily packs her things in preparation for her return to Tokyo, a worried Yuusuke reminisces over his encounter with the departing Mariko as he wonders about the epilogue while waiting for Jiro to finish cooking. The data Yuusuke discovers when he can no longer stand the anxiety sends him on a journey to Mariko's apartment where he realizes that he would be of no utility even if Mariko did allow his comfort. Yuusuke is not done with Mariko, though; after summoning Mikako and Tsutomu as his wingmen, Yuusuke's bold confrontation of Mariko's anguish over Shuuichi ultimately sets the stage for Mikako prosecuting some cerebral compare-contrast analytical concourse over why Mariko seems to do much better socially with guys and comprehends what makes Mariko tick before demonstrating her culinary skills as she prepares dinner for everybody. Mikako and Tsutomu's prayers while prosecuting the New Year's shrine ritual detail their vastly different maturity phases.
EP 17
Body-girl and Shintarou!!
A nightmare of Tsutomu walking away with a very clingy and sentimental Mariko oblivious to her protests pollutes Mikako's computations as she departs with Tsutomu to the upcoming Akindo meeting after school at which time Mariko explains the necessity of returning to her parents in Yokohama and to hold the meeting somewhere else before rushing off. While Mikako fumes at Mariko's conduct, Yuusuke commiserates with Mariko as he reflects on the data of Mariko's prologue and family situation. Mariko's euphoric reminiscence of her betrothed boyfriend Shuuichi quickly turns sour upon her little brother Shintaro walking in during a wardrobe interchange with the volition of familial cohabitation while he attends Yazawa Geijyutsu Gakuen. Concerned about Mariko but pragmatic enough to realize the folly and futility of the venture, Yuusuke reverses course to leave Yokohama only to nearly collide with Shintaro who forces Mariko's hand by pre-empting the arrival of the other Akindo members and propitiating himself before them. Much to Mariko's consternation, Shintaro has ultimately become her roommate and Akindo's newest member.
EP 18
What is Friendship? What is Love?
Detecting Mikako lost in thought as she tries to reconciles herself to the circumstances, Kuro engages in several »Hey, I want to be played with!!!« paw swats at Mikako's foot as Mikako fears that she is witnessing the advent of a love triangle—and a burnt dinner if not for Ruriko's observation. Mikako's fears of a love triangle are assuaged when Yuusuke piggybacking Tsutomu races by with the exhortation to set course for Mariko's place after school where the Akindo members synthesize merchandise for the next flea market while Mariko sleeps. An unexpected phone call brightens Mariko's mood as she customizes herself before departing for a euphoric nocturnal engagement with Yuusuke right on her heels; her deception nullified, Mariko explains that the suitors interested in her have become bothersome and that she really wants to do karaoke with her girlfriends. Shintaro answering a phone call meant for his sister before Yuusuke interjects to lash out at the caller ignites the adversarial divergent concourse between Yuusuke and Tsutomu that Mikako has been dreading in spite of the other Akindo members' best efforts to lighten the ambiance. Mikako ultimately realizes from encountering Yuusuke and seeing Tsutomu rush over to him for a ride that a divergent concourse between friends can only be extinguished by the plaintiff and defendant's collaborative efforts.
EP 19
Revealed! Risa`s Boyfriend!
Noriji teasing Mikako and Tsutomu as they depart on a euphoric diurnal engagement with the other Akindo members to reconnoiter the flea market serves as the preamble for Mikako's continued computation as to the identity of Tsutomu's sweetheart while constantly ruling herself out that quickly takes a back seat to Mikako getting the shock of her life when she and Tsutomu happen upon Risa having a sentimental with her boyfriend Takeshi. Tsutomu breaks the ice during the train ride and has it explained that Risa and Takeshi have resided together ever since they left Hokkaido together while Mikako is lost in thought as to how to interpret the revelation. It is not until P-chan's remark about a pair of boots incenses Mikako that Risa realizes how poorly she is handling things and acknowledges her fallibility before explaining her prologue. Mikako continues to struggle with Risa's explanation of dreams only becoming meaningful with another person's understanding encouragement until she encounters a very perceptive merchant that she names Chishou that conscripts her into euphoric expository concourse about synthesizing merchandise for sale at flea markets that becomes the preamble for Chishou echoing Risa's counsel and encouraging Mikako to reconcile with her boyfriend. Mikako ultimately wastes no time in buying Chishou's cap to reconcile with both P-chan and Risa only to quickly find that it is far more difficult to reconcile the fact that Mikako herself is Tsutomu's sweetheart when Yuusuke explains it to her.
EP 20
Lessons in Love at the Flea Market
After a hasty flight to solitude, Mikako tries to wrap her mind around having it explained that Tsutomu thinks of her as his sweetheart rather than simply his childhood friend and decides to act normal to obfuscate her disrupted homeostasis only to find that Tsutomu is not fooled by the attempt as he immediately gives chase and eventually catches her. While Mikako computes an alternate strategy, Tsutomu leads her to the other Akindo members as they prosecute analytical concourse about how to conduct better commerce at the flea market. While everybody groans at the idea of Mariko exhibiting herself for publicity, Shintaro surprises everybody by volunteering to sell the new series of haniwa art he has been developing. The Akindo members detect Mikako's disrupted homeostasis during their reconnaissance around the flea market that ends with a visit to Chishou who demonstrates what an excellent merchant she is. Chishou is grateful for the extra commerce converging upon her but also detects Mikako's disrupted homeostasis regarding Tsutomu; upon seeing that the refreshment run did not work so well, Chishou admonishes Mikako against being so hostile to Tsutomu before he decides to permanently vote with his feet as did her boyfriend. Mikako ultimately realizes that it is far better to lose a little of her pride than it is to drive Tsutomu away forever, especially when he has purchased the hairbands that she had her eye on.
EP 21
If I`m Honest...
Yuusuke arriving to offer Mariko a ride home after finishing a euphoric diurnal engagement of karaoke with her girlfriends quickly becomes the preamble for Yuusuke questioning his value to Mariko that ignites a divergent concourse that ends with Yuusuke ejecting Mariko off his bike before racing off. Mariko reminisces about her recent furlough to Yokohama to visit Shuuichi while Yuusuke reflects upon his prologue with Mariko; while Yuusuke reverses course to search for Mariko after realizing how abrasive he was with her, a self-conscious Mikako is appraising herself with the hairbands Tsutomu bought for her when an ecstatic Ruriko bursts into the room with the news that her manga is going anime. Even as Mariko acknowledges her fallibility with her earlier chauffeur remarks as Yuusuke transports her home, Mikako's frustration at her difficulty in resolving her issues causes her to lash out at P-chan during gym class. While comparing notes about preparing for the next Akindo flea market engagement, Mikako again lashes out to hide her inability to acknowledge her feelings for Tsutomu. The deus ex machina to ultimately resolve things lies in Mariko exhorting transportation of Yuusuke to enjoin against his harsh tone of voice while Kuro getting entangled in the thread jolts Mikako into synthesizing the outfits she plans to sell at the flea market.
EP 22
Who`s Oikawa Ayumi?!
Mikako's nightmare of Tsutomu abruptly confessing his feelings for her becoming the preamble for Mikako lashing out at Tsutomu's sneak peek offer during the commute to school obfuscates the moment of male bonding Shintaro prosecutes with Yuusuke as a result of Mariko failing to cover all her bases. While Yuusuke reflects upon his prologue with Mariko whose apology for the earlier misunderstanding prompts him to race off with Jiro in hot pursuit, Tsutomu's introduction of his classmate Ayumi Oikawa sets Mikako to wondering what kind of collaborative prologue they share. Ayumi shows Tsutomu a storage shed where he can work and offers her assistance. Tsutomu's careless remarks during a session of comparing notes ignites an incendiary divergent concourse in which Tsutomu gives as good as he gets from Mikako whose aftermath carries over to the next day when Yuusuke and Jiro offer their counsel. Even with Yuusuke contributing his efforts to the display along with Shintaro chiding Mariko for how venal she is being, Ayumi is taken aback with the cohesiveness of the Akindo members while Mikako is ultimately forced to acknowledge her fallibility -- and her feelings for Tsutomu.
EP 23
The Alighting Angel!
Mikako's frenzied endeavor to obfuscate her anguish and resume her usual academic homeostasis is not lost on Risa who decides to have Tsutomu explain his collaborative prologue with Ayumi being a very innovative deus ex machina during a school project while Mikako tries to sort out her feelings. Frightened by the prospect of being marginalized from Akindo when she sees Yuusuke preparing to transport Ayumi, Mariko lashes out at Tsutomu as she affirms her contributory volition. After a brief recess to feed her dog, Ayumi takes notice of the other Akindo members' cohesiveness and diverse talents as she inadvertently insigates Tsutomu's memories of his recent divergent concourse with Mikako who has decided to stitch and sew away her anguish. An ecstatic Mikako races off to proclaim her recent accomplishment -- and right into a very cantankerous Ruriko that has found the backbone to demonstrate some decisive family government. The deus ex machina lies in Tsutomu barging in on Mikako with the news that he has finished the Akindo display and that he realizes that Mikako is anxious about his relationship with Ayumi who pulls Mariko away so that the two can ultimately reconcile.
EP 24
All Grown Up
When the seventh-heaven ecstasy from their first kiss dies down, Mikako and Tsutomu quickly find that the epiphany of their new-found romance is the preamble for a whole different anthology of problems as evidenced by Mariko finding in Ayumi a new rival for Yuusuke's heart. Mikako and Tsutomu decide to take the train back home oblivious to Mariko silently fuming at Ayumi as she awaits Yuusuke's arrival; a wardrobe interchange later, a perplexed Ayumi watches Yuusuke speed off with Mariko in tow as she tries to wrap her mind around the prologue Mariko has with both Yuusuke and Tsutomu. Ruriko is shocked to find Tsutomu asleep in Mikako's bedroom with her daughter and races off to see Hiroaki who advises her to keep the perspective about the whole situation. This ultimately gives Mikako and Tsutomu all the time they need to ultimately realize their error; Ruriko returns to a feast the lovestruck Mikako has prepared with the volition of celebration.
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