Chapter Summaries

While the girls worked on songs and designs in separate mountain camps, Senba Gari accompanied Rin Hoshizora, Umi Sonoda, and Nozomi Tojo on a dangerous climb. After Rin kicked a strange stone, the ground opened beneath them, and Senba transformed into Divine Unicorn to rescue Umi as they fell.

• Eli Ayase and Maki Nishikino worked on music while Owl teased Yazawa Nico by printing a comical photo of her.
• Minami Kotori and Hanayo Koizumi gathered inspiration by a stream, but both fell asleep beside Honoka Kosaka.
• Senba Gari helped Umi Sonoda, Nozomi Tojo, and Rin Hoshizora abandon their summit attempt after Rin nearly fell from a cliff.
• Rin scraped her knee on a stone, then kicked it and triggered a mechanism that split open the ground beneath the group.
• Senba Gari transformed into Divine Unicorn and caught Umi Sonoda as they fell through the pit.

After falling into a hidden ruin, Senba Gari and the girls encountered Mlortha and were guided into a concealed chamber, where Hagoromo Gitsune confronted them. Senba Gari transformed to fight her, but surrendered when she captured Nozomi Tojo, Umi Sonoda, and Rin Hoshizora.

• Divine was struck by a falling boulder while carrying Nozomi Tojo, Umi Sonoda, and Rin Hoshizora, and the Beast Soul Driver transported them to a hidden ruin.
• Senba Gari recognized patterns from the temple ruins where he had obtained the Beast Soul Driver, then hid with the girls from patrolling Mlortha as his buried fear resurfaced.
• Rin Hoshizora accidentally activated a mechanism that flipped the group into a concealed chamber, while Naraku dismissed the Mlortha and Hodenig sent Hagoromo Gitsune to deal with the intruders.
• Hagoromo Gitsune appeared behind the group, and Senba Gari transformed into Divine Garuda and attacked her with flame-enhanced strikes.
• Hagoromo Gitsune countered Divine with her nine tails and seized Nozomi Tojo, Umi Sonoda, and Rin Hoshizora, so Senba Gari released his armor and surrendered.

Senba Gari lost control to Sin, who fought Hagoromo Gitsune, consumed some of her sin, and kissed her before retreating into his inner world. Senba Gari woke in the scorched chamber with no memory of what had happened.

• Hagoromo Gitsune revealed Senba Gari’s hidden transformation and removed his contact lens, exposing his blood-red eye.
• Sin took over Senba Gari’s body, summoned the Flame Feather Blade, and attacked Hagoromo Gitsune while she protected Nozomi Tojo, Umi Sonoda, and Rin Hoshizora.
• Sin explained that he and Senba Gari were two sides of one being, then taunted Hagoromo Gitsune about her connection to someone she could not forget.
• Sin kissed Hagoromo Gitsune and drew some sin from her before returning to Senba Gari’s inner darkness.
• Sin argued with a long-haired man inside Senba Gari’s heart, and they acknowledged that Gaia’s gemstone restrained their control over his body.
• Senba Gari woke in the scorched chamber beside an dazed Hagoromo Gitsune and the unconscious girls, unable to remember what had happened.

Senba Gari and the girls escaped the temple ruins with their memories of the encounter erased, while Gari discovered his altered eyes and body had returned to normal. After Umi Sonoda found inspiration for a new song, Gari’s suppressed monster hunger resurfaced, and the chapter later shifted to Kotori Minami preparing him for a parents’ event and an approaching kendo exchange.

• Hagoromo Gitsune attacked Senba Gari, but Torch Dragon transported him and the three unconscious girls away and warned that their fates had become entangled.
• Senba Gari, Rin Hoshizora, Umi Sonoda, and Nozomi Tojo awoke in a forest with the girls unable to recall the temple ruins, while Gari found his eyes and arm had returned to normal.
• Umi Sonoda spoke with Senba Gari beneath the stars, remembered her dream, and ran to the Nishikino villa, where she met Minami Kotori as Maki Nishikino played piano.
• Senba Gari sensed a soul-deep hunger outside the villa, began transforming as Gaia’s gem dimmed, and attacked a car carrying a chauffeur and passengers.
• Kotori Minami explained that she had summoned the students’ parents to help Otonokizaka attract more applicants, and Senba Gari asked whether the school’s kendo club was ready for a visiting team.

Senba Gari guided Otonokizaka’s visiting parents around the school while Honoka Kosaka joined the kendo exchange, where she began to tire against a strong opponent. The chapter left Honoka struggling in the second round as Gari headed to the kendo hall after hearing that a student was being bullied.

• Kotori Minami reassured Senba Gari before he entered the auditorium and began meeting a packed room of students’ parents.
• Honoka Kosaka geared up to support the kendo club, and Kotori Minami encouraged the club members to do their best in front of their parents.
• Alex Ayase and Mari Nishikino bonded over their devotion to their daughters, then both glared at Senba Gari as he led the parents on a school tour.
• Senba Gari sampled a student’s terrible cookies without showing discomfort, while another parent struggled to praise them for his daughter’s sake.
• A kendo club student told Senba Gari that someone was being bullied, so he led the parents toward the kendo hall.
• Honoka Kosaka defeated one opponent but began running out of strength while facing a second boy in the exchange match.

Senba Gari protected Honoka Kosaka from a jealous kendo student, then faced Muramasa, who provoked his hidden power and killed a boy after he transformed into a monster. Muramasa challenged Senba Gari to meet him at Maple Forest in three days, and Senba Gari later sought calm alone after the killing brought trouble to Otonokizaka.

• A jealous boy injured Honoka Kosaka during kendo practice, and Senba Gari stopped him and helped Honoka leave with Kotori Minami and Umi Sonoda.
• Senba Gari defeated the boy in a match, then Muramasa revealed himself and challenged Senba Gari to fight.
• Muramasa struck Senba Gari, provoking him to counterattack as his consciousness grew muddled and black energy erupted around them.
• A nearby boy transformed into a monster, and Muramasa beheaded him after blaming him for ruining the fight.
• Muramasa challenged Senba Gari to meet him at Maple Forest in three days, threatening to stain everything around him with blood if he did not come.
• One day later, Senba Gari stood alone in a grove near home, seeking peace after Muramasa's rampage caused a death and brought the police to Otonokizaka.

Senba Gari faced Muramasa in the Maple Forest and transformed to fight him for victory rather than destiny, while Spirit and Chievil confronted Naraku with unexpected allies. During the duel, Senba Gari remembered how Kaoru Ichijo and Yusuke Godai had influenced his swordsmanship and life.

• Senba Gari trained at night as he prepared to face Muramasa, troubled by nightmares and the fear that Muramasa would stain those around him with blood.
• Muramasa stopped at a sushi stall run by Kouga and DaiGoyou, shared a calming meal, and left without paying.
• In the Maple Forest, Muramasa explained that he wanted a battle for its own sake, and Senba Gari accepted the fight as a contest of victory and defeat before transforming into Divine Garuda.
• Naraku watched Divine and Muramasa duel while planning to exploit the conflict, but Spirit and Chievil attacked him and were joined by Genta Umemori and Garo.
• Divine and Muramasa continued their sword fight, and Senba Gari recalled learning from Kaoru Ichijo and Yusuke Godai.

Senba Gari fought Muramasa to a final clash in the red maple forest, while Spirit and the others battled Naraku’s Mlortha until the Shinkengers arrived. After Muramasa asked Senba Gari to end his life as a seven-HBRUTE, Senba Gari returned from the forest, and Otonokizaka later resumed classes.

• Divine and Muramasa traded increasingly dangerous wounds as they fought, while Naraku’s Mlortha overwhelmed Spirit, Chievil, Garo, and Shinken Gold outside.
• The Shinkengers arrived and joined the battle, prompting Naraku to order the Mlortha to attack like suicide bombs.
• A flashback showed young Senba Gari promising Kaoru Ichijo that he would learn kendo and one day duel him.
• Divine and Muramasa unleashed their final attacks, and Muramasa asked Senba Gari to kill him after he had found satisfaction in their duel.
• Naraku sensed Muramasa’s presence disappear and withdrew with the Mlortha; Senba Gari then emerged from the forest as Muramasa’s bloodied tachi remained behind.
• Otonokizaka returned to its normal class schedule after several days of being sealed off.

μ's prepared for the Love Live! Tokyo preliminaries, discussed the competition and planned to practice promoting themselves over the school broadcast. Their first lunchtime announcement began with a painful groan, leaving Senba Gari to wonder what trouble they had caused.

• Honoka Kosaka, Eli Ayase, and Hanayo Koizumi reviewed the Love Live! website and learned that groups could perform at venues outside the official stage.
• A-Rise watched the preliminaries begin, and one of its members planned to visit someone she had not seen in a long time.
• Umi Sonoda explained the livestream and voting rules, while μ's recognized A-Rise as a major rival for one of the Tokyo district's four qualifying places.
• Honoka Kosaka suggested using the school as their stage, but Yazawa Nico and Hanayo Koizumi warned that a live broadcast allowed no do-overs and required a way to stand out.
• Maki Nishikino proposed using the school broadcast to promote μ's and practice, and her classmates agreed to help.
• μ's began a lunchtime broadcast, and Senba Gari heard a pained groan come through the speakers.

Honoka Kosaka and μ's practiced a school broadcast and searched for a fresh venue for their next Love Live! performance. When Senba Gari brought them home to ask Silver Phantom for help, they found A-Rise there and met its members, including Kira Tsubasa, whose connection to Takai Geki surprised Senba Gari.

• Honoka Kosaka announced μ's's Love Live! plans over the school broadcast, but her loud shout caused painful static that hurt listeners’ ears.
• μ's looked for a new performance venue and ruled out the auditorium, school gate, and sports field because they had performed there before.
• Senba Gari offered to ask Silver Phantom to find a suitable venue, and μ's followed him home after passing A-Rise’s performance at UTX Academy.
• Senba Gari found Takai Geki and Kashu sitting with Kira Tsubasa, Elena Tsundo, and Yuki Anju, and he recognized Kira Tsubasa as Takai Geki’s fiancée.
• Honoka Kosaka and the other μ's members introduced themselves to A-Rise, and Hanayo Koizumi asked Kira Tsubasa for an autograph.

A-Rise told μ's that they considered them their greatest rivals and invited them to perform at UTX Academy, where the groups later prepared to share the Love Live! preliminaries. Just before the performance, Hanayo Koizumi discovered that their song was missing.

• A-Rise praised the members of μ's, revealed they had been watching and supporting them, and challenged them to do their best without losing.
• Honoka Kosaka accepted Kira Tsubasa's invitation to hold a concert at UTX Academy, and Takai Geki chose not to see Kira off.
• Kira Tsubasa insisted to Elena Tsundo that Takai Geki would never betray her, calling him an idiot.
• Two weeks later, μ's and A-Rise met at UTX Academy to prepare for the Love Live! preliminaries and agreed to raise each other higher through their performances.
• As Alisa Ayase and Yukiho watched the livestream from Honoka's house, Hanayo Koizumi announced that μ's's song was missing.

After Hanayo Koizumi lost μ's's performance song, Senba Gari calmed the group, suspected foul play, and went to recreate the music so they could perform. μ's took the stage with support from their schoolmates, and Senba Gari finished playing a new version of the song as Kira Tsubasa asked him to join the girls.

• Hanayo Koizumi lost the song, and Yazawa Nico blamed her before Honoka Kosaka urged μ's to perform anyway.
• Senba Gari challenged the group for blaming Hanayo and despairing, then reassured them that the song was not truly gone.
• Senba Gari took Kira Tsubasa to UTX's music room and used a recording and Maki Nishikino's unfinished version to recreate Yume no Tobira on piano.
• Honoka Kosaka rallied μ's, and Fumika and other students arrived to support them as the piano version of Yume no Tobira played.
• μ's performed while Senba Gari completed the song, and Kira Tsubasa praised his playing and asked whether he would go see the girls.

Senba Gari encouraged Kira Tsubasa to understand Geki, then confronted and threatened the UTX chairwoman over the stolen song before rejoining μ's. Later, μ's anxiously checked the Love Live! preliminary results, but the apparent shock of their dream left their actual result unresolved.

• Senba Gari told Kira Tsubasa that Geki hid his feelings and asked her to be understanding of him.
• Senba Gari identified the UTX chairwoman as the likely thief of the song and frightened her with a blood-eyed warning to stop interfering.
• Senba Gari joined μ's on the UTX rooftop, where Honoka Kosaka and the other members thanked him and cried as they crowded around him.
• Hanayo Koizumi checked the Love Live! preliminary results, and Honoka Kosaka recounted a dream in which A-Rise, East Heart, Midnight cats, and Mutant Girls advanced.
• The group realized Honoka Kosaka's results story had only been a dream, then turned their attention back to the computer.

μ's learned they had passed the Love Live! preliminaries and began planning for the final preliminaries against A-Rise. When Yazawa Nico skipped practice to shop for dinner, the others secretly followed her and wondered why she had left.

• Honoka Kosaka feared the preliminary results would match her dream, but Hanayo Koizumi announced that μ's had placed fourth and advanced.
• The girls celebrated across the school, and Umi Sonoda finally realized the announcement was real after Senba Gari confirmed it.
• Eli Ayase and the others discussed the December final preliminaries, set a tougher practice schedule, and noticed Yazawa Nico was missing.
• Honoka Kosaka and the others caught up with Yazawa Nico as she left school, but Nico told them to focus on practice and continued on her way.
• The group secretly followed Yazawa Nico to a shop and saw her buying ingredients, then speculated about why she had skipped practice.

μ's chased Yazawa Nico after she fled from their questions, but she repeatedly evaded them. They met her younger sister Cocoro Yazawa, who led them toward the Yazawa home with an oddly dramatic stealth routine.

• Hanayo Koizumi and the others surprised Yazawa Nico at a store, and she fled through the back and into the alleys.
• Nozomi Tojo and Senba Gari caught up with Yazawa Nico by a DVD store, but she escaped through a gap between parked vans.
• μ's regrouped by the river and wondered why Yazawa Nico had run, then spotted a little girl who looked just like her.
• The girl introduced herself as Cocoro Yazawa, and the group followed her to the apartment building where the Yazawas lived.
• Cocoro Yazawa made everyone hide behind a car and scout the parking area before leading them into the building.

Cocoro Yazawa mistook μ's for her sister Nico's backup dancers and revealed that Nico had called Senba Gari her loyal servant, prompting him to plan a study session with her. When Nico returned home and found the group waiting, she tried to flee, but they chased after her.

• Cocoro warned μ's and Gari to avoid paparazzi, then described them as Nico's backup dancers and called Gari Nico's loyal servant.
• Gari left Nico a message threatening to make her study for the upcoming exams, and Cocoro agreed to help him.
• Cocoro showed μ's Nico's home, where they found a poster and bedroom decorations covered with photoshopped images of Nico replacing them.
• Nico returned home, saw μ's and Gari waiting, and tried to escape to her agency apartment.
• Umi, Gari, and the others chased Nico out of the house, leaving Cocoro and Cotaro behind.

Yazawa Nico admitted that her family believed she was an idol because she had hidden her early failures, and μ's learned how long she had pursued that dream alone. A few days later, Honoka brought Nico’s younger siblings to school and led Nico to a rooftop room where Senba Gari, Eli Ayase, and Nozomi Tojo were waiting to prepare a performance for them.

• Yazawa Cocoa appeared at the elevator, and Nico’s companions followed her home and confronted her about lying and missing practice.
• Nico explained that her parents were away on a business trip and she had to care for her younger siblings, but she would not fully explain why she called her friends backup dancers and servants.
• After leaving Nico’s house, Nozomi suggested that Nico had been pretending to be an idol at home ever since her first-year club failed, and Eli recalled Nico’s lonely early concerts.
• Alone that night, Nico reflected that she had hidden her failure to keep her siblings from being disappointed and reaffirmed her determination to become an idol.
• Three days later, Honoka brought Nico’s siblings to school, saying they wanted to see Nico perform, and led Nico to a rooftop room where Senba Gari, Eli, and Nozomi awaited her.

Yazawa Nico revealed to her siblings that she wanted to shine with μ's rather than perform alone, then the story shifted to the members’ school trip, rain-interrupted practice, and preparations for a fashion show. It left the second-years enjoying Okinawa while the remaining members prepared to perform after they returned.

• Eli Ayase and Senba Gari sent Yazawa Nico onto a rooftop stage, where she told Cocoro, Cocoa, and Cotaro that she wanted to become an idol with μ's and performed her last solo song.
• Honoka Kosaka, Umi Sonoda, and Minami Kotori traveled to Okinawa for their school trip, leaving Senba Gari behind to teach the third-years.
• Honoka Kosaka ran into the sea with Umi Sonoda and Minami Kotori, while Rin Hoshizora later pushed Maki Nishikino and Hanayo Koizumi into a pool.
• With a typhoon disrupting practice, Rin Hoshizora, Maki Nishikino, Yazawa Nico, and Hanayo Koizumi waited in the clubroom until Eli Ayase, Nozomi Tojo, and Senba Gari arrived.
• Eli Ayase explained that μ's would sing at a fashion show the day after the second-years returned, and Senba Gari questioned why he had been listed as the group’s person in charge.

With Honoka, Umi, and Kotori stranded indoors by a storm, Eli and the others made Rin the temporary leader of μ’s. Rin struggled to lead practice and was left unable to settle a disagreement between Maki and Nico.

• Rain trapped Honoka, Umi, and Kotori at their hotel, and Honoka spoke with Eli about the weekend event.
• Eli, Nozomi, Senba Gari, Maki, and Hanayo persuaded a reluctant Rin to lead μ’s until Honoka and the others returned.
• Rin nervously led practice with Hanayo, Maki, and Nico, stumbling through instructions and dance counts.
• Maki and Nico argued over a dance move, and Rin could not decide between them or resolve their disagreement.

Rin Hoshizora struggled with her confidence as μ's temporary leader because childhood teasing had made her believe she did not look like an idol. When a storm stranded Honoka Kosaka and the others in Okinawa, Rin was left facing the Center role for the upcoming fashion show and its wedding-dress-like costume.

• Rin Hoshizora rejected Maki Nishikino and Hanayo Koizumi's encouragement, explaining that she did not think she could stand at the center, then ran off.
• Hanayo Koizumi told Maki Nishikino that people had teased Rin for looking like a boy and wearing skirts when they were children.
• Eli Ayase told Nozomi Tojo, Yazawa Nico, and Senba Gari about Rin's insecurity, and the group agreed to discuss ways to help her later.
• A hurricane in Okinawa canceled Honoka Kosaka and the others' flight, so Senba Gari told the remaining six μ's members they would sing at the fashion show.
• Eli Ayase pointed out that Rin Hoshizora would be the Center, and Rin balked when she saw the wedding-dress-like outfit she would have to wear.