Hagino reports to her "Master Commander" Shivariel, who addresses Hagino as "Ekaril," that she was out of contact for five years due to a malfunction in Blue's Emiru Force Drive. She explains this was the cause of the incident in Kamioki Island, in which one of her crew members died, along with the Arume landing party and all of the island's inhabitants except Mari. Azanael, a crew member on Shivariel's ship who lost her lover Onomil in the incident, attempts to attack Hagino, but is restrained. At the school, Mari talks with Michiko, who reveals that she writes stories to fully express herself. Akane Kawashima, an upperclassman, treats the two to lunch in the town, where she reveals her ambition to become a cook and asks Mari to be more open with Hagino. However, Mari is kidnapped by thugs just as Shivariel dispatches a probe to retrieve Mari, whom she is interested in. However, Hagino destroys the probe, causing a tearful Mari to embrace her in response.