Takemoto is still unsuccessful at finding a job until he gets introduced to one of Hanamoto-sensei’s former students, Usui. After getting acquainted, Usui notices that Takemoto has a good eye and hires him. Everyone throws a party to celebrate, but the mood quickly changes when Hanamoto-sensei gets a phone call from Usui saying that his company just went bankrupt because of a customer who ran away, ultimately meaning that Takemoto no longer has a job. At Fujiwara Design, the brothers who run the company get back together, and the subsequent shuffling of human resources moves Nomiya and Yamazaki to Tottori. Delivering some samples, Yamada learns of the news from Miwako even though she had just seen Nomiya and he had made no mention of it. Meanwhile, Takemoto rides along on his bicycle wondering how far he can go without looking back. He feels empty inside, and ends up biking until he reaches the beach. When he doesn’t return for several days, everyone starts to worry, but Hanamoto-sensei and Mayama suspect that he’s off soul-searching. They eventually help him out by depositing some money into his bank account. Takemoto, who’s been living like a bum, finally realizes that he’s been afraid, afraid of the future.
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