Akane Kinoshita/Plot

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## Plot

### Background

Akane's recent breakup was an incredibly difficult situation for her to deal with. Not only did her ex-partner, Takuma, end their relationship, but they also admitted to wrongdoing on their part. In an attempt to confront her ex and gain some closure, Akane mustered up the courage to attend a game event that was suggested by her ex while they were still together. She even went shopping with her best friend, Momo, and dressed up for the occasion.

However, upon arriving at the event, Akane was devastated to discover that her ex-boyfriend had already moved on and started a new relationship with someone he had mentioned during their breakup. To make matters worse, it turned out that the new girl in his life was also a player of the same game they used to play together.

She felt betrayed and hurt by this revelation, leading her to grab Yamada and drink with him. It seemed like her ex had moved on so quickly and easily while she was still struggling to come to terms with their breakup. The fact that he had found someone who shared his passion for gaming only added insult to injury.

Despite the pain she felt, Akane tried her best to remain composed and put on a brave face in front of her ex and his new girlfriend. However, deep down inside, she couldn't help but feel heartbroken and lost.

## Chronology

### The First Meeting Arc

 ***Main Article: The First Meeting Arc***
Takuma breaks up with Akane in public, confessing that he loves someone else. Akane's friend Momo reacts surprisingly to the news and finds it ridiculous that Takuma wants his expensive equipment back from Akane. She advises her to move on and not mope around all day. However, Akane finds it difficult to be energetic after the breakup.

Akane logs onto an online game called *Forest Of Savior* that she used to play with Takuma but realizes he has removed her from his friends list. While playing alone, a player named Yamada asks if she is hunting for the Seer Stone. They have a conversation where Yamada seems uninterested in her problems.

Later on, Akane sees an announcement for *Forest Of Savior's* one-year anniversary event nearby and wonders if Takuma and his new girlfriend will attend as a couple. She asks Momo for help shopping for clothes and getting a makeover so she can make him regret replacing her with another girl.

At the event, Akane bumps into someone and falls down but is helped up by a man who seems uninterested in her rambling apology. She realizes he is Yamada from the game but when she calls out to him, he asks who she is instead of replying.

Yamada and Akane meet at an event for the online game *Forest Of Savior* after having previously interacted in the game. When Takuma and his new girlfriend approach them, Takuma ignores Akane and only pays attention to Yamada, whom he admires as a professional gamer. Feeling ignored, Akane introduces Yamada as her new boyfriend to make Takuma jealous.

After the event, Akane and Yamada go to a pub where she talks about her feelings for Takuma while Yamada responds bluntly. She also learns that he is not interested in romance despite his good looks. When she realizes her clothes are dirty and her foot is wounded from tripping earlier at the event, Yamada leaves briefly to buy band-aids for her.

The next day, Akane wakes up in Yamada's house wearing only a tank top and jeans. She has a hangover and hears a voice coming from where Yamada is sitting by his desk with his gaming setup. He excuses himself when he notices she has woken up.

She is confused and asks if they had a one-night stand, but Yamada explains that he helped her when she was drunk and puked on her dress. Akane feels embarrassed and leaves quickly. Later, she realizes that she lost a necklace Takuma gave her and thinks it might be at Yamada's house. While playing an online game with their guild master Ruri-chan, Yamada unexpectedly logs on, causing Akane to feel stressed about the situation.

Yamada logs into the game and Ruri-chan greets him, but Akane feels left out of their conversation. She messages Yamada privately about her lost necklace, but he dismisses her and starts criticizing the guild items in storage. Akane admits to filling the storage with good intentions, but Yamada insults her efforts and says they are all worthless. This embarrasses Akane and she quietly leaves the game. Yamada accidentally breaks Akane's heart necklace while reading their chat, causing her to feel angry and hurt by his rudeness towards her.

Akane had a nightmare about Takuma, who sent her a gift containing his new girlfriend. Her friend Momo brushed it off and changed the subject to Yamada. Akane was preoccupied with the necklace Takuma gave her and ignored Momo's inquiries. Momo expressed concern about Akane always putting her boyfriend first, but Akane gave up on her remarks.

As she left a cafe, Akane saw high school girls confessing to a popular classmate. She was reminded of being dumped by Saito in high school. The guy responded that he was in a rush to respawn in a game, leaving everyone dumbfounded. It turned out to be Yamada, who forgot about Akane.

Yamada wanted to return the heart necklace that Takuma gave Akane but accidentally broke it. He remembered that they lived near each other and hoped to meet at the train station. Akane planned on throwing away the necklace but Yamada chased after her with an umbrella during heavy rain before walking away on his own side of the street.

Akane is lying in bed thinking about Yamada's kind gesture of giving her an umbrella and returning her broken necklace. She receives a delivery of old belongings from her mother, who is converting Akane's old room into an exercise area. Her friend Momo helps her clean up and finds the broken necklace and Yamada's umbrella. Akane decides to throw them away along with all the other things Takuma gave her.

After a barbecue celebration, they go to return Yamada's umbrella while drunk. Akane thanks him for accompanying her at a game event, and he says it was no problem. Before leaving, Yamada mentions that Ruri-chan was worried about Akane not going online on the game but she assures him she will once she gets home.
### The Misunderstanding Arc

 ***Main Article: The Misunderstanding Arc***
Momo arranged a group date for Akane and introduced her to two men, one of whom was presumed to be her partner. However, Akane was too distracted by messages from Ruri-chan on her phone to engage in conversation with the men. Momo was disappointed with the outcome and questioned if Ruri-chan could be a middle-aged man. Akane denied this and believed Ruri-chan to be a high school girl after seeing someone dressed in cosplay similar to Ruri's character outfit.

Later, Akane returned home excited to play games rather than pursue romantic relationships. She logged into the guild and observed Yamada and Ruri reminiscing about their past experiences together. Akane had a passing thought that they might be a couple but joined them in looting anyway. As Yamada left, Akane had flashbacks of her past relationship with Takuma and noticed similarities between their situation and that of Ruri and Yamada's. Meanwhile, Ruri and Yamada exchanged private messages before saying goodbye for the night.

Akane spent the day preoccupied with the idea that Yamada and Ruri might be a couple. While walking outside her school, she bumped into a guy she had met on a previous group date arranged by Momo. He noticed her playing with her phone during class and revealed they were in the same lecture. As they walked to the bus station, Akane saw a girl who looked like Ruri's in-game character talking to Yamada.

Feeling confused, Akane went home and tried to sort out her thoughts. Ruri messaged her about an upcoming Forest of Savior-themed café opening and invited Akane along with other guild members, including Yamada whom they had run into earlier. Despite being hesitant due to suspicions about Yamada and Ruri's relationship status, Akane accepted the invitation hoping to find out more about their true feelings for each other.

Akane woke up and prepared to meet her guild members at the Forest of Savior-themed café. Momo expressed concern about Akane meeting new people after their last group date, but Akane felt better knowing that Yamada would also be there. Using her phone's map, she tried to find the café but got lost along the way.

While wandering around, she met a talkative guy who asked if she played the game and was going to the café. He talked about his favorite aspects of the game and asked for Akane's opinion. She admitted to being a newbie and mentioned how Yamada had criticized her in-game mistakes but their guild master helped her out.

As they approached the café, Akane saw Ruri waving at them from across the road with Yamada nearby talking to an elderly man. After greeting Yamada, she went over to who she thought was Ruri-chan but realized it was someone else who looked like Ruri's in-game character. The girl seemed confused about who Akane was until Eita introduced them all properly.

The Forest of Savior-themed café is a popular spot for players of the game. Eita and an old man named Takezo are excited about the café's decorations and menu, which are based on the game's dungeons. Akane, who is with them, asks a girl named Ruri-chan who they are. Ruri-chan corrects her and says that she doesn't know Akane. Yamada suggests that they introduce themselves before ordering anything.

Eita introduces himself as Princess Ruri in-game and Takezo as a strawberry farmer whose character is named Takezo. Runa Sasaki is introduced as Eita's younger sister, whom he based his in-game character on. Yamada is the only person Akane knows from the guild meeting.

Akane tells Yamada that she thought he was dating Ruri because they were flirtatious in-game, but Yamada explains that they're just friends from their hometown who occasionally play together when Eita needs help with the game. Akane appears relieved and says it's good to hear he doesn't have a girlfriend, which makes Runa wonder if Akane likes him.

During their guild meeting at the Forest of Savior-themed café, Runa asks Akane if she likes Yamada, which leaves Akane speechless. She accidentally drops her drink when she tries to look at Yamada, who is staring at her. Yamada advises her to seek staff assistance for the broken glass and then leaves the room claiming he has a phone call. Eita follows him out and questions why he lied about the call. Yamada explains that he felt compelled to leave after sensing Akane's glares at him.

Takezo tries to calm down Akane while Runa continues to stare at her with agitation. After their meeting ends, they all decide to leave the café. Runa expresses her dislike for having Akane in their guild and says she would do anything to chase her out, leaving Takezo confused by her words.

Akane and Yamada were on the same train heading home. Akane tried to talk to Yamada, but he seemed uninterested. She noticed women staring at her and collided with Yamada when the train stopped suddenly. He offered to switch seats, and she realized the women were looking at him, not her. They went to a convenience store where Akane asked personal questions about his life, but he misunderstood them.

She's worried about his eating habits and left him in a park while she cooked curry for them both. Runa called Akane apologizing for her behavior earlier and invited her out again, which made Yamada smile when he heard it because he had a tutoring job with Runa on that same day.

Yamada received a call from Eita asking if he would still tutor his sister, Runa. Yamada agreed, but was confused since he knew Runa had plans to meet with Akane. When Akane arrived at the meeting spot, she found a strange man who mistook her for someone else and made her uncomfortable with his strange behavior.

Meanwhile, Yamada arrived at Eita's house for the tutoring session but was puzzled as to why he was there instead of meeting with Akane as promised. While in the restroom trying to figure out what to do, the strange man knocked on the door and tried to force his way in. Eventually, Runa admitted that she had set up a meeting between Akane and a fan of her brother's game character. This prompted Yamada to postpone tutoring and go help Akane who was in danger.

Eita discovered that Runa had used his account to invite the stranger who made Akane uncomfortable. Takezo arrived and was worried about Akane, prompting them to go to the meeting location with Runa, who didn't want to apologize and was jealous of Akane's attention from guild members. When they found Akane with the stranger, Takezo confronted him while Eita checked on Akane's well-being. Yamada noticed a bandage on her leg and apologized for not telling her about his tutoring session with Runa. As they were all gathered in a nearby area, Akane noticed Runa running away looking glum.

Akane tried to talk to Runa who's about to leave but before she could leave, she tripped and fell in front of Yamada. Runa came back to check on her, but Eita interrupted and said she would get a lecture. Yamada couldn't help Akane because Runa had done something dangerous. When the guys left, Akane started talking to Runa and offered to go hunting with her another time.

This surprised Runa because she expected Akane to be mad at her for making her want to leave the guild after meeting a strange man. However, Akane decided not to lecture Runa and instead wanted to be her friend. Meanwhile, Yamada, Eita, and Takezo watched as Akane comforted a crying Runa from afar.
### Romantic Comedy Operation Arc

 ***Main Article: Romantic Comedy Operation Arc***
Momo wants to go on a group date with Akane, but Akane is too focused on playing the game with Runa. Momo mentions how lucky Akane is to have met Yamada, who has been unexpectedly nice to her lately. However, Yamada doesn't like hunting for Akane because it's too boring for him. Runa helps Akane level up quickly in the game and Yamada later goes online and offers to give her some spare items. However, when Akane declines his offer and says she'll do her best, he cheers her up with a smiley emoji.

Akane's computer catches fire while she's showing Momo how to play the game and she can't afford a new one. Runa tells Eita about the situation but can't face him due to a fight they had. The next day, Runa brings Yamada over as "the repairman" to help fix Akane's computer.

Yamada was taking a nap when Eita called him repeatedly, asking if he had an old spare computer. Eita explained that Akane's computer was broken and had smoke coming out of it. Yamada initially didn't want to help, but seeing Akane's in-game character working hard made him change his mind. He went to Akane's house with Runa and tried to fix her computer while she prepared snacks for them. Yamada complimented the curry, which pleased Akane. Runa took a picture of them and sent it to Eita, who suggested helping them get closer since they were still a little apart. Runa formed an idea in her head while watching the two chat happily together.

Runa wants to push the romantic comedy that her brother had put in her head, so she came up with a plan to bring Akane and Yamada closer. She asked them if they wanted to take a bath together, but they both declined. Then, Runa made toasted bread for Akane, hoping it would bring them closer, but Akane ate the whole loaf by herself. Runa's next plan was to push Akane towards Yamada because she believed that physical contact wouldn't happen anytime soon if they didn't get closer.

As a result of Runa's prodding, Akane leaned towards Yamada and accidentally touched his face while trying to help him with his hair. This made them feel awkward as they were only inches apart. Yamada decided to leave and go home because he had left some tools behind. Runa saw this as an attempt by Yamada to flee. Yamada blurted out "I messed up" as he walked away from Akane's house.

Yamada went to the convenience store to get a drink and was approached by an employee who said she would always buy the same drink as him. She mentioned that she was an alumna of Tousei Academy and wanted to talk more with him, which confused Yamada. When he returned to Akane's house, he found her and Runa sleeping with their mouths open. Akane had made omelette rice for him, so he ate quietly not wanting to wake her up. While looking at Akane sleeping, Yamada remembered a time when he unclipped her hair while she slept. Suddenly, the doorbell rang and Takuma, Akane's ex-boyfriend, was standing outside.

Takuma arrives at Akane's apartment, but Yamada answers the door. Takume then introduces himself as a big fan of Yamada then Yamada asks why Takuma is in Akane's apartment. Takume then realizes that Yamada must be Akane's real new boyfriend, but he doubts their relationship because Yamada has never posted a woman on his social media accounts.

Takuma reveals that he came to return the bento boxes that Akane had given him and to check on her after their breakup. Yamada assures him that she is doing well and offers to let him see her, but Takuma declines and leaves. After Takuma leaves, Akane wakes up and thanks Yamada for handling the situation. He returns her hairpin and admits that he unclipped it while she was sleeping for no reason. Before they can talk more, Eita calls Yamada, leaving Akane confused.

Akane is desperate for money and applies for a part-time job at a convenience store. She tells her friend Momo, who wants to repay Eita for repairing her laptop for free. However, Momo cuts the conversation short as she is on a group date that doesn't go well. Akane then goes online and sees Princess Ruri with Takezo, th Sub-master of the guild who's character name is known as "Takezo." Akane told Ruri-chan she'd like to pay for her laptop repair, but Ruri-chan refuses since it was done with second-hand parts given freely. Takezo suggests letting Akane in on their plan instead.

Yamada's phone rings nonstop during class until Tsubaki places a towel underneath it to muffle the sound. She comments on his poor performance in an FPS match stream she watched and accuses him of slacking off in MMO games. Yamada explains that lag caused his poor performance due to playing on an overseas server, but Tsubaki dismisses it as an excuse. Yamada receives a guild announcement from Eita about attending Tousei Academy's public culture festival and securing tickets. He realizes that Akane is listed as their sponsor for the event attendees' list.

On the day of Tousei Academy's culture festival, Akane is late to meet up with Eita, Kamota, and Runa due to work. As they tour the school, Runa becomes anxious about her upcoming entrance exam. Akane and Runa separate from Eita and Kamota, with Yamada joining them later.

While waiting for Runa outside the restroom, Eita texts Akane about meeting up in the courtyard. However, when she sees Yamada with his classmates and tries to greet him, he is too busy talking to someone else. Later on, Yamada meets up with Akane outside by the restroom and asks why she is alone. As they talk about Runa's problem with nerves before her exam, Tsubaki watches them from afar along with other passersby who notice their interaction.

Runa, Akane, and Yamada go to the nurse's office after Runa complains of stomach pain due to nerves about her upcoming entrance exam. While there, Yamada contacts Eita to update him on Runa's condition. However, when Runa begs him not to tell Eita in fear of being sent home and missing out on the festival, Yamada agrees.

The doctor suggests that Runa's stomachache may be due to skipping meals at the festival. Akane offers to buy her food and a limited edition Tousei Festival t-shirt while Yamada accompanies her. As they walk through the hallway, they attract stares from other students until they bump into Yamada's Physical Education teacher who teases him about bringing a girl (Akane) over and being into older women. A group of first-year students confronts them and asks if Akane is Yamada's girlfriend. She denies it before meeting up with Eita and Kamota outside. Eita jokingly suggests that Akane and Yamada should date each other, causing confusion for Akane who storms off in frustration. Eita follows her to apologize but is beaten by Yamada went to catch up with her first.

Akane is feeling frustrated with herself for not playing along with Eita's joke and regrets her reaction. She bumps into Tsubaki, who warns her about the dangerous staircase she is heading towards. Yamada follows Akane, and they meet at the staircase landing where he apologizes for Eita's joke. Akane clarifies that she is embarrassed rather than mad, and Yamada explains that he knew it was a joke all along. They resolve the issue, but Akane asks what Yamada would have done if she had taken the joke seriously. He tells her that he would have considered it an honor but admits that she is out of his league since he is boring. They set out to buy food together for Runa after their conversation.
### The New Guild Member Arc

 ***Main Article: The New Guild Member Arc***
Yamada visits Akane at her workplace and she asks him to draw a prize as part of the store's promotion. They discuss Runa, whom Akane hasn't seen in a while due to her studies. Akane's coworker notices Yamada and asks if they know one another. Akane boasts that they play the same game online. However, when asked if she is dating him, she denies it and reflects on Yamada's changing behavior.

After her shift ends, they walk home together, and Akane mentions wanting to make him a bento as thanks for fixing her laptop. She concludes that it would be inappropriate for her to show romantic interest in him, but as a bicyclist passes, she suddenly sneezes. Yamada promptly pulls her away from danger and wishes for her cold not to worsen.

Later on, Akane talks to Momo about Yamada while they both get their nails done. She expresses her fear of unconsciously kind men because it is difficult to tell if they are interested in women or not. Momo encourages Akane to act on her feelings rather than hiding them. Suddenly, Runa urgently calls and requests a meeting about an important matter in their guild.

Akane and Runa met at the park, where Runa expressed concern about a new female guild member. Although Akane disagreed with Runa's exclusive attitude towards women, she assured her that they would become friends. However, Runa remained worried about losing Akane's friendship to the new member.

Yamada had invited the new member, who was taking a break from FPS games to play MMOs. Overhearing gossip about an unnamed couple, Tsubaki asked Okamoto and Yamada if two people could end up together against all odds. She thanked Yamada for introducing her to his guildmaster in Forest Of Savior and defended him when he received an unknown call by saying he was bad at love.

Yamada, Tsubaki, and Okamoto walk home together after their class. While Yamada is on the phone, Okamoto asks if he is calling the unknown number from earlier. Yamada answers the call, and Akane explains that she had something to ask earlier but has to go to her part-time job because nobody else is available to cover the night shift. Before ending the call, she promises to talk to him in the game.

While waiting for Okamoto outside a restaurant chain, Tsubaki inquires about the girl Yamada was talking to on the phone earlier and whether he likes her. Yamada thinks silently about Akane's ridiculous faces but doesn't reply when asked if he likes her. At her workplace, Akane drops her phone and notices Yamada's name in her call history. She reflects on what she wants for herself before getting called for work.

Upon reaching their homes, Tsubaki logs into Forest Of Savior and joins the Chocolate Rabbit Guild.

Akane is feeling regretful about her past relationship with Takuma, despite not having any feelings for him anymore. While being tutored by Yamada, Runa receives a phone call from Akane, who cancels their plans due to feeling sick. Despite trying to take care of herself, Akane ends up fainting outside her apartment while attempting to go grocery shopping. Yamada locates her and helpos her back to her apartment, where Tsubaki is crying over the possibility of losing him to someone else. As Yamada carries Akane inside, Tsubaki reminisces about how they first met and encourages herself to make a move on him before it's too late.

Tsubaki reflects on Yamada's personality and notes that despite being a kind and humble person, he can sometimes come across as cold. She overhears classmates discussing how Shiraishi asked Yamada out but was rejected, leading them to wonder if he is even interested in women. Tsubaki confronts Yamada about the rumors and asks him about his relationship status and type. He reveals that he has never been in love, but he remembers a girl from elementary school who liked him and was frequently bullied. This experience has made it difficult for him to pursue romantic relationships.

Meanwhile, at Akane's apartment, Yamada is taking care of her while she is sick. Despite his attempts to get her to drink water, she remains unresponsive until suddenly waking up with a fever. Yamada takes her to the hospital and brings her back home later that night, feeling better.

Akane wakes up in the middle of the night to find Yamada asleep beside her. She is surprised to find him there sitting on the floor in her room and initially believes it to be a dream. However, she sneezes severely, and he asks if she is okay. Yamada tells her that she had fainted earlier outside her apartment complex. Akane becomes emotional and thanks him for rescuing her, noting how kind he is despite his cold exterior.

Yamada steps on one of Akane's romance books that he borrowed to pass the time, leading to a discussion about rejection. Akane notes that it must be tiring for Yamada to reject people all the time, but he reveals that he has made mistakes in the past and isn't as nice as she thinks.

Akane reflects on her past relationship with Takuma and how his honesty about his affair helped her accept their breakup more easily. She believes it is better for Takuma to remember her with a smile rather than as a total wreck after their breakup. Yamada remembers his childhood friend who cried upon learning that he only pitied her, leading him to agree with Akane's perspective on rejection.

Akane is worried about Yamada going to school without sleeping, but he reassures her that he is accustomed to it. He reminds her to go back to the doctor for a checkup before leaving. Later, Momo drops by and gets to know that Yamada had taken Akane to the hospital the previous night. She wonders if they are dating, but Akane insists that they are just friends.

After Momo leaves, Akane cooks and studies while waiting for Yamada's reply. She receives a message from Runa asking to hang out over the weekend and decides to take a break by playing Forest Of Savior. There, she meets Princess Ruri and newcomer TSUBAKI, who is also a Paladin like her. They team up in the game, and TSUBAKI tells Akane that Paladins are the only ones who can challenge bosses alone, which excites her.

Akane, TSUBAKI, and Princess Ruri are playing Forest Of Savior together. They are struggling to defeat a monster and Princess Ruri teases them for their inability to kill it. Eventually, the monster withdraws from the battle as time runs out. Afterward, Akane calls Yamada for advice on how to defeat the monster. Meanwhile, Princess Ruri helps TSUBAKI repair her armor and they discuss their guild. TSUBAKI cryptically tells Princess Ruri that she lacks courage and bravery, but she is unsure of what she means. Yamada admits to being tired when Akane calls him later in the evening, but she simply wants to hear his voice before ending the call quickly. She then calls Momo with something to say.

Akane meets Momo at a café while apologizing to Runa for not being able to play with her. However, instead of discussing love as Momo expected, Akane talks about her recent breakup and her desire to address her insecurities when it comes to romance. Two men from Momo's group date interrupt their conversation but are eventually escorted away by the waiter, Eita, whom Akane thanks for saving them. Momo is shocked by his notable good looks. Later that day, while on his way home from work, Akane and Momo call out to Eita because Akane has something to tell him.

Akane recalls the first time she met Princess Ruri in a game, and Ruri offered to repair her armor at a discount. In the present, Akane meets up with Eita, who initially thinks she wants to confess her feelings for him. However, Momo tells Eita that Akane likes someone else and is hesitant to pursue them due to past heartbreak. Akane explains that she just wants to know if there is anything flawed about herself that caused her breakup and wants to be upfront about liking someone. Eita attests that the person Akane likes is a good person and encourages her to confess right away. As Akane heads off, Momo introduces herself and asks if Eita has a girlfriend. On the way to his house, Akane reflects on her feelings for him and concludes that she likes him.

Akane goes to Yamada's house to confess her feelings but is interrupted by loud neighbors. Yamada invites her inside and asks if they can talk on the way to the station. On the way, Akane hesitates to confess in public and almost gets hit by a car, causing her to feel guilty. She decides to come back another time but is surprised when Yamada holds her hand as they cross the street. At the station, he apologizes for not being able to listen and offers to call later if it was important before they part ways. Meanwhile, at cram school, Tsubaki is wondering about the weather on their way home.

After his classes, Yamada wants to quickly get home because of the heavy rain. Okamoto offers to share his umbrella, but he secretly offers it to Tsubaki instead. Tsubaki reluctantly accepts it and later asks Yamada for the umbrella. While they walk together, Yamada seems disinterested in Tsubaki's conversation and becomes captivated by a blonde girl who runs past them. He hands his umbrella to Tsubaki and intends to run all the way to the station, leaving her behind.

Tsubaki chased after him but fell and broke her glasses in the process. Yamada returned and helped her find them, while she unconsciously confessed that she likes him. They were caught in a downpour as Tsubaki requested that he think only of her for the day. Meanwhile, Akane was napping by her window, watching the rain when she received a text from Yamada saying they couldn't talk anymore that day, leaving her feeling disappointed.

Yamada is at the Sasaki Residence for his daily tutoring session with Runa when Eita asks if anyone has confessed to him, assuming it is Akane. However, Yamada reveals that Tsubaki has confessed to him, and he is unsure how to respond as he considers her a friend. He tries to contact Akane but is unable to reach her, so he goes to her workplace where she cheers him up. She tells him that what she was going to say is not essential, and she has already told Momo. Later in the day, Yamada meets Tsubaki near a bridge.

Yamada and Tsubaki arrived at their meeting spot on time. Tsubaki had been concealing her emotions for Yamada for years but had finally mustered up the courage to tell him everything she liked about him. She knew that Yamada could not return her feelings but still chose to express them. Tsubaki was aware of how Akane had changed Yamada, even though others were unaware of it. When Yamada responded that he could not reciprocate her feelings, she was grateful that he let her say what she needed to say. During their conversation, Tsubaki noticed a drawing on Yamada's hand which she recognized as Akane's work, revealing that Yamada liked Akane instead of her.
### The Confession Arc

 ***Main Article: The Confession Arc***
Takezo is sponsoring the Chocolate Rabbit Guild's BBQ Party in December. Akane arrived on time and was greeted by Takezo and Runa, who were already at the restaurant they planned to eat at. While waiting for Yamada, Takezo mentioned that the restaurant is owned by a friend of his and he brought the whole guild instead of being alone. The restaurant appears to be expensive, leading Runa and Akane to question Takezo's connection. Four important people approached Takezo and addressed him as Mr. President, which piqued Akane and Runa's interest in him even further.

Yamada was late for the occasion and instead of relaxing and enjoying a meal, he was approached by an intoxicated Akane who had been drinking expensive drinks given by Takezo's friends. Runa was whining about Akane being clingy earlier that she had to leave her on the bathroom floor for some time. Takezo invited Yamada to eat while he called a taxi for Akane but Eita recommended that Yamada should safely transport her home instead of calling a taxi.

Yamada goes to buy water and returns to find Akane heavily intoxicated and resting. He wakes her up by placing the water bottle on her cheeks, and she starts talking aloud. Yamada helps her get her phone so she won't forget his help, but advises her to lower her voice. He holds Akane's wrist as they walk home, preventing her from falling. When her heel gets stuck, Yamada kneels down to recover it. They continue walking hand in hand until they reach Akane's apartment.

As Yamada is about to leave, Akane asks him if he likes her because of how he held her hand. Yamada admits his feelings for Akane and promises to tell her again if she forgets due to intoxication. Akane asks if she can call him for affirmation in the morning, and Yamada insists on calling her instead. They hug each other before parting ways.

Yamada wakes up in the morning and calls Akane, who is unable to sleep due to their relationship. After class, Akane, Momo, and Maki discuss her relationship with Yamada at a nearby café. Maki shares her failed relationship with someone younger than her, which makes Akane concerned. However, Momo believes that they will eventually be together based on Yamada's actions towards Akane.

Yamada is approached by a talent recruiter but brushes it off to meet Akane outside. They go to a café where Akane reminds Yamada to focus on his studies as he is graduating soon. However, Yamada compliments her canine teeth instead of listening. While walking, Yamada speculates about what Akane didn't get to say at the coffee shop and agrees to hold hands with her when she expresses her desire for it.
### Espion Arc

 ***Main Article: Espion Arc***
Shinohara notices that Akane has been working hard and is cheerful lately. Akane reveals that she has a boyfriend, and Shinohara congratulates her. However, their boss is upset because Akane will be leaving the convenience store soon, leaving only him and Shinohara. They suggest hiring more employees to alleviate his stress. Meanwhile, Takeaki Okamoto is at Yamada's house when Akane calls to say she's on her way. Okamoto asks if it's Eita coming, but Yamada says it's someone else - a woman. This reminds Okamoto of their class president, Tsubaki, who he knows has feelings for Yamada.

When Akane arrives with takoyaki, she accidentally bumps into Yamada's small table and hurts herself. Yamada tries to soothe her by touching her shoulder—something he never does—which surprises Okamoto. At the convenience store, the owner interviews Hasegawa for a part-time job and hires him to work nights. He also puts Hasegawa in charge of training with Akane during her remaining days at the store.

Akane noticed that their boss was unfairly criticizing Hasegawa, the new employee who will replace her. She intervened and prevented their employer from doing so, as Hasegawa is still new and has not been given any work related to their job. Hasegawa expressed gratitude and amusement at Akane's quick thinking, which made him happy. During a conversation, Akane mentioned that she used to work at a convenience store in Gunma, her home province. When Hasegawa asked if she had a boyfriend, Akane happily replied yes.

Meanwhile, in an online game, Ruri-chan and Takezo were teasing Akane about joining the game. They spent 150 yen on a custom avatar called "insinuating grin avatar eyes" in case the guild ever got a couple. They were wondering where Yamada was because he hadn't been online for a while. Akane lied about Yamada being busy studying because they might misinterpret Yamada sleeping in her apartment right now. While waiting for him to wake up because the food she had cooked was getting cold, Akane kissed him on the forehead and chose not to disturb him.

However, this startled Yamada, who drew her closer and kissed her delicately while trying to put her slowly and carefully on the flooring while kissing. He was distracted for a moment by Akane's strong pulse rate, making her feel insecure about it. But Yamada just continued with his thoughts and feelings and shrugged off the noise of his girlfriend's heartbeat.

In another scene, Hasegawa was walking down the street talking on the phone with someone named Ren on the other end of the line. He mentioned that Akane is an FOS player and that he wants to steal her from her current team without realizing it himself yet.

Akane and Runa met two random players while hunting in-game. The players thanked them, mistaking Akane for the strong and cool one, which made her blush. They tried to recruit Runa for a party, but she refused as she didn't want to get too friendly with strangers. Akane reminded her not to do the same to others as it would make it difficult for Runa to meet new people.

Later, Eita visited Akane at work, and Hasegawa assumed he was her boyfriend. Momo called Akane and told her about her blind dates, confusing Hasegawa about Akane's loyalty. Takezo also gave Akane a luxury bag as a gift, making Hasegawa think he was her sugar daddy.

Meanwhile, Akane sought Yamada's help in upgrading her equipment after being teased by Runa. Yamada discovered that Akane had been continuously upgrading the tutorial equipment since day one and was amazed by her dedication. A random player they saved before approached them and asked if she could play with them.

Eita is exploring Yamada's house while Yamada coughs up noodles. Eita becomes hysterical at the thought of cheating on Akane and Yamada reveals that Yuinyan, a character in their game, had approached them recently. They discover that Yuinyan used to be a member of the guild Espion.

Hasegawa's phone keeps ringing with a call from someone associated with Espion.

During their ramen date, Akane mentions Yuinyan and Yamada asks if she ever feels lonely without him. A couple arguing in the restaurant causes a distraction and they are asked to leave. While waiting for Akane in the restroom, Yamada is bumped by a man who appears to be arguing with his girlfriend. Yamada thinks he recognizes the man but can't remember where he saw him before.

Akane excitedly tells her friends Momo and Maki about her new friend Yuinyan, who shares her love for gaming. She wants to be friends with Yuinyan, and it seems that Yuinyan feels the same way. However, when Akane asks Ruri-chan about letting Yuinyan join their guild, Ruri refuses, saying that she's not the type of gamer they want in the guild. Akane decides to reject Yuinyan's request to join the guild but still arranges a meeting with her as friends.

Later, Akane surprises Yamada with a bento she made and tells him about her plans to meet Yuinyan. Eita overhears their conversation and suggests that he pretend to be Akane's boyfriend to keep her safe during the meeting. Yamada is hesitant but doesn't want to ruin Akane's chance at making a new friend.

Eita then suggests that he act unpleasant towards Yuinyan during the meeting so that Akane won't want to continue communicating with her. Yamada is unsure of what to do and is caught off guard by Eita's suggestion.

Akane noticed that Yamada's request to accompany her to her meeting with Yui was out of character. When she asked him about it, he admitted that Eita put him in the situation and wants him to ruin Akane's friendship with Yui. During their conversation, Yui arrived and introduced herself. Akane wondered when Yui's boyfriend would arrive but found out they had a fight and she would be alone.

Akane left Yamada and Yui alone while she ordered food. Yui placed her hand on Yamada's leg, making him uncomfortable, and he politely asked her to remove it. Yamada then left, giving Akane his coat, as it was a girls' meeting. Meanwhile, Yui bombarded messages to her boyfriend Ren who wasn't responding.

Hasegawa and his friend were walking through the city when they saw Akane with another guy, which happens to be her real boyfriend Yamada, leading Hasegawa to believe that she was with someone else. Later, while working, Hasegawa asked Akane about her meeting with Yui, who had requested to join their guild. Hasegawa revealed that he used to be in the same guild as Yui and her girlfriend.

Akane received a call from Eita, who apologized for turning down her friend's request to join their guild. Eita explained that he formed the guild for his sister and was restrictive about who could join due to a previous issue with another guild. Akane understood and agreed with Eita's decision. Later, Hasegawa texted Ren about meeting Akane and mentioned stealing her from Eita's guild.

Akane and Yui met up at a restaurant and were ordering food when Yui received a message from her boyfriend, Ren. He said that he and his friend Hasegawa would be joining them, and Yui wanted to introduce Akane to Ren as a way of making up for the last time she met Yamada. Akane noticed that Ren seemed like a player and excused herself to call Yamada to inform him. Yamada thought it was just a report to her clueless boyfriend, but Eita found it amusing.

When Akane returned to the table, she ran into Ren in the smoking area. He noticed her expression towards him and called himself "a usual trash." He then told Akane that Yui and Hasegawa were cheating on him, as he saw them getting friendly with each other.

Akane is feeling guarded and perplexed after her encounter with Ren in the hallway. Ren had told her about Hasegawa and Yui's closeness, which frustrated her, and also mentioned Hasegawa's comment about her always meeting new guys, leaving her confused. While pondering this, Yui approached Akane and asked about Princess Ruri, but Akane shrugged it off. Hasegawa then revealed that he knows Ruri-chan and that Ren refers to her as a "Nasty Nekama." He also mentioned that they used to have a female player who Ruri snagged once.

Feeling uneasy about the conversation, Akane ate her pasta all at once and rushed out of the table, prompting Yui to follow. In the elevator, Akane implied that Yui break up with Ren, which led to Yui slapping Akane on the left side of her face. As Yui spoke, Akane blurted out words about Yamada's fondness for talking to her. This triggered a flashback to their first meeting when Yamada left them because he was uncomfortable.

Akane surged and slapped Yui so hard that she collapsed to the floor. Hasegawa and Ren arrived on the elevator where they were arguing, with Ren snagging Akane's left hand and telling her she shouldn't hit other people's girlfriends. The elevator unexpectedly opened, revealing Yamada and Eita inside.

Ren is holding Akane's wrist tightly after she slapped Yui Kurata, causing her to collapse. Eita and Yamada arrive just in time, and Yamada tries to take Akane away from Ren. However, Ren pushes him away, and Eita tries to lighten the mood by clinging onto Ren tightly. Yamada and Akane flee the situation, with Akane helping Yui stand up before leaving. Yui sobs as she realizes her love for Ren, and Hasegawa offers to take care of her. Yamada notices Akane's melancholy as they stand silently in the elevator.

After their encounter with Ren, Hasegawa, and Yui, Yamada takes Akane to his house as they are both drenched. Akane takes a shower while Yamada speaks with Eita on the phone. She comes out wearing Yamada's clothes when they hear a loud knock and shout from outside. Akane frantically knocks on the bathroom door as she thinks someone is trying to harm Yamada. Yamada advises her to ignore it, but the person persists.

When he opens the door, he sees Tani, an intoxicated man who is drenched in water and slumped outside his house. Tani enters the house and calls Akane "Rio-Rio," a woman he knows from a hostess bar. They have an impromptu meeting to discuss whether to let Tani stay for 30 minutes due to the stormy weather. Yamada warns Akane not to get too close to Tani as he falls in love quickly. However, she smacks him on the lips, which Tani sees from inside the bathroom.

Tani visits Yamada's house during a heavy rainstorm and notices that Akane is acting distant. Yamada explains that she had an argument with a friend from the game Forest of Savior, and Tani assumes that Akane is waiting for Yamada to comfort her. However, Akane is actually quiet because her underwear is still wet. Tani pretends to comfort her, causing her to say "thank you," but when he says "I love you," Yamada shoves him.

Later, Akane expresses concern about meeting Yui, a friend from the game, and Yamada unexpectedly kisses her in response to a message from Eita. Runa calls out Eita for receiving a message from Yamada declining his proposal regarding Akane and Yui.

Yamada admires Akane's ability to establish relationships and gather knowledge from others, even if her attempts are unsuccessful. He encourages her to make friends with Yui despite Akane's obstinacy. Yamada and Akane share a sweet moment, but Tani's presence makes Akane embarrassed. Tani gives Yamada a "passing grade" for comforting Akane, and they discuss making amends with Yui after hurtful words were exchanged.

Akane is trying to finish her writing, but she is preoccupied with making lists of people to speak with about a recent argument. Momo is trying to hurry her to the cafeteria, but Akane is waiting for Yui to answer the phone. When Yui finally answers, she confesses that she never called Akane because she was afraid of upsetting her. Akane acknowledges that she should have called Yui right away and expresses regret for hitting her hard. She wants to make up with Yui and remain friends despite their argument. Momo gives Akane some lunch and leaves while Akane continues talking to Yui on the phone.

Tsubaki confirms to Yamada that he has a girlfriend, which she learned from Okamoto. Tsubaki tries to strike up a conversation with Yamada, asking about Akane and making a joke about his girlfriend. Despite the awkwardness, Yamada remains friendly and mentions that their guild is waiting for Tsubaki to log back into the game.

Meanwhile, Hasegawa and Akane are arguing about what was said at the convenience store. The store owner expresses regret that it's Akane's last day working there and tells a story unrelated to their conversation. Akane mentions her intuition that Hasegawa likes Yui more than Ren, which he acknowledges but explains that he has known Yui longer. Akane advises Hasegawa to try his best on their last day working together.

Yamada and Runa are having a tutoring session at Sasaki's house while their mother prepares breakfast. Eita mentions the recent reconciliation between Akane and Yui, but he still keeps an eye on Akane due to their troubled past with the Espion Guild. Yamada brings cream puffs to Akane's apartment after she requested them, and she unexpectedly asks for a kiss. After a quick kiss, Akane reveals that she had dreamed about passionately kissing Yamada, and they share a passionate exchange that leads to them falling gently on the floor.
### Post-Time Skip Arc

 ***Main Article: Post-Time Skip Arc***
Yamada had a fun time playing with his Red Fox Team, led by Tani, before deciding to leave. Akane texted him shortly after, letting him know that she would be ready to leave in an hour. Meanwhile, Akane spoke with her friend Momo about her plans to go back to their hometown and spend time with family until the new year. Despite teasing from Momo about missing Yamada, Akane is excited to spend time with loved ones and friends she's made along the way.

When Akane arrived at the train station, Yamada was waiting for her and helped carry her luggage. While she briefly went to the restroom, she saw her ex-boyfriend Takuma happily chatting with the girl he replaced her with. However, Akane brushed it off and headed back to Yamada. As they waited for their train, Akane felt a strange sense of fatigue and remembered a sweet moment where Yamada gave her a necklace while they were decorating a Christmas tree together at her house.

Finally, before boarding the train, Akane gave Yamada one last extended glance as they prepared for some time apart while she visited home. Despite enjoying spending time with friends and loved ones outside of home, Akane couldn't help but feel grateful for Yamada's support and love throughout it all.

Akane arrived at Takasaki Station and was greeted by her younger brother Kotaro and older sister Kaede. While Kaede was excited to see her, Kotaro remained silent. They went home to their parents, had dinner, and Akane helped clean the house with her siblings. She tried to start a conversation with Kotaro while they were out buying soy sauce but he was reserved.

Akane asked him about the game he played called GOS:E which Kaede and her boyfriend also played. She suggested that Kotaro should call Kaede's boyfriend so they could play together since Yamada was also good at the game. They talked on the phone and Kotaro was excited about playing with Yamada. He also asked about his sister's stay with them and Akane replied that she planned to stay for a while.
### Red Fox Riot Squad Operation Arc

 ***Main Article: Red Fox Riot Squad Operation Arc***
On a certain day in February, Akane, Eita, Takezo and others were at Tousei Academy waiting for Runa's entrance exam results. Runa was throwing tantrums and wishing she could go home due to her fear of the possible results. Takezo was looking at the bulletin board where the names of the successful candidates were posted. When he spotted Runa's name, he shouted in joy causing her to sob. Yamada was exhausted from tutoring Runa and was waiting for the others at the back of their school grounds. Akane went to him and congratulated him on managing to tutor Runa. Due to Runa's acceptance into Tousei Academy, Akane's heart began to flutter as she saw her running towards them.

On their way home by foot, Yamada enquired about Akane's potential sleep difficulties as she had dozed off on a train earlier. She insisted on watching a movie together despite being advised by Yamada to go straight home and rest. Later that night, loud thumping and shouting erupted from another room in Akane's house which woke her up from her sleep. She tried knocking but couldn't be heard over the noise so she sat in her living room considering what options she had.

Akane is at a cafe with Momo, waiting for Maki's arrival. Akane is tired and desires a trip where she can rest. Momo asks if the noise complaints from her neighbors have been addressed, to which Akane responds that she has informed the agency and landlord but the noises continue. They discuss whether it's a party or just one man making noise.

Yamada meets Okamoto at school, and they both passed their exams. Okamoto reveals he spent 15 hours playing video games yesterday, which Yamada finds concerning. Okamoto jokes that Akane might be bored with Yamada.

Princess Ruri announces a celebration for Runa and Yamada passing their exams with the Chocolate Rabbit Guild. Despite being exhausted, Akane attends but falls asleep in the bathroom later on. When Runa throws a tantrum about wanting to go somewhere else after lunch, Akane snaps and tells her to shut up before realizing what she said and apologizing.

Yamada advises Akane to go straight home after apologizing to Runa because of her exhaustion. As they descend stairs together, an unknown person claims his pass holder fell but clarifies it wasn't his as Yamada briefly turns away from Akane who almost falls down the stairs due to exhaustion but fortunately, Yamada catches her just in time.

Akane tells Yamada about her new noisy neighbor and applies patches to his back where he was injured by the handrail. Yamada makes a lighthearted remark about Akane's sandals, but she becomes upset and thinks she is bothering him with her problems. However, Yamada reassures her that he is happy to help and suggests they talk to the livestreamer neighbor together. The livestreamer has all of his cardboard goal followers pasted on one side of the wall in his room, with the words "100k followers" as his goal.

Runa is shocked by an incident with Akane and asks her brother Eita about their relationship with Yamada. Eita suggests they are a couple, but Runa is left feeling excluded. Yamada invites Akane to stay at his house to get some rest, but she initially hesitates because she thinks he wants something in return. When Yamada admits he might find it hard not to touch her if they share a bed, Akane blushes but insists she doesn't want him involved with her noisy neighbor. Tani arrives drunk and offers to help deal with the neighbor while dragging Yamada along.

Pandora of the Dawn is a livestreamer who plays the game War of Dolls and gains followers by shouting and cursing during his streams. Tani and Yamada suspect that Akane's noisy neighbor is also a livestreamer, but they are hesitant to confront him. While Akane prepares brunch using a cooking set she gave Yamada as a gift, he arrives at her apartment and asks if she got enough rest.

He then reveals that he stayed up late playing video games with his teammates, not because of the noisy neighbor. Yamada suggests that Akane stay at his house for a week while they wait for confirmation on their next match. Meanwhile, Metabolic Panda leads the team in-game with Jet Black Bride and Tanaka while Gobou locates Pandora's map location and Kim handles comments on Pandora's stream.

Jet Black Bride snipes Pandora's character, while Metabolic Panda chases him down and throws Molotov cocktails at him. Pandora tries to recover but is attacked by Tanaka, causing his performance to be criticized by his audience. Gobou tries to make friends with him on chat, while Kim causes havoc in comments as per their roles. After the game, Yamada and Akane are on the phone planning a movie date when Akane heard Pandora's screams, but Yamada brushes it off as just TV noise from his neighbor's room when Akane asked.

Yamada meets one of Akane's neighbors who finds him attractive and offers to help him with anything he needs. Yamada asks about the noises in the apartment complex, and she explains that it's because of disrespectful university students passing by.

Later, while watching a movie, Akane sobs while Yamada appears bored. After leaving the theater, they notice two women filming them, specifically Yamada. He talks to them while Akane waits on a bench nearby and feels bothered by his popularity at Tousei Academy. They discuss watching the sequel to "12 Cuties and Me" together later while Yamada promises Tani a late-night game at the same time.

Akane and Yamada watch a movie, but while Akane is emotional about it, Yamada appears bored. She offers him some apples but he falls asleep while she's in the kitchen peeling them. Despite knowing he wanted to stay at her apartment, Akane drives him home to bond with him and worries about his injury from saving her. After taking a shower, she notices a bruise on her arm from when Yamada held her tightly at the train station. When she finds Yamada sleeping on the couch, he wakes up laughing and asks how long he slept for. He pulls her closer and hugs her as she worries about her damp hair being cold but doesn't mind his touches.

Yamada's room is dimly lit by his PC setup, which Akane finds confusing. Despite Yamada insisting he can't see anything, Akane notices him moving as if he can. When Yamada turns off all his devices, he accidentally knocks over a table that Akane can relate to because she's been struck by it before.

Akane struggles with controlling her thoughts and emotions around Yamada, often talking too much about unrelated topics and insinuating ridiculous things that aren't essential to state aloud. She wonders if this is a form of self-protection against the overwhelming emotions she feels for him.

Yamada notices his refrigerator is fuller than usual and only offers Akane tea because there's no water available. When asked about a memo from his landlord regarding her extended stay at his house, Yamada reveals the house belongs to his uncle and offers to answer any questions she has about him. She asks random questions like what TV show he likes and why he's alone in Japan (his parents are abroad). When asked about Tani at her apartment, Yamada grins and calls Akane a stalker.
### Satsuki Arc

 ***Main Article: Satsuki Arc***
On her way out, Tsubaki sees Akane, a fellow student, waiting at the front gate. She assumes that Akane is waiting for Yamada, one of their mutual friends. Tsubaki congratulates Akane on graduating and notices a floral ribbon pinned to her uniform. Akane explains that she has a friend who just graduated and assumes that anyone with pink flower decorations on their uniform might be her friend.

Tsubaki is a bit unsure whether Akane is talking about her or someone else, but she introduces herself as Yukari Tsubaki anyway. Akane is delighted and introduces herself too, and they quickly hit it off. Meanwhile, Yamada is about to leave because Akane is waiting for her when she's stopped by Takeaki Okamoto, another classmate. Takeaki is standing at their classroom window, watching Tsubaki and Akane interacting happily outside.

Princess Ruri is announcing a guild event hosted and sponsored by Takezo, which is a team RTA battle event with a great prize: an ultra-rare Prophet Stone. The rules are simple, and the pair that clears their assigned dungeon the fastest wins. Runa wants to be paired with Akane, but when she learns about the prize, she switches to Yamada's side. Takezo offers to pair with Akane, and they become one of the three pairs: Ruri and MeatLover, Tsubaki and Afro, and Akane and Takezo.

Akane is scared as they approach the dungeon because she has never been there before and is unsure of how to protect Takezo, who is the paladin. However, Takezo's in-game character's battle mode leads them to victory, and they win the event with ease. After receiving the award, Akane intends to use the ultra-rare Prophet Stones on her tutorial equipment, but Yamada thinks it would be a waste and insists on getting her new equipment. However, Akane is insistent, and Yamada is left speechless.

After the event, the guild team returns to their daily lives. Tsubaki is checking out equipment while looking at Yamada's in-game character's equipment, Runa and Eita discuss how Takezo went all out on the event, and Takezo is sleeping with his cats.

Akane was sound asleep when a woman claiming to be Yamada's mother showed up at the door. Although Akane was not fully awake, she recognized that she was at Yamada's house. Meanwhile, Eita called Yamada for help with his computer, and Yamada mentioned that Akane had fallen asleep while playing Othello with him. When Yamada's mother accidentally bumped into the floor, Akane introduced herself as Yamada's friend. Yamada's mother slumped to the ground due to her dark glasses impairing her vision. Akane tried to call Yamada, but he had also left his phone at home.

Eita asked Yamada about his parents while playing Othello, and Yamada revealed that his mother had arrived in Japan due to some problem. When Eita asked if he would introduce Akane to his mother, Yamada hesitated to answer.

Yamada's mother arrived at his house and asked Akane if she lived there since she knew that her son lived there. Akane introduced herself as Yamada's friend and not his girlfriend. Yamada's mother, who wore sunglasses, was staring at Akane, and Akane noticed that she hadn't given her any tea.

Yamada's mother tripped over a small table, and Akane related to it as she had also been tripped over by the same table many times. Akane was mesmerized by Yamada's mother's beauty when she took off her sunglasses. Yamada's mother confessed how she feels uneasy around Akane because she is shy and careless despite being an adult. Yamada later arrived home and Akane told him that his mother had visited earlier to deliver some university paperwork. Akane asked if he had not told his mother about her, to which he replied that he was planning to introduce her soon. Akane then talked about how she had told her parents that they were dating on the same day, and her father called her.

When Yamada arrives to meet Akane, a stranger makes a joke to her and she receives a call from home. Akane asks Yamada if they can go on a date by Friday and Yamada recalls Iguchi's invitation for Friday. Akane talks to her friend Momo on the phone and decides to postpone their dinner plans until she checks on her mother's health. Maki shows Momo a picture of Yamada with someone named Masaru Iguchi on social media.

While leaving, Yamada notices Satsuki outside and recalls seeing her crying on Tuesday at school. Meanwhile, Akane is shopping for food at a supermarket and planning to prepare meals for Yamada while she visits her mother for two days. On her way home, Akane sees Yamada walking with Satsuki.

Yamada attended a group gathering organized by his senior, Iguchi, which turned out to be a group date to lure women to attend. Satsuki, who attended the gathering, advised Yamada to not pay attention to what Iguchi says and to defend himself. She also pointed out that Yamada is attractive and was used by Iguchi as a bait. Later, Yamada walked Satsuki back to her apartment building and received the earbud that had fallen into her bag the day he had seen her crying. Akane, Yamada's girlfriend, noticed him walking with Satsuki and embraced him unexpectedly when they reached home.

Earlier, Momo warned Akane to be wary of anyone who might hang out with Yamada now that he attends university. But Akane trusts him and does not see it as a problem. Later, Akane asked Yamada about the group gathering, and he replied positively. When she asked who invited him, Yamada replied that it was a man, which made Akane a little frightened, even though Yamada reassured her of his love for her.

Akane wakes up next to Yamada, who is still sleeping, and prepares some food while reflecting on their conversation from the previous evening. She feels comforted by his presence and their connection. Later, she goes to her family home, but is surprised to find her sister Kaede there. Kaede tells Akane to call her when she gets to the station, but Akane takes the bus instead. During their conversation, Akane notices that Kaede is hiding some paperwork that their mother had prepared in case of another medical emergency. Akane is sad that her mother never told her about her previous collapse, but Kaede explains that they didn't want to worry her. Kaede also reveals that she wished Akane had been there when their mother collapsed, and the sisters embrace.

Akane wakes up early, prepares some food, and thinks about her conversation with Yamada from the previous evening. She feels comforted by his presence and touch. Later, she heads to her family home and finds Kaede with her boyfriend Daichi. They discuss their mother's collapse, and Akane decides to stay longer to support her sister. However, their mother worries about her frequent visits and possible exhaustion.

On their way back home, Akane and Yamada plan to eat tsukemen, and while waiting in line, they meet Yamada's seniors, including Satsuki and Iguchi. Akane becomes uneasy upon seeing Satsuki and pulls Yamada away from the conversation. Satsuki leaves with the others, claiming that Yamada's girlfriend is uncomfortable with their presence. Akane apologizes to Yamada and they sit somewhere nearby to talk.

Akane is struggling with trauma from her recent relationship with Takuma, and Yamada's suggestion to talk hit her hard. Yamada wanted to take the conversation home instead of in public, but Akane couldn't fully process what he was saying due to her preoccupation. She apologized for her behavior in front of Yamada's friends and promised not to do it again. Yamada listened to her and then suggested they clear up her uncertainties quickly, but Akane was shocked by his dismissal of her feelings. Yamada then said he wouldn't be around any other cute girls, but Akane didn't want him to be antisocial.

In a separate scene, Satsuki, Iguchi, and some other girls were dining, and Iguchi was surprised to learn that Yamada had a girlfriend. Satsuki recounted a previous encounter with Akane where she seemed uneasy and said that Akane was keeping an eye on her movements. Iguchi thought all girls acted that way, but Satsuki disagreed and denied ever behaving like that toward her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Iguchi caught Satsuki secretly searching for her name on social media during their conversation.

Akane tells her friend Ruri-chan about her plans to go on dates with Yamada in the game since she will be away for a month. At first, Akane hesitates to talk to Yamada about it because he is starting to lose interest in gaming due to college, but she eventually convinces him. During their conversation, Tsubaki joins and explains how Yamada's kindness often makes him a target for others. Ruri-chan also mentions that Yamada is very dedicated and responsible in fulfilling his promises, even if others forget about them.

Meanwhile, Yamada helps Iguchi move into his new home, and Iguchi invites him to a BBQ party with his friends, including Satsuki. Yamada politely declines, and Iguchi wonders if Akane is limiting his ability to socialize with other girls. However, Yamada denies this accusation. When he arrives home, he logs into the game, only to be reminded of a promise he made to Akane in the game.

Satsuki went to Iguchi's home to pick up Sakai's dog and adopt it as planned. While searching for the dog's supplies, she saw Yamada taping boxes alone. She asked him about the dog food and leash and struck up a conversation about him declining Iguchi's barbeque invitation. Satsuki suggested that Akane may have had something to do with it, but Yamada denied it. While looking for the dog food, Yamada collapsed, and Satsuki noticed he had a fever. She suggested he call his family or girlfriend, but Yamada insisted he wasn't limited by his relationship with Akane. Momo later called Akane to inform her of Yamada's condition, and she ran through the rain.

Akane is searching for the Sunny Heights Building where Yamada is located and gets directions from Momo over the phone. While Akane is drenched in rain, she meets Sakai, the owner of the dog Satsuki intends to adopt. Satsuki is surprised to see Akane at the door and tells her that she is not with Yamada and is only there to pick up Sakai's dog. Satsuki informs Akane about Yamada's condition and Akane thanks her for letting her know.

Satsuki offers Akane a change of clothes, but she declines and goes to Yamada's side. Iguchi takes Yamada home, and Akane follows them. Akane apologizes to Satsuki for her behavior and they strike up a conversation. Satsuki suggests that they get to know each other, and Akane responds positively. When Satsuki walks in on Sakai rummaging through the boxes, she suddenly remembers the feeling of love and shares it with him. Sakai seems confused, not understanding what she is talking about.

Akane is taking care of Yamada while he cooks and makes sure he doesn't overwork himself. She checks his forehead for any signs of illness and prepares udon for him to eat when he's hungry. Akane sits beside Yamada on the bed and apologizes for feeling jealous of his seniors. Yamada hugs her tightly, and she comments on how strong his love is.

Yamada admits that he doesn't let things bother him anymore, but he doesn't want to tell Akane because he thinks she'll feel bad about it. He dislikes sweet scents and finds them oppressive, but he notices that Akane doesn't smell like she did before. Akane tells Yamada that she loves him, and he falls asleep on her lap.

Akane was sleeping next to her boyfriend Yamada when her mother called to offer her some vegetables. Later, while shopping for housewarming presents with Satsuki and Iguchi, Satsuki shared about her past relationship where her ex-boyfriend posted negative comments about her online. Akane and Iguchi were angry about this and defended Satsuki.