Nagisa is threatened by Ayano's presence. She works even harder than ever before, but can't seem to pull out of her slump. Then, their new coach Tachibana takes action...

Ayano has just started fitting in at the badminton club when Serigaya Kaoruko, ace at Konan High School, appears. Ayano is upset by her presence, and appears to have some past connection with her.

The Kitakomachi badminton club is hard in training for the upcoming Inter-High preliminaries. Riko is revved up to play in her last tournament, but when she receives her match-ups, she goes from elated to despondent.

For her third match of the Inter-High preliminaries, Ayano faces her middle school rival, Kaoruko. Though puzzled by Ayano's attitude change from the last time they played, Kaoruko faces her with utter confidence. But when the match begins...

It's the night before the Inter-High finals, and the two finalists reflect on their journeys. Ayano wonders what she's playing badminton for, while Nagisa thinks back on her old loss to Ayano. And so the finals begin...

While the match between Ayano and Nagisa begins in force, Elena confronts Uchika about the real reason for her abandonment of Ayano.

It's the final game of the white-hot match between Ayano and Nagisa. Ayano continues to search for purpose, while Nagisa fights her with everything she has.