Izumi manages to escape the attackers and runs into Kuroi who tells Izumi that he has been working as an assistant to the author of the Lala-Lulu manga, Saotomi. Kuroi relates how Ryouma came to the studio and grovelled before the editors and Saotomi, in order to get the review of Izumi's manga. Izumi realizes that he has feelings for Ryouma and goes to his flat, declaring that he's decided he wants Ryouma. They have sex for the first time, and afterwards, Izumi tells RyÅma he loves him.