The episode kicks things off with Kannawa being literally too scared to enter a store and shop for new outfits. Why? Because she doesn’t want to interact with any of its employees. Jesus, just tell them you’re just looking. In the end, Kamegawa has to fortuitously bump into his nervous wreck of a senpai (it’s a small world), and thus does the talking for her. This is some real “Um, she asked for no pickles” energy. Our hardass senpai’s getting progressively childish as the story unfolds.

When our duo eventually splits up, Kannawa lingers around long enough to see a girl run up to Kamegawa, call him by his given name, and grab his arm. Judging by her two-tone hair, it’s probably an imouto. They make it so obvious. Nevertheless, Kannawa is too stupid to put two and two together, so it’s time to start stoking the fires of jealousy. Naturally, Kamegawa also needs a reason to be jealous, so we get a new character chatting Kannawa up, and they kinda look flashy. In any other show, I would call them a potential rival. But like with Kamegawa’s imouto, I’m betting they’re only here to help push Kannawa and Kamegawa together. They proceed to immediately throw fuel onto the fire.

At work, Kannawa can’t keep it together enough to look professional, which prompts both Kankaiji, the new character, and Hotta to ask her what’s wrong. It’s not very proper to gossip about your kouhai’s private life with a bunch of coworkers, but that ship has set sail a long time ago. Outta nowhere, Hotta asks if Kannawa has free time to hit up a spa this weekend. They also quickly invite Kamegawa. Seeing this all play out, I can’t help but wonder if Hotta planned this with Kankaiji. But she acted as if she just met them for the first time just moments ago, so I’m not sure… the impromptu spa trip just feels suspicious, but I suppose there’s no need to dwell on it.

I’ve never been to a spa, but they’re supposed to be relaxing. Unfortunately, Kannawa is too busy thinking about her kouhai’s private life to relax. Jeez, if it bothers you that much, just ask him. If I was Kamegawa, I would probably say, “Uh, none of your business,” but we know her kouhai likes her. If anything, Kamegawa would probably welcome her being nosy and prying about his personal life. Well, Hotta ends up having to give our heroine a little push by advising her to “let loose” since they’re off the clock. You can definitely still get reprimanded or fired for what you do outside of work, but shh, just look the other way for this silly office romance anime. Meanwhile, Kamegawa is also freaking out on his end. Well, the same advice applies…

Later that night, Kannawa and Kamegawa go on a private walk through the resort. Even though they’re both dying to ask each other questions about their respective “rivals,” neither Kannawa and Kamegawa can muster up the courage to say anything. She comes close to “breaking the ice” by clumsily tripping and falling into his arms. Somehow, this grown woman can’t even walk correctly. But in the end, both Kannawa and Kamegawa still chicken out and say nothing. Well, fine by me. I don’t think coworkers should be dating anyway. But from a ugh-just-get-over-it-and-fuck-already standpoint, these “kids” are being so pathetic. Kankaiji sees all this goes down, and thus takes it upon themselves to be a catalyst. Do these people not have their own lives to worry about?

At dinner, both Kannawa and Kamegawa get a little too tipsy, especially the latter. He really has had way too much to drink. Again, what you do outside of work can still come back to haunt you… But hey, all that alcohol means his inhibitions are gone, so he goes and blurts out a semi-confession. In response, Kannawa literally bawls in the middle of a restaurant, because she’s conflicted. After all, a work senpai can’t really be hooking up with her kouhai. Yeah, she’s got feelings for him, but what would it say about her as a professional if they ended up dating openly? What? You can’t even train up the new employee without crossing boundaries? What’s wrong with you? So her outburst is understandable, and I actually sympathize with her. It’s just a bit embarrassing is all.

At the end of the night, Kankaiji apologizes to Kamegawa for teasing him too much, then they enter the women’s bath along with Hotta. I guess that’s the big twist. The story is also kinda winking at us by saying, “Hey, there’s nothing to worry about, because the potential rival is a biological woman!” But that’s kinda ridiculous. I mean, it’s 2025. But whatever, let’s just accept that Kamegawa has nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, Kannawa is still clueless about her supposed “rival.” We then see said “rival” with barely anything on at Kamegawa’s place. I guess if the audience is also stupid, they will jump to silly conclusions here, i.e. “Oh dear, what is he doing with that half-naked woman when he just semi-confessed to his senpai!” But for the rest of us, this little stinger at the end feels superfluous.

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Stray thoughts & observations:

• We get a mini fashion show, but every outfit she tries on is pretty plain.
• I’m more or less opposed to office romances. It just has the potential to get too messy.
• Hotta calls Kannawa sexy here. Eh…
• Somehow, neither of the two girls overhear Kankaiji goading Kamegawa into calling Kannawa cute. Also, what’s with all the K’s? Hm, maybe Hotta needs to marry someone with a K family name.
• Phrasing.
• Yeah, I’ll pass on any form of touching. Only my cat gets to knead me. Everyone else can buzz off.
• I’ve personally never been to a spa resort. It seems like a luxury expense that I wouldn’t get much out of.
• I’ll never understand anime characters acting all nervous around couples. They’re doing their thing, and I’m doing my thing so who cares? Well, maybe they’re just not accustomed to it. PDA isn’t a big deal in Western cultures, so I’m desensitized to it. I’m used to seeing couples walk down the street where the guy will have his hand jammed into the girl’s back pocket, essentially groping her ass in public. See, that’s a little too crass for even me, so seeing two people cuddling up on a bench at a spa would be nothing compared to that.