Germination

Mitsuomi, released from the hospital, believes that his time is running out. Bunshichi relays a message to Souichiro that Mitsuomi wants to fight him. Meanwhile, Aya interrupts class and challenges Maya to a fight after school, writing this message on the chalkboard. However, the two girls take the fight outside the classroom. After a long chase around the school, Aya expresses how she is not willing to take losing Souichiro lying down, wanting to become stronger. When the two girls each draw their swords, Bob prevents them from fighting but Souichiro then encourages Aya to do her best and win the match. Later at night, Mitsuomi challenges Souichiro to a match before the preliminaries. Although Maya tries to stop them, Souichiro transforms into his altered state, but he is still not strong enough. Suddenly, Souichiro transforms even further, his body covered in gold. He punches Mitsuomi back against the wall, but before he could give the finishing move, Souichiro stiffens and collapses due to the amount of energy he used. The next day, although Aya knows how much affection Souichiro has for Maya, she strives to become even stronger to prove her love for him.