It's Kyoko's first Christmas at Maison Ikkoku and love stricken Godai splurges half of his monthly budget on a present. But will he muster the courage to give it to her? And could it be true that Kyoko already has a boyfriend?
Godai needs to study for the University entrance exams but the other tenants of Maison seem to have made it their mission to make that difficult. Daydreaming about Maison's beautiful manager doesn't help his studies either.
It's finally exam time and Maison tenants are taking bets on which test Godai will flunk next. Kyoko is the only one who is being encouraging. But will Godai manage to pass any tests at all or is it another year of being ronin for him?
Godai's granny comes to Maison but Godai is not around and won't face Maison until the exam results are in. Except how long can he go without clean underwear? A sneak visit home is in order. Exam results are finally posted. Did Godai pass?
Godai finds out that Kyoko is a window and she had named Soichiro, the dog, after her late husband. Godai contemplates his chances with Kyoko's heart still in dead man's grave.
To ingratiate himself with Kyoko and to earn some extra cash Godai agrees to tutor Kyoko's 12 year old niece Ikuko. He doesn't realize Kyoko is not fond of the idea and worries whether Godai will behave himself.
To distract Kyoko from her worries Mrs. Ichinose convinces her to join the tennis club. Handsome tennis coach, Mitaka, is instantly smitten with Kyoko. Jealous Godai tries to thwart his advances.
Godai, Kyoko, Mitaka, Kentaro and Ikuko head to the beach. To Godai's delight Mitaka's romantic plans to woo Kyoko are spoiled when it turns out that Soichiro loves Mitaka but the feeling is decidedly not mutual.
Godai wants to ask Kyoko out on a movie date but she is going to a concert with Mitaka. Godai rebounds and goes to the movies with a cute coworker. Two couples run across each other and jealous sparks fly.
Godai is suddenly getting a lot of calls from various girls on Kyoko's phone. Jealous Kyoko retaliates by installing a pay phone for residents. But things are not what they seem and someone has been pulling Kyoko's puppet strings.
On Kyoko's one year anniversary at Maison Ikkoku Godai asks her out to a restaurant. The date goes awry when they go to two different restaurants with similar sounding names.
There is a festival at Godai's college and Kyoko and the gang come for a visit. Kyoko gets roped in to play a part in Godai's club puppet show and Godai is having trouble keeping it together.
Kyoko twists her ankle playing tennis and is forced to stay in bed. In sympathy with her plight everyone is trying to feed her but she can only eat so much. The best present for injured Kyoko just might be indigestion medicine.
Godai sulks in the rain while Kyoko and Kozue share an umbrella and then look at Kyoko's high school album over tea. Kyoko reminisces about falling in love with Soichiro who was a temporary teacher at her high school.
It's another Christmas eve and Godai is very happy when Kyoko gives him a scarf she has knitted as a present. Is that a romantic gesture? But then it turns out she has knitted somethings for everybody.
Godai keeps delaying his return from the Winter vacation and everyone is missing him, especially Kyoko. What could be keeping him? Could it have something to do with him getting two black eyes and not wanting Kyoko to see him like this?
Godai's friend Sakamoto convinces him to take care of his kitten of for a few days. Drunk Godai agrees because the kitten is called Kyoko. He tries to keep it a secret because of no pet policy at Maison Ikkoku. Hilarity ensues.
Trouble comes to Maison Ikkoku in the form of Kyoko's parents. They are trying to force her to quit her job and go back to using her maiden name. A big quarrel results. Kyoko's mom shows up at Maison Ikkoku and claims Kyoko quit.
With Kyoko absent movers move out her possessions. The tenants are hurt Kyoko would quit on them like that. Kyoko's mom gets Mrs. Ichinose on her side by telling her Kyoko's father is gravely ill and in a hospital. But is this all a ruse?
Kozue gets Godai to visit her house and introduces him to her parents. He realizes he is there on approval. Kozue's talk of marriage unsettles Godai. She then tries to kiss him. Will he or won't he?
After a mixed doubles tennis match pitting Kyoko and Godai vs Mitaka and Mrs. Ichinose Mitaka proposes to Kyoko. She is not ready though and chooses to misunderstand him. What about Godai?
While Godai is having dinner with Kozue Kyoko heads to a date with Mitaka. Mitaka's fear of dogs might once again stand in the way of romance though. Time to try gambling as a cure for romantic disappointments.
A stranger is seen at Maison and everyone is surprised it's Kentro's father who lost his job. Kentaro struggles with his feelings about his parents but they surprisingly come through for him at a parent/child sports meeting at his school.
Everyone is at a Fall festival dressed up in costumes and trying to play tricks on each other. The biggest trickster turns out to be Yotsuya. Will his tricks end well?
Kyoko is overheard talking about wedding clothing to Mitaka. Are they getting married!? Heartbroken Godai moves out and rents a new apartment. The trouble is the previous tenants won't leave.
Kyoko thinks Godai is shacking up with the woman who who still lives at Godai's new place. Jealous and disappointed she refused to let him move back to Ikkoku. Is this the end of a beautiful friendship?
Yotsuya, who has never given anyone anything, gives Godai an egg. What is the meaning of this mysterious present? Everyone is on the case but are too scared of Yotsuya to ask him or damage the egg.
Mr. Otonashi asks Godai to bring Kyoko the diary of her late husband. The diary seems boring but there is a mention of a mysterious postcard. Kyoko is worried it's from some former girlfriend of Soichiro. Could she be right?
Godai's grandma comes for another visit. She wants Godai to choose between Kozue and Kyoko. After hearing about Mitaka she drags Godai and Kyoko to Mitaka's house for an awkward dinner.
Grandma sets up a date for Godai and Kyoko. The date is going well but they quickly find out that grandma sent Yotsuya, Akemi and Mrs. Ichinose to spy on them. Escaping from these interlopers is no easy feat.
Akemi's boyfriend breaks up with her and gives her a cigarette lighter as a parting gift. Breakups are hard and she can't let him go until she gets rid of the lighter.
Kyoko buys a full length mirror and tries out dressing up in her old school uniform. Pretty soon it's a big dress up party and everyone is invited including Mitaka and Soichiro.
It's another Christmas at Maison Ikkoku. While cleaning her closet Kyoko finds a strange rock with green specks. She asks Godai to help her figure out what it is. Godai finds out the rock was the only present Kyoko got from her husband.
Godai asks Sakamoto to help him investigate Kyoko's rock and Sakamoto loosed it on subway. While the rest of Maison parties and Kyoko worries about him Godai spends Christmas eve trying to find the lost rock.
Kyoko almost falls off the roof, Godai saves her but falls and breaks his leg. She takes care of him while he is recuperating in the hospital. They are getting closer which doesn't sit well with Mitaka who resorts to desperate measures.
Godai and Mitaka are nursing broken legs and getting on each others nerves while trying to woo Kyoko who is taking care of them. Once out of the hospital they end up getting drunk together and bonding over their romantic disappointments.
Kentaro finds a photo album that seems to show various pictures of Yotsuya looking the same and going back some 60 years. How can this be? Maison decides to investigate.
Because of his broken leg Godai fell behind in his studies. If he fails even one exam he has to repeat the whole year. Feeling she is responsible and to help him study Kyoko forbids parties at Maison.
The gang heads to a skating rink where it is discovered that neither Godai nor Mitaka know how to skate. Romantic rivalry is a great motivator to learn though as they compete for Kyoko's favor.
Godai takes a part time job as a waiter. Naturally, the Maison crowd show up at his restaurant and booze it up. Kyoko tries to rein them in but ends up getting drunk.
Kyoko's mom gets a cold and gets Kyoko to stay over and take care of her. She pretends to be sicker than she is to keep Kyoko from going back to Maison. Godai comes over for an awkward visit.
Because of Kyoko's dog Soichiro Mitaka really wants to conquer his fear of dogs. The miscreants from Mason Ikkoku offer to help but is it wise for Mitaka to put his trust in them?
A strange new tenant, Mr. Mitsukoshi, takes up residence at Maison Ikkoku. He is welcome by all but Kyoko's remark that he reminds her of her late husband sets Godai to worry.
