The Best Episodes Written By Hitomi Amamiya

On a day off from work, Itsuka and Mitsuru run into Nagomu's ex-girlfriend, Matsukaze Kanoko, in town. Mitsuru and Kanoko haven't met before, though Itsuka knows them both. The three decide to have lunch together. Mitsuru and Kanoko both get excited talking about Nagomu while Itsuka is perplexed by the unusual atmosphere between the two women.

Hotaru and Hananoi-kun's plans to spend his birthday together fall through when Hotaru has a family event suddenly crop up. The thing is, even while she's with her family, she just can't stop thinking about him...

The new year begins, and as Ryokushou welcomes it they sell a sweet called hanabira mochi. They only made enough to accommodate their advance orders, but a man without a reservation suddenly appears. After hearing the man's feelings toward his late mother, Nagomu makes a decision to... Later, everyone from Ryokushou goes to Yamakuni Jinja for hatsumode—the first sacred visit of the year.

A regular customer cancels their order. Nagomu's father, Irino Heigo, is furious with him, thinking that Nagomu has done something again. Heigo and Nagomu go to apologize to their regular customer. There they find out that the cancellation was actually connected to someone else who works at Ryokushou, Seto Saki.

Hotaru and Hananoi-kun are closer than ever, but in many ways, they're still navigating the twists and turns of their new relationship. Thankfully, an adorable dog just may help them see new sides to each other!

Hotaru and Hananoi-kun kick off their second year of high school together, and things are off to an interesting start as Hotaru comes to notice how both they and their relationship are changing—not to mention how hard those changes can be.

Hotaru, at long last, is able to tell Hanaoi-kun how she feels. But his reaction isn't exactly what she was expecting, leading her to contemplate what they're both looking for in a relationship.

Hotaru spends the day with the bookstore crew, including Hananoi and Yao, who don't see eye to eye about the past. Perhaps a little nudge is just what Hananoi needs to be more open with Hotaru...

Hotaru isn't sure what to do when a coworker asks to be introduced to Hananoi-kun. She has tough choices ahead of her, including all the details of her big date! But earnest Hotaru is determined to sort things out and come up with a plan.

Hotaru is finally sure of how she feels... so why is it that she can't seem to say it out loud? Will Valentine's Day give her the opportunity she needs, or is there more at play? An unexpected development at work may just make or break things.

Hotaru and Hananoi-kun's trial dating period is set to expire on Christmas, and Hananoi-kun has promised her a Christmas Eve to remember. But now he isn't responding to her and Hotaru's not sure how to face him, if she ever sees him again at all.

Hotaru is still puzzling out her feelings, but she has an eye-opening moment when she and Hananoi-kun reunite for the first shrine visit of the year. Afterward, her desire to learn more about him just may draw them closer together.

Hotaru has never really understood love. She loves her friends and family, but romance? That's an entirely different story. So what's a girl to do when someone she's just met immediately asks her out?

Hotaru and Hananoi-kun have agreed to start dating on a trial basis so Hotaru can figure out how she feels. But with the Christmas deadline quickly creeping up, will the whole experiment blow over without any real results, or...?

Hotaru and Hananoi-kun both reflect on where they are and how far they've come, from the past to the present.