spoiler
Hanemura’s question makes Mahiro laugh. He says it isn’t possible, but would be amusing if true. Hanemura argues his point and asks if it were true wouldn’t that be why he kept it a secret? When Mahiro wants to know why Yoshino would do that, Hanemura is about to say it’s because Mahiro was in love with Aika too, but falters and stops talking before he can say it. Mahiro still says it isn’t possible, but perhaps the others in the room are beginning to consider it.
As Yoshino shows Hakaze the picture on his phone, Hakaze says that she understood that they didn’t get along. He tells her that it was to keep Mahiro and others from finding out. Hakaze thinks about it and puts two and two together from all that’s been said and done. Even Samon is thinking about that day when Yoshino claimed to know who Aika’s boyfriend was. This angers Mahiro again and he reminds them that Aika is dead, whereas Yoshino claims his girlfriend is still alive. Hanemura reminds Mahiro that is Yoshino’s story and no one else has ever seen his girlfriend or heard her voice on the phone. Now even Mahiro has something to think about.
Hakaze is in a panic, thinking that Aika had died because of her. Yoshino calms her and says that they still can’t confirm who is responsible for Aika’s death. He gently reminds her that that is part of what they are investigating. Yoshino tells Hakaze not to feel guilty, but Hakaze is still upset and wonders why she can’t sense any feelings of revenge or anger from Yoshino. He tells her that those feelings wouldn’t change anything, nor would they bring Aika back from the dead. He feels that unlike Mahiro, vengeance won’t make things right.
When Hakaze questions why Yoshino saved her from the island, he tells her that he didn’t want Aika’s dead to bring tragedy and reminds her of the story of the Tempest. He tells her it had a happy ending and since Aika was always talking about the story, it made him want to save Hakaze. She is calm now and realizes that Yoshino has been carrying this burden alone – but why wouldn’t he tell Mahiro? Mahiro is still arguing against Yoshino. He tells the guys that Yoshino didn’t even react to Aika’s death and perhaps this statement just added more fuel to the fire.
Hanemura says that maybe Yoshino is the kind of guy that doesn’t show his emotions and can act as if nothing is wrong. He reminds Mahiro that both he and Yoshino had lost everything to the Trees and were dragged into this conflict, but both of them act as if they didn’t care - perhaps because they had already lost something even more precious. Yoshino tells Hakaze how hard it was to visit Aika’s grave and to hide his feelings. And Hakaze realizes that he’s doing it again. She asks him if he can ever be happy again. Yoshino isn’t sure but he can only hope that all this won’t end in tragedy.
Hakaze tell Yoshino that it’s already a tragedy. He tells her that even if he acted sad, it wouldn’t change anything. This unemotional state of his angers Hakaze and she grabs him, telling him that there should be things he can’t control. He just asks her what he should do and pushes her away. Should he tell Mahiro? Tell him that Aika was his girlfriend and that he is suffering more than Mahiro is? That he learned of Aika’s death from a phone call right before they were supposed to go on a date? That he collapsed from shock? Yoshino asks Hakaze what that would accomplish.
Hakaze would at least like Yoshino to be angry at her, but he knows that she is suffering as well, so how can he be mad? Hakaze yells at him to stop being so considerate of others and be more honest with himself. He finally gets annoyed and says that he doesn’t know how to do that. He doesn’t know how to be happy in a world without Aika. He finally breaks down and asks how he can bring Aika back – how can he change an illogical world? Then he wants to know if he will get everything back if he strangles Hakaze. He falls to his knees, crying, and says that even tears won’t change anything. Hakaze hugs him and just lets him cry everything out.
Samon is now completely convinced that Aika was Yoshino’s girlfriend. Mahiro just leaves the room. Hanemura is upset, but Samon has his own problems. All this has led to the current situation and it was as if Aika’s death “sent all logic in a downward spiral”. He feels that everything is about to fall apart. And now for Yoshino’s sake, Hakaze is vowing revenge against the Tree of Genesis, if it is determined to be the cause of Aika’s death!
Jun is sent by Samon to watch Hakaze and Yoshino. He doesn’t want Hakaze to find out that Aika was Yoshino’s girlfriend. He worried if she does, she may do something to the Tree. I think he’s a little late! Jun finds Hakaze and Yoshino and Hakaze sends Yoshino away so they can talk. As soon as he is out of hearing, Hakaze begins to talk to Jun about love. Jun wonders what is going on and why Hakaze’s feelings seem so much deeper than before.
Of all things, Mahiro is cleaning! Perhaps this is helping him to calm down and think. Evangeline is annoyed that the guys had to figure out who Yoshino’s girlfriend was. But she can’t worry about that now – she’s investigating the Black Iron Syndrome. She feels alchemy may be involved, but Hayakawa already considered that, so he isn’t surprised. Evangeline’s theory is that the Tree of Genesis did not create the world from nothing, but was a weapon brought by aliens to destroy civilization! What???
Samon is planning the next appearance of the Mage of Exodus when he learns that Jun has lost Hakaze and Yoshino. Hakaze locked Jun in a room, but did tell him that she wanted to “test” the Tree of Genesis. She wants to see if the Tree will obey her will. But if the Tree only see her as a tool and ignores her, then it must be destroyed. Jun is against this test, but Hakaze tells him to stay out of it. Samon is obviously upset by this news, but before he can do anything, the Mage of Exodus makes his appearance.
The Mage tries to destroy the Tree, but this time, it protects itself. Mahiro sees it on the news. The world can see that another Mage has appeared! It’s a disguised Hakaze! She has the Tree attack Hanemura, but Hanemura cannot back down. Hanemura deflects the attack and destroys the Tree, but the trunk remains. Hakaze draws her sword and attacks Hanemura directly. If he doesn’t do something, the Tree will just keep regenerating. The watching Samon soon realizes that Hakaze is trying to push Hanemura to his limit in order to increase his power. However, Hakaze is doing this for Yoshino.
Yoshino is left to travel by himself. He sees the newsfeed on the train and worries about Hakaze. She had told him all about her plan and she wondered what the public would name her. Looking at her outfit, Yoshino thinks they should call her the “Dancing Princess”. They part, going their separate ways with a promise of meeting soon. Yoshino watches her walk away and when a chill wind blows, perhaps Yoshino gets an inkling of the future. He closes his eyes against the gust and when he opens them, Hakaze is gone from his sight. Now, on the train, his phone rings and it’s Mahiro. Yoshino realizes that Mahiro is now awake. He missed the call, but he thinks that if Hakaze has the courage to confront the Tree, he can find the strength to face Mahiro with the truth.
Hakaze can see Hanemura’s exhaustion and lets him win their supposed fight. Hanemura destroys the Tree for all to see. Mahiro stares at his phone before tossing it on to the sofa. He then walks out the door. Will he go after Yoshino? Does he really think that Yoshino could have killed Aika? Time will tell!