It’s inevitable for viewers to breeze through this episode because there were plenty of couple moments to send heart fluttering, like —

• the “I’m not dating you because I want you take care of me,” confession with the head massage
• the flattened rice ball cooked using her brand-new rice cooker,
• the “Appreciation Day” date with the staring contest,
• the bowling date with their first “holding hands” stroll, and
• the back hug.

Lots of firsts in this episode!

But there were small moments in this episode that I found interesting. You know me. I like a mundane detail that can take on a unique meaning when viewed from a different point of view, or that can relay a character’s tenderness without being ostentatious.

Take for instance this note from blizfansub.com–

Sato Takeru gave a “behind the scene” talk where he said that removing Sakura’s hair tie in the living room scene was ad-libbed. He thought of it on the spot because the drama has used hair tie as a symbolism for “focused career-mode Sakura”, and untying her hair there showed that he’s treating her as a woman.

source: blitzfansubs.com

This improvisation makes perfect sense, especially when we consider that the next episode will show Nanase’s self-doubt about her sexiness. Tendo will sound like a big, fat liar if he’s to suddenly insist, “I see you as woman!” with no display of sexual attraction in precious episodes to back his claim.

To me, the major subject of this episode is Nanase and Tendo settling into their relationship.

1. “Different leagues” part 2

I need to revisit this because it’ll put in context Kamijo’s and Tendo’s man-to-man discussion later in this episode. As I said, Kamijo was preconditioned to dislike Tendo before their first meeting.

From the previous episode 6:

Kamijo: Hang out with me.
Nanase: What?
Kamijo: At least finish this 790 yen –
Nanase: I can’t. I have a boyfriend.
Kamijo: Eyyyy.
Nanase: He’s wonderful and good at his job.
Kamijo: Sounds like he’s full of himself.

Nanase had unwittingly made Tendo appear like a smug person. He was someone who had it made. In the Kissasian version, Kamijo was subbed as saying, “That’s creepy.”

Given  Kamijo’s insecurities about himself, he found Nanase’s remark about Tendo “creepy” because she was fulsome in her admiration. It didn’t help that Nanase also confided in Kamijo that she was outmatched by Tendo.

Nanase: But apparently, it’s been obvious for a million years that we’re in different leagues.
Kamijo: Then just be someone in his league.
Nanase: You’re right. That’s a good point. What a great idea. That’s right. I’m a warrior. I’ll do my best.

To me, Nanase just said it in passing. It’s the sort of wry, self-deprecating humor that I myself would say to a stranger. Nanase wasn’t expecting to see Kamijo again so she didn’t think her comment would come back to haunt her.

To Kamijo, however, her brief moment of self-pity created this false impression that her boyfriend was egotistic and self-absorbed. When he met Tendo for the first time, he was already set to dislike him.

Tendo’s formality (“We will work as a team.”) combined with his visible displeasure at Kamijo’s casualness with Nanase reinforced the notion in Kamijo’s head that Tendo was a pompous ass. Kamijo wanted to take Tendo down a peg.

But as he would soon discover, he was very much in a “different league” from Tendo — like Nanase was. lol.  In the same way that Nanase felt that she was no match for Tendo because Tendo was superior in every way, Kamijo also felt that he was no match for Tendo because Tendo was everything that he wasn’t. He could only “buy” people’s admiration with food, toys, and plane tickets while Tendo earned people’s admiration by his skills and abilities.

They were in “different leagues.”

Moreover, it frustrated him that no matter what he did, Tendo was imperturbable. While he could sense Tendo’s anger, he couldn’t provoke him enough to retaliate either verbally or physically. Tendo’s stoicism intensified his feeling of insignificance.  Whenever Tendo ignored him, it proved to him that Tendo was indeed a bigger man than him, and that Tendo considered him a lightweight rival.  He knew that Tendo wouldn’t “stoop” to his level because he was a man to be pitied.

That’s what he meant when he told Tendo resentfully, “Everyone treats me like a fragile thing that’s going to break at any time. You on the other hand have everything.”

He felt pathetic beside Tendo.

Nanase was also keenly aware of her inferiority in the beginning of this episode, when she was playing the housewife. But Tendo called her to his side to put her straight.

Ryuko: I hate to ask you this but take care of Kairi for me, okay?
Nanase: Roger that, over and out.
Tendo: (skeptical look on his face) What the hell?

After Ryuko left, Nanase went on her “take care of Kairi” mode. They looked at each other.

Nanase: Okay, I’ll get started with the dishes then.
Tendo: You don’t really have to do that.

Nanase: Don’t worry. I want you to be able to relax at home.

She tied her hair in a ponytail. She was getting down to business.

Nanase: (excitedly) I’ll take care of you… like a wife.

lol. She did it again, getting ahead of herself and daydreaming prematurely.

But I’m glad that Tendo didn’t shoot her down.

Nanase: (grinning) Feel free working.  I can be a very supportive wife.

He grimaced. By now, he knew that whenever Nanase immersed herself in her fantasies and became giddy with excitement, it was useless to stop her.

Nanase: I’m making ramen for your late night snack.

Tendo didn’t say a word. What do you think? I don’t know if he looked dubious that she could carry it out or impressed that she made a good suggestion.

Nanase: (couldn’t open the package) Why won’t this open? (bumped the saucepan)
Tendo: Are you —
Nanase: Yes, I’m stupid!

I was laughing at her hand raised in guilt. To me, Tendo was about to ask her if she was okay, as in, “Are you okay?” She assumed that he was about to scold her when he was probably more concerned if she scalded herself with the hot water. He stood up to check on her.

Then, she vacuumed one of his shirts from under the couch. Look, this was 100% NOT her fault. What was his shirt doing under the couch in the first place? Why wasn’t it in the laundry basket or the clothes closet?

She looked guilty again and he called her over to his side.

Now, there are two ways of interpreting his intentions here.

One, (this is the popular view) he was exasperated that she was being a total klutz in the house, so he wanted her to stop before she created more damage.

Two, he was expecting her to feel insecure all over again that she wasn’t good at any thing. Like last time —

Since he didn’t want her to get worked up over something minor again, as a preemptive move, he wanted her to stop. To begin with, he didn’t need any help with household chores. But she made a solemn promise to Ryuko to take care of him and  she imagined herself playing the role of a supportive housewife. So he went along with her fantasy to humor her.

But enough was enough.

To me, that’s why he was looking at her face when she sat down beside him. He removed his glasses, scooted over to her and put their heads together. If he was simply exasperated with her, he wouldn’t take the time to carefully explain to her that he did need “supporting.”

Tendo: I’m not dating you because I want you to take care of me.
Nanase: I really want to help you out but I realize that I’m not feminine and I can’t do chores.
Tendo: (removes her hair tie) I realize that a long time ago.

See that? To me, he was telling her that HE was well-aware of the fact that she didn’t think herself feminine enough and good at chores. But he disagreed with her self-assessment. He removed her hair tie and ran his fingers through her hair to show her that he was attracted to her as a woman. Plus he already knew she could do household chores because she made him porridge when he was sick.

He called her to sit beside him to reassure her that she didn’t have to try too hard. He already liked her as she was.

Nanase: (switching topic) But Sensei, I’m worried about what Kamijo will do to you.
Tendo: (holding her face) I’ll be fine. But I can’t examine Kamijo anymore. So you need to help him instead. You’re a warrior, aren’t you?
Nanase: I heard you request loud and clear. I’ll make sure he gets better. And I’m going to get you out of this mess.
Tendo: (laughing)

Two things:

First, I like that he reminded her that she was a warrior. This was the first time he referred to her sobriquet and that tells me that he’d grown accustomed to it.

Second, it also tells me that Tendo was plotting something.

2. The Whole Truth

Of course, Tendo knew what really happened in Kamijo’s room.

In his desire to see Tendo lose his self-control, Kamijo said crude things about Nanase. He wanted to provoke Tendo and he thought he could do that by painting Nanase as a flirt.

Kamijo: What do you like? (he was asking what made Tendo fall in love with Nanase)
Tendo: Pardon? (this was a personal question; he probably knew that Kamijo was spoiling for a fight)
Kamijo: What do you like about her? Just so you know, she was friendly towards me first. It’s always the quiet ones that flirt with me. Wagging her tail all excitedly. Does it make you wonder? No matter when you call or what you ask, she’s always so happy to oblige?

There was three ways to respond to this. Tendo could:

A. Act like an incensed boyfriend and grab Kamijo by the collar to defend his girlfriend’s honor.
B. Believe Kamijo’s words and suspect Nanase of flirting with all her male patients.
C. Control his anger and walk away.

Tendo chose C. He gritted his teeth, and said, “I sincerely hope that you’ll feel better soon.”

By his words and action, Tendo invalidated Kamijo. Tendo knew that he was just bragging and being unforgivably crude. At that instant, Kamijo felt like sick brat that he was, and he swung a punch. I thought it was funny because he was the one intent on provoking Tendo. But his attempt backfired and he was the one who lost his cool. Not only that, Tendo won again because he managed to avoid his fist and save him from a hard fall.

So, if his pride was ruined, he felt doubly ruined when Tendo asked him, coolly, if he still wanted him to be his doctor for the operation the following day. Kamijo had to swallow his already battered pride and say yes.

Now, that’s the truth behind the incident. And this is where you must admire Tendo’s move. It’s easy to overlook what his plans were because our eyes were fixed on Nanase’s self-sacrifice.

In a comment for Episode 7, I pointed out that Tendo was protecting Nanase all along. I said the reason he was indifferent about the lawsuit was because he was protecting Nanase. He didn’t want her to know about Kamijo’s malicious statement regarding her patient care. Had he hired a lawyer of his own, Kamijo’s defamation would have been revealed, and it would have hurt Nanase.

Previously, we saw Tendo protecting Nanase from the “hard” truth in that incident involving the Head nurse and her son. He didn’t want Nanase to know that she’d been requested off the team because the Head Nurse had no confidence in her ability to concentrate during an important procedure whenever he was around. So Tendo chose to bear the brunt of Nanase’s anger when she accused him of being unprofessional.

With regard to Kamijo’s case, he was again keeping a secret from her, but he was actually killing – or protecting — “two birds” with one stone.

Did you see it?

He was protecting Nanase, sure. That’s one bird – Nanase.

But he was ALSO protecting Nanase so that Nanase could continue nursing Kamijo back on his feet again. That’s the second bird, Kamijo. Indirectly, he was protecting Kamijo. lol. He cared for Nanase AND he also cared for his patient Kamijo. He knew that Kamijo needed Nanase’s “dedicated” nursing to get well soon.

But if Nanase were to know of Kamijo’s vile words, she wouldn’t be able to look at him in the same way again, much less nurse him back to health. She would have resented Kamijo, too.

That’s the significance of this shot.

He overheard them talking.

Nanase: …Once you get discharged, you can go on road trips!
Kamijo: You wanna come with me? We can have a date visiting all the popular highway rest area.
Nanase: Let’s focus on pedaling.

To me, this is a significant moment. On one hand, Tendo confirmed that Nanase didn’t flirt with Kamijo. She was deftly giving him the brush-off so he didn’t need to be jealous.

On another hand, he confirmed that he made the right choice to withhold the truth from Nanase. Telling the truth would have been inimical to both Nanase’s working relationship with Kamijo, and Kamijo’s recuperation. By keeping quiet, he ensured that Nanase continued assisting Kamijo without any awkwardness and resentment.

This was the reason he didn’t want attorneys interfering; he had this covered.

Ryuko: You got sued. What the heck were you thinking, Kairi? Dummy.
Tendo: Shut up.
Ryuko: But maybe you should get a lawyer. I can ask one from home.
Tendo: Just go talk about your own problems.

And this was the the reason he left Nanase in charge of Kamijo’s recovery. Nanase could continue to be the “warrior” because she didn’t know the truth. Tendo knew what he was doing.

Kamijo created the “mess” but Tendo didn’t need to extricate himself from it because he was expecting Nanase to help Kamijo’s recovery. Of course, he wasn’t to know that Kamijo had another trick up his sleeve, and that Nanase would fulfill her promise to get him out of this mess.

3. The rice balls

Tendo: A lunch box?
Nanase: Yes. I put a lot of effort into making it for you. Don’t be so apprehensive. They’re just rice balls.

lol. We all know what Nanase was thinking here, right? She was imagining herself as a “very supportive wife” taking care of him.

Tendo: What’s in them?
Nanase: Some have plums and some have bonito flakes. I see you like those flavors. I also have tea.
Tendo: What the heck is this?

Nanase: I told you it’s rice balls. Huh?! My poor rice balls! Why did you flatten them?
Tendo: No. It was already like this.
Nanase: How?!
Tendo: Is this some kind of practical joke?
Nanase: It’s not. Hold on. I’m going to fix it right away.
Tendo: Stupid. I’ll just eat it like this.
Nanase: (Watching him take a bite) Well, how does it taste?
Tendo: Flattened.

Kamijo: (watching from a window) Damn him. How can he remain so chill?

Kamijo couldn’t understand why Tendo remained unperturbed by the pending lawsuit. He expected Tendo to be in a grouchy mood, but there he was, effortlessly making Nanase laugh at him.

He didn’t get that Tendo was okay as long as Nanase was happy (happy happy happy!).

In the same way that Tendo ate the rice ball because Nanase would have been upset had Tendo not eaten the rice balls she’d “put a lot of effort into making” —

Tendo kept quiet about Kamijo’s action because Nanase would have been upset had she known that Kamijo twisted her “dedicated” service. Tendo was handling the lawsuit as a small inconvenience to keep her happy, rather like eating the flattened rice ball, riding the ferris wheel and suffering her housekeeping mishaps.

4. Holding hands

Now, Tendo’s resolve not to fight back was seriously tested when Kamijo moved to oust him from Anri’s medical team. We know that Tendo looked forward to assisting in the surgery and was prepping for it, right? He was busy studying when they went out on their noodle dish date.

He was sincerely apologetic that he was removed from the team since he’d been Anri’s doctor from the beginning and he knew her condition the best. In my opinion, he was weighing his options as he reviewed Anri’s case files. He could contest his removal. But to do so, he would have to defend himself against Kamijo’s accusation and that would entail involving Nanase.

Ultimately, he chose Nanase. When he returned home that night, he’d already made up his mind.

Meanwhile, in her apartment, Nanase also made up mind to choose Tendo. Nanase was feeling guilty because she believed that Kamijo was harassing Tendo because of her.

She wasn’t to know that Kamijo was actually harassing Tendo out of envy, and not jealousy. There’s a slight difference between envy and jealousy. He envied Tendo because Tendo had everything he wanted. Being the boyfriend of Nanase was only one of the many attributes that Kamijo coveted from Tendo, like having a profession, being cool, having a goal in life, being respected, and so on.

And that’s why I found the bowling date cute. When Nanase invited him out, she had already decided to quit the hospital for him. Likewise, he had already decided not to assist in the surgery for her.

Then, outwardly, they were fiercely competing against each other. But secretly, they were rooting for each other.

Note: Nanase was actually a good bowler. To score above 170, you’re above average. That last frame that she had? She had the #3 and the #7 pins up. The only way to knock both down was to hit the #3 pin on its right side so it will spin to the left and hit the #7. – Which she exactly did.

I don’t think she was praying for luck, because I think she had MORE than 0.0001% chance of getting it done. I think she was praying that her aim was good because she knew she could do it. Based on Episode 1, we know Nanase wasn’t the type to pray without putting in her own efforts to back up her prayer. However, if she missed the pin, then she’d take it as a sign that they really weren’t meant to be. Her prayer was answered.

Nanase: Sensai, can we bet on something?
Tendo: Bet on what?
Nanase: If I can get that…
Tendo: Then what?
Nanase: Please be with me forever.
Tendo: If you get a spare.
Nanase: Okay! (gets the spare)
Tendo: Are you kidding me…

As for Tendo, I don’t think he cared if she missed it because he was a skeptic. He wouldn’t much stock in signs. Plus, when Nanase talked about being a “supportive wife,” he didn’t protest the idea.

Nanase: Raw egg rice bowl and natto rice bowl. Mix it together and you get a healthy bowl of rice.
Tendo: What’s with that song?
Nanase: I made it up when I was studying. When I decided to be a nurse, I studied like crazy. And I survived on raw egg and natto rice bowl.
Tendo: Sounds pretty good, actually.
Nanase: “I’m going to see Dr Tendo.” “I’m going to reunite with him no matter what.” I kept singing and praying like that.
Tendo: (stops and holds out his hand to her)
Nanase: (takes his hand)

I thought this scene was one of the more poignant scenes in this dorama because Nanase and Tendo were at cross-purposes with each other.

Nanase was singing. She had already planned this date to be their last night; she was leaving the following day. She created the little ditty when she had imagined herself on her way to meet him and to be reunited with him. But now, she was singing it on the eve of her departure. And the intention of the song changed. It was to give her courage as she left him.

In Tendo’s part, he must have been touched by her story. Unbeknownst to him, she had worked hard all those years to meet him again. And now she was beside him where she belonged. That’s why he held out his hand to her. It was a homecoming, a sort of tacit acknowledgement that she’d finally reach her destination. Of course, he didn’t know that she was planning to leave him the following day.

And that’s why I liked that scene. They were connected by hands…but they weren’t really connected in spirit. 😊

5. Man-to-man talk with Kamijo

Tendo: How has your condition been?
Kamijo: Looking at you pisses me off. Acting all cool and shit. Why aren’t you mad?
Tendo: You’re still one of my important patient. (sitting down) However as a man, I did think you were annoying.
Kamijo: No one cares about me. Everyone treats me like a fragile thing that’s going to break at any time. You on the other hand have everything.
Tendo: I don’t have everything. I’m just a doctor. I’ve given up everything else in life. Everyone is the same. We’re all lacking something. But we all do our best to keep going while we look for people to complement our shortcomings. And I’m sure you’ve noticed. Faster than anyone else what made her special.

As Nanase once pointed out to him, to get the reputation of a “devil” at work, he devoted his life to the job and gave up a lot of things. It was only now that he was learning to appreciate life again because Nanase dragged him with her to enjoy new experiences like spending a day at the amusement park, eating at a restaurant’s “Appreciation Day,” and going bowling.

The “Appreciation Day” dinner for instance showed how much he’d changed for her. Before Nanase, he would have found her request inconvenient because he had work to do. Look at his frown here in contrast to her smiling face.

He ended up going but once there, he still read his papers and begged for a few more minutes while he finished up. Nanase that she didn’t mind since she could stare at him forever anyway. It must have struck him how forbearing Nanase was with him.

He put his papers away and challenge her to a staring contest. Forever, she said? She barely lasted a few seconds when he stared back at her.

lol.

To me, then, Tendo was answering Kamijo’s previous question “What do you like about her?”  He explicitly said that he didn’t date her because he wanted her to take care of him.

But I think he liked that he and Nanase were in different leagues. Meaning she complemented him, and made up for his shortcomings. There was something special about Nanase that he – who was considered cool, collected, and capable — didn’t possess in him.

Kamijo: What? (not understanding him)
Tendo: It took me a long time to notice.

Flashbacks of three moments, when she was disarmingly honest with her emotions.

Tendo: Don’t worry. You’ll be able to keep going.

To me, he was declaring that Kamijo wouldn’t be able to steal Nanase away from him. But Kamijo shouldn’t worry because he could go on with his life without Nanase.

As for Tendo, he couldn’t say the same thing for himself. As he pointed out, he’d given up everything else in his life to become a doctor that he was. But Nanase was the one thing in his life he wouldn’t give up. And we saw that, right? He didn’t GIVE UP Nanase. Even if it meant facing the lawsuit and leaving the surgical team, he didn’t give up Nanase.

😊

Kamijo: Did you get a hold of Nanase?
Tendo: (shakes his head)
Kamijo: I guess it’s my fault. I’m sorry. If you managed to get in touch with her, tell her I enjoyed my one-sided crush.
Tendo: (smiling)

And that’s the difference between a one-sided crush, and love.

6. The back hug

You don’t really need my explanation for this back hug.

Tendo: What were you thinking? Baka. You don’t pick up anyone’s call. Not even my calls!
Nanase: Well because once I hear your voice, it’ll weaken my resolve.
Tendo: What do you plan to do now?
Nanase: Actually, I’ve already found another job. They’ve been keeping me busy every day. I just finished assisting at a surgery. I’m about to start my rounds.

lol. She had drawn blood in the clinic before going out on an errand.

Nanase: (continuing) There’s also a bakery that sells good custard buns.
Tendo: I see.

lol. Literally, he could see her. He was watching her from afar and could see that she was lying.

Nanase: And I feel like I fit in better in the countryside than in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. I’m a little sad that I can’t see you. But I grow too dependent on you when I’m with you. And I feel like I need to grow more.

Here, the writer was setting up the stage for her study abroad in Episode 10.

Tendo: I see.

Meaning, he understood that she was making excuses right now. He knew that she gave up her training so she could rescue him from the mess that Kamijo made.

Nanase: I plan to train here until I become a great nurse. And so…don’t worry about it anymore.

Nanase: Sensei!
Tendo: Don’t disappear by yourself.  We said we’d be together forever.

That’s the sub from blitzfansub. The kissasian version translated it slightly different. “Don’t just disappear. You said we should be together forever, didn’t you?”

The difference between the two, in my opinion, is the emphasis. With the blitzafansub’s version, he was reminding her that they both promised to be together so she shouldn’t disappear on her own and carry the burden by herself.

The Kissasian sub to me sound a little bit more accusatory: she promised that they’d be together and she broke her word when she disappeared.  She left him behind.

So, depending on the interpretation, the back hug could mean:

a) relief that he found her again,
b) anxiety that he’d lose her again,
c) a mixture of both. lol.

*********
Next up. Episode 9!!