Ryōshi tells Ringo about why he fell for Ryōko, which Ringo tells her about later that night. The next day while the other members go shopping, Ryōshi hangs around the bank with Tarō Urashima, who quickly gets dragged away by Otohime Ryūgū when a female customer comes in, worried about having to see her violent ex-boyfriend. When Ryōko and Ryōshi investigate the meeting place, it turns out to be a trap laid out by thugs from Onigashima High School. Ryōko is overwhelmed and kidnapped while Ryōshi informs the other club members. Ryōko hides her true feelings of fear as she faces the gang's boss. Ryōshi and Ringo use his dogs to discover the base, and Ryōshi uses a wrist mounted slingshot to attack the thugs from the shadows, helping to set Ryōko free to join the fight. When the boss tries to take Ryōko hostage, Ryōshi fights him one-on-one and manages to beat him while fueled by his feelings for her before passing out.

Concerned about Ryōko, Ryōshi meets up with Ringo to ask about her relationship with Shirō, though she says it would be best to ask her himself once he gains her trust. Ringo recalls when she first met Ryōko in middle school and saw her true side for the first time. Noticing Ryōko pushing herself and getting into needless fights to hide her true feelings, Ringo came to understand her and offered her friendship. Ryōshi recalls when he started observing Ryōko and inevitably falling in love with her and decides to become stronger so he can protect her.