While preparing for the company's New Year's party, Onodera gets a call from his mother, who pesters him about his engagement to An and asks him to escort her from a wedding that coincidentally is taking place in the same hotel as the company event. At the party, Onodera encounters Yokozawa, who accuses him of slacking at work but Takano defends him. Onodera is surprised to find An waiting for him since he had told his mother he couldn't see her. An reiterates her love for him but Onodera tells her he can't love her the way she wants him to. An asks if he loves ...