Shiori: What should I do? I feel very uneasy today.
Her manager senses it and gives her some advice: gravure is different from fashion modelling- firstly, it is entirely self directed and down to your own abilities. Shiroi thinks for a while and wonders if she will end up overdoing it, with her heart beating loudly. Secondly, she has to get used to wearing swimsuits for long periods of time, at least 30 minutes at the start. This piece of info gets Shiori irritated now knowing what she has decided to put herself through. Thirdly, he tells her that he will protect her so be a girl who puts her heart into the work. The crew informs her that the set-up is done and her jacket gets taken away. As she thinks over the advice, while she is still nervous, but there is also a sense of relief. She greets the crew as she starts her first gravure shoot.
Shiroi wakes up and is told by Akio that Sunday is their father’s death anniversy and that Shiori was the one suggested going together today to visit his grave. Shiroi pretends to remember but she doesn’t a bit. To be truthful, “father” to her is just the guy in the picture. As they sit on the train, Shiroi wonders what kind of scary face would Akio make when she tells him that she has done a gravure shoot. She unexpectedly enjoyed the shoot- the staff were all friendly, she got to move about a lot. Turns out she really does enjoy taking photos. While modelling, everything else in her head seems to disappear. The trio finally reach the family gravesite, and Akio tells her that their father, along with their grandparents are buried here. They start to clean up the grave and arrange the flowers they brought. While everyday they say their greetings to the altar, it has only really struck Shiori that her father is dead and no longer exists in this world as they pay their respects at the grave. Akio tells her that their father was fine with them not following the mourning process proper, that is why they only do grave visits. Shiori asks why he said so. Akio deduces that he was considerate for them, as it is tedious and the grave site issue was settled by him being buried here. In fact, the father had applied for himself to be buried there before his death. This shocks Shiroi, but Akio explains that once their father knew his time was limited, he started to sort out his will and the money issues before admitting himself into hospital. Shiori finds their father an admirable man to have done so much preparations. She blurts out that she would have wanted to meet him, which catches Akio and Maho’s attention. According to Akio, she and her strict father had a lot of conflicts in the past. She wonders what he thought of her then, and what he would think of the current her if he were alive. Doing gravure probably wouldn’t be to his liking. Both Akio and Maho liked their father, but she still has no recollections of her parents, leaving her feeling a bit empty.
Mizuki’s colleague asks if her boyfriend is really from Hankadai University, which impresses her. She asks how they met and Mizuki replies that they were childhood friends. The colleague probes further, asking what kind of person he is, which Mizuki shyly replies a very interesting and affectionate person. The colleague envily says he sounds like a good catch. Graduating from such a good university will assure him a job in a good company. If Mizuki were to marry him, she would lead a comfortable life. Mizuki says nothing is sure at this point, and in this current economic situation it is hard for anyone to get a job. The colleague suddenly changes her tone and says in truth her boyfriend must be really proud of having graduated from a good university. The store manager asks Mizuki to cover the dinner shift for another colleague who has called in sick. When Mizuki says yes, the manager bows his head in appreciation for helping him. When he leaves, the other colleague comments that the manager is too easy to bully, that is why such things happen. Mizuki continues with her work, and tried not to be bothered by the previous comments. She didn’t date Akio because of what school he is in, though coming from a good university is something she respects him for. Then it draws on her- she is a high school graduate with no resume to speak of. She has no specialty and has no interests. If Akio wasn’t her boyfriend, she really has nothing. If they are together forever, she would have a very happy life, but without Akio…
School is off, and Uchi says bye to Shiori as she walks out with Chika. Shiori observes something different between the two friends as they chat and laugh. Shiroi receives a call from her manager that she is in Cookie magazine again after getting good reviews of her hair and make-up photo spread from the surveys sent in by readers. To Shiori, it is a nice surprise. He adds that her gravure photos were published earlier in this week’s issue which was released the day before instead of the intended week as they needed to fill in some pages and he has sent her house a copy. Shiori is in disbelief as she rushes home to get the package. Kai is waiting for her at the school gate to ask her out to Karaoke, but Shiori just rushes by him, hitting his confidence hard.
Akio meets his university friends while he is on his date with Mizuki, who guess if she is his girlfriend that he often speaks fondly of. This makes Mizuki cheerful and smiley which Akio gets curious about. She talks of Christmas which is to come, and says that it will be her first Christmas with him, and hence she specially took leave on Christmas eve and Christmas day. Akio is a bit in a fix as he must not have planned anything for the both of them on Christmas eve. But turns out she wants to have a party at his house with his family. She reminds him of the email he sent her last Christmas- from now on, I will always spend Christmas with my family, and until his family is well supported, he wont have a girlfriend. Akio freaks out, shocked at what he wrote. So that is why she has planned to spend Christmas eve with Maho and Shiori too. Akio squats down, in disbelief of his happiness as his sister were the ones who forced him to go on a Christmas date too. He thanks Mizuki for being so thoughtful of his family. Mizuki: I need to become a lover that Akio absolutely needs.
They head to the convenience store where Akio spots a magazine with Shiori’s artist name. It is the gravure magazine. Akio looks inside the magazine, and his expression changes. He apologises to Mizuki as he cancels his dinner plans with her. He rushes off without explaining much.
Shiori reaches home just in time to meet the deliveryman carrying the parcel containing her copy of the magazine. She sits on her bed, preparing herself for the spread. She tells herself if the pictures give her a bad feeling, she won’t do such jobs a second time. If it goes well, then she will continue to hide it from her siblings. She looks. And she is happy with the result, pointing out that it was the most she has smiled in all her spreads. Despite all the apprehension she had, it turned out well. Though, if Akio were to see it, she would be slightly embarrassed. But he has seen her in her swimsuit when they went to the beach. Kai would probably react by sulking. If her father were alive… Akio comes through her bedroom doors. Shiori scrambles to hid her magazine, but if gets stached out by Akio. He flips to her photo spread and starts to tear it out. He angrily asks her what is this.
Her manager senses it and gives her some advice: gravure is different from fashion modelling- firstly, it is entirely self directed and down to your own abilities. Shiroi thinks for a while and wonders if she will end up overdoing it, with her heart beating loudly. Secondly, she has to get used to wearing swimsuits for long periods of time, at least 30 minutes at the start. This piece of info gets Shiori irritated now knowing what she has decided to put herself through. Thirdly, he tells her that he will protect her so be a girl who puts her heart into the work. The crew informs her that the set-up is done and her jacket gets taken away. As she thinks over the advice, while she is still nervous, but there is also a sense of relief. She greets the crew as she starts her first gravure shoot.
Shiroi wakes up and is told by Akio that Sunday is their father’s death anniversy and that Shiori was the one suggested going together today to visit his grave. Shiroi pretends to remember but she doesn’t a bit. To be truthful, “father” to her is just the guy in the picture. As they sit on the train, Shiroi wonders what kind of scary face would Akio make when she tells him that she has done a gravure shoot. She unexpectedly enjoyed the shoot- the staff were all friendly, she got to move about a lot. Turns out she really does enjoy taking photos. While modelling, everything else in her head seems to disappear. The trio finally reach the family gravesite, and Akio tells her that their father, along with their grandparents are buried here. They start to clean up the grave and arrange the flowers they brought. While everyday they say their greetings to the altar, it has only really struck Shiori that her father is dead and no longer exists in this world as they pay their respects at the grave. Akio tells her that their father was fine with them not following the mourning process proper, that is why they only do grave visits. Shiori asks why he said so. Akio deduces that he was considerate for them, as it is tedious and the grave site issue was settled by him being buried here. In fact, the father had applied for himself to be buried there before his death. This shocks Shiroi, but Akio explains that once their father knew his time was limited, he started to sort out his will and the money issues before admitting himself into hospital. Shiori finds their father an admirable man to have done so much preparations. She blurts out that she would have wanted to meet him, which catches Akio and Maho’s attention. According to Akio, she and her strict father had a lot of conflicts in the past. She wonders what he thought of her then, and what he would think of the current her if he were alive. Doing gravure probably wouldn’t be to his liking. Both Akio and Maho liked their father, but she still has no recollections of her parents, leaving her feeling a bit empty.
Mizuki’s colleague asks if her boyfriend is really from Hankadai University, which impresses her. She asks how they met and Mizuki replies that they were childhood friends. The colleague probes further, asking what kind of person he is, which Mizuki shyly replies a very interesting and affectionate person. The colleague envily says he sounds like a good catch. Graduating from such a good university will assure him a job in a good company. If Mizuki were to marry him, she would lead a comfortable life. Mizuki says nothing is sure at this point, and in this current economic situation it is hard for anyone to get a job. The colleague suddenly changes her tone and says in truth her boyfriend must be really proud of having graduated from a good university. The store manager asks Mizuki to cover the dinner shift for another colleague who has called in sick. When Mizuki says yes, the manager bows his head in appreciation for helping him. When he leaves, the other colleague comments that the manager is too easy to bully, that is why such things happen. Mizuki continues with her work, and tried not to be bothered by the previous comments. She didn’t date Akio because of what school he is in, though coming from a good university is something she respects him for. Then it draws on her- she is a high school graduate with no resume to speak of. She has no specialty and has no interests. If Akio wasn’t her boyfriend, she really has nothing. If they are together forever, she would have a very happy life, but without Akio…
School is off, and Uchi says bye to Shiori as she walks out with Chika. Shiori observes something different between the two friends as they chat and laugh. Shiroi receives a call from her manager that she is in Cookie magazine again after getting good reviews of her hair and make-up photo spread from the surveys sent in by readers. To Shiori, it is a nice surprise. He adds that her gravure photos were published earlier in this week’s issue which was released the day before instead of the intended week as they needed to fill in some pages and he has sent her house a copy. Shiori is in disbelief as she rushes home to get the package. Kai is waiting for her at the school gate to ask her out to Karaoke, but Shiori just rushes by him, hitting his confidence hard.
Akio meets his university friends while he is on his date with Mizuki, who guess if she is his girlfriend that he often speaks fondly of. This makes Mizuki cheerful and smiley which Akio gets curious about. She talks of Christmas which is to come, and says that it will be her first Christmas with him, and hence she specially took leave on Christmas eve and Christmas day. Akio is a bit in a fix as he must not have planned anything for the both of them on Christmas eve. But turns out she wants to have a party at his house with his family. She reminds him of the email he sent her last Christmas- from now on, I will always spend Christmas with my family, and until his family is well supported, he wont have a girlfriend. Akio freaks out, shocked at what he wrote. So that is why she has planned to spend Christmas eve with Maho and Shiori too. Akio squats down, in disbelief of his happiness as his sister were the ones who forced him to go on a Christmas date too. He thanks Mizuki for being so thoughtful of his family. Mizuki: I need to become a lover that Akio absolutely needs.
They head to the convenience store where Akio spots a magazine with Shiori’s artist name. It is the gravure magazine. Akio looks inside the magazine, and his expression changes. He apologises to Mizuki as he cancels his dinner plans with her. He rushes off without explaining much.
Shiori reaches home just in time to meet the deliveryman carrying the parcel containing her copy of the magazine. She sits on her bed, preparing herself for the spread. She tells herself if the pictures give her a bad feeling, she won’t do such jobs a second time. If it goes well, then she will continue to hide it from her siblings. She looks. And she is happy with the result, pointing out that it was the most she has smiled in all her spreads. Despite all the apprehension she had, it turned out well. Though, if Akio were to see it, she would be slightly embarrassed. But he has seen her in her swimsuit when they went to the beach. Kai would probably react by sulking. If her father were alive… Akio comes through her bedroom doors. Shiori scrambles to hid her magazine, but if gets stached out by Akio. He flips to her photo spread and starts to tear it out. He angrily asks her what is this.