On their way back to the office from a client meeting, Shinozaki and Shiori are approached by a reporter looking to do a story on a couple and, after some discussion, the pair decide to pretend to be a couple for her video.

It's the end of the year, and as Shinozaki and Shiori are filled with anticipation for a new year, Chinatsu is staring down a deadline for her new dojinshi, with her only help coming from an unexpected individual.

Returning to work after New Year's Shiori thinks she's gotten taller and she asks Shinozaki if he notices anything different about her. Later, Yutaka swipes her brother's phone and sends a message to Shiori asking for a picture.

Shinozaki and Shiori are asked to get some old Meowtaro merchandise from the basement storage. While looking through things a couple co-workers wander in looking for some alone time and Shinozaki and Shiori quickly hide.

It's Sunpick's 40th anniversary and the new hire competition is about to kick off. The prize is a vacation to Okinawa for the winner's department. Shinozaki is aiming to win, but Dev Group 1's chief, Akina's old rival, has other plans.

With the new hire competition in full swing, Shinozaki is worried about the pressure Kurusu is dealing with and asks Shiori to help cheer her up. The groups then give their presentations. Who will win the Most Valuable New Hire Award?

Yamagishi has finished working on her Meowtaro game and wants Shinozaki to play it. Things become stressful for Shinozaki and Shiori when some of the game's dialog hits too close to home. Later on everyone tries to make plans together for Golden Week.

The office gang decide to use some of their paid time off to go on a hot springs vacation. At the inn's pool Shinozaki finds out that Shiori can't swim so he wants to help teach her.

Shinozaki and Shiori reminisce over past experiences at work during lunch with Akina. On their way back to the office they happen upon a crane game with plushies that remind them of one another.

Shinozaki Takuma is in his first year of employment at his new job, and is encountering a lot of the same struggles most new workers run into. But the presence of a cute, doting senpai named Katase Shiori might make the job worth it, no matter how tough it gets.

After their manager's attempt to arrange a romantic dinner for the two of them, a rainy day leaves Shinozaki feeling under the weather, and Shiori decides to check in on him.

Chinatsu has plans to attend a cosplay event on a day off from work and doesn't want her coworkers to know. While on her way she happens to bump into her manager. Later on, Katase has a piece of chocolate for Halloween that contains alcohol.