Itazura na Kiss Season 1 Episode 4 Throbbing Summer Vacation

Tomboyish high school student Kotoko Aihara is the focus of Itazura na Kiss. Despite her academic struggles, Kotoko harbors feelings for Naoki Irie, the smartest guy in her class. The catch? Naoki has never shown interest in her. Episode 4 begins with Kotoko preparing for her family's summer vacation, but her plans take a detour when her grades come in, revealing that she failed math yet again.

Kotoko's mother decides to hire a private tutor to help her daughter catch up with her studies. She enlists the help of Naoki's father, who agrees to take on the task. However, Kotoko soon discovers that Naoki's father is less than thrilled about being her tutor and he doesn't hesitate to let her know it.

Despite the difficult start to her tutoring sessions, Kotoko wants to impress Naoki's father, hoping that it will bring her closer to Naoki. She goes to great lengths to study hard and improve, even sacrificing time with her family during their vacation to focus on her studies. But despite her efforts, she continues to struggle with math. Naoki's father becomes increasingly frustrated with her lack of progress, leading to tension between the two of them.

As the vacation progresses, Kotoko finds herself spending more time with Naoki's family, gradually getting to know them better. She becomes particularly close to Naoki's younger brother, Yuuki, who takes an interest in her and invites her to explore the area with him. Kotoko accepts, grateful for the distraction from her studies.

While out on an excursion with Yuuki, Kotoko runs into Naoki and his friends. They invite her to join them for a swim, and Kotoko eagerly accepts. However, things take a turn when she realizes that Naoki is more interested in hanging out with his friends and ignores her. She becomes increasingly frustrated and hurt, feeling like she's wasted her time trying to impress him.

The tension between Kotoko and Naoki's father comes to a head when he calls her out on her lack of progress. He tells her that she's not cut out for rigorous academics and that she should focus on something she's good at instead. Kotoko is devastated, feeling like she's failed yet again. However, Yuuki encourages her, telling her that he believes in her and that she's capable of achieving her goals.

The episode ends with Kotoko and Naoki's family preparing to leave the vacation spot. Kotoko reflects on her experiences and realizes that, even though she didn't win Naoki's affections, she learned a lot about herself and what she's capable of. She leaves the vacation feeling more determined than ever to improve herself academically and pursue her dreams.