Oh god look at all the Naoki eyes rofl

A tad late on that one.

Kotoko is excited about the vacation Naoki has planned with her to Kyuushuu, though she’s unaware as to the real nature of it. She’s content with believing that she’ll get some alone time with Naoki, but instead she gets to meet his grumpy grandfather and bratty cousins.

It’s like a scene out of Doraemon

Grandpa takes an immediate dislike to Kotoko, and immediately begins “making her prove herself as Naoki’s wife” by doing menial tasks as well as helping out in the farm. (By wife we mean domestic slave, amirite?) Naoki’s cousins meanwhile get a kick out of teasing and making fun of Kotoko for not being too bright. Under the pretense of throwing Kotoko a “welcoming party”, they tell her a ghost story that the 10^th generation wife of the Isshiki family will be haunted.

Oka…what?

Throughout her stay, however, Kotoko is surprised to find herself receiving help from Grandpa secretly. It’s almost as if he’s a different person at times. The final test for Grandpa’s approval is to find some Akebia fruit, which Naoki’s cousins declare as impossible. After getting lost, Kotoko is helped by Grandpa and finds the fruits.

Naoki, your wife is insane.

When she returns however, she finds out Grandpa has been at the house all along. It turns out that Kotoko saw none other than Isshiki Kikunosuke, who was the head of household ten generations (almost 200 years) ago, and looks exactly like Grandpa save a large mole on his cheek. Uh oh.

And your daughter is just as insane.

Present day, Kotoko and Naoki make their way back to Kyuushuu. Both Kotoko and Kotomi are able to see Kikunosuke.

Thoughts:
As dreadfully interesting as this episode was, I still can’t help but to think it would have worked better if it preceded the previous episode. Well, anyway, Kotoko is as usual fighting against all comers to Naoki, her daughter included. ~_~
And Naoki’s grandpa! I thought grandparents were supposed to be the nice and spoil their grandchildren. At least, mine do. :p I suppose Naoki’s mother spoils Kotoko enough.
We finally found out what Kotoko’s bloodline is good for: Spirit-mediums.

Btw, what is Akebia? Wikipedia didn’t give me a clear answer. The way it was presented as so coveted a fruit made me curious.