Retsuko and Haida's relationship continues to be awkward, despite Fenneko's attempts. Himuro tells Ton that the company is cutting costs and requests that he downsize the accounting department. Meanwhile, Retsuko discovers that Fenneko and Tsunoda have been setting her up with Haida and demands an explanation. After work, Ton consults with Komiya which employee in their department should be removed. The next morning, he brings a blank list to Himuro and later tells his wife that he has no intention of firing anyone, especially when the accounting department survived without firing anyone during the collapse of the bubble economy in the 1980s.