Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life (2007)

Hotaru returns to Japan after three years on assignment in Hong Kong. She presumptuously returns to the house with her manager and has her suitcases delivered there. The manager has a surprise in store for her that reveals his feelings. Notwithstanding that, Hotaru is a 'himono onna' with no savings to her name so the plans have to be delayed. There are new faces and new feelings in the office. Then there is the woman the man was drinking with.

Hotaru resolves to become a changed woman given her new status. She is determined to become thrifty, save, dress appropriately and make herself worthy of her promised future. Who is the woman and child visiting the house and calling her manager and man 'papa' though? Her co-worker misses her period and may be pregnant. Hotaru organizes a children's event and ends up going for a meal of Iberian pig not when she anticipated, where she thought or with whom she planned.

It is a break-out episode. Hotaru has a break out and heads to the doctor to have it examined. The manager is getting a lesson in bitter melons and many recipes to try. His friend seeks distance now that her old friend is committed to Hotaru. The white cat is also part of the story and is innocent in all of this.

Little girl arranges for her mother and old boyfriend to spend a night together, but the man has a girlfriend. A co-worker stays with Hotaru, helps with boarding up against the typhoon and dispenses love advice. The manager strains his ankle after lying to Hotaru.

The agency staff do their best to secure a better real-estate price for their client, but an awkward timing and loose lips may sink their endeavor. the manager has to travel early out of town for business meetings and asks for breakfast to be ready. An employee or two decide to become housewives after marriage and a proposal is shockingly withdrawn.

Following the marriage proposal, or rather suggestion, a club is formed. The Club's membership is withdrawable however. With that out of the way there is another confession of love, not to mention some sweets, snot, offal and a very cheap sale that does not quite pan out the way you would expect. A second marriage proposal is preceded by another confession of love and cross dressing. There is cross dressing later too.

Every relationship has its highs and lows and this week certainly has more than its share of lows. Hotaru is not candid. The manager is not candid. The co-worker Seno, however, is candid although he is playing a game of his own. Oh, the fortune teller is not candid either.

With wedding plans underway, the manager insists the arrangements be done formally and traditionally and there be a formal introduction to the respective parents and families. Hotaru's older sister meets the manager and passes on the former's savings. The manager, however, is not impressed with Hotaru's disappearing acts. Miss Konatsu gets her dream set-up.

It is not quite The Lord Of The Rings, but a boss leaves, a ring is lost, a boss returns and a ring is found. Hotaru is alone and ashamed and recruits Konatsu for help. She and co-workers take a fishing trip. She does not accept an overture, but does receive her first kiss later.

Change is a foot. The boss father, who is the landlord, is back. The boss is contemplating a vocational change. Time-lines and formalities for the marriage may need tinkering and Miss Konatsu's shop is coming along. Hotaru rebuffs a proposal and tries her hand at both cooking and nursing.

In the final episode, Seno tries one last time, but fails to sway Hotaru to his side. The boss wins, but not without colleagues marrying in Miss Konatsu's now-open cafe first. Taiwan happens and ends and the couple finally end up in the same bed.