Episode 4: Alien & Beginner Waitress Bath

The episode opens at the restaurant where Karna works as a waitress, China Miller's. As Karna bemoans the laziness of the employees at the governmental office who haven't gotten around to recognizing her status as a Level Five Over Alien, a disguised NieA is enjoying a lunch fit for a party of five. After NieA leaves, another waitress tells Karna that the "strange costumer" said Karna would pay. Upon seeing a note on the table that reads "NieA was here," Karna knows she's been had by that Under Alien again. Her enraged shout can probably be heard halfway to Enohana.

Meanwhile, Mayuko is on her way home from school. She's realizing that she has a "strange sense of pride." Chiaki had been complaining about how her allowance was already gone even though the month wasn't half over, and it had only been natural to ask how Mayuko's allowance situation stood. While Chiaki was impressed that Mayuko is supporting herself, Mayuko felt embarrassed that her jobs are so menial—delivering newspapers, cleaning at the bathhouse, and running delivery orders at Karuchie's European Restaurant.

When Mayuko arrives at the bathhouse, she finds Yoshioka preparing for the evening visitors. He tells her that Mrs. Enoshima is not feeling well, so he'll man the front door. Mayuko is distressed because today is NieA's turn to help at the bathhouse, and, even though Yoshioka tells her not to worry but to just go to her job at the restaurant. Mayuko nonetheless goes upstairs to look for NieA; while she doesn't find the alien girl, she finds another UFO that she has built, along with the leavings of Mayuko's emergency food stash that NieA had found and eaten. NieA herself is nowhere to be found, which is probably fortunate for "Little NieA" considering Mayuko's anger.

With NieA still absent, Mayuko prepares to leave for work, but just before she does her mother calls to let her know that her childhood friend, Genzo, has moved with his family to Enohana. The conversation is brief and Mayuko seems at once pleased and uncomfortable to talk to her mother.

Mayuko arrives a little late for work, but her boss, Shuhei Karuta, isn't upset; he's just opened and there are no costumers yet. Mayuko mentions that he has forgotten to turn the sign on, and Chie, his young but highly precocious daughter berates him. Although she is still in elementary school, she seems to be the more organized and business oriented of the two.

Meanwhile, a powerfully built young man with the beginning of goatee and dreadlocks poking out of his open-top wool cap causes a stir at the Enohana Bathhouse by walking into the women's bath to ask if "Chigasaki" lives there. Yoshioka firmly escorts him outside but becomes friendly when the man introduces himself as a friend of Mayuko's from her hometown. Yoshioka notes the heavy bags of rice that the young man is carrying under each arm, and, even though the visitors states that his father sent him to deliver them to Mayuko, he wants to give them to her personally. Yoshioka directs him to the restaurant.

At Karuchie's, business is non-existent, with no diners having arrived yet. Like most other businesses in Enohana, the restaurant is teetering on the brink of failure. Shuhei has to ask Mayuko to wait on her paycheck this month, and she agrees to do so… after all, she reasons, he helps her out by feeding her while she is at work. Further, Mayuko spends as much time working as she does being beat by Chie at video games. Eventually, however, the phone rings for a delivery order. Although Chie expresses disappointment that the order is for Japanese food instead of the European cuisine the restaurant is supposed to specialize in, there is admiration on her face while she quietly watches her father cook.

Mayuko leaves to deliver the order, passing the rice-carrying man on her way. He notices her, but continues on the restaurant to wait for her. Meanwhile, Karna arrives at the restaurant and orders some food to go. As she waits, the dreadlocked stranger arrives and asks for Mayuko. As soon as she lays eyes on him, Karna seems oddly rattled.

After making her delivery, Mayuko runs into NieA (literally). The little alien proudly shows her a portable turntable that she found while looking for parts for her new UFO project. Mayuko is unimpressed and lambastes NieA for eating the emergency food supply, but goes to far when she mentions that she will get a free dinner at work. NieA becomes obsessed with getting a free meal as well and chases Mayuko all the way back to the restaurant while cheering about free food.

Mayuko, who is on a bike, reaches Karuchie's well before NieA. Here, she meets the large young man who reveals himself to be Genzo. He has changes so since he was a small child that Mayuko doesn't recognize him, but she accepts the gift of rice while Karna watches with irritation. Before Genzo and Mayuko can talk further, NieA bursts in demanding her free meal. Karna immediately flies into a rage, yelling that NieA is to blame for her having to eat a cheap dinner from a diner like Karuchie's European Restaurant. NieA tries to deflect blame onto Mayuko and Karna's tirade expands, calling both of them losers and stating that the shabby restaurant is perfect for losers like them but far beneath someone of "elite" status like herself.

Eventually, Chie has her fill of Karna's insults to her friends and her father's restaurant. She demands that Karna justify her comments and rebukes her father when he tries to apologize. Chie doesn't care if Karna is a costumer or not when she behaves in such a rude fashion. Karna's holier-than-thou outrage is about to find a new target until Genzo speaks up, agreeing with Chie that Karna is rude. This seems to take all winds out of Karna's sails, and with a final warning to NieA that she'll remember this, she storms from the establishment without her dinner. Chie too rushes out after her father tries to make excuses for Karna's behavior. Mayuko follows her and their conversation reveals Chie's love for her father and the restaurant and gives Mayuko food for thought regarding her own life and priorities. Mayuko, however, fails to notice Genzo's hesitation as he is leaving Karuchie's, nor does she seem to think twice about her request to deliver more rice to her.