Tsubakino's mind drifts back to his childhood, where he reminisces about his unwavering affection for all things cute, a sentiment he eventually concealed from others. Now, he reminisces with us about a particular "date" he arranged—not a romantic encounter, but a heartfelt mission to lift the spirits of an elderly acquaintance who had recently lost his beloved wife, Yui. Accompanied by Sakura, Suou, and Nirei, Tsubakino embarks on this journey, hoping to bring cheer to his sorrow-stricken friend.
Upon their arrival, the elderly man's joy at seeing Tsubakino is palpable, his demeanor far from the depression they had anticipated. His gentle nature shines through as he lavishes praise on the trio, admiring Suou's fashionable earrings and Sakura's striking golden eye. As Sakura assists him, she stumbles upon a room filled with dusty garments, relics of a time when they were cherished and worn.
Later, during a group conversation, the man shares tales of his and his wife's shared love for dressing up, shedding light on his fashion enthusiasm and the mystery of the unused clothes. Yet, amidst these stories, a hint of uncertainty lingers. When Tsubakino compliments an outfit the elderly man had picked for his wife, the man expresses a hope that she had liked it, revealing that her quiet smiles had sometimes masked her true feelings.
In a private moment with his friends, Tsubakino muses on the man's lingering grief, his own motivations for this endeavor coming to light. As a child, Tsubakino had harbored a secret love for pretty and cute things, but had concealed it, conforming instead to his friends' interests in cars and the like. This pretense caused him deep inner turmoil. One fateful day, he discovered a stunning earpiece, belonging to the elderly man's wife, on the ground. This chance encounter led to a friendship with the couple, who invited him into their world of fashion and self-expression.
With them, Tsubakino felt a sense of freedom he had never known before. His defenses crumbled when he witnessed the old lady applying lipstick, a moment so captivating that she invited him to try it too. Her husband, noting his transformed appearance, exclaimed how pretty he looked. Overwhelmed by emotions, Tsubakino cried, confused by his happiness in wearing lipstick and his longing to fit in with a world that seemed to reject his true self.
The couple gently explained that makeup and high heels, traditionally associated with women, had diverse histories and were once worn by men too. Gender differences were significant, but authenticity was paramount. They encouraged him to embrace his likes and dislikes without regard for societal norms, an ever-fluid concept. They cherished him for who he was, and in their embrace, Tsubakino found the acceptance and understanding he had long sought.
Upon hearing Tsubakino's story, Sakura, Nirei, and Suou's eagerness to assist the elderly man and alleviate his burdens intensified. The following day, they revisited his home, where they engaged in heartfelt conversation while indulging in delicious sweets. Although the ambiance remained serene, Sakura's cheeks flushed crimson upon glimpsing a photograph of the couple beaming with joy. He remarked that her expression mirrored Tsubakino's gaze when looking at Umemiya, a statement that brought tears of joy and relief to the elderly man's eyes.
Their marriage, arranged by tradition, had left him perpetually worried that Yui might not have been content with him. Her departure exacerbated his anxieties, haunting him incessantly. However, Sakura's revelation served as a soothing balm to his troubled heart. Suou too, contributed to the comforting conversation by inquiring about the tree featured in their photograph.
The elderly man gently explained that it was a flowering dogwood, emblematic of steadfast love and vibrant affection. He whispered to himself, as if addressing Yui, "Could you ever doubt my love for you?" The tree had been Yui's silent testament of love, planted soon after he expressed his sorrow that she never gazed at him with the same intensity she reserved for her passion for fashion. With the young friends' unwavering support, the elderly man finally shed his anxieties and embraced a genuine smile, warming the room with the light of renewed hope and contentment.
