At one point in his journey, he was in a forest. He had found Tanpopo sitting there by herself, but as the two didn't know each other yet and he looked like he hadn't showered in a month, she naturally started running away from him. She ended up tripping, but the sweet and kind Youji bandaged up her ankle. Seemingly out of the blue, he asked to take a picture with her. Hence they did, yet after the photo showed up, he simply handed it to her, told her she had a great smile, and left.

A few moments later, Kouki showed up looking for Tanpopo. When asked about her ankle, Tanpopo explained everything and showed him the photo. Kouki, who was still furious at his brother for leaving him, ran after him like a madman.

Tanpopo ended up chasing Kouki, and night fell so the two were now lost. Their friends came looking for them, and it was then that they stumbled across a passed out Youji. He was famished, so the grandfather took him in and gave him food to eat. When Kouki and Tanpopo got back shortly after, Kouki was enraged and dragged Youji back home.

Youji gets a mouthful from his parents, but he takes it with the defense that people should be allowed to do what they want, not what their parents want. He's kicked out of the house, so he lives in an apartment, coincidentally in the same building as Tanpopo's apartment. The two soon have a sweet little romance, before Tanpopo finally realizes that she's truly in love with Kouki, and goes after him instead. In the end, Youji starts thinking about taking over the family business.