Episode Title:
I'm Back, Welcome Back, and...
Episode Description:
Hotaru reveals she left to help her family's company and is heading elsewhere on the same train as Kokonotsu. Though Kokonotsu is still stuck in self-pity, Hotaru cheers him up. As the trains are officially cancelled, Hotaru reveals she brought a suitcase full of "Buta-men" ramen dagashi, and the two spend the night together. The next day, Kokonotsu awakens alone in a room and wonders if the encounter was a dream, only to find Hotaru standing outside, and revealing that she plans to return with him to Shikada Dagashi. The two then take the next train home to find Hajime, Saya, and To welcoming them back, even though Kokonotsu didn't win. After Hajime reveals that she works at the shop, a series of arguments follows: Hotaru gains trust in Kokonotsu's business skills and begs him to work for her instead of Yo, just as Yo returns from the hospital and begs Kokonotsu to keep running his shop, then Beni appears to offer Kokonotsu work for his store after Hotaru calls him out as her older brother, Beniyutaka Shidare, while Saya yells that Kokonotsu wants to focus on his manga. Kokonotsu runs away from the store while the group argues over his fate.
