On the first day of school, Ryūji discovers that he and Taiga, the meanest girl in class, share a secret: each loves the other's best friend.

Taiga's efforts to get closer to Yūsaku fail: A scheme in basketball ends with Taiga knocked out, and she drops a plate of cookies out a window.

Ryūji and Taiga spend a day helping Minori at one of her many part-time jobs, and Ryūji gets to know her better when they're locked in a storehouse.

Taiga has a photo album full of blurry pictures of Kitamura. Ryūji offers to snap some pictures of him instead.

Followed by a stalker, Ami hides out with Taiga and decides that she must discard her fake personality from now on.

When the school's pool opens for the summer, the gang shops for new swimsuits, and Ryūji helps Taiga with an embarrassing problem.

Ryūji tries to help Taiga win a swimming race against Ami, but when Ryūji nearly drowns, the truth about Taiga's feelings comes out.

As preparations get under way for the school's cultural festival, Ryūji urges Taiga to consider reconciling with her estranged father.

Yūsaku has a meltdown in class, dyes his hair blond and refuses to run for student council, causing everyone to wonder what's wrong with him.

With Christmas approaching, the student council plans a party while Taiga decides to curry favor with Santa by playing Cupid for Ryūji and Minori.

The love triangle of Ryūji, Minori and Taiga reaches a crisis point when true feelings are realized during the school's Christmas Eve party.

Knowing that Taiga believes she was rescued by Yūsaku during the ski trip, Ryūji asks Yūsaku to pretend that she's correct.

When Yasuko collapses from anemia due to overwork, Ryūji and Taiga take over her job of selling chocolate and use Ami's celebrity to improve sales.

When Yasuko reconciles with her parents, the truth about Ryūji's father is revealed, inspiring him to have a traditional wedding with Taiga.