Good mor-ning!
I'm sooo glad everyone worked out their Duos!
Now you'll be sitting in Duos, too--
sort of a fresh start, y'know?
Ooh, what's this? Looks like some of you are keeping your seats!
Ja. We're highly compatible.
Our personalities! We have compatible personalities!
Well, now that your official Duos have been decided,
soon we'll move on to the long-awaited mock Blaze battle:
your first Novgladius!
"Novgladius"
You might be wondering how it works!
You'll each be up against...
...everybody else!
We lived in a closed-up past
With an ever-distant future and time unmoving
Finding in our battle now what we were searching for
The power to believe in each other, beyond even destiny
We'll get stronger, you and me: a pair to the end
This light reflects a bond even deeper than our wounds
I want to protect you... and so my soul runs out to you now
Just hand it over to me (all of it)--even your pain
We're together (together) that's why (that's why) we can make it our strength
I'll be your shield, and yours alone
My back to yours, I believe in miracles (in meetings)
No one can intrude on that (can't stop it)
Looking down on our limits from far above: Absolute Soul
"#3: Avenger"
Checkmate.
You got me.
That's four losses in a row.
Tor, your movements seem a little awkward.
I'm not used to this shield yet.
Oh, is that it?
But the Novgladius is next Saturday, so... what can you do?
I have a suggestion.
About using your shield. Here, try to punch me.
Got it.
I!
Two!
Too close! Too close!
A step too far.
Try it from here.
On "I," step forward while taking your opponent's attack,
and on "two," strike with Mjölnir.
"Mjölnir"?
I've named your right fist,
after the most powerful weapon wielded by the thunder god Thor.
Now she's up and naming things.
What do you think?
I think it's a good idea.
This isn't a Blaze--if it connects, it'll hurt for real.
I don't want to use it much.
I see...
But I think this way of wielding my shield will work.
Will you practice with me?
Ja.
I... I made it...
Hey! Hotaka?!
Huh? I...
Oh, you came to!
Kokonoe...?
Wh-Wh-Why are you carrying me?! Let me go!
I'm getting down! Put me down!
Calm down, or you'll hurt yourself!
--Put me down! --And... things keep bumping into... other things!
Quit thrashing around!
Better?
S-Sorry.
Why, uh... how...
You'd collapsed. You don't remember?
No.
And you rescued me?
More or less. Let's get you to the infirmary, just in case.
Thanks...
It's good to try hard... just not too hard.
What's up?
If I don't try my hardest, I'll just hold Tomoe back.
I'm not particularly good at anything.
I'm awful at schoolwork and physical activity both.
So when I learned I was suited for a Lukifer, I was thrilled.
After all, we're one in a thousand.
But...
...with Tomoe and Julie and... and you...
...and all these amazing people here--
I feel like I really don't have anything after all.
So you ran until you collapsed?
That was all I could think to do.
Gaining physical strength is the most important part of getting stronger,
so running's not a bad idea.
Really?
Talent has nothing to do with working on the basics.
So if you keep on running, you're sure to get stronger.
Maybe don't overdo it, though.
Okay. Thanks, Kokonoe.
Tor...
Now then, let's review the Novgladius rules!
It will last two hours, from 5 PM to 7.
The place: the north end of the school grounds!
Fight face to face, drawing on your Blaze's unique qualities,
or make it so that you have the advantage!
Good luck!
Here we go, Tor.
Are you sure about our strategy?
Ja. Go straight forward and knock down whoever you find there.
We'll keep it simple.
We really are highly compatible.
Okay, here we go! Let the Novgladius begin!
C'mon, Julie!
Ja!
Blaze!
N-No way!
Ow ow ow...
I give up!
That's a win for us.
Ja.
Sneak attacks, mimicry, seduction...
So many different tactics.
Ja.
One hour left.
With so many Duos eliminated, it'll be harder to find opponents.
Why don't we go somewhere we haven't been?
You mean...
Please be careful. We're within striking distance.
Pretty rowdy hello you got there, Tachibana.
I figured you'd dodge that one.
I've been looking forward to taking you two on.
Same here!
Well, then... Tachibana-Style Eighteen Arts:
Tomoe Tachibana attacks!
It figures...
The Tachibana School covers many martial arts.
This and judo are my particular specialties.
Okay, the gloves are off... Tachibana Orochi Form!
Miyabi, you're up!
Blaze!
Kokonoe, Julia... prepare yourselves!
This is it, Kokonoe!
You take the back, Tor.
You bet! I've got this!
Come on!
Here goes, Kokonoe!
I... I can't...
I knew it... I'm just not--
I had no idea!
Pushing me back like that? Nice blow, Hotaka.
Y-You think so?
Oh, yeah. There's no letting my guard down now. I gotta work harder!
Me, too! I'll work harder, too! Then I'll get stronger, and--
Yeah. We'll both do our best, Hotaka.
Uh-huh!
So this is you with your gloves off... But I will not lose!
It's not over yet!
Checkmate.
You saw that blow coming from behind?
Ja. You're powerful, so I have to stay alert at all times.
I am utterly defeated.
Let's give it all we've got--together.
Sure thing, Tomoe!
It looks like we have time for one more match.
I'd like to fight Tora and his partner...
Tora! Tatsu!
Are you all right?
Oh, Kokonoe!
Miss Tsukimi!
What on earth happened?
We just got here ourselves.
They need medical attention--right away.
Tora, are you okay? Tora!
Tora?
Behind you... Tor...
So close! Just a little more and my Blaze would have sliced you in two!
Miss Tsukimi? But why?
Why?
Because I'm the one who did this to them, of course!
No...
Are you all right, Tor?
Yeah...
You mean... a Blaze can--
Isn't it a little too convenient that humans are the only things
these wall-breaking, ground-smashing weapons can't harm?
Blaze power is the embodiment of the soul--
and one's mental attitude can change in any number of ways!
Nice reaction!
So when you use a Blade with deadly intent, it can injure people?
You're a quick one, Silverlocks!
Lesson 1: A Blaze can in fact, kill a person!
But this is classified information, so keep it to yourself, 'kay?
Moving on to Lesson 2:
What happens when a Blaze is destroyed?
Tora!
As we see here, the psyche takes enough damage to knock you out
for an entire day.
But for having your spirit destroyed, things could be a lot worse.
Why would you do such a thing?
All in a day's work!
Just dealing with some of our most promising newcomers.
But that's enough chit-chat.
Time to kill you.
Above us!
Too slow!
Too bad, so sad!
C'mon, put some more oomph into it if you don't want to die!
C'mon, don't conk out on me now!
It's over!
Julie... you okay?
Ja.
Can you really afford to worry about anyone but yourself?
You're trying your best. It's just not good enough.
Die, weakling!
She's weak. All she did was die.
Why, you...!
Oh, my! If only that had connected, am I right?
Your attack transition is too slow!
Are you all right?!
Yeah, but she's got me beat on strength...
...and me on speed.
We need one sure-hit strike, one strike that will take her down.
If only we could be that lucky.
Tor?
So! Have you decided which of you will die first?
Nej. I'll protect Tor!
And such a fledgling Duo, too! What marvelous students...
You make your teacher proud!
Tor?!
I won't let you kill Julie! I'll keep her safe!
Okay, then, Irregular! I guess I'll be slaughtering you first!
Take that! And that! And that!
You can't do it alone!
Stay back! Let me handle this!
Tor!
What's wrong? Go on--try to dent this shield of mine!
Quit your bluffing!
You sure were tenacious. But this is where you bid your life farewell.
If you've got any witty last words, say them now!
All right, if you insist...
Julie, I--
What--are you confessing your love?!
Thanks for the laugh!
Now to slice you into two neat pieces!
What?!
Tor! Take two!
You're still too slow!
Don't tell me... you--
Thanks for the lecture, Professor!
Smash it, Mjölnir!
In celebration of our Novgladius victory.
Ja.
Ow ow ow...
You really picked up on that last combination there.
Thanks to you, we pulled it off even with me so focused on my attack.
We did practice the "I, two" thing a lot.
And only you would realize, in the middle of all that,
that you could destroy Tsukimi's Blaze.
Well, with Tora and his partner rescued and Tsukimi apprehended,
I think we're okay for now.
But why'd she say it was "all in a day's work"?
What could she have meant?
Not that you'd know!
Let's focus on tending your wounds for now.
Right.
Are you okay, Tor?
I'm sorry, Tor.
Kokonoe, Julie--we've brought some provisions.
How are your injuries?
K-Kokonoe, you dog!
No! This was an accident!
Kokonoe... I knew it...
Knew what?! Set them straight, Julie!
The wind stops, having touched your back
As you walked all alone
The sound of bells echoes beside you
Loneliness melts away in time
Wishes to the skies, oaths to eternity: my soul
Though caught in the driving rain, we are two: Just believe, believe, believe
Even the faintest voice will reach you-- that alone is enough
For even trembling hands to hold a shining hope
Courage spread wide, we breathe together and grab the sky
In my world, you're here
What happened?
She's weak. All she did was die.
Tor...
Sorry. I was having a bad dream.
I'm going to get some fresh air. You go back to sleep.
Who's Otoha?
In the throes of your nightmare, you said,
"Otoha... why?"
Forget about that.
Tell me. I won't forgive you if you don't.
Forget about it.
I will kill you.
Forget it!
Is that what you're after, Tor?
Is that why you took the Lukifer--the Blaze?
Julie?
I'm just like you:
an Avenger.
Julie, did you hear about the new transfer student from England?
Nej. I don't have time for that right now.
Is something wrong?
Tomorrow I'm going shopping with Tor.
"Next time: Exception"
Next time: "Exception."
Is that a date?