The Irie family goes to Shige's shop for dinner. Ki and Machiko beg Shige to come back to their house but Shige says that if Kotoko wants to move back, he will oblige. Just then, Kotoko comes home and is shocked to see the Irie family around. When Shige asks Kotoko if she wants to move back, Kotoko is at a loss for words. Yuki tells Naoki that since their lives are so peaceful, Kotoko could be sent from God to test them through 'adversity'. Kotoko hugs Naoki , making Kin-chan red in the face with jealously. Shige agrees to move back at long last.
Kotoko moves
back to the Irie residence with joy. She sees the beautiful tree
in the living room and is elated because Shige is too busy during
December to celebrate Christmas with her. Machiko tells her that
she will organise a wonderful Christmas party for the family.
They then start dancing under the Christmas tree. Naoki and Yuki
look on helplessly and thinks that they are making a fool of
themselves.The next day while on the way to school, Kotoko asks Naoki what he wants for Christmas. Naoki tells her not to bother giving him anything but Kotoko says that since they are 'good friends', Naoki should not stand on ceremony with her. Naoki then tells Kotoko that he just wants a quiet and peaceful life so this implies that he wants Kotoko out of his sight. Kotoko doesn't get what he means and pesters Naoki for an explanation. Naoki tells Kotoko that it is a secret and he won't tell her. Kotoko scolds Naoki for being petty-minded.
Kotoko daydreams in school and is shocked to see Junko and Satomi sitting in front of her. Kotoko is troubled over what to give Naoki as a Christmas present. Her friends then suggest to Kotoko that she should offer herself to Naoki on Christmas night. Kotoko scolds them for joking with her on this. Kin-chan rushes into the classroom and tells Kotoko to attend a Christmas party organised by him. Just then, their form teacher comes in and tells the class that they should not celebrate Christmas for the sake of their impending exams. However, the class teases Kanhara-sensei for being without a date.
Meanwhile, Izumi-sensei tells the 'A' class that they should forget about celebrating Christmas and concentrate on the impending exams. Some of them remark that Izumi-sensei who has no date on Christmas is feeling unbalanced. Reiko asks Naoki to join in her family's Christmas party and Watanabe expresses his interest in this. To Watanabe's delight, she allows Watanabe to come too. Naoki also agrees to go.
Kotoko is helping Machiko decorate the Christmas tree when she falls into a trance trying to comprehend what Naoki has said. She tells Machiko about what Naoki told her. Machiko gets excited and says that Naoki must be in love. According to her, people who are in love experience uneasiness so that is why they hope to have internal peace. Machiko then tells Kotoko what she should give Naoki for Christmas.
The next day in school, Kotoko is knitting a scarf for Naoki. Satomi and Junko tell her that guys don't like this type of thing but Kotoko tells them it is alright. When she is knitting, her mind is on Naoki all the time so she feels blissful. Even though Naoki may reject her present, Kotoko still feels that her effort is worthwhile. Kin-chan asks Kotoko if she is knitting the scarf for him but Kotoko tells him that she has already prepared a present for him. Kin-chan goes delirious with joy not knowing that Kotoko's present for him is just an apron.
The whole 'F' class goes to the Irie residence to learn knitting from Machiko. When Naoki comes home, he is shocked to find so many people around. Machiko is unhappy to see Reiko with Naoki and expresses her unhappiness openly.
Meanwhile, Reiko goes
to Naoki's room. She asks Naoki what she means to him. Reiko
mentions that there is a secret binding her and Naoki together.
Just then, Machiko and Kotoko who are eavesdropping, lose their
balance and barge into the room. This causes the hot tea to spill
onto Naoki, causing him to grimace with pain.Kotoko apologies to Naoki for what she did but Naoki ignores her. She asks Naoki what the secret between him and Reiko is but Naoki tells her that it is none of her business. Kotoko tells Naoki that she just wants to share his troubles but Naoki tells her to get out of his sight. Kotoko thinks that Naoki is just testing her feelings for him but Naoki defends himself that Kotoko's presence makes him feel uneasy. Kotoko feels that Naoki is in love with her but Naoki says that Kotoko is so stupid that there will never come a day when she will understand him.
Izumi-sensei is having a lesson with the 'F' class when she discovers that they are not paying attention. When she tells them to lift up their heads and hands, Izumi-sensei finds that they are knitting something with dark rings around their eyes.
Izumi-sensei complains to Kanhara-sensei about their behaviour and he remarks that men nowadays don't like handmade stuff. Izumi-sensei feels guilty as she has been secretly knitting for Naoki and has dark rings around her eyes. This is disclosed by Kanhara-sensei and she tries to defend her actions by saying that she cares a lot for Naoki as a student. In turn, Izumi-sensei mocks him for being without a girlfriend.
Kotoko goes to
Reiko and asks her what is the secret that is causing anguish to
Naoki. Reiko refuses to tell her and walks away.Reiko looks for Naoki and tells him that Kotoko has been to look for her. Four years ago, Naoki stole a Beethoven CD on Christmas Eve and was almost caught. Reiko was at the store and took the rap for Naoki. That is the secret between them. Their conversation is overheard by Watanabe who has been hiding outside the classroom.
On the day before Christmas Eve, Kotoko is still struggling to finish the scarf for Naoki. However, fatigue overcomes her and Kotoko falls asleep. Shige comes home and finishes a large portion for her. When Kotoko wakes up, she thinks that she knitted a lot while she was sleeping. Kotoko finally finishes the scarf only to find that there are two hole in it. She convinces herself that the effort she has put in will overcome anything.
Machiko reminds Kotoko and Naoki to come home early for the Christmas part. She seems to have something up her sleeve.
Kotoko drags
Naoki to the notice board where there is a poster stating that
Naoki had conducted theft before and caused Reiko to bear the
blame. Kotoko is convinced that the culprit is trying to spoil
Naoki's reputation and wants Naoki to clarify things in front of
everybody. Naoki however admits to his doings and leaves Kotoko
feeling puzzled about it.
Watanabe is
talking about Naoki's dirty past when Reiko comes in and
questions Watanabe. She slaps Watanabe and tells him that she
looks down on him for doing such a thing to Naoki.Kotoko feels sad about causing embarrassment to Naoki but her friends try to convince her that stealing is not something great. Nevertheless, Kotoko still cannot comprehend why Naoki had to steal.
Izumi-sensei rushes out to give Naoki her scarf but bumps into the 'F' class teacher along the corridor. Kanhara-sensei then tells her that Naoki has already left so Izumi-sensei is very disappointed.
Meanwhile, Kotoko rushes home and Kin-chan reminds her to come for the party tonight. Kin-chan realises that Kotoko may be heading home to dress up and rushes home to do the same.
Kotoko waits for
Naoki to come home and apologise to him. However, she cannot
understand why Naoki had to steal when he had almost everything
he wanted. Naoki tells her that he just wants to be an ordinary
person and Kotoko should keep out of his affairs. Kotoko breaks
her piggy bank and drags Naoki to the CD store where he stole
from. Since the incident is causing Naoki so much anguish, Naoki
should go and apologise. Therefore, Kotoko is trying to remove
the pain in Naoki. Just then, Reiko comes and sees Naoki going
out with Kotoko.
Naoki and Kotoko
go to the CD store. Kotoko shows him the money she has saved and
tells Naoki to lend some money to her if it is not enough. Naoki
scolds her for being a fool. Reiko appears before Naoki and stops
him from apologising for his mistake.
Reiko asks Kotoko why
she has to bring humiliation and pain to Naoki but Kotoko defends
her actions. Reiko then tells Kotoko to leave them alone. Kotoko
sits behind them and tries to eavesdrop. Reiko apologises for
causing pain to Naoki when she took the rap for him. Naoki
forgives her and Reiko is overjoyed. Reiko then brings Naoki to
her house for the Christmas party.Reiko invites Kotoko along for the party. Although she says that she has to go home for Machiko's party, Kotoko tags along in the end saying that she wants to see how the 'A' class party is like. Meanwhile, Kin-chan and his friends are waiting for Kotoko to come. When the door opens, Kin-chan thinks that it is Kotoko and grabs the person, giving a big smooch. It turns out that the person is Kanhara-sensei and they both puke in disgust.
Kotoko gets
cold feet and decides to go home instead of attending the 'A'
class party. When Kotoko reaches home, she finds the house in
total darkness. Thinking that Machiko and the others are playing
a trick on her, Kotoko searches around for them.Izumi-sensei is drinking heavily in Shige's shop when Machiko and the others come. Shige finds out that Machiko had organised the party to let Naoki and Kotoko be alone. Just then, Kin-chan, Kanhara-sensei comes to look for Kotoko but Kanhara-sensei sees Izumi-sensei around. Izumi-sensei is very embarrassed.
Kotoko is all alone at home. She decides to wait for Naoki to come home even though she is very hungry. Kotoko falls asleep and start dreaming. In her dream, Kotoko sees that Naoki likes her scarf and is overjoyed. She even dreams that Naoki prepared a cake for her and they are going to kiss. When Kotoko falls off from the sofa, she wakes up from her dream. Kotoko is so hungry that she decides to eat without Naoki around.
Kotoko decides to redo the scarf when it gets stained with ketchup. Just then, Naoki comes home with a paper bag. Kotoko thinks that the present is for her but it is actually a hand-knitted sweater by Reiko. Kotoko tries to conceal her sadness and disappointment and lies to Naoki that she didn't prepare a present for Naoki. Naoki tells her that it is alright and heads for his room. Kotoko finds a card from Reiko on the floor thanking Naoki for accepting her feelings. Kotoko is shocked and faints on the spot ...