On a snowy first day of 2010, a KitaTetsu train, bearing Aki and Eren, arrives at the main station in Kitasanriku. It is Aki's first time to come back after 4 months.
At the train stationmaster's booth, Yoshida sees her first. "Jejeh!" He is so flabbergasted as he tries to call Daikichi, that he jumbles up "Jeh" and "Ekicho" (station master) together. "Jekicho!" Daikichi sees Aki too and is pleasantly surprised. "Aki-chan! Welcome back!" Aki greets them a happy new year and introduces Eren to them. The men give them hot milk (?) and chats with them at the lobby. Aki meanwhile asks if the Rias shop is closed for the holiday. Daikichi says it's open since customers are doing "Hatsumode" (first shrine visit of the New Year) so it's business as usual. Haruko arrives not knowing Aki is coming so she is surprised to see her, too. She exclaims in full Tohoku accent. "Jejeh! The heck, why didn't you say you'll come back!" Aki: "I changed my mind. Since it was too sudden, I wasn't able to bring omiyage (gifts)." She introduces Eren who greets them with "Haisai!"
アイドルになる自信をなくしたアキ(能年玲奈)は、メンバーで沖縄出身の喜屋武(蔵下穂波)を連れて、北三陸に帰ってくる。突然の帰省に春子(小泉今日子)や夏(宮本信子)らは驚くが、町のみんなに歓迎され、にぎやかな正月を過ごす。懐かしい面々との会話に心を和ませるアキだが、喫茶リアスで春子を手伝うユイ(橋本愛)とだけは、以前のようには打ち解けられない。そんなときアキの携帯に一通のメールが…。