Ep 9. Kokoro All Alone

Kokoro All Alone is the ninth episode of Aishiteruze Baby season 1. This episode focuses on the character of Kokoro, a classmate of Kippei's who often appears to be cold and aloof towards him.

The episode begins with Kokoro arriving at school and immediately being confronted by a group of bullies who demand that she give them money. Despite her efforts to argue and fight back, Kokoro is unable to defend herself and is forced to hand over all of her cash. Kippei happens to be passing by and sees the incident, but is unsure of how to intervene without making things worse for Kokoro.

The rest of the day at school is tense for Kokoro, who is clearly upset by what happened earlier. Kippei tries to approach her and offer support, but she rebuffs him coldly. This behavior only reinforces Kippei's previous impression of her as unfriendly and unapproachable.

After school, Kokoro goes to work at her part-time job, where she is responsible for cleaning rooms at a hotel. As she descends into the basement to collect cleaning supplies, Kokoro feels an eerie presence and is suddenly scared to be alone. She tries to rush through her work as quickly as possible, but it's clear that something is troubling her.

As Kokoro exits the hotel, she runs into Kippei once again. He asks if she's okay and she insists that she's fine, but her demeanor suggests otherwise. Kippei offers to walk her home and she reluctantly agrees. Along the way, Kippei tries to engage her in conversation and get to know her better, but she remains guarded and doesn't say much.

When they arrive at Kokoro's house, Kippei discovers that she lives alone. This surprises him, since Kokoro always seemed like she came from a wealthy family. Kokoro explains that both of her parents are dead, and that she's been living on her own since middle school. Kippei is shocked by this revelation, and suddenly understands why Kokoro is the way she is.

As Kippei prepares to leave, Kokoro finally opens up to him and admits that she's scared of being alone all the time. She confides in Kippei that she's been working hard to save money so that she can afford to attend college and make a better life for herself. Kippei is touched by her determination and offers to stay with her for the night, promising to protect her from whatever might be scaring her.

The two spend the evening talking and bonding, and Kippei learns a lot more about Kokoro than he ever knew before. By the end of the night, Kokoro has grown much closer to Kippei, and he's gained a newfound respect for her strength and resilience. The episode ends with Kippei promising to always be there for Kokoro, no matter what she needs.

Overall, Kokoro All Alone is a touching and emotional episode that explores the struggles of a young girl who's had to grow up too fast. It's a testament to the power of human connection, and the way that sometimes all it takes is a kind gesture to change someone's life for the better.