Hotaru loves to lounge at home. But when she is forced to cohabitate with her meticulous manager Takano, her slothful days are turned upside down.
Hotaru kicks herself after nonchalantly replying to a message from Makoto. She tries helping him with a job but struggles to give him her handiwork.
Hoping to play matchmaker for Makoto and Yuka, Kaname decides to hold a company drinking party. He asks Hotaru to help him organize the event.
Hotaru sets her hopes on Makoto inviting her to join him at a design award event. Meanwhile, Makoto grows convinced that Hotaru has a boyfriend.
Depressed after her phone call with Makoto, Hotaru looks for a way to vent her feelings. Later, Takano hears a shocking truth about his wife.
Makoto asks Hotaru to spend the Obon holidays with him. She tries her best to appear as a mature woman while not revealing that she lives with Takano.
Makoto invites Hotaru over to spend the night, but she wants to lose some weight first. Futatsugi tries to convince Takano to stop living with Hotaru.
With things going well with Makoto, Hotaru decides it's time to show him her true, lazy self. Takano resolves to move out of his father’s house.
Makoto is completely ignoring Hotaru. When she doesn't come home and is suddenly absent from work, Takano becomes deeply worried for her safety.
Now living with Makoto, Hotaru is promoted to a managerial position. Though happy, she finds herself thinking about her laidback days with Takano.
Hotaru returns to Japan after working in Hong Kong for three years. She finds that many things have changed both at the company and at home.
Takano tells Hotaru that he can't marry someone who can't save money. Hotaru must find a way to hold a children's fair despite budget cuts.
For the sake of marriage, Hotaru tries to practice self-restraint. Takano wonders if his lack of physical affection is the cause of Hotaru's stress.
Takano and Hotaru try to be lovey-dovey in their relationship. Chika tricks Takano into going on an overnight trip with her and Konatsu.
When Hotaru says she wants to be a housewife, Takano tests her resolve. Yamada desperately tries to keep Konatsu's contract fee within the budget.
Takano tells Hotaru that they should reconsider getting married. Yamada advises her to give him some space if she wants to rekindle his interest.
Torn between her feelings for Takano and Seno, Hotaru seeks a way to dispel her doubts. Yamada wrestles with her decision to become a housewife.
After Takano asks to meet her family, Hotaru tells her sister about him. When unexpected trouble arises with Konatsu's café, Hotaru takes charge.
Hotaru juggles searching for her lost engagement ring and helping Sakuragi on her new project. Seno tells Takano he wants to get closer to Hotaru.
When Takano's father suddenly visits, Hotaru tries hard to impress him. Hotaru learns that Sakuragi likes Seno, raising tensions between the three.
After Hotaru realizes she doesn't know much about Takano, he tells her to prioritize her happiness. Seno asks Hotaru to go to New York with him.