Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun 2nd Stage – 03 – A Beauty on Each Arm

Tomozaki the student has become the teacher of Tama, and starts by copying his teacher’s methods: using a voice recorder so Tama gets an idea how her talking sounds. The thing is, Tama is far from “bottom-tier”, and he quickly realizes things like her voice, posture, and expressions aren’t keeping her from getting along in class. For now, he suggests the obvious tactic: not arguing with Konno for a bit.

When Tama and Tomozaki leave together, Mimimi spots them and is playfully suspicious of them, while Aoi is also watching from afar. In their next meeting, Tomozaki tells Aoi that Tama has made clear she wants to change, for Mimimi’s sake. But Aoi thinks if she changes “none of this” matters. I have a feeling “this” doesn’t simply refer to the current Konno conflict.

Aoi may not like it, but she can’t stop Tama from doing what she wants (at least not yet) so Tomozaki continues his meetings with Tama. Tama also ignores Konno when she shoves her desk. That’s the first clue to Mizusawa that something is up. Just as Tomozaki is conceding that they need a “big game-changing move” to push the class to her side, he interrupts them.

Mizusawa figured they were scheming about something related to Konno, and frankly he wants in. When asks why Tama isn’t fond of him, he mentions a time in the past when Tama got in a huge fight with Nakamura and Konno, and when she dragged him and Takei into it he took Nakamura’s side.

Tomozaki decides this is a perfect chance for Tama to level up: by befriending Mizusawa. They sit down for a chat, and the first thing she asks him about is whether he likes Aoi. Mizusawa admits that he does like her … as a friend. He turns the line of questioning on Tama vis-a-vis Tomozaki, to which she denies a little too vehemently.

When Mimimi encounters Tama with Tomozaki and Mizusawa, she notes what a smooth operator Tama has become. When Tomozaki rejects the notion of being a beauty or a knight on one of Tama’s arms, Mimimi comes to his defense, telling him he really shouldn’t run himself down like that all the time. I continue to ship Tomozaki and Mimimi.

When Tama and Mimimi take off, Mizusawa is relieved Tama has stopped rising to Konno’s provocations, since any slip-up would aware Konno another “excuse” to turn her “attacks” into “punishment.” For further practice, he recommends bringing Takei into the fold, but only to tell him they’re cheering Tama up.

Mizusawa, for reasons of self-preservation and perceived universal neutrality, wishes to keep his involvement in this under wraps. Tomozaki is amazed how Mizusawa can “do everything” but is “never mean,” to which Mizusawa gives Tomozaki a friendly warning that he can scheme with the best of them; “just another guy doing what he wants.”

Tomozaki’s next meeting with Aoi is short and chilly; a nice visual contrast to the warm browns of where Tomozaki is advising Tama. Aoi admits she can’t do anything about Tama’s choice, nor does she have any intention of abandoning her own methods, so she proposes they suspend future meetings until “the situation” with Tama has improved.

Konno’s petty attacks continue, but Tama stops reacting, engendering more sympathy from the class. But Tomozaki is curious what exactly Aoi is doing, because it can’t be nothing. He spots her talking to Mao, one of Konno’s friends, but doesn’t know what about. He’s on the outside, looking in.

In the next meeting with Tama, Mizusawa gets into the importance of emitting “charm.” He contrasts how Tama and Takei presented themselves to the class before the sports tournament, and how Takei specializes in what is essentially his class clown role. He then defines charm as having “consistent vulnerability,” citing Aoi’s outsize love of cheese as an example. I loved Tama wondering if Aoi “does that on purpose”, because, yes, she totally does.

True to character, Takei makes a pratfall entrance, and is then nothing but nice as he apologizes to Tama for not having more courage to stand up to Konno. He believes she’s in the right, and feels genuinely bad if his inaction hurt her. When he says she shouldn’t thank him when he’s trying to apologize, Tama lets out a genuine, effortless laugh.

While Takei tells her the names of other classmates who feel bad for her, Tama doesn’t recognize them, which causes a lightning bolt of insight in Tomozaki’s head. He then peels of a beautiful treatise on how important it was in his social development to reach out to and take an interest in others besides himself, and accept their specific thoughts and concerns.

In effect, he trained himself to be more empathetic. “If I don’t know them, I can’t get along with them”—Tama gets it. Takei is moved. Even Mizusawa looks impressed, if unsurprised. Like Mimimi said, Tomozaki is cooler than he thinks, and he’s definitely Getting Better at this game called life. If he hadn’t, Mizusawa wouldn’t be calling the four of them “Team Tomozaki.”

I really enjoyed the purposeful use of repetition as Mimimi greets Tama expecting her to be alone, only to find her with Tomozaki, then Tomozaki and Mizusawa, and finally Tomozaki, Mizusawa, and Takei. But this last time, Aoi is also there, and sees this Team Tomozaki for the first time.

Outside a konbini, Aoi asks Tama is she really wants to change, saying quite coyly that she doesn’t want to think facing things head-on is the wrong thing. This is Aoi purposefully putting the pressure on Tama, knowing full well her “teacher” Tomozaki is right there listening.

Aoi is then the one to relieve that pressure, but saying that’s only what she wants, giving tacit approval for Tama to politely decline her way. When she sees Tama and Tomozaki getting along and laughing, she calls them “two peas in a pod”, and it doesn’t sound like a compliment?

She smiles and gives a thumbs-up, telling Tama she has her support too, and as she does, like me, all Tomozaki can think about is whether this is just another Aoi mask. The answer to that is, of course it is. Just look at that serene, completely unreadable expression! Whatever it is Aoi is doing, I don’t think she’s really going to stop.

Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun 2nd Stage – 02 – This Aggression Will Not Stand

Operation: Get Konno Erika Motivated goes off without a hitch, thanks to Tomozaki experly deploying three agents to fill up her motivation gauge. It starts with Yuzu asking her to help out with the tournament—Konno is always ready to help out her friends. Hinami then plants the seed in another friend that she doubts Konno’s athletic ability. Finally, Mizusawa tells Konno that Nakamura likes sporty girls.

Put it all together and it’s a home run. Tomozaki technically fails his part of the tournament by fouling out before he can score a lay-up to endear himself to the jocks, but the speed with which he fouls out endears him to them anyway. But the good times only last as long as Konno doesn’t know Izumi and Nakamura are an item.

When she finds out she’s pissed, but instead of taking it out on Izumi, she targets Hirabayashi, the most timid girl in class. Konno scoffs off her attacks as accidental—knocking into her desk, paper airplanes to the head, etc.—but pretty soon everyone notices the malicious intent.

Tomozaki wants to do something to help, but Hinami advises a wait-and-see approach, pointing out that Hirabayashi has yet to do anything to stop the abuse. When Konno escalates by sitting on her desk, Tomozaki stands up and is about to speak up, but someone beats him to it: Natsubayashi Hanabi, AKA Tama.

Tama says what everyone is thinking: that this shit is getting old, but Konno plays games, feigning ignorance. When Tama gets in her face, Konno puts her hand on her arm and says Tama is “shaking like a leaf”; when Tama brushes her off, Konno pretends to be injured, and uses that as ammo against her in subsequent interactions.

Tomozaki observes a change in Hinami when Konno’s target changes from Hirabayashi to Tama, one of her friends. Hinami speaks with all of the mid-level girls to get them sympathetic to Tama (and turn them against Konno), while Mimimi stays close to Tama in order to keep things from spiraling out of hand. It’s as if Hinami is exploiting Tama’s pushback as an opportunity to hurt Konno, while Mimimi is strictly looking out for her dear friend.

When the back-and-forth between the girls doesn’t stop and the class mood starts to sour on Tama, Hinami agrees something should be done, but they disagree on what. Tomozaki proposes that Tama takes a step back. Hinami strongly objects to this, since Tama is “in the right” and shouldn’t have to change. Her usual gamer’s pragmatism is being overridden by her apparent desire for revenge against Konno, no matter what happens to Tama. (h/t Vance!)

One day after school, Tomozaki hangs out with Mimimi and Tama. Mimimi is her usual cheerful, bubbly, clingy self with Tama, but once they see Hanabi off at the station, Mimimi’s demeanor changes drastically. On the verge of tears, Mimimi asks if she’s doing a good job keeping Tama in good spirits. It’s something she could only as “Brain.” I love their easy chemistry.

Tomozaki answers that she is, and I agree. Mimimi is doing what she can, and it is helping, but it’s hard for her to feel good about it when things are still so unpleasant in class. Still, seeing how putting up a brave front for Tama’s sake is taking its toll on Mimimi, Tomozaki decides he’s going to try proposing the retreat strategy to Tama.

Meeting one-on-one with Tama, Tomozaki is about to begin his proposal when she points out that the two of them are a lot alike, never afraid to say what’s on their mind whatever the consequences. When he asks if maybe it would be best to withdraw from the hostilities, she politely declines.

Tama admits it sucks, but she knows she’ll be fine because she knows she’s in the right. She doesn’t want to betray “the Hanabi who believes in things.” Tomozaki respects her choice, but is then caught off guard when she goes on complimenting him.

She’s observed that he’s been able to change and improve himself and his ability to read and influence a room and mood. And while Tama knows she’ll be fine, like him she’s far more worried about Mimimi. So she does want to change for her sake, while remaining true to herself. Since she’s watched Tomozaki change, she wants him to teach her how to “fight”.

Firstly, I want to underscore just how awesome Natsubayashi Hanabi is this week, and in general. She had her fill of Konno picking on someone weaker and didn’t hesitate to stand up to her again and again. In a battle of wills, I’ll take her over anyone, even Hinami. At the same time, Konno may be acting like a petty, petulant bitch right now, but that doesn’t make her a bad person.

Konno just isn’t dealing with her frustration over losing the guy she liked to another girl well, like, at all. So I’m looking forward to Tomozaki taking Tama on as his “apprentice”, and the two of them finding a way to cut through Konno’s bullshit, taking the pressure off Mimimi, and resolving the unpleasantness, if they can. If this ends up at odds with Hinami’s plans, but so be it.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – 09 – Get Up

Granat thanks Fern and Stark for saving him, and vows to pardon Frieren, now that he knows she’s the mage whose party saved the town back when his gramps ran it. As for the main threat, Aura has been that for five centuries thanks to a pair of scales that weigh her mana against her opponents.

The one with less mana falls under her control, hence her large army. Frieren the Slayer will admit it is bigger than the last time they met eighty years ago, but she finds Aura’s magic “disgusting.” If a demon is going to insist on talking to her, she has no reason to be nice. I for one am glad Aura talks, because she’s voiced by Taketatsu Ayana.

Frieren dispels the magic Aura is using on the soldiers surrounding her, but Aura assumes she lacks the mana to dispel all of them. She also asks why Frieren isn’t just coming in blasting all kinds of flashy attacks. Frieren says Himmel scolded her, but when Aura tells him Himmel’s gone, she agrees: why not go all out and waste no time?

The church where Granat, Fern, and Stark are located has a barrier, but Stark knows they can’t hide there forever. He gets up as if to confront Lugner and Linie, but he’s actually going to find Frieren and beg her to come back and deal with them. It’s less heroic, but Fern can’t deny it’s realistic.

It isn’t until they’re outside that Fern realizes Luger’s blood is still on her and Stark’s clothes, too late for a healed Luger to pin her to the wall by the shoulder. At the same time, Linie rolls in like a little ball of lightning, conjures an axe just like Stark’s, and delivers a blow that sends him off the battlements to the ground below.

Frieren can’t help Fern and Stark; they have to trust that she left them there because she knew they’d be alright. Lugner and Linie are terrifyingly powerful opponents. Even so, Fern’s calm expression endures even when she shatters the blood vine that snagged her, then unleashes a dizzying barrage of magical attacks at Lugner.

He may have a lot more years under his belt, a lot better mastery of magic, and larger stores of the stuff, but Fern has one thing he doesn’t: speed. She’s even faster on the draw than Frieren, and uses that to great effect. Linie smashes Stark into the ground and prepares to join Lugner, but Stark gets back up, so their fight continues.

While Draht had his wires and Lugner has his blood, Linie has the ability to assess and copy the exact fighting style and weapon of whatever warrior she fights. She first demonstrated it by fighting Stark with the same axe he has, in Eisen’s style, then switches between different weapons and styles in the middle of combat, which combined with her dancerly acrobatics makes for a tremendous spectacle.

When Stark falls again, it’s with the belief he can’t beat Linie, who is fighting like his master. He initially assumes he’s lost, but then remembers a lesson during which Eisen told him the most important thing is for a warrrior to get back up. As long as you’re standing, you haven’t lost. So he gets back up, and realizes Linie’s blows aren’t as powerful as Eisen’s were. Linie is just pissed off she can’t join Lugner.

Ultimately, her arrogance is her undoing, as she sees Stark wide open with his all-or-nothing attack and heaves her axe into his side. But rather than cutting him in two it barely digs in an inch. Stark wears a wry grin as he’s confirmed this girl is no Eisen, then initiates a Lightning Bolt attack that carves her clean in two. I have to admit: I stood up and cheered.

Linie meeting her end distracts Lugner for a split second, which is all the opening Fern needs to send a fatal Zoltraak through his heart. And so Frieren was right: her apprentice and her frontline warrior could handle themselves just fine against Aura’s lieutenants in her absence. I just hope she’s right about still being stronger than Aura!

What a couple of breathtaking, outstanding battles these were. I’m still all jacked up after watching them. Needless to say the storyboarding, animation, direction, lighting, sound effects, and Evan Call score all conspired to create a sublime viewing experience I won’t soon forget, and that left me craving for the next battle.

Spy x Family – 26 (S2 01) – Burdens of the Butthurt

After a mostly serious encounter between Loid and his target Donovan Desmond closed out its first two-cour season, Spy X Family returns to its spy sitcom roots and shows that Wit Studio x Cloverworks haven’t skipped a beat. The show looks and sounds just as good, and comes with fresh, inventive OP and ED with two suitably bangin’ songs.

It also eases us in with the simplest of premises this week: Yor got shot in the butt on her latest assassin job, and while she (presumably) got the bullet out, it still hurts like hell. When she comes home, Loid mistakenly believes she’s in a bad mood because he made her run an errand, but the next morning her face is even more sour (Yor’s face game is in rare form this week).

As Yor can’t very well tell Loid why she’s making such faces—nor can Anya, who knows because she’s a telepath—Loid believes he needs to improve Yor’s mood in order to shore up their marriage of convenience, and that means a carefully curated date.

He leaves Anya with Franky, but when Anya says she wants to tail her parents, Franky is all for it, as he has nothing better to do. Loid discovers the tail instantly, but pretends not to notice. What he can’t help but notice, however, is that throughout their date, Yor simply won’t sit down. She can’t, because she fears her butt will hurt more than it already does.

At the fancy restaurant where Loid got a reservation for dinner, Yor has to at least pretend to sit at the table while keeping her tookus an inch from the seat. By dumb luck, a new waiter at this restaurant just happens to be the only survivor of Yor’s mission. Anya can sense his intent to kill her from outside, which could lead to her revealing her assassin skills.

The waiter’s first attempt is to use a whole blowfish worth of poison on Yor, but as an assassin she’s built an immunity to most poisons, including this one. But while the poison doesn’t kill her, it does offer extraordinary pain relief. Finally able to sit, focus, and relax, Yor starts to enjoy herself.

His first avenging plot foiled, the waiter is prepared to build a makeshift bomb and blow both Yor and himself to smithereens. Anya, having heard his plans in her mind, dons a new black spy suit, infiltrates the restaurant via the ventilation system, and sets up a Home Alone-style gauntlet of booby traps that defeat him.

Where she got the spy suit so quickly, and how she’s able to follow the bomb making directions so perfectly, hardly matters; we’re dealing with heightened reality here! What matters is that Anya is a complete badass when she warns the waiter to give up trying to kill Yor and get back to his ordinary job and girlfriend.

Of course, if the waiter hadn’t been there, Yor would have never been able to enjoy her dinner, or the walk afterwards which affords a beautiful view of the city and traveling amusement park. The whole reason she sucked it up to go with Loid is that she didn’t want to blow their cover by never going on dates, which would have made her co-workers suspicious.

But now that she’s gone on a date, she had a lot of fun, and wants to do it again if it isn’t too much trouble…when her butt doesn’t hurt. Loid says he’d love to take her on another date soon. Alas, the next morning the blowfish poison has worn off, Yor is back in agony, and Loid once again mistakes her demeanor as being in a bad mood.

Honestly, this episode had me at “shot in the butt”, which is not only an inherently funny situation, but also just funny to say. Hayami Saori’s “butt-hurt voice” is also funny, as are all the date scenes of her standing when she should be sitting. I’m sure things will get more serious again at some point this season, but for now I’m enjoying the silliness.

I’ll close by adding: is Yor’s domestic life starting to adversely affect her assassining? Not only did she get shot in the butt, but the waiter wasn’t the shooter. That means she allowed two people to survive when she thought she was done, both of whom overheard her phone conversation. Seems kinda sloppy for the Thorn Princess!

DanMachi IV – 22 (Fin) – More Beautiful than Before

DanMachi didn’t seem like the kind of show that would kill off one of its more endearing characters, but in the final episode of its fourth season, anything could happen. Thankfully, it didn’t go that route, and with good reason: Ryuu Lion has too much left to do in the world of the living.

Her familia tells her as much as she wanders towards them on the etheral plane. There’s still hope in her heart, and they know she wants to save Bell and go to back home with him. So she wakes up, stands up, and joins the fight against the Juggernaut.

Ol’ Juggyshit may have added a bunch of tricks to its repertoire, but in doing so it sacrificed its most devastating advantage—its speed. Now it’s slow enough that Bell can not only dodge (most) of its attacks, but actually land damaging blows on its weak points. A Fire Bolt-infused dagger and an Argo Vesta spell later, and Juggernaut is officially on the ropes.

That’s where Ryuu comes in, chanting an incantation not just for Luminous Wind, but to summon the spirits of her dearly departed Astrea family, if only long enough to deliver an attack or two by her side. You could say they’ve been waiting all this time not for her to join them, but to forgive herself so she can call upon them when she needs them most.

After a decisive Luvia right to its kisser, the long nightmare that is Juggernaut is finally, satisfyingly ended. Bell and Ryuu managed to do it all by themselves, fueled by each others’ determination, refusal to give up, and digging deep into their abilities. Neither could have won alone, but as a party of two, they achieved the impossible.

This leaves them in an exhausted, critically wounded heap on the ground, still on the 37th floor. But they managed to survive just long enough for Wiene and the Xenos to find them. They administer Marie’s healing mermaid blood to both of them, then make themselves scarce before Lili’s team shows up (since not everyone among them know the Xenos are good guys).

Once Lili and the others do arrive, the elation and celebration begins. It’s just such an enormous relief that Bell and Ryuu can finally stop fighting and worrying about dying every waking moment and see the damn sun again. When Ryuu comes to in the hospital after three days, she’s so concerned about Bell she leaps out of her bed and runs to his room.

When he finds him, flanked by Hestia and Lili, their faces make her realize she’s wearing nothing but a skimpy pink hospital gown…that thanks to her alacrity becomes undone and allows Bell to see the sun, moon, stars…all of it. Hestia and Lili reflexively slap him, forgetting that he’s critically wounded. Thankfully a doctor gives them a stern talking-to.

As their convalescence continues, Bell tells Hestia by his bedside that he wouldn’t be there without Ryuu. Bell’s friends thank Ryuu for saving him, but she tells them they’ve got it backwards: it was Bell who saved her from her own despair. She also learns that as far as the Guild is concerned, “Gale Wind” is dead.

Taking the new lease on life she’s been given and running with it, Ryuu borrows a gorgeous white dress from Syr and meets Bell on a date when they’re both discharged from the hospital on the same day. Rather than be cooped up indoors, they decide to have a walk around the city, under the blessed sky.

At the peak of their adorable date, Ryuu takes Bell to a breathtaking view from an ornate stone balcony where she and Alise used to spend time. That she’s shared both the story of her familia and this space to Bell shows how far she’s come in opening up to him. He notes that the way she smiles at him “from her heart” makes her more beautiful than before.

Bell, unfortunately, isn’t aware of the critical damage such comments make, and Ryuu, suddenly unable to look him in the eye anymore, turns around and makes a break for it. As she runs, she clutches that heart of hers, now released from all that guilt and regret. In its place, love now resides, and Ryuu finds herself asking Alise what the heck she should do with it.

Alise’s reply, and the parting words of the fourth season, are “don’t let him get away.” Bell has his share of suitors—from Ais to Ryuu’s bestie Syr—but no one but Ryuu can claim to have been to hell and back with him. But for now, All Hail Ryuu Lion, the Champion of Justice, and absolute legend Hayami Saori for yet another phenomenal vocal performance.

Tokyo Revengers – 03 – A Rare Thing

Once Takemichi calls out Kiyomasa, he’s determined not to let him win. No matter how many crushing blows he lands, the pain can’t compare to the pain of having failed to save Hinata. So he tells Kiyomasa straight up: unless he literally kills him, he’s not going to lose.

That’s just fine with Kiyomasa, who asks for his bat, but his fun is interrupted by his bosses, Koman Vice-Commander Ryuuguuji Ken and Commander Sano “Mikey” Manjirou. After beating Kiyomasa for making Koman look bad, Manjirou declares Takemichi his friend.

This is precisely what Takemichi was hoping for in fighting Kiyomasa. Honestly, it’s a little too tidy, except for the part where Takemichi put his very life on the line with no guarantee he wouldn’t lose it. There’s also something about the eccentric “Mikey”…for one thing, he can’t believe Takemichi is really a middle schooler, which…well, he’s not.

After heading to school on time Takemichi encounters Hinata, who arranges a date before her cram school. Then Mikey and Ken barge right into his class despite being from a different school, and insist Takemichi hand out with them. Hinata intervenes, slapping Mikey and vowing to protect Takemichi from the bullies who keep beating her beau up.

As Hinata tries to flee with Takemichi, Ken  puts his hand on her, but while Takemichi notices her shaking, she stands her ground. Takemichi then puts his hand on Ken and warns him to get his off off Hinata. Mikey says it’s a shame Takemichi doesn’t want to be friends, but now he’ll have to kill him. Again, Takemichi doesn’t back down, and Mikey turns out to simply be messing around.

Hinata’s misunderstanding is cleared up, and both Takemichi and Hinata gain respect from Mikey and Ken. Hinata, glad they’re his friends, tells him to go hang out with them, and after a bike ride they end up watching the sun set from an embankment while Mikey talks about creating a new kind of delinquent—one who will need people like Takemichi, who are willing to put everything on the line for something they need to do.

After this encounter, Takemichi can’t imagine Mikey or even Ken bringing about the kind of Koman Gang that would kill Hinata in the future. But that’s because he hasn’t met Kisaki Tetta, of whom Takemichi catches his first glimpse without quite realizing. One look at Kisaki and you can tell he’s the kind of sadist and bad influence who could one day corrupt Mikey’s heart. Befriending a pre-Kisaki Mikey was no problem for Takemichi. The true challenge will be preventing a post-Kisaki Mikey.

Shokugeki no Souma 3 – 20 – Shattering and Clashing to Victory

When Gin and Jouichirou start bebopping and scatting all over the train kitchen, Takumi, Megumi, Souma and Erina have to find a way to contribute to the “music” the master chefs are playing, or fail the challenge. For Takumi and Erina in particular, it means leaving their comfort zones—the cooking philosophies they’ve always lived by—and going for gusto.

If they completely shatter or abandon everything they’ve known thus far, they risk losing their vital identities as chefs, but that’s not truly what’s going on here: they contribute in ways only they, with their uniquely amassed knowledge and experience, can contribute.

They’re not so much changing who they are, but changing how they use that, and in doing so unlocking another level in their growth.

The resulting hachis Parmentier from both teams scarcely resemble that classic French dish, yet both embody the spirit of the dish while elevating it into more rarefied culinary air. Senzaemon makes a last minute addendum to the rules of this mock battle: the four young participants, not he, will judge who deserves to win.

Everyone loses their clothes in foodgasms, and when the moment of truth arrives, the kids all point…at each other. Erina likens Team Doujima’s dish as a perfectly in-sync jazz band, while Takumi likens Team Saiba to an avant-garde group art project. In both cases, chaos is used to create things harmony couldn’t, resulting in dishes that are both cohesive in concept and strongly individualized in execution.

The point of Senzaemon’s mock battle wasn’t to decide who’d be the captain of the team that will face Azami’s Elite Ten. It was to get the youngins to experience their abilities firsthand in order to know what to expect of one another when the battle and the stakes are real.

And brother, is there anything realer, or more appallingly hilarious, than watching the ghost-white, skunk-haired Nakiri Azami skiing down a slope in his black suit? Talk about pumping him up as a Bond villain!

His collection of Central stooges also looks the part; they’re as diverse in personality and appearance as our rebels—and in the case of Eishi and Rindou, we’ve seen they have good sides—and yet because they’re determined to defeat the rebels at the behest of Azami, here and now they’re nothing but The Enemy.

Azami tries once more to bring Erina back into the fold simply by stating the duty of all Elite Ten members to obey his orders. He wants Erina on his team, and like almost everybody, expects Erina to be cowed by the certitude and force of his words and sheepishly defer to her father. Even Souma calls her a “doormat” when it comes to her dad—out loud!

But Erina stands her ground. If being the Tenth Seat means having to join Central in the Team Shokugeki, then she will simply relinquish said seat, and join the rebels as simply Nakiri Erina.

While impressed by her continued insolence, Azami comes back at her with one last stipulation in the Team Shokugeki: If the rebels are defeated, she will have to return to his side, commit herself to central, and never disobey him again.

Since losing means all her friends’ expulsions will stick, all the rebels still standing will be expelled, and her beloved Saiba-senpai will have to become Azami’s ally, Erina figures “what the heck, might as well add to the already epic stakes.”

She’s so pumped up by successfully standing up to her father that she starts acting like the Queen of the Rebels, vowing to take the First Seat once they are victorious. Takumi and Megumi like this new rebellious-yet-regal “Queen Erina.” Souma, while initially irked (since he wants to stand at the top of the Elite Ten), nonetheless pledges his life to her, along with the others, in the decisive battle to come.