Rindō orders Yūma and Osamu to transfer points to Chika so that she can be in B-Rank. He explains that the upper echelons didn't want Chika to be in combat without the capability of Bail Out.
On February 1, Yūma and Chika would be fighting, but not Osamu due to his injuries. Kido approaches Osamu and asks him about the press conference. Osamu reveals that he knew about the scapegoat plan, and orders Kido to never use Yūma or Chika like that. Kido complies, explaining that Shinoda and Rindō weren't involved.
At the Rank Battles, Taketomi, Ebina Unit's operator, is a commentator, with Osamu and Satori. Satori explains how the battles work, with 1 vs. 2, and 2 vs. 2. He also explains the points systems, killing gives you 1 point, and being a survivor at the end gives you 2. Tamakoma Second, #21, has their first battles against Mamiya Unit and Yoshizato Unit. Taketomi inquires about a disadvantage that Tamakoma Second has, since it was a 2 vs. 6 match. Osamu replies that it wasn't a problem. Yūma and Chika go on to easily defeat the two teams, rising to #12. On February 4, Tamakoma Second will fight Arafune Unit and Suwa Unit.
Karasawa and Jin discuss the press conference. Karasawa explains that he brought Osamu to the conference since he wanted the boy to have a chance to defend himself. He also discusses the massive attention being focused towards the expeditions. While 26 agents left Border, about 130 applications came in.
Meanwhile, at Tamakoma Branch, Yōtarō congratulates Tamakoma Second on their victory. However, Konami warns them that the two teams they were facing were stronger. In fact, the high-tier B-Rank teams had A-Rank level agents. While Karasuma wants to explain their opponents, Kizaki on the other hand decides to let them analyze them themselves.
Suwa Unit strategizes on defeating Tamakoma Second. They awe at Chika's Trion power, and Yūma's battle prowess. Arafune Unit does the same.
Analyzing the two teams, Tamakoma Second reports that Suwa Unit has two gunners and one attacker. The attacker generally shielded the team, and used Chameleon to launch a sneak-attack. Usami explains to Chika how she would escape if she was found. The group generalizes that they need a strategy which allowed Chika to minimize her shots. Usami also explained that Tamakoma Second got to choose the battle stage. On February 5, Tamakoma Second has their second battle.
Tamakoma Second has its next battle against Suwa and Arafune Unit. They choose City C as their battleground, one advantageous for Snipers. Azuma deduces that their strategy was to create a temporary alliance with Suwa Unit to eliminate Arafune Unit, who would have the advantage.
Before the battle, Kizaki did defense training with Yūma for their upcoming battle; Osamu was coming up with a strategy to tear Arafune Unit's formations.
During the battle, Osamu makes sure that he hides Chika well. While he does that, he orders Yūma to go attack the other combatants for points. Suwa Unit and Arafune Unit attack each other mercilessly in order to gain the upper hand in the overall battle. Yūma attacks Hanzaki, but both of them are attacked by Tsutsumi; the latter uses Bail Out. Yūma is nearly shot by Tsutsumi, but he uses his new Grasshopper to dodge and take out Tsutsumi. Yūma goes to attack Hokari, but Arafune attacks Yūma. He reveals his other Trigger, Kogetsu, and declares that he would take out Yūma.
Arafune battles Yūma with his Kogetsu. Midorikawa reveals that until 8 months prior, Arafune was quite well-known for his prowess with it. As the battle between the two rages on, Arafune seems to have the advantage, since Hokari was there to support him. However, Sasamori approaches to mark him. Azuma explains that this is what Tamakoma Second wanted, a split-up of Suwa Unit and a mark of Arafune Unit. Midorikawa affirms that Yūma would win the fight since Arafune was a sniper. Azuma also reveals Osamu's strategy; to increase pressure by being a threat. Hokari changes his strategy at the last second and shoots at Yūma, injuring him, but gets cut down by Sasamori and uses Bail Out. Yūma tricks Arafune into thinking that he would use Grasshopper to escape, widening the gap between the latter's legs and arms. He uses the gap to slice Arafune's legs. Suwa attacks Yūma, and Osamu warns him of Sasamori, who was approaching him with Chameleon. Yūma prepares for an attack, but is surprised to find himself held by Sasamori, whom he has now impaled with Scorpion, to make him an easy target for Suwa.
Sasamori holds onto Yūma as Suwa prepares to shoot him. Usami cues Chika to shoot at the same time, saving Yūma. Sasamori Bails Out; however, Arafune uses the opportunity to shoot Chika, causing her to Bail Out. Since Suwa lost a leg, Yūma uses Grasshopper to try to outmaneuver him. Suwa had prepared for this, though, and quickly changed direction to shoot Yūma, but Osamu appears and shoots down Suwa and Arafune, giving victory to Mikumo Unit.
Arafune is congratulated by his comrades for managing to get at least a single point, whereas Suwa is chided for not getting a point at all by his. Reflecting on the battle, Azuma notes that Mikumo Unit won because they stuck to their objectives: tear apart formations, and effectively use Yūma. Kodera explains that they chose the specific topography to pressure Suwa Unit to getting to the top to avoid Arafune Unit's advantage. Kuroe summarizes it as getting the other teams to play by their rules; the two opponents could only react to what Mikumo Unit did.
As the ranks updated, Mikumo Unit moved to #8, while Suwa Unit and Arafune Unit respectively descended to #10 and #11. Mikumo Unit's next battle was on February 8; against Suzunari First (#9) and Nasu Unit (#13).
Yoneya, Kodera, and Kuroe leave the audience room after the match, but not before greeting Arashiyama Unit, with Kuroe being rather cold towards Kitora. It is revealed that Kitora feels hurt when someone younger does not seem like they look up to her. Yoneya, Kodera, and the newly joined Midorikawa greet Osamu and Yūma. Midorikawa challenges Yūma to 30 Rank Battles and they run off. Usami appears with Chika, complementing Kodera's explanation, revealing his infatuation for her. Kikuchihara and Utagawa come along and greet Usami, and Yoneya explains that she was their former operator. Kikuchihara explains that Kazama thought the strategy to use Suwa Unit was clever, but that it wouldn't work a second time. Kikuchihara also warns Osamu that if Yūma were ever to go down, they would never make it past B-Rank. Osamu asks Yoneya about the situation with Miwa and the Fūjin. Yoneya responds that since the Fūjin had too-specialized attacks and was inflexible, so he explained to Kido that Fūjin should not be given to a single agent, but should be used tactically with any compatible and worthy personnel. Yoneya adds that Jin would be giving lessons on it, and Osamu suspects that he had a reason for it, to which Yoneya agrees.
Meanwhile, Kizaki discusess the Rank Battle with Usami. He expresses concern over the fact that Osamu and Yūma were being overprotective of Chika and that would lead to her downfall in expeditions. Usami explains Chika's feelings of self-worthlessness and how Osamu and Yūma wanted eliminate them, and that she would do the same.
Yūma and Midorikawa return from their Rank Battle, with Yūma having won 21 times out of 30. Arafune appears and strangles Midorikawa for blurting out that he had always expected him to lose. Arafune challenges Midorikawa to a Rank Battle, but before that, the No. 4 Attacker Kō Murakami appears, with it being revealed that Murakami was the reason Arafune quit being an Attacker.
Shortly after Tamakoma Second won their rank battle against Suwa Unit and Arafune Unit, Murakami arrived inside the lounge. He reveals that he was there to practice for his upcoming battle against Tamakoma Second, since their tactics managed to force Arafune to use his Kogetsu. He intially challenges Midorikawa, but the latter refuses since he had lost to Yūma beforehand. Yoneya offers to battle him, but Murakami declines, saying that he needs to fight an opponent who uses Grasshopper. Yūma himself volunteers, to which Murakami accepts. Despite the others' attempts to dissuade the battle from taking place, Yūma declares that he will do it to test Murakami's ability. Murakami sets two conditions: 10 matches and a 15-minute interval between the 5th and 6th battles. Yūma accepts.
Meanwhile, Chika and Kizaki are eating ramen, when Chika asks him if he always trained physically. Kizaki replies, saying that he did, as per what his father had told him. Kizaki goes on to explain that his father was a rescue worker, but died 9 years before when saving a child. Kizaki tells Chika his father's motto: "rescuers who don't return alive fail." He concludes by saying that he will train himself by becoming stronger to save more people, and that Chika should concentrate on doing the same.
Yūma beat Murakami 4 times in the first 5 matches. Osamu considers having his strategy for the next battle centering on Yūma. However, Yoneya deters him from thinking that way, saying that Murakami's real ability was going to be seen in the next 5 fights.
Yūko Kumagai, Nasu Unit's Attacker, is groped by Jin. To apologize, Jin tells her about the Rank Battle going on between her future opponents.
The Rank Battle ends in 6-4, Murakami's victory. He had won every single match after the 15-minute break. He reveals his Side Effect to be "enhanced sleep memory", where his memories were enhanced during sleep.
Konami expresses shock that Yūma lost a battle. When Yūma reveals that it was Murakami that defeated him, Usami explains the mechanics behind his Side Effect which allowed him to defeat Yūma. While Konami is unsettled at the fact that Yūma gave Murakami an advantage, Yūma assures her that it would be alright. Osamu asks Usami about the rumor that Arafune quit being an Attacker because of Murakami, and she explains that Arafune was the one to mentor him, but Murakami managed to surpass him quickly. At that point, Arafune became a Sniper. Konami tells Osamu to also consider Nasu Unit.
Kuruma is impressed by the fact that Yūma did so well against Murakami, though Kagami is confident that it means Murakami will beat Yūma. Murakami points out that Yūma wasn't going all-out before, and that even though he could probably take him down in battle, it would be better to have the support of the team. Betsuyaku enters and tries to get water for cup ramen, but ends up dropping it.
Nasu Unit watches the battle between Yūma and Murakami, pointing out Yūma's excellent skill, to the point where they mistake him to be the tactician. Nasu points out Chika's cannonfire, but Shiki notes that she didn't actually score any points. They make a basic strategy of making the battle mid-range so that Murakami and Yūma, the two aces, would have a difficult time.
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