2011

S2.E1 ∙ A Good Beginning Makes a Good Ending.

Fri, Oct 07, 2011

Onodera has been made program director for Marukawa's "Emerald" division but is frustrated by the editor's indifference in getting their manuscripts delivered on time. While checking on the sales of his latest volume at Marimo Bookstore, Onodera has an unpleasant encounter with Yokozawa, who asks him to move out of his apartment as his presence there disturbs Takano. Suspecting there is something personal between Yokozawa and Takano, Onodera asks if they are going out and Yokozawa's answer seems to indicate they are. Later, Onodera gets drunk in Takano's apartment and refuses his advances under the belief that he and Yokozawa are a couple. Takano tells him he is his only love. The next morning, Onodera wakes up naked in Takano's bed, unable to remember the previous night's events and worried they might have been intimate.

7.6 /10

S2.E2 ∙ One Cannot Love and Be Wise.

Fri, Oct 14, 2011

As Christmas nears, Onodera recalls memories from a decade earlier when he fantasized about what it would be like spending the holiday with Takano. Later, alone in the office with Yokozawa, the latter chides Onodera for forgetting Christmas Eve is Takano's birthday. He lies, saying that he and Takano are a couple, sending Onodera into a tailspin of worry and doubt. On the train, Onodera wishes Takano a happy birthday but has no present to give him, so Takano suggests he take a drive with him to make up for it. Stopping to sight-see, Takano tells Onodera that he and Yokozawa were lovers in college but are now only friends and colleagues. Returning to the car, Takano tells Onodera how he used to dream about the two of them spending Christmas together, exactly as Onodera had once done. Takano kisses Onodera, who is overwhelmed with feelings for Takano and cannot resist him.

7.9 /10

S2.E3 ∙ Lingering Love Breeds Mistake.

Thu, Oct 20, 2011

As Yoshino struggles to meet a looming deadline, he wishes his assistant Yanase could help but doesn't ask, knowing Hatori despises him. Yanase appears of his own accord and helps finish the project but Yoshino collapses from overwork. On awakening, Hatori tells him he was rushed to the hospital and has slept for two days. After Yoshino recuperates, Yanase reveals he has romantic feelings for him. Just then, Hatori walks in and immediately exits. After not hearing from Hatori for a week, Yoshino arranges a meeting between them. When a gloomy Hatori says he expects Yoshino to break up with him in favor of Yanase, Yoshino becomes angry and tells Hatori he is the only man for him. Later, as Yoshino tells Yanase he just wants to be friends, Hatori again walks in on them, this time telling Yoshino they'll be having a talk later.

7.5 /10

S2.E4 ∙ Delay in Love Is Dangerous.

Thu, Oct 27, 2011

Yoshino is conflicted between his fondness for Hatori and his friendship with Yanase. Hatori makes a movie date with Yoshino but cancels at the last minute due to work. That same day, Yoshino becomes upset when he spots Hatori with an old high school girlfriend. While brooding over the incident, Hatori calls Yoshino, who hangs up on him. Yanase invites Yoshino to his house, where they recall Hatori's former girlfriend from high school and Yanase implies that Hatori is cheating on Yoshino. Hatori phones and Yanase tells him he intends to make Yoshino his boyfriend. Yanase then kisses Yoshino, who punches him. Weeping, Yanase wonders why he isn't good enough for Yoshino. Hatori enters and tries to strike Yanase but is restrained by Yoshino. Later, Hatori explains that his ex-girlfriend is a employee of Marukawa's printer and their relationship is only business. Yoshino's jealousy makes Hatori feel that his boyfriend truly loves him.

7.5 /10

S2.E5 ∙ Follow Love and It Will Flee Thee, Flee Love and It Will Follow Thee.

Thu, Nov 03, 2011

Onodera receives a call at work from An, a girl his parents arranged to be his fiancée, who wants to meet at his apartment that night to give him a New Year's present. Takano overhears the conversation and ask Onodera if she is his girlfriend, which he denies. Later, as they approach their apartment building they see An waiting for Onodera. Takano again asks if she is his girlfriend and An is taken aback when Onodera answers 'No'. After An departs, Onodera is concerned that Takano misunderstands his relationship with the girl and contrives a way into his apartment. Takano says he is going to visit Yokozawa and Onodera begs him not to go. When he explains that he rejected An's love confession because he was in love with someone else, the two kiss. In bed together, Onodera admits to himself that no one has made his heart race like Takano does, but it's too painful to say it aloud.

7.8 /10

S2.E6 ∙ Love Is Without Reason.

Thu, Nov 10, 2011

Marukawa Publishing executive Isaka Ryuichiro is in love with his assistant Asahina Kaoru. He recalls when they met as children, through the time when Isaka hoped to become a writer. One night Isaka suddenly kisses Asahina and his affections are rejected. Asahina quits Marukawa to become assistant to Isaka's father. When Isaka confronts Asahina about this, the latter confesses his love for Isaka, explaining he had earlier rejected him because he thought Isaka already knew of his love and was making sport of him. Shaken by the confession, Isaka wonders how they could have been together so long without knowing each other's true feelings.

7.6 /10

S2.E7 ∙ Actions Speak Louder Than Words.

Thu, Nov 17, 2011

While preparing for the company's New Year's party, Onodera gets a call from his mother, who pesters him about his engagement to An and asks him to escort her from a wedding that coincidentally is taking place in the same hotel as the company event. At the party, Onodera encounters Yokozawa, who accuses him of slacking at work but Takano defends him. Onodera is surprised to find An waiting for him since he had told his mother he couldn't see her. An reiterates her love for him but Onodera tells her he can't love her the way she wants him to. An asks if he loves someone else and Onedera tells her yes, a remark overheard by Takano. Returning home, Onodera tells Takano he isn't in love with anyone but admits to himself that if Takano gets into his apartment he won't be able to resist him. Once inside, the two end up in bed and Onodera thinks that maybe he's in love with Takano after all.

8 /10

S2.E8 ∙ Love and Envy Make a Man Pine.

Thu, Nov 24, 2011

Kisa has the perfect boyfriend in Yukina but is riddled with doubts about their relationship. He is concerned his heavy work schedule prevents them from being together often and interprets Yukina's understanding of the situation as a sign of indifference. Kisa's fears are heightened when a colleague tells him she's getting married because a job can't provide the same stability as a relationship. When Kisa finally makes a date with Yukina, he's delayed because of a work commitment. When he calls to explain, Yukina suggests they put the date off and an angry Kisa hangs up on him. Going to Yukina's workplace to apologize, Kisa is shocked to see Yukina and a girl entering a disreputable hotel district.

7.5 /10

S2.E9 ∙ Love is blind.

Thu, Dec 01, 2011

Believing Yukina has cheated on him, Kisa becomes distracted at work and won't respond to Yukina's messages. Accidentally answering one of Yukina's calls, Kisa tells him their relationship is over. That night, Kisa reflects on Yukina and realizes he knows little about him as their time together was mostly spent having sex. Kisa receives a call from an old boyfriend and agrees to hook up with him since he's no longer seeing anyone. The man arrives and just as he and Kisa start to kiss, Yukina appears, slaps Kisa's face and tells the other man to leave. Inside Kisa's apartment Yukina explains that the girl Kisa saw him with was only a friend he had taken to see a movie. When Kisa says it might still be better to break up because he knows so little about Yukina, Yukina rattles off a litany of facts about himself, the last one being that he loves Kisa. Moved, Kisa tells Yukina he loves him, too.

7.8 /10

S2.E10 ∙ Love Goes Never Without Fear.

Thu, Dec 08, 2011

Onodera enters the office elevator with Yokozawa and Takano, who he is coming down with a cold. Onodera is jealous when Yokozawa touches Takano to take his temperature. Takano corners Onodera in the lunch room and reminds him of what he told fiancée at the New Year's party. Onodera tells him he only told her he loves someone else due to circumstances. The next morning, Onodera hears that Takano is out of the office due to illness and he wonders if anyone is taking care of him. That night he brings medicine for Takano but Yokozawa answers the door and the two get into a heated exchange. Yokozawa accuses Onodera of stringing Takano along and says he loves Takano more than Onodera does. Provoked by Yokozawa's hostility towards him, Onodera says he hates Takano just as Takano comes to the door. The next day, Onodera agonizes over how he can apologize to Takano for saying things he didn't really mean.

7.4 /10

S2.E11 ∙ Love Makes the World Go Round.

Thu, Dec 15, 2011

Takano questions Yokozawa as to whether his hostility to Onodera has something to do with his own feelings for Takano. Yokozawa admits he had hoped they could be lovers again as they had been in college. Takano tells him he loves Onodera and that if Yokozawa persists in hounding him they can longer be friends. Later, Takano and Onodera take shelter from a rainstorm. Takano tells Onodera what he told Yokozawa, and that he is not in love with the Onodera of the past, but of the present. Just as Onodera finally confesses his love for Takano, a sudden downpour drowns out his words and Takano is unable to hear them. The next day, Onodera is astonished when Yokozawa praises his work. Yokozawa asks him if he loves Takano and Onodera admits he does. Yokozawa warns him that if he ever hurts Takano he is prepared to steal Takano's affections from him.

8.2 /10

S2.E12 ∙ Love Is a Bitter-sweet.

Thu, Dec 22, 2011

Traveling to work by train with Onodera, Takano recalls their high school years. The son of prominent but cold-hearted parents, Takano retreats into books, spending hours in the school library, where Onodera confesses his love to him. Because of his bad family situation, the innocent Onodera makes Takano feel dirty by comparison, and he lashes out at him. Takano feels badly about his actions and puts things right with Onodera, inviting him to his home. Back on the train, Onodera rudely interrupts Takano's reverie, telling him they have a meeting first thing that morning. Departing the train, Takano is suddenly taken ill and Onodera shows much kindness to him, making Takano wish he was that way all the time. Recovering, he says to himself that although Onodera wasn't the first person he went out with, he was his first love.

8.5 /10