Star Festival
Tanabata is more than just hanging written wishes on a wreath at the Sakuraba Mansion: It also happens to be Aoi's birthday! After suggesting that they throw a big bash, Kaoru starts working extra hours to buy Aoi an outfit he sees on display at a clothing store. But since this gives him little time for leisure, the birthday girl almost believes he doesn't care about her anymore. And just when it seems Kaoru's hard work has gone to waste, both he and Aoi are in for a pleasant surprise.
Aired 11/07/2002EP 13 - Star Festival
Ai Yori Aoshi
Kaoru Hanabishi, a college student who lives alone, met a beautiful but bewildered girl dressed in a kimono at a train station. He volunteered to guide her way to the address she was looking for, which happened to be in his neighborhood, but turned out to be an empty lot. Not knowing what to do next, Kaoru invited the devastated girl to his apartment and asked for any additional clues to her destination. She supplied him with a photo of two children whom Kauru immediately identified as himself and Aoi Sakuraba, his childhood friend. It turned out that the girl in front of him is Aoi Sakuraba herself, his betrothed fiancee who came all the way to Tokyo to marry him. Her revelation was not only surprising but also reminded the deepest part of Kaoru's memory for why he left the Hanabishi family in the first place.