Official couple alert!! It has taken 33 episodes but we finally have our first pairing in Emika and Tupas. I'm not counting Risako and Kenny because ol' Riri insisted they were still in the "talking" phase of their relationship when they moved out of the house together. Yama-chan, the resident cynic in the studio, argues that Emika is only humoring Tupas because she wants to do some damage control for her reputation after getting bashed by "Terrace House" fans on social media, but I see genuine chemistry between the two.
Then again, maybe I'm just feeling generous since this is the first episode to air after Valentine's Day.
Regardless, it's fitting that the episode begins with Hana, Emika and Vivi taking stock of their current love lives. Vivi is still harboring feelings for Ryo, mentioning that she thinks she'll "see him again at some point" and looking hopelessly smitten. Hana went out for dinner with Kai in the previous episode, and while she can talk to him with ease, she views him as just a friend.