Akio is teaching Maho how to solve a math problem as Shiori stares intently, catching Akio’s attention. She quickly deflects by saying she needs to continue with her studying. She thinks how good a brother Akio is. When she was hugging him, she felt warm, comfortable and safe in his arms. How sweet it would be if she could always be that close to him. But when Kai hugged her, it was a different feeling. It was painful as he was too strong, uncomfortable as she was being suffocated, in all-scary yet it made her heart beat. She suddenly snaps out of her reverie with a loud squeal. Then has to apologies to her siblings and assure them it was nothing. Her heart still is racing as she assures there is nothing even though he confessed her liked her (No.2).
Kai picks her up from her house with a big smile on his face. His chirpiness so early in the morning irritates Shiori. He tries to justify it by the really good weather they are having. He continues to be in a happy mood, even whistling on their way to school. Shiori double checks that she rejected Kai the day before, since his behavior doesn’t match her expectations. He confirms that she did, and asks maybe if she changed her mind, which she says she hasn’t. She then asks what put him in such a good mood, since she can’t understand it. He replies that it was because he was able to tell her what he wanted. He then tells her he likes her and asks her out again, leaving Shiori in utter disbelief.
Daiki confirms with Akio that he told Mizuki about his family issue, and checks her reaction with him. Akio was afraid that telling her the entire truth that way would scare Mizuki, but upon hearing it, she just cried, making him feel apologetic for not having greater confidence in her previously. Daiki comments about Shiori’s appearance in the magazine, with Akio complimenting how cute Shiori is. Daiki turns serious and asks Akio a question…
Shiori goes to Yuusuke to complain about Kai. Yuusuke just happily comments that Kai is really serious about it. The last time it took him numerous times of asking before he managed to date No.1. Shiroi thinks about it and feels irritated.
Kai tries to talk to Chika (who haven’t seen in quite a while), but she just ignores him. Hence he just proclaims it out loud that he hasn’t broken his promise from before, the one where he promised her he wouldn’t date the current Shiori. Chika is stunned for a while, but cooly saunters away after that. Kai makes a little bow in her direction.
Shiori is at her modeling job, and after that has a drink with the manager. She seems to be enjoying it even though she admits she isn’t that good at it yet. He offers a really tiny job, which Shiori expresses her somewhat appreciation for. He goes on to tell her that in the modeling world, the greatest asset is youth- it is something everyone holds initially and it is something everyone loses eventually. He tells her they have to bank on that now as it will get harder to promote her after she passes the age of 20, which shocks Shiori. They need to use their weapon to create the greatest impact within the shortest amount of time, so as to receive affirmation of her abilities before her “expiry date”. He then pulls out the card and asks her to do gravure modeling. Shiori has no idea what is that, so he spells out “male targeted”, “swimsuits”. Shiori strongly rejects the idea at the table, reasoning that she will be embarrassed and has no confidence in doing it. She claims to have no sex appeal and that no one would want to see her in a swimsuit. He comments that her body shape and aura actually fits gravure more than fashion magazine jobs, and asks if why she doesn’t want to do it is because she looks down on such jobs. She won’t be able to survive in this world if she only wants to work on the cute angle.
Shiori returns home and checks in on Akio, who has fallen asleep on the floor after drinking beer while reading a gravure magazine. She flips through it and thinks how cute the models are, but the focus seems to be the breasts, and she wonders how boys get happy over this. She thinks, if she were to do it, how would Akio react? Maho would just look down on her; she can’t imagine what Kai would do. And the friends she had made because of her audition, would they turn on her and call her rude names? Her thoughts are disrupted by Akio making noises as he finds a more comfortable position in his sleep. Shiori observes him face and comments that while she doesn’t know what his dream is, it looks like something happy. She puts down the magazine and lies on the floor beside him. 26
Akio awakes from his slumber and mistakes Shiori next to him as Mizuki and cuddles her. He looks carefully and realizes his mistake, and takes him back to what Daiki had asked him- has he ever seen Shiori as a woman before? He had replied him that it wasn’t possible, even if they were blood related, she was his sister. He takes Shiori’s arm off him, as he sits upright and holds her hand as she continues to sleep.
Akio receives a call from Chika’s current boyfriend Shimizu. He asks to meet Kai for a “chat” and tells him to bring friends along.