After Julia's admission, many are confused. Nakatsu's jealous, Sano's wondering what she's up to, knowing Julia must know Mizuki's a girl,
and Mizuki just can't grasp the details of Julia's plan. Mizuki makes the mistake of telling Nanba Julia's not the one she's interested
in...leading Nanba to belive he still has a chance with the blonde foreigner. Later, while looking at photos with Sano, Mizuki discovers
he has a younger brother...and that he doesn't want to go back home to Hokkaido. Of course, Mizuki goes to Umeda for help, and is told
family matters will work themselves out, and Sano will talk about it when he wants to.
Over the next while, Julia makes every effort to appear Mizuki's girlfriend to get Sano jealous and prove he has feelings for the
oblivious Mizuki. Of course Sano, knowing Mizuki's male, isn't affected. Nanba, the typical playboy, puts all his effort into
wooing Julia, much to her irritation.
Mizuki overhears a phone conversation between Sano and his mother and is discovered. Mizuki decides to confront Sano about his
avoiding the subject of his family, but Sano won't talk. Later, as they're hanging out with Yuujirou the dog, Julia watches them from
a distance and notices the way Sano's looking at Mizuki; she wonders if Sano already knows Mizuki is female, but doesn't know how to ask.
In Hokkaido, the group tours the area, enjoying the sights and experiences the island has to offer (for Umeda, it's the local men
*wink*). Sano and Mizuki enjoy a private moment together, and Mizuki tells Sano she'll wait for him to speak about his life.
Then surprise, surprise! the group meets up with none other than Julia and Rio, who've come to Hokkaido as well. Later that night,
Sano and Mizuki see Sano's younger brother fighting in the street. Mizuki worries about the look on Sano's face...and decides to relax
in the hotel's hot springs (accidently interrupting Umeda and his new "friend"). Surprisingly, Sano's also in the hot spring, but finds
he can't help thinking naughty thoughts about Mizuki. After a close encounter when Mizuki trips, he stomps out of the hot springs.
The next day, Rio and Julia are moving on to another area of Japan, but Julia is able to take a photograph for Mizuki of she and
Sano. Before Julia leaves on the bus, she watches as Sano protects Mizuki from being exposed when Nakatsu makes to take off her shirt
after a drink is spilled on it. Does Sano know...? We find out Sano's kept Mizuki's secret because he's afraid he'll lose her if she finds
out he knows she's female. Sano realises he's made himself known to Julia, though...
Just then, Sano sees his brother making trouble again, and this time interrupts. Shin reacts badly, prompting Mizuki to step in
and defend Sano. Amused, Shin brushes her off and leaves. And then Sano tells the story of his life: how Shin and he were high jumpers
tutored by their father, and how after their mother died in the car crash while their father was driving, their father quit high jumping,
and Sano began to blame him for their mother's death. He confides that Mizuki is the first he's told this story to.
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