The Girl Who Longs For Her Art Student...
Love Shock in Hakone Hot Springs.

No pockets, therefore no money. Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sano, and Misao were all forced off the boat to Osaka due to an incident. Thus, the five find themselves walking uphill. Not too far ahead is Hakone, famous for their hot springs. At the Hakone Inn, the Kenshin Gumi spends the night. After a big feast in the most expensive room of the inn, the manager comes along to ask if they can pay the bill. Kaoru thinks it's no problem; she has money, but had left it with Kenshin. When Kenshin checks to reassure that he does have the money, nothing turns up. The manager grows upset, but quickly, Kenshin and company volunteer to work to pay off their debt.

That really doesn't look like Misao, now does it? After a hard day's work at the inn, Kaoru and Misao soak in the famous hot springs. As they talk amongst themselves, Misao spots someone in a nearby tree. A bucket is thrown by the weasel girl and a man falls out from the tree. Kaoru screams once the peeping tom is spotted, causing Kenshin, Yahiko, and Sano to come charging in. The three are hit with buckets as well. Later, the entire incident is cleared up. The man introduces himself as Higashiyama Ryuzaburo, a student studying Western art. Ryuzaburo had only been spying because he wanted to capture true beauty. With that mentioned, Misao takes the spotlight and begins bragging that she cannot be the idol of another man. However, Ryuzaburo was talking about Kaoru.

The general reaction to Ryuzaburo's announcement The following day, while the others are all working, Kaoru is simply sitting down, posing for Ryuzaburo. Everything is going fine and the painting looks very nice. Everyone agrees that the painting is really good, but Ryuzaburo doesn't think so. Ryuzaburo claims to have only captured Kaoru's outside, when he really wants to paint the inside of Kaoru. Suddenly, the aspiring painter tells Kaoru that he loves her. Everyone is left in shock. Kaoru doesn't really know what to say, so she just leaves suddenly. Sano reminds Ryuzaburo that it's impossible to get Kaoru anyway, since she has Kenshin. Feeling as though he has failed, Ryuzaburo prepares to leap out of the window to commit suicide, but Sano stops him. With second thoughts, Ryuzaburo thinks for a bit and asks Sano for guidance. Misao comes up with an idea. After Misao whispers it into Sano's ear, Sano issues a challenge to Ryuzaburo. The only way Sano will give Ryuzaburo advice is if he hits Kenshin with Yahiko's shinai by sunset.

Kenshin takes out some might powerful bees. For the remainder of the day, Ryuzaburo is set on hitting Kenshin. Although he misses more than on one occasion, there is much determination left. Near sunset, Kaoru and everyone else meets up with Kenshin at the mountain top where Kenshin was picking vegetables for dinner. Kaoru had been told of Misao's idea and was concerned about Ryuzaburo. Out of the blue comes Ryuzaburo with Yahiko's shinai. Again he misses hitting Kenshin, but this time, lands and angers a nest of sparrow bees. Kenshin fends off the bees while Sano takes the young artist to safety. Once the bees are shooed away, Kaoru tends to Kenshin's stings. At last, Ryuzaburo can draw the real Kaoru, after seeing her relationship with Kenshin.

Smile of a Goddess...? The next morning, Ryuzaburo leaves the Hakone Inn. As a farewell present, he gives Kaoru her painting, wrapped up. On the road back home, after finally paying off their debt, everyone bothers Kaoru to see her painting. When Kaoru finally gives in, she allows them to do so. The picture is entitled "Smile of a Goddess". With just a glimpse of the picture, Kenshin, Yahiko, Sano, and Misao all run away with big grins on their faces. When at a farther distance, they all begin to crack up. The picture looks nothing like what any of them would consider art.