Tohru and the Sohma members are at the family's summerhouse. The gang has fun playing in the ocean and catching bugs. Meanwhile, Tohru begins to sense that Yuki is thinking of change and that there is something growing inside his mind. While Yuki is resting, he even tells Tohru that he is going to tell her everything soon, that it is necessary to "open the lid." Meanwhile, Shigure is at the main house of the Sohma family and he is talking to Akito. Sohma suggests Akito to visit the summerhouse, and tells him of a "plan." Hiro and Kisa arrive at the summerhouse later on. Kisa and Tohru play together outside one day, and Hiro finds Tohru's notebook with her mother's photo on the ground. Hiro questions Tohru why she only carries her mother's photo and not of her father's. Tohru cannot answer Hiro's question because there seems to be some secret behind the answer. Kisa becomes angry with Hiro for asking such a question, and she interrogates Hiro whether he came to the trip for fun or to trouble Tohru. Hiro realizes that everybody has a secret deep within their heart, just like he has a secret within his own heart, and he regrets saying such harsh words to Tohru.
Kisa and Hiro apologize to each other for fighting later that evening. Meanwhile, Shigure talks with a woman named Mayuko in her family's used bookstore. Mayuko is Shigure's former girlfriend 2 years ago. The scene goes to a flashback 2 years ago, when Mayuko's best friend, Kana, introduces Hatori as her boyfriend to Mayuko. Mayuko gradually grows feelings towards Hatori, but tries to hide it because she doesn't want Kana to get hurt. Through Hatori, Mayuko becomes acquainted with Shigure, and he soon senses Mayuko's secret infatuation towards Hatori. Shigure offers to become Mayuko's boyfriend, and so the two go out because Mayuko wants Kana to be happy. However, when Hatori damages his eye, Kana blames herself for his injury, and somehow loses her memory about her going out with Hatori. Mayuko then breaks up with Shigure, and the scene goes back to the present. Shigure again offers himself as Mayuko's boyfriend, but she refuses. On his way out, Shigure informs Mayuko that Hatori had moved on and has a new girlfriend. Soon after Shigure leaves the bookstore, Hatori visits Mayuko's store to pick up a book.
Mayuko suddenly becomes sad for Hatori because he still looks like he has a "thin layer of 'happiness aura'," even when he has a new girlfriend. Mayuko cries for Hatori, and realizes that the person who she wanted to truly be happy was Hatori. Hatori reveals that he does not have a new girlfriend, and he seems to be moved that Mayuko cried for him. Back at the summerhouse, Shigure joins Tohru and the gang. Hiro discovers that his mother, Satsuki, is pregnant. Everybody is thrilled, and they are especially thrilled because the coming baby will not be part of the curse (since 12 family members have made up the Chinese zodiac already). Tohru realizes that everybody in the Sohma family must have difficult sentiments about their own parents; she becomes curious about everyone's parents, but she finds it impossible to ask the issue. Kyo realizes that there is something bothering Tohru, and he freely tells her about his parents: he and his father have not talked for years, and his mother had died from an "accident." Unexpectedly, the group discovers that Akito has arrived at the summerhouse, along with Hatori and Kureno.
The Sohma members all need to greet Akito at the second house, and so Tohru and Kyo stay behind to wait. (Akito forbids the 'cat' to join in any family gatherings). Yuki had left to take a walk a while back, but during his walk, he runs into Akito. Time passes, but none of the Sohma members return back. Tohru becomes worried, and walks outside to see if she can call them back. On her way, she runs into Yuki. Lots of thoughts run through Yuki's mind, and he thanks Tohru for being strong for him. Yuki puts his hand on Tohru's shoulder and cries.
- ISBN10 1595324054
- ISBN13 9781595324054
- Publish Date 12 July 2005
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 27 June 2011
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Tokyopop Press Inc
- Format Paperback
- Pages 208
- Language English