Yukiko signs a contract with the military for her company's integrated Gear development, but is shocked to discover that Yuri has decided to have his own Gear removed. Yuri states that he wants to fight Joe on equal terms, without any Gear. A newly-blind Nanbu invites Aragaki to help train Joe for the fight in his place, using his improved hearing to critique Joe's form. Meanwhile, Yuri visits Mikio at his cabin in the woods to get his Gear surgically removed...