The ninth episode of the NTV drama series "PUNCH-DRUNK WOMAN - XX Days Until Escape -" (Sundays at 10:30 PM), starring actress Ryoko Shinohara, aired on March 22nd. In the final scenes of the episode, Reiji (Jesse), who is imprisoned in Hikawa Detention Center for a crime he did not commit, attempts to escape with the help of prison guard Kozue Fuyuki (Shinohara), and Reiji's words at that time have caused a stir on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
In episode 9, Kozue, having resolved to help Reiji escape from prison, transforms into a villain. To conceal her escape plan, she drives her troublesome superior, Koyanagi (Takeshi Ukaji), out of the detention center and lies to her friend, Detective Saeki (Naohito Fujiki), telling him she wants to marry him.
And just as Kozue had planned, the detention center decided to implement a new surveillance system. During the system switchover, all surveillance cameras and vein authentication would be temporarily shut down. Aiming to escape during that brief "10-minute window," Kozue suggested conducting an evacuation drill that very day to make her plan perfect.
However, as preparations for the prison break progress, Koyanagi, who has discovered the plan, sets out for revenge. Furthermore, the police also sense the signs of the escape... and so the story unfolds.
In this episode, on the day of the prison break, the evacuation drill is carried out as planned, and Kozue takes advantage of the moment when the surveillance cameras and vein authentication devices are disabled to get the four escapees out of the punishment cell. While Tokai (Tsutomu Takahashi) and Ryoma (Karma) are arrested red-handed, Reiji and Numata (Yuki Kubota) head to the van parked at the main gate. Kozue rushes to the scene and tells Reiji that they will never see each other again once they get out of here, but despite her words, she feels an overwhelming urge to stay with him. Seeing this, Reiji takes off her cap and says, "Let's run away together... Kozue," and extends his hand.
On social media, there was a flood of excited comments about Reiji's lines. Comments such as "Aaaahhh!!", "Reiji is so lovey-dovey", "The suspense of the prison break and Reiji's loveliness kept my heart racing..." and "It was so good I cried" were posted, generating a lot of buzz.
