Sakurako and Higashijujou are sitting in his car and he’s going on about the wedding arrangements and how much there’s still to organise, and Sakurako, who’s been silent while he’s babbling, suddenly speaks up, saying "then let’s cancel it!" As he looks at her in shock, she gives a brittle laugh and says, "just kidding! Come on, how could it have been serious?" But he still seems a bit uneasy and says, "so there are no more lies between us?" "None, not even a teensy weensy bit," Sakurako answers lightly. Higashijujou then asks Sakurako about her father (he wants to arrange a formal meeting between the parents for their marriage) and she replies, "I’ve told you before, he’s sailing abroad..." But when Higashijujou suggests meeting her father at his next port of call, she is forced to say that she’ll contact her father and arrange for him to come back to Tokyo soon.

After Sakurako parts from Higashijujou, she uses her mobile to call her home in Toyama...

The cabin crew returns to Tokyo and the chief purser is fretting over how Sakurako will soon be leaving them, and expresses the scant hope that maybe there’s a chance she won’t marry... but Aya tells him bluntly that there’s no way, unless she finds someone richer within a month. Meanwhile, Wakabe tries to be nice and tells him to buck up and that someone wonderful will soon come along for him, saying that "a man’s heart is more important than his money". Hearing this, the chief visibly brightens and looking at Wakabe with new eyes, asks her out for dinner. But she quickly turns him down and hurries away!

An elderly man approaches the girls, and holding a magazine with Sakurako’s picture in it, he asks them if Jinno Sakurako is not working today. They freak out, thinking he’s a stalker, but as they hurry off, he manages to hold Wakabe back....

Meanwhile, Sakurako is having dinner with Higashijujou’s parents and they seem to be really looking forward to meeting her father, saying that her father must be someone really special to have singlehandedly raised such a wonderful daughter as Sakurako. Higashijujou worries that they may have inconvenienced her father in making him come to Tokyo but Sakurako replies calmly that he’s looking forward to meeting them as well...

Osuke is at the airport to pick up Wakabe, who runs up to him with the old man in toll. The old guy introduces himself to Osuke as Sakurako’s father, and Osuke is naturally somewhat taken back by his appearance (which is rather scruffy). He’s delighted to find out that Osuke owns a fish shop, telling Osuke that he himself is a fisherman (which comes as another surprise to Osuke!) They arrive at Sakurako’s place and her dad confides to Osuke that he’s actually somewhat relieved as it’s been nine years since he’s last seen his daughter. But then it turns out that she’s not there, and her dad is taken back by this, saying that she was the one who asked him to hurry to Tokyo!

Meanwhile, Sakurako gets a call from her gokon contacts, inviting her to a horse-owner’s gokon and she excitedly agrees...

Osuke takes Jinno-san back to his home, and when he arrives, he starts flirting with Osuke’s mother, calling her "kirei no onesan" ("beautiful sister") and she’s naturally flattered by his words.

Sakurako calls Nami and Aya out, inviting them to join her for the gokon, but they’re somewhat hesitant, saying that Sakurako probably shouldn’t be going to gokons, now that she is about to get married. But Sakurako sees it as "destiny", saying that it’s her final chance to find out if there really is someone better out there and if not, then she will know for sure that Higashijujou is really "the one" for her.

Osuke’s fish shop seems to have acquired not just one (Wakabe) but two helpers, as Jinno-san is also keen to roll up his sleeves! Suddenly, Osuke’s former professor shows up and Osuke goes off with him. His professor asks him to reconsider going back to his studies, asking his about his half-completed thesis, but Osuke replies that it’s something he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to figure out, and that it took him five years to realise that. The prof says he knows academic life is very demanding -- a short life span, very results-oriented and age is often a factor... Osuke immediately grasps onto this point, saying that he was already 35... But the prof counters his argument but naming some famous mathematician who became successful at 40, saying that Osuke still has five years on him... But Osuke remains unconvinced...

Later on that evening, Wakabe is helpnig Osuke’s mom prepare dinner. Osuke’s still not home yet, and his mom comments on Osuke’s obsession with mathematics, saying that once he’s wrapped up in that, he’s oblivious to everything else. Wakabe talks about Osuke’s time at Boston and mentions Yukiko, and Osuke’s mom is a little surprised to find out that Osuke had talked to her about Yukiko. Wakabe explains that she’s seen Yukiko’s photo and that she’s very pretty. Mom makes a comment about poor Yukiko and how she was neglected by Osuke, but realizing how disconcerting this could be for Wakabe, she tries to reassure her that Osuke’s not like that anymore and anyway, he’s already given up mathematics and he’ll definitely be more caring towards Wakabe. Osuke returns, and they all eat together, including Jinno-san as he has yet to locate Sakurako and has only managed to leave a message on her answering machine.

Meanwhile, Sakurako is at the horse-owner’s gokon and as she’s about to pull her famous gokon trick, all of a sudden, Higashijujou shows up! One of the other guys tell Sakurako that he’d invited Higashijujou but Higashijujou turned him down, saying that he already had a fianc�. Higashijujou is shocked to find Sakurako there, and tells her that he only came out of curiousity because he heard that the gokon was arranged with her airline, but hadn’t expected to find her there! He then asks her if she’s the "gokon queen" that they’re all talking about. Luckily, Aya comes to her rescue, saying that she was the one who forced Sakurako to come because they were short a gokon member and says that it’s not Sakurako but she who is the gokon queen. She then pulls off Sakurako’s trick, "accidentally" spilling a drink on one of the guys!

Sakurako’s mobile rings, and it’s Wakabe, telling her that her father is at Osuke’s place. Sakurako replies that she is busy tonight and asks Wakabe to take care of him for her. As she leaves with Higashijujou, he apologizes to her in the elevator for the misunderstanding, but she says that it’s her fault and she shouldn’t have come. She then promises him that it will be her last gokon ever. Higashijujou then talks about how her dad’s visit and wants to meet him at the airport tomorrow but Sakurako makes the excuse that her dad will be tired from the flight and it’s best if they just come to Higashijujou’s house the day after as arranged. Higashijujou comments on how much he’s looking forward to meeting Sakurako’s father and asks Sakurako if she thinks her dad will accept him. Sakurako assures him that he will, and while Higashijujou smiles in relief, Sakurako looks unnerved at the thought of the upcoming visit!

Jinno-san is breakfasting at Osuke’s house, having spent the night there. Osuke tells Jinno that he’s made his mom really happy with all his flattery about her being a beautiful woman. Jinno then tells Osuke that Sakurako’s mom was also a recognised beauty in their town and that Sakurako takes after her. He then says that from the time when she was very young, Sakurako had always wanted to become a society matron, and now she’s made it. But then Jinno worries about her fianc�’s family and wonders what they’ll make of him, but Osuke reassures him that they’ll definitely accept him.

Sakurako arrives and her dad’s shocked at her transformation! (It’s so funny - as she walks seriously towards them, he hides behind Osuke in his nervousness, but then when she arrives, she playfully greets him, lightly punching him and calling him "otoosama" (very formal way to call your father) and he jokes back, saying "oto-chan" (casual) is fine.)

At Sakuma’s, Kasuya and Sakuma are wondering what sort of father someone like Sakurako would have, but Osuke tells them that he’s a really great guy. Kasuya makes a sarcastic remark about a fish-shop owner like Osuke getting along with a fisherman like Jinno and says that Osuke’s acting like an "oyaji" (old guy), saying that at their age, they should be spending their time searching for love instead... at the mention of "love", he immediately thinks of Nami and goes stumbling off to find her.

After Kasuya leaves, Sakuma asks Osuke about Wakabe and he replies that they’re kind of dating now and that she’s a really nice guy. But Mariko is sceptical and asks him "what does your heart feel?" and he reluctantly says that he does like her, but it doesn’t sound very convincing. Sakuma tells him that he regrets having taken him to the gokon, saying that it has changed him... ("you spend seven years pining after one girl’s memory and now you’re just aimlessly drifting from one girl to another...")

Kasuya is meeting with Nami, who tells him that while she doesn’t mind going out for meals with him, there’s no way she would ever choose him, not even if he was the last man on earth! Shattered by her words, Kasuya rolls down the stairs!!

Afterwards, Kasuya goes to see Sakuma for help, saying that he is unable to eat or do anything... Sakuma, who’s looking down at some records and doesn’t see that it’s Kasuya, says absently that it sounds like a mental illness and he should go see a psychiatrist. He then looks up and sees Kasuya, who tells him that there’s this huge hole in his heart that needs mending.

Just then, Hanabusa walks into Sakuma’s room and Kasuya goes bonkers, launching himself at Hanabusa and starts attacking him! Sakuma tries to hold Kasuya back, telling him that this is a hospital and to behave himself. Kasuya stops at his words, and tells Hanabusa that he’ll meet him at Sakuma’s tonight, and Hanabusa agrees and the two walk off in opposite directions, while Sakuma stands there bemused, wondering why they always pick his house as the meeting ground...

Wakabe’s out on a date with Osuke and she asks him about his old professor’s visit. She seems relieved to learn that he has turned down the prof’s invitation to take up mathematics again. Meanwhile, Osuke reflects on what Sakurako had said to him before, about how he shouldn’t have bothered to start something if he was going to give it up half-way. Wakabe notices his distraction, but attributes it to mathematics, saying that she knows how he can tune everything else out when he’s thinking about his studies.

Sakurako buys new clothes for her dad to wear for the Higashijujou visit and hands him this notebook which she’d written up for him to memorize. In it, she’s written up all the details of his fictitious life, how he’s a captain of a luxury liner and is constantly at sea, and that he has a passionate interest in opera! "Opera?!" Jinno exclaims, and promptly refuses to lie for her. Osuke, coming back from his date with Wakabe, comes across the two of them in a big fight. Jinno asks Osuke to put him up for another night, telling him that he’s going to go home tomorrow. Sakurako responds with "fine, you can go but you should do your job as my father and show up at Higashijujou’s house tomorrow first!" Jinno shows the notebook to Osuke, and Osuke asks her why she’s doing this and she says "for my marriage to Higashijujou, of course!" In exasperation, Jinno says "if you’re looking for a made-to-order father, why not just pick the one of your choice from the department store"! and Sakurako retorts "I wish I could!" Osuke is truly shocked by her words and slaps her - she says "ouch!" and slaps him back! Realising what he’d done, Osuke apologizes for his action, but says that she has a great father and she shouldn’t be this way. Sakurako tells them to forget it and she will figure out something by herself for tomorrow!

That night Osuke takes Jinno to Sakuma’s house. Hanabusa then arrives with Nami, and Kasuya, who has been sitting there expectantly waiting to continue his fight with Hanabusa, gets all worked up seeing the two of them arrive together and as usual, the others have to hold him back. Jinno seems to take this all in stride and asks for a drink, inviting them all jovially to sit down and join him. He assesses Hanabusa, saying that he seems to be a very bright and successful young doctor ... but then adds that a girl should not just judge by outward appearances when choosing a guy. (Kasuya is nodding wholeheartedly at this!) Nami agrees, saying "the heart’s the most important, right?... but I do love Hanabusa-san with all my heart." Hearing this, Jinno tells Kasuya that he should then give up, and goes off nonchalantly to the washroom.

Nami then says to Kasuya that he’s still welcome to call her out for meals, and the others are a little shocked at her off-handedly comment. Kasuya says heatedly that Hanabusa has other girl friends besides Nami, and Nami turns to Hanabusa questioningly, but Hanabusa says that he doesn’t. After consideration, he’s decided it’s easier to just date Nami... hearing this, Nami nods but seems a little unsettled at how casual he is about all of this, while Kasuya gets extremely heated up at these words ("what do you see Nami as?") and lunges for him.

As the others are caught up in the fight between Hanabusa and Kasuya in the living room, Jinno and Sakuma are sitting by themselves at the dinner table, talking quietly. Jinno tells Sakuma about Osuke slapping Sakurako, and wonders why Osuke would go to such lengths over him. He asks Sakuma what sort of person Osuke is, and weighing his words carefully, Sakuma tells him that Osuke is a weak and indecisive person, and even when manipulated by Sakurako, does not know how to resist. But Osuke is also the most sincere person that he knows, and a very good man. "You’re also a very good person to say such words," responds Jinno.

Later that night, Jinno goes home with Osuke and after bading him a formal goodnight, Osuke goes into his own room. On his own, Jinno looks a little pensively at the shopping bag of new clothes that Sakurako had bought for him... Meanwhile, in her own bed at home, Sakurako is reflecting on the fight with her dad...

At Higashijujou’s the next morning, Sakurako makes excuses for her dad to his parents, telling them that he’s suffering from fatigue after the long journey and can’t make it today. Higashijujou’s dad suggests that her dad recuperate at his hospital and tells his son to go pick up Jinno. Suddenly, Jinno shows up, dressed in the fine clothes Sakurako had bought, and formally greets them. Sakurako is relieved to see him, and says loudly that "he needs more rest and shouldn’t overdo it with his health." He plays along with her, saying that he’s better now. Later at lunch, they talk about his supposed passion for opera. He makes a few slip-ups but gets by okay, and they don’t discover the deception.

Outside, Osuke is waiting in the van for Jinno, and he idly flips through the notebook that Sakurako had prepared, and is a little taken back (impressed?) at her painstaking preparations.

Finally the lunch is over, and Jinno takes his leave, saying that he’s off on another journey out at sea and won’t return for one or two years. He apologizes for not being able to make it to the wedding and then looking straight at Sakurako, he says to her "after all, you’re my daughter and as your father, I hope you will be able to find true happiness." He then asks Higashijujou to take good care of his daughter and bades them farewell.

After he leaves, Higashijujou’s parents tell Sakurako how impressed they are by his father and his mom says it’s too bad about the wedding and they comment on how he won’t be able to see his daughter in her white wedding gown. But then his dad says that Jinno obviously loves his daughter a lot and there will be many opportunities to see each other in the days to come. Sakurako sits silently and her mind drifts back to the time when she was very young and her dad had carried her in a heavy snowstorm to find a doctor when she was sick. She gets up and quickly excuses herself, rushing off to catch up with her father.

Meanwhile, her dad is being taken to the bus-stop by Osuke and in the van, he asks Osuke what’s good about Higashijujou other than his money... he then asks Osuke to pass the message to Sakurako that he won’t try to make contact with her anymore and to tell her not to worry. As they reach the station, Jinno advises Osuke not to be so soft on his customers (they’re always cheating him) and comments how he needs a strong woman like Sakurako by his side... but then adds that there’s no hope of that as he’s so poor. As he mounts the bus, Sakurako arrives and Osuke calls him back.

Seeing her there, Jinno worries that their deception has been uncovered but then adds that she doesn’t have to worry as he won’t ever show up again. He tells her to forget about him, and to just marry the rich guy and not to worry. He then congratulates her on her upcoming wedding and says that she can tell people later that he has died at sea... Sakurako is standing there silently, fighting back the tears and seeing her like that, he breaks down and tells her tearfully not to look at him like that, as it’s the last time and they won’t have any more opportunities to see each other... But just before he turns to go, he says "if anything goes wrong, you can always come back home..." but then reconsidering, adds "but it won’t happen, as you’re a strong child." Jinno tells her to take care and then mounts the bus. Sakurako runs after him, and apologizes, saying "sorry for making you lie for me..."

After the bus leaves, Sakurako says in a loud voice (as if to reassure herself) "it’s better this way, I’ve now reached the point of no return. There’s no turning back, as I now have no home to go back to. Anyway, it’s fine... I have no regrets... I hated that home, the poverty... haven’t I done well for myself? I’ve finally attained my goal. I’m doing okay. Even though everyone talks about the heart being more important than money, I don’t believe it... I don’t know what this "most important thing is", but right now, nothing is more important to me than marrying Higashijujou... I’ve tried my best..."

Osuke says quietly to her that "one day, you’ll be able to put all this behind you and forget all the pain and hard times in your past..." His words remind her of the recurring dream that she has, and she turns to him and says "all my life, from the time I was very young, I believed that one day my prince would come and rescue me from poverty... my prince... that’s not you, is it?" Osuke answers, "I understand..."

Finally, Sakurako breaks into tears and leans against him, saying softly, "just 10 seconds, please just let me rest here for 10 seconds..."

After a moment, she pulls herself together and says in a stronger voice to Osuke "I’m okay now. Thank you." She walks off, holding her head up high...

 
- End of Episode Nine -