Hattori calls out Takagi and Mashiro, and to their surprise he invites them to dinner. It’s apparently tradition for the editorial department to treat newly published authors to a meal. After dinner they start their meeting and go through the name of the manga to be published in NEXT. Hattori thinks it’s too early to get serialised, but seeing Mashiro wanting it so much he says he’ll talk to them about it after they beat Niizuma in NEXT.

Azuki and Kaya talk in a fast food restaurant. Apparently Azuki and Mashiro still haven’t texted each other yet. Azuki would mail Mashiro, but he hasn’t told her his email address and she knows Mashiro’s busy.

Later, Kaya and Takagi meet up. He tells her that they’re getting published in NEXT and also tells her not to tell Azuki. Even though Azuki told her not to tell, Kaya tells him that Azuki’s moving away. Takagi decides that it’s not right if they tell Mashiro about it, so they leave it. Kaya says that she wants to see Mashiro and Azuki go on a date before they graduate, but Takagi says that even if they were alone together, they probably wouldn’t talk. Even still, Takagi promises to talk to Mashiro about it.

Takagi and Kaya come to the studio and tell Mashiro that Azuki’s moving, he still refuses to go on a date or talk with her, not until their dreams come true at least. This results in an argument between Mashiro and Kaya and she leaves rather hurt.

Later at night, Mashiro thinks about Azuki moving and he really wants to see her. He then gets frustrated and wonders when he’ll get serialised.

Next day, Mashiro and Takagi arrive early to the studio and start work. Mashiro thinks he should apologise to Kaya so Takagi calls her over. She apologises first then Mashiro apologises and thanks her for caring.

After that things return to normal. They get their name up to scratch and start the manuscript. Though on the day Kaya wants to go on a date with Takagi, Mashiro tells them that he plans to leave early anyway and let’s them.

Kaya and Takagi stop at a park and talk. She knows that even though Mashiro says he’ll leave early he probably won’t because he’s working extra hard to complete his dream and marry Azuki. This makes it hard for Kaya to bear as she watches the two suffer. But then Takagi has an idea.

And so they graduate. On the day, even Ishizawa comes by and wishes them well. As Mashiro leaves school he sees Azuki, and she sees him, so she quickly runs off. Mashiro has something on his mind as he walks with Takagi and suddenly runs off.

Kaya is able to delay Azuki enough and leaves as soon as she sees Mashiro arrive. After a long silence, Mashiro finally says something and asks how long is she willing to wait. She answers that she’ll always be waiting and goes back to her house.

She’ll always be waiting huh, someone that loyal is hard to find, although it’s easier said than done, she might change her mind when her patience runs out. Her mum sure did. But this is manga, so it won’t happen… or will it? For their sake I hope the two will get their act together fast and don’t let their relationship slide even if they’re both piled with work.

Hmmm… meal, meeting, then a taxi home, does sound like professionals with some important work I’ll admit. But still, does that really happen much? It’s not really common for companies to have a meal together, maybe small companies that all know each other but then they probably don’t have enough money, but then in big companies no one knows each other apart from small departments… anyway, I seem to have gone on again, I’ll change the subject now.

I think we learnt one thing this episode. Don’t trust Kaya with any secrets and Takagi too, although I guess he’s alright with some. I mean sure it’s nice that both of them wants the best for Azuki and Mashiro like going on a date, but if they’re fine with it I don’t see the need to bother them that much, just let them be. But if one side’s not happy, then maybe you come in and help. Although that said, Azuki and Mashiro are both quite clueless, maybe this time a bit of friendly intervention wasn’t so bad.

Well, they’ve spent so much time fixing up ‘Money and Intelligence’ I’m sure it’ll do quite well. Still not sure it’ll be enough to beat Niizuma, but certainly in the top few I think. Also, with the new development between Azuki and Mashiro I’m hoping the two will open up to each other a bit more and start texting each other at the very least. That’s not asking for much, I mean being bashful is fine, but this is just ridiculous. I’m glad they have Takagi and Kaya though.