Kotarou gets more involved with the power struggle between Sakura and Suzaki within Gaia. As Suzaki starts to put more trust in Kotarou, he shows him the city of stone underneath Kazamatsuri and unveils his plan to use it as a shelter following the end of the world. Kotarou gets into a fight with Kotori about how she turned her parents into familiars after they died. Suzaki devises a plan to get rid of Sakura and her faction, but Kotarou surreptitiously tips off Sakura about it, enabling her to remain in power. Kagari gets upset at Kotarou for being able to accept life going extinct if it meant saving any connections he has with people, however trivial. Kagari goes out of control, but Kotarou stops her with a kiss. Although Kotaoru professes his love for her, Kagari pushes him away and runs off.