Ladies on Top

Shinomiya and Mizuki finally arrive on their long-awaited hot spring trip, only to be joined by their unexpected rival Saeki, who turns the outing into a chaotic “travel battle”; while Mizuki is swayed by Saeki’s charm and a fortune teller’s claim of their perfect compatibility, Shinomiya opens up about his true feelings, strengthening their bond as the night at the inn brings them closer together.

After their night at the inn, Shinomiya and Mizuki grow closer both emotionally and physically, deepening their bond as they begin to consider living together; meanwhile, Saeki comes to terms with his own feelings after realizing a misunderstanding about a fortune, and as the couple visits Mizuki’s family home for New Year’s greetings, their relationship faces a new obstacle when her younger brother unexpectedly rejects Shinomiya.

When Shinomiya visits Mizuki’s family home, he is met with cold hostility from her rebellious younger brother Naoto, who resents his seemingly perfect demeanor while secretly struggling with his own insecurities about masculinity and relationships; sensing this, Shinomiya opens up about his own flaws and past failures, helping Naoto confront his doubts, and as tensions ease, Shinomiya and Mizuki reaffirm their bond and begin seriously considering living together, even as their relationship grows more intense and complicated.

After moving in together, Mizuki and Shinomiya face unexpected emotional distance as Shinomiya, overwhelmed by thoughts of marriage and responsibility, begins to withdraw; however, when his true, surprisingly vulnerable reasons come to light, the two finally confront their feelings and reaffirm their desire to stay together, and on their first anniversary, they take a meaningful step forward in their relationship, embracing a future built on honesty, trust, and their own unique way of loving each other.