Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You. Season 2 Episode 9: The Declaration

The episode opens with Kizuki jogging alone at night, his steps heavy with resignation. The previous conversation replays, where he declared everything "pointless" and Mizuho passionately denied it, urging him not to give up. He then flung her own stalled dreams back at her, a bitter truth she could not escape. Now, the weight of that exchange seems to fuel his desolate run, a man adrift from his purpose.

At her desk, Mizuho, now an editor, struggles with her own work, finding her manga characters lack depth. A call from her father, full of parental concern and thinly veiled fishing for information, interrupts her thoughts. The conversation quickly shifts to Kizuki, her father revealing that he quit his job. The news strikes Mizuho with a quiet, profound shock.

Mizuho and her colleague, Sakura, arrive at a swimming school for an interview. Mizuho muses on the unchanged nature of the place, recalling her childhood friend who used to swim there. The nostalgia is abruptly shattered when the staff introduces their interviewee, and Mizuho sees Kizuki sitting by the pool, looking serious and withdrawn. Her quiet question, "Why?" hangs in the air, a testament to her disbelief.

A flurry of fragmented flashbacks washes over Mizuho, showing her and Kizuki as children. There are tender moments by the pool, the spark of young love in the rain, and quiet gestures of affection. These images hint at a deep, formative bond, one filled with both innocent joy and unspoken promises. They ground the current tension in a history of shared dreams and nascent romance.

From the observation deck, Mizuho watches Kizuki swim laps, her expression tight with worry. He pushes through the water, clearly exhausted, his shoulder injury evident in his movements. After finishing, he surfaces, panting, and finally notices Mizuho and Sakura watching him. The initial surprise on his face gives way to a quiet acknowledgment of their presence.

Kizuki speaks with Sakura, explaining his shoulder injury forced him to quit swimming, leading him to push away those who supported him. He admits his despair, his voice laced with regret. But then, a new resolve emerges: he quit his job to return to swimming, determined to stop running away. Mizuho listens, clutching her bag strap, her face mirroring his unspoken pain.

Sakura questions Kizuki about his drastic decision, highlighting the enormity of quitting his job. Kizuki, looking directly at Mizuho, declares his return a "reckless challenge" but one he undertakes because there's "someone I want to see one more time." Mizuho's expression shifts from confusion to a dawning realization, understanding the true recipient of his words. He vows to recover fully, physically and spiritually.

Mizuho silently acknowledges Kizuki's determination, a quiet admiration growing in her eyes. As he swims, she thinks, "Kizuki really shines when he's swimming." After a powerful turn, he looks back at her, a confident expression on his face. The sun sets, casting a golden glow, as if signaling a new beginning for him and, perhaps, for their connection.

Leaving the pool, Sakura astutely connects Kizuki to the childhood friend Mizuho mentioned earlier. Mizuho is flustered, denying it, but Sakura's knowing smile suggests she sees through the charade. Mizuho feels a pang of annoyance that Kizuki hadn't told her of his return, but her lingering emotions are clear despite her protests.

Kizuki rushes out to find Mizuho and Sakura, offering Mizuho an umbrella. He looks at her intently and says, "I wanted to see you." Mizuho is surprised, her eyes wide. He then apologizes for his past actions, admitting he hurt her by running away. He credits her encouragement for his return to swimming, expressing a deep gratitude and renewed resolve to reclaim what he lost, including her affection.

Mizuho grapples with Kizuki's bold declaration that he will make her fall in love with him again. She's back at her desk, banging her head in frustration, lamenting that her professional research is intertwined with her personal turmoil. Sakura, working nearby, observes Mizuho's distress, then shows her a manga drawing featuring two men confessing to the main character. This inadvertently mirrors Mizuho's own romantic entanglements, adding to her stress.

Unexpectedly, Kai arrives at the office, startling Mizuho. He playfully asks if she'll marry him now that he's quit his job, much to Sakura's shock. Mizuho dismisses him, but Kai then reveals he's on his way to a university open campus and asks Mizuho to deliver a bag to his older brother, Shin, who is sick. He quickly departs, leaving Mizuho perplexed by his casual demeanor and the unexpected errand.

Mizuho arrives at Shin's apartment to find him sick in bed, sweating and restless. He wakes with a pained expression, grasping her hand. He murmurs, "Mizuho, to you, I am..." then expresses his insecurity, believing she is happy without his efforts. This vulnerability starkly contrasts with the strong, stable image he usually projects, revealing a deeper emotional dependence.

Mizuho narrates her conflicted feelings, acknowledging Kizuki's dramatic return and his claim of wanting to see her. She admits their past "ended a long time ago," yet he still haunts her thoughts. She thinks of Shin, who won't let her give up on him, recognizing his quiet strength. The episode closes with Shin's pained thought: "Mizuho is happy," a poignant echo of his perceived inadequacy.