A man was walking through a
warehouse in New York, holding a cell phone to access to live translator. He is
Hyuga the president of Next Innovation; he is here to buy some hard disks from
a US company. The manager turned him down
and even sneers that Japan is no longer leading in technology. Hyuga was terrible pissed with that remark. Makoto
gave an impressive presentation in English on her latest research and she is no
longer the uncertain college graduate. As she walked out a colleague
complimented her and she beamed. She
hopped onto a cab and took out her tablet to show the cabbie where she wants to
go. She tell the man to hurry as her man is waiting for her there.
Makoto stood in the middle of the
Times Square and tried to call Hyuga but he did not answer the phone. Suddenly,
she heard a voice and she turned around to find him standing behind her. Makoto
beams and drop everything and run to him. He tells her to pick up her stuffs, grab
her hand and off they go. They walked hand in hand together at the famous landmark
in New York City. Makoto even fed him a doughnut and bite it at the same time.
As Makoto buys some coffee, Hyuga complimented that she looks different and is
more confident. Makoto beams at that compliments and placed the cup of coffee
on Hyuga cheek.
While they were walking along the
street, Hyuga informed her that he needs to catch a flight to Boston later on.
Makoto said that Huyga look attractive when he is working but Hyuga noticed
that she is reluctant to let him go. He pulls Makoto in for a hug. It’s night
time when they part, Makoto heading off in a cab, while Hyuga stood there under
the rain with an umbrella seeing her off. After some time, Hyuga is back in
Toyko and was seen seated with a brunch of beautiful ladies at a restaurant to
celebrate the launch of new software. The ladies toasted him with champagne,
when they suddenly shriek and run away.
Hyuga took a sip of champagne,
only to spill it out when he saw a horror movie like Makoto lurking behind him.
Makoto lurches forward and shows him her tablet where she found an article
about where he was going tonight. She pokes him back that IT is so useful. Turns out that Makoto has a week of vacation
because the company is closed for carnival, therefore she is back in town. Makoto
walks into Next Innovation and greets everyone cheerfully. When she knows that
Yasuoka is getting married to Risa, she is happy for them. Makoto mentioned
that she is looking for a cheap hotel to stay, both Yasuoka and Risa pushed her
to stay with Hyuga who have no choice but to agree.
Makoto was shocked to see an
almost empty apartment with little furniture and household appliances. Hyuga
proudly shows her the perfect fridge and the table which he took a long time to
decide to buy. Makoto was bundled up in a sleeping bag, while Hyuga was
sleeping on the sofa. She complained and Hyuga picked her up and placed her on
the sofa while he sleeps on the floor. Makoto asked him to unzip her as she
could not believe that she is so close to Hyuga. He unzips her and they lean on
each other forehead before they hugged each other. Hyuga woke up in the morning and
was freak out by the mess which Makoto made. She is making breakfast and has
her appliances on his countertop. He went to the bathroom and was freak out by
the cute bear towel hanging on the towel hanger. He finally snapped when Makoto
dirty his perfect pan and screamed at Makoto bad habits. Makoto points out that
Hyuga habits are the abnormal ones.
Asahina was out of prison and he
found a job at an IT company. Yoko beg him to come back home but he refused and
said that he like his simple life now. Hyuga had a meeting with the JI Tech big
wigs and disagree with their approach. Makoto visits Yoko at a new restaurant
where she is working; she aims to save more money to open her restaurant. Nogi
was clearly unhappy about it and wished that she is still working with him. Hyuga
held a staff meeting at Next Innovation and tells his IT team to find a way to
keep the system secure. However, his team complained that it is too hard and JI
Tech has already decided on P-box system. Hyuga was disappointed that the
staffs does not want to do it because it is too difficult for them. Hyuga
suddenly got an idea.
Asahina reads in the Newspaper
that Next Innovation is revolting over him coming back to the company, which baffled
him. Hyuga found him and asked him to return to Next Innovation and that they
could start all over again. Asahina declined and stated that he could not return
to Next Innovation. Hyuga revealed that the employees at Next Innovation do not
want to challenge themselves because of all the difficulties. Asahina asked if
Hyuga wants to give up Next Innovation, and Hyuga said that they could start
all over again in this rundown apartment. Asahina said no, this would mean that
they will be doing the same thing over again.
Hyuga needs to gather the people
with different points of view to do the same thing. Next Innovation is so big
now. Is Hyuga afraid of facing a future he can’t predict? Hyuga wanted to
change the world when he had nothing, now that he has everything so how can he
run away. Asahina tells Hyuga to try hard now, Hyuga agrees and walk away but
he turn back to him and said that Asahina is the one that is takes it easy and
run away. Hyuga offered Asahina his fist bump but he does not take it.
Makoto went to the company
headquarter and was informed that the company could be acquired by an American company
and she might have to move to Boston for work. Makoto was confused and does not
know what to do. Hyuga comes home and washed his face. He naturally reaches for
her face towel to dry his face and stares in horror at the cute bear design. He
discusses with Makoto about attending Yasuoka wedding and Makoto asked him to
choose an outfit for the wedding as she has nothing to wear.
They went to a boutique for
makeover and despite all the clothing Makoto tries on, they were unsuitable for
her. In the end, Hyuga picked a pink jumpsuit for her. Initially, Makoto was
wary of the design as this is not her style. In turns out that she look good in
the pink jumpsuit and Hyuga agrees. Makoto is at home and watches Hyuga as he
falls asleep on the sofa. In the end, Makoto decided to quit her job and stay
with Hyuga. When Makoto goes to quit her
job, her bosses deride her for thinking that she became arrogant after working
in the company for just one year and delivered one presentation.
Hyuga’s team protested when he requested
the team to do beyond JI Tech expectation. They find it a waste of time and were
too difficult for them. Hyuga went back home in a foul mood. When Makoto talk
to her about her company situation, he cuts her off and started to bitch about
how employees just need to do whatever they are told to do, instead of doubting
their leader. This rubbed Makoto in the wrong way since she is still thinking
about the put down by her bosses. She is disappointed that after what Hyuga went
through, he still has not learned to be more understanding of other people.
They argued which leads to Hyuga muttering that it is better when they were
apart.
Makoto leaves the apartment and
met Asahina who happened to be around that area. Asahina took her to a comic
store and they sit down in a reading room for a chat. Makoto shares about her
relationship woe with Asahina and he assured her that she is the only one that
Hyuga’s need in his life. He also mentioned that Hyuga does not have a closet
to store his memories after his mother abandoned him. Just then, Aashina was called
for work and he took Makoto to Yoko house to spend the night.
Since Yoko lives with her parents
now, Makoto have to move in with Risa. She shared about the argument with Hyuga
and Risa offered to let her sit next to Hyuga so that they can make up. Makoto
leave a note saying that she is leaving and will be back for the wedding. It’s
wedding day and Hyuga was called up to prepare his best man speech. But then Hyuga
was called back to work. At the wedding,
Yoko was preparing at the kitchen with Nogi. They were bickering and Yoko said
that it will be better for him to confess his feeling rather than picking a
fight. The wedding guests seated down to watch a video of greeting by Hyuga. In
the video, he thanked Yasuoko for sticking with him during his lowest point.
Makoto was clearly unhappy that Hyuga was not in the wedding and he did not
mention about her.
Hyuga argue his point against the
P-box to a panel of JI Tech management and screams that they are all about
profit at the expense of innovation. He wanted to make Personal file into open
source software in every phone, so that it is accessible to everyone at the tip
of their finger. The president of JI tech was impressed with his drive and
passion and tells his team to source for the makers of cell phone and get their
buy in for this software. Hyuga finally make it to the wedding and sits awkwardly
next to Makoto. They watched the newly wed perform a song and dance routine and
wonders will they ever be like them. Makoto who is drunk laughed at the
absurdity of it. Hyuga tells Makoto that they are just too different and he
asks to break up. Makoto cries but did not say no. Later, she was sobbing in the plane on the
way to Boston.
Hyuga tells his Next Innovation
team that JI tech has agreed to put Personal file on tablet phone and if anyone
does not want to do it, they don’t belong to the company. Asahina reads in the
newspaper about the expanded personal file mobile project and finds Yoko to get
back all his belongings. Makoto is at work in the Boston company, when she received
a call from Yoko who asked why did she purposely turned off her hand phone and
why did she broke off with Hyuga. Makoto puts on a brave front and stated that
they never dated and their relationship is more of comrades working together.
Hyuga walks back to his empty apartment and says, “This is my room.”
Hyuga goes to New York City and
back to that company and try to buy the hard disks. He is once again rudely
refused when Asahina came to the rescue and tells hyuga not to buy it. He
reveals that JI tech has a division working on a making double the capacities of
the hard disks that sells here. As Asahina and Hyuga walk out of the factory,
the Americans demand to know who he is and Hyuga announce that Asahina is his
partner. Hyuga and Asahina stood at the Battery Park city and chat. Hyuga
points out that their company has thrived on not making any hardware but
Asahina said that things change and they need to enjoy an unpredictable world.
Hyuga smiles and agree that they have to see from a different view, that is when
pointed out that Asahina has changed and Asahina says that he wants to live
differently now.
Makoto gets a series of texts
from everyone at Next Innovation telling her Hyuga is going to be in Boston. Then,
she receives a video text from Risa that shows all the NG videos Hyuga make for
the wedding. Hyuga can’t bring himself to wish the newlyweds happiness because
he doubts two strangers can live together blissfully forever. He went on to
talk about his relationship woe with Makoto and how he does not want to hurt
her. Makoto break down and cried, not knowing what to do now since she saw the
video.
Hyuga walks through Boston and
thinks Makoto lives in this city and he might see her somewhere. He turned
around and saw Makoto stumbling around looking for the company he was visiting.
Hyuga cough to get her attention and they sat in a restaurant for a chat. He
asked her how did she knew where to find him and she says that she found him
through GPS but Hyuga says that he turned it off. Finally, Makoto admitted that
she find him to ask what him means about them being different and why did he
say he likes her and ask her to stay by his side.
Hyuga grumbles that she made him say that and Makoto yelled that he is a bastard before she stood up and walked
away. But Hyuga stops her and stared at her face for a long time and Makoto was
bewildered. She asked him what he wants and he said that he just want to look
at her face and that she can go now. Makoto cries and said that she thinks
about him and missed all the times they spent together. She said that she can
change and requested Hyuga to change himself too. Makoto added that Hyuga will
not change himself no matter what. Hyuga said that he did not response and
Makoto said that he said before that he can’t change.
Hyuga agreed that he said that
and the person is a bastard and a coward that clings on to comfortable things. Makoto
was stunned and confused by what he said, Hyuga stood up and leans in for a
kiss before saying that he will change for Makoto. This make Makoto cries and
ask him to call her first name, but Hyuga refused and left the restaurant leaving
Matoko screeching that it is not enough. Hyuga sits in the plane and received a
text message from Makoto vowing to fill his closet with love. Looking at the
phone, Hyuga smiled and said that his closet will be messy from now. He took
out a note left by Makoto, snap a picture of it and store it inside his personal
file before he drifted off to sleep with a smile.
Back to the ending scene in the
last episode when Asahina came back to work and Makoto transferred back to
Tokyo. This time Hyuga invited her to his house and said that now she is
allowed to hang a towel on the rack but it can’t be cute little bears. She goes
to the bathroom and notices a hand towel hanging on the towel rack. Hyuga
tosses her a bathroom towel and says that this is for Makoto to use. Makoto went gaga at the first time he called
her by her first name and launches herself at him. Makoto pulls him in for a
kiss and asked him to say her name again.
Hyuga grudging complies and she adorably calls him Toru. Hyuga says, “One
more time.” They embrace and the ending says, “The end… is the next beginning.
Drama Review
Oh, how I missed this drama and
really hope that there is a second season for this dorama. I like how the story
focuses on Hyuga and Makoto differences and how they worked things out in the
end. This is like a real life situation whereby two strangers with different
personalities were placed together and they need to change themselves to
compromise each other living habits. I am glad that this drama touched on real life
issue and not some fairy tales story about living together ever after without
any obstacles or problems.
Actually, I did wonder in real
life, is there somebody like Hyuga who practically leave in an almost empty
apartment when he can afford to buy anything. Nonetheless, it shows a drastic
contrast between Hyuga and Makoto who had different background, experience and
personalities. Two extremely different people living together are nearly
impossible. I am glad that people have a choice to either change or remain stagnant.
Hyuga making the choice to change for
Makoto sake shows that he really love her and is willing to change for her.
This special episode explained
about how Asahina redeemed himself and earned a place for himself at Next
Innovation. I like the changes with Asahina and how he wants to start over
again, living a different life. After all that happens, he is too ashamed to go
back to Next Innovation and even having to face the generosity of Hyuga make
him feels so small. I am really glad that Asahina bounce back and helps Hyuga
at the American company. It is a heartwarming sight to see them getting back
together to change the world and to embrace an unpredictable world that keeps
changing.
However, I do not understand how Hyuga overcome his medical
condition – Prosopagnosia (Face blindness). That could be because he now makes
the effort to recognize people and name. The other flaw in this drama is the
Brazil sticker on Makoto face when he met Hyuga at the Next Innovation. I
thought she is supposed to be back from Boston? Anyway, this drama is too cute
for me to get bothered over some small little details.
I am also satisfied with the
small story between Nogi and Yoko. They were sort of cute whenever they bicker
and Yoko knows that Nogi likes her. They really make another adorable pair
other than Hyuga and Makoto. On the other hand, Yasuoka and Risa were an
example of incompatible couple in term of physical appearances. However, they
are able to click with each other and ended up getting married.
This is an inspirational drama about how the
main characters overcome obstacles in their life and grow to become a better
person. Without any conflicts and heartache, life is like a fairytale which is
unrealistic. I like the way the story focused on problems in work and in
personal issues and how they stay positive and make tomato juice out of all the
tomatoes thrown to them in life. The ending when Hyuga finally make baby steps
to change, I felt so touched that he is making the effort. Overall, this drama
has been an enjoyable ride and I will always remember this drama for being so
awesome. :)
Episode Guide