

As a result, she feels powerless, insignificant, and that she is still similar to her past self, culminating in her desire to stop piloting and give up her power. Moreover, even with the Akatsubaki they fail to subdue the Gospel – showing a failure of the power she was so excited to receive. I believe this makes her realize the similarity to her past, when she practiced kendo only for power, and that this realization conflicts with her desire to do justice (expressed in some earlier episode whose number I do not remember). Ririn says the same thing as Ichika – that people with power, those with personal IS, cannot be selfish. Ichika introduces doubts about whether she uses her power correctly, as he tries to protect everyone he can regardless of whether they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’, telling her off for abandoning criminals. She is initially overjoyed, as she believes she is receiving power in the form of the Akatsubaki.

Houki undergoes some sort of mental trauma after that conversation, which causes her to drop her weapon mid-fight as well as not notice a barrage of projectiles headed toward her.īut other than that rather abstract fight, this episode does a good job of highlighting Houki’s inner turmoil. Perhaps their last meals were laced with ecstasy.ģ. What the heck was that weird colorful space that Houki and Ichika appeared in when they were talking. Ichika does not attack the Gospel when Houki has it immobilized, instead preferring to fly past to look at the fishing ship.Ģ. The fight against the Gospel was tragically short, and tragically confusing and nonsensical. Houki finds the determination to fight and win against the Gospel. Ririn, outraged, slaps some sense into her and then reveals that all the other girls are prepared to disobey orders and go after the Gospel (which Laura has found from her secret German intelligence). Ririn confronts her on the beach, where Houki expresses her desire to give up piloting IS. The rest of the episode enters extreme angst mode, as Houki falls into depression, blaming herself for Ichika’s condition and their failure. Houki catches him, they hurtle into the ocean, and the Gospel flies away. A fight breaks out, but it goes poorly when Ichika takes a hit to protect Houki and falls to the ocean. Ichika, however, fails his ninja check, and the Gospel dodges the attack. They soon catch up to the Gospel, and Ichika activates Reiraku Byakuya for the first strike. The operation begins with Ichika holding on to the Akabatsuki’s back to make use of its amazing speed. Houki, though, doesn’t seem tense at all and in fact, sounds joyful enough for Chifuyu to warn Ichika that she might do something stupid. The episode begins on a tense note as Ichika and Houki summon their IS right before the operation commences. Ichika and Houki face off against the Gospel – but it goes sour.
