Timpanist Masumi Okuyama, an admirer of Chiaki, is jealous of Nodame's relationship with him and begins tormenting her with pranks. Mine suggests a contest: who can get a date with Chiaki on Christmas Eve. Masumi attempts to impress Chiaki during orchestra practice but is thrown out for showing off. Nodame asks Chiaki out while he is distracted composing music, and he later denies saying yes. Nodame suggests in consolation that she, Masumi, and Mine play together. Meanwhile, Chiaki finally remembers having said yes to Nodame. Feeling honor-bound to at least give her a proper refusal, he finds her, Masumi, and Mine practicing a jazz arrangement of his music, based on Nodame's hearing it once. He joins their ensemble, and forces them to rehearse late on Christmas Eve.