Three years into her marriage, Mahiro is struggling with a growing rift between her and her husband. He calls her plain and says he no longer sees her as a woman. Hoping to give her more experience, the company sends her on a business trip with department manager Noguchi. Although they have worked together for a year, they have never talked about anything but business, so Noguchi invites her out for drinks before the trip. Mahiro gradually lets down her guard but passes out drunk and wakes up in a love hotel. The gentlemanly Noguchi assures her that nothing happened, but Mahiro says she does not want to go home yet, and the two share a passionate kiss.