The Ethics Committee, which is controlled by the Kurogane family and Akaza creates a scandal by photographing Stella and Ikki kissing on school grounds. Ikki later gets arrested and is placed in a special prison owned by the Kurogane family, where he is continually interrogated and forced to fight the Selection matches even while being imprisoned. Despite the odds against him, Ikki continues to win his matches. During one of his hearings, he appeals to speak to his father, which to everyone's amazement is granted. However, his father tells him to quit the selection process; if Ikki wins, he would cause unrest in his father's organization by inspiring those without (magical) ability to aim higher. Ikki is distraught that his father still refuses to acknowledge him; however, Yuri Sensei slips him a lock of Stella's hair reminding him of his promise to fight Stella in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival. The Ethics Committee inform Ikki that his final opponent in the Selection Matches will be Toka Todo and if he loses, he will have to give up his dream.