Souta shouts for Erena to open door before realizing it is open. He barges in and gasps to find her in the bathtub with sliced wrists. And then does the stupidest thing ever, grabs the knife, just when police comes in mistaking him for killer and drags him out... Rewind! Souta barges in the bathroom to find it empty. He breathes in relief berating himself for thinking such thing. But then where is she? After inspecting whole apartment he finds poor girl hid in closet. He hugs her and trough sobs she tells him of being rejected. Later, they both sit in living room and she explains that she waited for Kurashina in front of the
bathroom and he recognized her. She apologized for sounding random but she likes him. He was really nice saying that hearing that from such a beautiful girl makes him honored and it is such a waste but... he is married. With 7yo daughter. Ouch! He again thanks her for her feelings and she smiles. To Souta she explains that she felt sad for it being over but it is nice to know Kurashina is good person. Also after this she felt like whole person rather than just walking trough fantasy. Souta asks if it is really over and she laughs that man has family. But Souta does not compute thinking about Saeko and her husband. Erena catches his expression and right away points that Saeko does not have kids. He thinks to himself that even though she had them he would probably still not give up and wonders why is that. When Erena falls asleep he tucks her in bed and finally check his phone. His eyes widen to realize he has phone call AND message from Saeko. She thanks him for the cake saying it was so cute it felt like a waste to cut. She also sent him a picture and he laments that he can only see half of her face. Of course she pictured unbandaged half. As he writes reply Erena kicks in her dream so he abandons phone before sending message. As he covers Erena he thinks of Kaorukos' words that all his girls are bitches. He kisses Erenas' forehead while thinking that Saeko sounded shaken. And brushes it as his imagination. But Saeko is still waiting 5min after midnight alone with cake trying to will phone to show something in inbox. Sad.
Next morning, Erena wakes up to see Souta already preparing breakfast. She notes that she didn't cry too much and adds that it might be cause Souta was there but doesn't share that with him. She compliments on his skills saying he will be good husband and they half-joke about marrying eachother. He thinks Saeko rejecting him is inevitable so it will be possible but Erena chides him thinking it can't become true if he is not sure it will. She stops by mirror and raises hand wanting to touch her reflection. Souta sees thins and it makes him remember when he was rejected. Erena turns to see him standing there and freaks out cause tears are streaming his face. He utters that she is heartbroken and she hugs him telling she is fine and insisting for him to stop crying. He closes eyes realizing why he never let go of Saeko, she was fantasy and letting go made him afraid that he will end up empty inside. He kept to one-sided love just for his own sake.
Kaoruko is in changing room when Souta enters. He wishes her awkward hello before apologizing for what he said last time. Because he really likes Kaoruko(this makes her stop)it felt bad to hear those things from her. He apologizes for what he said though he knows she probably can't accept right away. She remembers Sekiya asking her why she wouldn't reveal her feelings. With balled fist she confesses of also liking him. But he thinks it is of friendly kind and smiles relieved. He grabs her hand making her all flustered and wishes for them to work hard from now on. Also he has something for her. Since he was concerned for her and Sekiya, he sent another message to Ricudou requesting Sekiyas' contacts. No doubt that message was as misleading as first one cause poor Ricudou is devastated. Anyway Kaeruko is reluctant to do anything with number but Souta shares his wisdom: It is better to do anything cause you might realize something. In kitchen Olivier thinks it is good that they are in good terms again but to Kaeruko, Souta appears strange. Olivier points that since Saeko never came for cake, this is after effect. Souta enters to announce something: He decided to get heartbroken! After that he can put this relationship to end and move on. They are all struck by this news, not sure where it came from. He realized that he ran away from it till now but will stop. On Valentines day he will confess and probably get rejected. It doesn't matter cause he will know where he is. He also apologizes for not being on celebration and Matsuri quickly rattles that they had so much fun with drunken Kaoruko. Cue to Kaoruko cursing Souta from top of her lungs in full restaurant! Lol! Indeed, that seems fun! Don't you love that censorship idea! Kaoruko tries to gloss it but Souta is ok since he deserved it. Kaeruko helped him realize that the way he is doing things makes Erena look like bad woman and he doesn't want that cause he cares for her. That is why he will change things. He thanks Kaeruko who waves it aside but her expression again is like she got slapped. Later, while Souta is in shop, Olivier shares that he is happy with Soutas' decision while Kaeruko doesn't agree. Olivier notes that ones' feelings can change in time and IF Kaeruko did something she might have been the one to be with Souta. Kaeruko still wouldn't make a move. Souta is the last one to stay in shop and sends Saeko message making her smile. But then he also sends regards to her husband.
At home, Matsuri wonders if shop will be ok after Souta gets rejected. Olivier contemplates traveling around world if that happens and Matsuri berates him for not caring. She gets message and he perks. Noticing this she reveals it is female friend but he plays it cool asking if everything is ok with her and her guy. She reveals that she ended relationship. He is all ears asking if he, maybe... But she cuts him off saying that jumping from one relationship to another is bad behavior. He again cites that even Soutas' feelings changed and he is moving on, there is nothing bad about it. Except if she still likes other guy... She quickly denies saying that she doesn't hate him but is ready to move to next guy. He cutely points at himself saying next guy is right here. She says she is not good enough for him. He calls her sneaky and insists on her telling him "NO" or he will consider it as "Yes". She can't make herself say it so he tells her they will not overthink things and just date. Awesome! She is still not sure.
Next morning, Souta goes to run with Erena but she is too fast for him. She wants to be in good shape to not get fired on top of being rejected. Also she gave a thought to fact that she may not be good enough women to Kurashina, thinking that presented with right kind of induce, any guy would cheat. Souta says that it can't be, after all she is a model. She complies that as model she is good but she has to work on being good as some guys' woman. So she smiles in his face saying she will run. Souta runs behind her finally looking smitten. He narrates that he is ready to give his last gift to Saeko, ten times better than last chocolate. Also, he is pretty much ready to be rejected cause he is adult now. He will wave for goodbye with smile on his face. Saekos' bandages get removed and her eye is fine. Matsuri is walking with her friends and one of them reveals that her boyfriend finally stopped two-timing. He dumped other girl. Wait, didn't Matsuri dump that guy? Other girl is trilled saying that she also wants to be someones' number one. It clicks with Matsuri so when she comes to the shop and meets Olivier she tells him she wants to go out with him. He smiles at her but something doesn't add up. Souta thinks about special chocolates for his confession and Kaeruko grumbles about them being busy for Valentines. Souta assures her he is thinking about shop too and presents special box he wants for that day. He choose silver box as base and wants to use same theme as he used for Saekos cake: Pain. Not everyone gets their feelings granted for Valentines, that is something he understands. He can't decide on ribbon colour and prods Kaeruko for idea. She thinks red would be fine. It represents jealousy, passion, hurt. Like when you act like nothing is wrong but you would rather hold to that person with all your might. Oliver side-eyes Matsuri obviously knowing the feeling. She felt it too, but for someone else. Souta likes it. Olivier calls Kaeruko tsundere! HAHA! Familiar voice greets them and Souta runs out to meet Saeko. She apologizes for coming when they are not open but he is happy to see her and comments on her hat(she put it to hide plaster she still has to wear) saying it is unusual for her but nice. She apologizes for not coming to take cake and gets excited explaining how it was awesome. He cuts in saying he understands she is sensitive to cold and she just rolls with that. He is happy she liked cake and she is happy that she asked him to make it. He admits of feeling especially good when she praises him. They smile at eachother. She starts rambling about chocolate while he just enjoys looking at her thinking that it is a blessing that she enjoys his chocolate. He might lose other things for that but it doesn't matter. He hands her a bag and thanks her for buying a lot adding that it made him happy to see her again. She bashfully smiles agreeing. At home, guys are in Soutas' room, Oliver points how Souta was so open with Saeko. Souta doesn't want to have regrets so he decided to be honest. He is excited cause seeing her with hat today made him decide new flavor: cinnamon and ginger milk tea. Seeing how sensitive she is to cold made him want to bring her something warm. Oliver likes it but is also surprised of Soutas' energy. He is ending long love, few would be so happy. Souta is also surprised, he narates that it might come from gaping vound but this overflow of ideas is so trilling. He is doing everything he can cause he is chocolatier.
Kaeruko is at home(her apartment is really nice) and stares at Sekiyas' contact. She decides to send message revealing that she got it from Souta who took it from Rikudou and she thought it rude not to send anything. She also shares of revealing her feelings but it being glossed over without reaction and that Souta will go for Erena instead Saeko. She apologizes for rambling and closes eyes before sending message. Aww, cute! Sekiya reads and Ricudou pops by his side being little nosy. He is adorably annoyed that message came so soon(Sekiya said it is from "choco la vie-san", thinking about Kaeruko but can be interpreted as Souta) and when Sekiya asks why he gave his number, Ricudou makes this speech how since Sekiya admires Souta(Sekiya makes it clear that Ricudou is totally special) and if you just admire that person it is like you have never met. But with person he likes, he should have deep relationship and make effort to be part of that persons world. Sekiya tries to stop him but Ricudou won't hear it and tells him to be brave with reasuring nodd. After few stepps he crumples. Lol! I could watch him whole day! Of course this leaves Sekiya pretty confused but it seems like he will do something which i am happy for.
Souta and Erena take a walk and she thanks him for taking a time to go out with her, he is probably busy. He agrees on it and comments that it is last break before Valentines. She pouts on not seeing him and admitting that when she is alone she thinks about not being good enough. Souta tells her everyone is like that and the higher you are getting you will meet incredible people who will make you question yourself. But that is normal, it is sign that she got pretty high. She smiles and leans on his shoulder saying that having sex-friend is really nice. If she knew she would had one ages ago. He stops and looks at her asking if they can stop it? This sex-friend thing? He will confess to Saeko and get properly rejected, after that he wants to talk with Erena. He wants to get clean end on his emotions to be able to start over and would like Erena to think properly too. Aka he will ask Erena to date him. She doesn't know what to do since everything she would like to is impossible cause he will confess to other girl. They part ways with smile. Saeko removes pflaster and luckily has no scar.
I keep wondering is Matsuri going out with Olivier for right reasons? She seems to like him but... Also, thing with Erena might go both ways and i am not sure what to think. She deserves guy who will make her his nr1. True, she is really valuable for Souta but you don't just decide to change course of your feelings like that. That is the part i agree with Matsuri, people need little time.
Oh, please Sekiya ask Kaeruko out again!! But keep her away from bottle! Seems like every time she goes out she gets drunk.