Mamoru Kōdate, Kenji Kondō, and Sakura Kaname are among the candidates to pilot the Fafners. Meanwhile, Kazuki and Yukie are questioning the reason of their imprisonment. As a new Festum approaches, the new pilots are soon tested to defeat it. Mamoru devises a plan, ignoring Sōshi's specified orders. The three collaboratively succeed in defeating the Festum, yet they are put in confinement for acting on their own judgment. Sōshi learns from Fumihiko that Kazuki denies himself daily, bypassing any assimilation. Maya realizes that Sōshi has feelings for Kazuki. Michio brings Kazuki to the deck of the ship, also encountering Canon, before arriving at the Moldova base.