As Kyoko channels her frustration about her failed date with Aoki into the dodgeball competition between their two classes, each of the girls attempt to mend their strained relationship with their Aoki in her own unique way. After being trapped together in the gymnasium's storage locker for hours, Rin and Aoki finally reconciled and he assures her that he'll always remain by her side. Upon being rescued, Reiji — hysterical beyond reason due to recurring nightmares about his traumatic childhood and his perceived failure to keep his promise to Aki to protect her daughter from harm — snaps and strikes Aoki in rage before dragging Rin back home. Shirai discourages Aoki from making a volatile situation even worse by reminding him of his responsibility as a teacher to take care of his students without demonstrating favouritism, while Rin is reluctantly cowed into abandoning her attempts to explain the situation to Reiji after perceiving the unmitigated anger belying his seemingly calm demeanor.
