When last we left our sexless duo, our salesman got rejected and desperately reached out to his co-worker.
He cries and says he’s miserable
Sexy. They agree to meet near that gallery/museum in the pouring rain. Hagiwara says he wants to have sex with him, and Nakarai agrees.
At a hotel, Nakarai seems relaxed while Hagiwara is nervous. He checks Nakarai’s toe, like Fujisawa did.
Hagiwara asks permission for each move. He’s slow and gentle and wants physical intimacy, not quick, impersonal sex. Nakarai says he won’t break. During sex, Nakarai is impressed by how gentle he’s being. He tells him that his girlfriend takes him for granted, he’s not bad or dirty. Hagiwara looks tearful.
The next morning, they aren’t done
Hagiwara is perfect, bringing them food. He’s heard that the museum/gallery is closing and is surprised Nakarai doesn’t care. Nakarai feels something started at the museum, and doesn’t want anything more to happen.
Nakarai wants to keep everything a secret from his roommate, who is keeping secrets from him. He gives Hagiwara money for the hotel, and Hagiwara grabs his arm before he can leave. Hagiwara says he’s serious. Nakarai doesn’t like this, yet he lets Hagiwara hug him. Neither seems to know what they are doing.
When it rains, it pours. Hagiwara says that’s like them. Which means more sex, but we don’t see it.
Then they both go home
Kaori isn’t there, and Nakarai lies to Fujisawa about it being a work thing. Hagiwara emails Nakarai to check on him, who teases him for caring after they did it several times.
Nakarai calls Hagiwara for help when he gets locked inside a glass room at work. Not sure how he did that. Separated by the glass, Hagiwara struggles with his feelings. Nakarai wants to keep things as they are, but Hagiwara doesn’t and cries. He wants to know if Nakarai is satisfied, now that it’s over.
Later at home, Kaori is back. Hagiwara is quiet around her. While he showers, she takes his phone and leaves. He finds the storm glass broken on the ground and immediately calls Nakarai to warn him. But it’s Fujisawa listening on the other end.
Because Nakarai accidentally left his phone at home
And went to the konbini for the sweet coffee Hagiwara drinks because he’s in love no matter what he says. He gets back, and Fujisawa abruptly mentions moving to Kamakura. Nakarai can quit his job and come with him.
Nakarai lies in bed, considering it, when Fujisawa comes in to tell him about Hagiwara’s call. Nakarai casually confesses, saying they went at it like rabbits. He wants his phone back to email Hagiwara since he’s worried about him and wants to see him.
Fujisawa throws the phone and pushes him down, forcing kisses on him. He wants to know if doing it with just anyone satisfies him, and Nakarai says now Fujisawa is the only person he doesn’t want to do it with. If they do it, they won’t be able to come back.
We don’t see how it concludes, which annoys me, but I suspect it ended soon after. Nakarai’s phone is destroyed, and both apologize. Fujisawa says he never meant to hurt him, Nakarai says he knows. I do not forgive Fujisawa.
Hagiwara talks with Nakarai
Hagiwara doesn’t want to give up, but finds out he accidentally told Fujisawa and sees a hickey on Nakarai’s neck. Nakarai says Fujisawa went into a blind rage from jealousy and offers details.
Hagiwara says he’s a lousy liar and not to put on a brave face or cry. He wants to take the blame. Nakarai doesn’t want to give it to him.
Nakarai acts cold but sees a cut on Hagiwara’s finger from cleaning broken glass. He apologizes again and says he can’t do anything for Hagiwara. He wants them to leave each other alone. I don’t think that’s what Hagiwara wants, but he lets him go.
Hagiwara and Kaori meet up to talk
He apologizes. She read everything and discovered things about him she didn’t know. And that she’s the kind of person who snoops on her boyfriend’s phone after all.
He apologizes again. Kaori asks if he wants to be with Nakarai or reconcile with her, and knows from his expression it’s not the latter. She still likes him, but can’t accept that he slept with a man. Well, now I dislike her even more.
When he left, she thought of going after him, but they’d have to have sex if she apologized. With every person she’s dated, she’s lost interest in sex eventually. She appreciates that he never said nasty things or blamed her in his emails and was always nurturing towards her. She apologizes.
But she wants him to be the one to say it, and he does. He tells her he found someone he likes and wants to break up. He bows formally over the table. She cries and says “sayonara”, a very final goodbye, and leaves.
He tries to reach Nakarai, but the number is not available. Nakarai is listening to rain sounds alone because Fujisawa went to Kamakura.
Hagiwara is the MVP for this episode
I think both Nakarai and Kaori underestimated Hagiwara. He’s not the type to cheat casually and without feeling. I think he was done with Kaori the moment she turned him down. Even if he and Nakarai hadn’t slept together, I don’t see him returning to their relationship the next day.
Kaori is complicated. Her vile attitude about him cheating with a man makes her a villain. But falling out of lust with her partners isn’t evil in itself. The evil is refusing to communicate. By avoiding that, she traps herself and her partner in a toxic relationship. Unless she learns to be honest or accidentally lucks into a relationship with a partner with a similar libido, that’s her fate.
After all those e-mails, I think Nakarai had to have known that Hagiwara wasn’t the casual sex type. He’s either in denial or thinks, despite that, he can keep it casual. I wish I understood why he’s pushing Hagiwara away. Maybe it’s a lack of self-confidence and concern for Hagiwara. I’m hoping for an explanation from him in the final episode.
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