Chapter Summaries

Senba Gari rescued Minami Kotori and tried to help her recover from the trauma of her captivity, while strange changes in his eyes and visions of Mlortha alarmed him. After spending the day with Kotori, he heard her sing as they revisited their childhood swing.

• Senba Gari punched the man who had harmed Minami Kotori, asked Takai Geki to keep the incident from her memory, and brought her home.
• Minami Kotori remained dazed after bathing, while Silver Phantom examined Senba Gari and later revealed a black spot near his heart on her scan.
• Senba Gari saw his pupils turn bloodred and faint black aura drift from him, then confessed his guilt and fears to the sleeping Minami Kotori.
• Senba Gari took Minami Kotori shopping and to an amusement park, buying her a maid outfit and winning a sack of plush toys with spiritual power.
• Senba Gari pushed Minami Kotori on their childhood swing, and she began singing as they recalled their past together.

Minami Kotori remembered how Senba Gari had protected her as a child, left her, and later reunited with her as her teacher and a hero. After watching him lie unconscious and secretly listening to his heartfelt words, Kotori decided she wanted to change and finally called out to him.

• Minami Kotori recalled how Senba Gari defended her from bullies when they were children, then how she clung to him at the airport when he left.
• Kotori remembered reuniting with Gari after he became her teacher, and how his life as a hero made her fear the distance between them was growing.
• After seeing Gari battered and unconscious, Kotori became afraid he might die somewhere she could not reach him.
• Kotori secretly listened while Gari spoke his true feelings, pretending to sleep through the night.
• Kotori decided she wanted to change and finally spoke to Gari, who asked whether she had written the song herself.

After reconciling with Kotori and the μ's girls, Senba Gari dreamed of a violent red-and-blue warrior who demanded his soul. Nozomi invited Gari, Takai Geki, and their friends to meet Grandpa Zhu, who had asked to see them.

• Kotori kissed Gari and rode on his back, then reunited with the concerned μ's girls as Gari apologized for yelling at them and promised they would never go missing again.
• Eight years earlier, Grandpa Zhu showed a young Nozomi a card depicting a red-armored knight surrounded by nine goddesses and asked whether she believed in fate.
• Nozomi visited Grandpa Zhu and told him about her recent experiences, after which he asked to meet her friends, including the two boys.
• Gari dreamed of a red-and-blue warrior fighting monsters, killing a griffin, and demanding Gari's soul before Gari woke in terror.
• Nozomi invited Gari and Geki to meet Grandpa Zhu, and the group gathered outside his shabby house while teasing Honoka about being lazy.

Torch Dragon revealed that the Beast Soul Drivers and their beast souls were connected to the Mlortha, then showed the group their ancient origins and the war against Yamata no Orochi. As Torch Dragon described the hero’s betrayal by greedy humans, Senba Gari suffered a violent headache, and the chapter ended with him asking to hear what happened next.

• Torch Dragon immobilized Senba Gari and Takai Geki, then introduced himself as a Mlortha prophet and explained that the Beast Soul Drivers were connected to the Mlortha.
• Torch Dragon conjured an illusion showing a meteorite that transformed life on Earth, as humanity’s desires and the dead’s resentment gave rise to Yamata no Orochi and the Mlortha.
• Torch Dragon recounted how an armored human and allied Mlortha defeated and sealed Yamata no Orochi, after which the Mlortha withdrew from the human world.
• Torch Dragon revealed that the human hero was later hunted by his own people for his weapon, and Senba Gari was overwhelmed by dark emotions and a severe headache as he watched.
• Torch Dragon eased Senba Gari’s pain, and Senba Gari asked him to continue telling the story.

The old man revealed that the Beast Soul Drivers came from meteorite fragments and explained that Naraku had brought a controlled third Chosen One from another era. Divine and Spirit fought Naraku and the newcomer, while Divine’s battle pushed him into a dangerous rampage.

• The old man showed the girls humanity’s destruction and revealed that the Beast Soul Drivers were made from three meteorite fragments entrusted to the Mlortha.
• Naraku arrived with a dark-purple armored figure, and the Beast Soul Drivers resonated as the old man recognized the newcomer as the third Chosen One.
• The controlled Chosen One attacked, prompting Divine to confront him while Spirit engaged Naraku, who transformed and overwhelmed Spirit with his attack.
• Divine awakened his Shadow Moon Soul form and fought the Chosen One with a flexible sword that carried purple lightning.
• After being battered, Divine stopped suppressing his beastly instincts, broke into a rampage, and howled with his eyes completely blood-red.

Divine went berserk and attacked Spirit and the Chosen One until Torch Dragon knocked him unconscious. After warning Senba Gari about the cost of his power and asking him to save the Chosen One and look after Tojo, Torch Dragon gave him a tarot card that changed into an image of a bird trapped in thorns; meanwhile, Doctor Shinigami began planning to manipulate Chievil.

• Divine seized the Chosen One and brought him into Spirit and Naraku’s fight, then attacked Spirit and the Chosen One while under the influence of his berserk state.
• The Chosen One struck Divine with his soft sword, but Divine overpowered him and nearly stomped on him before Spirit tackled Divine and Naraku carried the unconscious Chosen One away.
• Torch Dragon knocked Divine unconscious before he could attack Spirit again, and Spirit recovered from the fight.
• Senba Gari woke from a nightmare, and Torch Dragon warned him that using his power changed his body and risked turning him into Mlortha.
• Torch Dragon asked Senba Gari to free the Chosen One from Hodenig’s control and take care of Tojo; the tarot card he gave Senba Gari changed into a white bird caught in blood-colored thorns.
• Doctor Shinigami examined Chievil, the third Godchosen, and planned to erase his memories and make him fight Divine and Spirit while extracting information from his memories.

Doctor Shinigami’s attempt to read the God-Chosen One’s memories awakened his sealed power, and he escaped the laboratory before a girl found him in the city. At Yuki Anju’s home, he woke with amnesia, remembered the name Kashu, and remained with her.

• Doctor Shinigami discovered that the God-Chosen One’s memories only reached back to childhood and saw fragments of his past, including Camus sealing him away.
• Dark-purple energy surged through the God-Chosen One, who transformed amid an electrical outburst and smashed through the laboratory ceiling, leaving Doctor Shinigami paralyzed.
• Yuki Anju found the unconscious God-Chosen One beside a garbage pile and brought him home.
• The God-Chosen One woke in Yuki Anju’s house and struggled to communicate with her, admitting that he could not remember his past or family.
• Yuki Anju invited him to stay while her butler searched for information, and he recalled the name Kashu.

Kashu spent time with Yuki Anju, but the Snake Eye necklace soon warned him that danger was near. When a battle between Divine, the Yin-Yang Guards, and the Lizard Mlortha erupted around their café, Kashu recognized something familiar in the armored warrior and protected Yuki Anju from falling glass.

• Kashu introduced himself to Yuki Anju, who decided to take him shopping for new clothes.
• Senba Gari and Takai Geki sparred until Silver Phantom announced that Mlortha had appeared again, prompting them to prepare for action.
• At a café, Kashu's Snake Eye necklace glowed and sent him the message, "They're here!" just before a monster battle began nearby.
• Yuki Anju pulled Kashu under a table as the Lizard Mlortha crashed into the café, and Kashu shielded her from falling glass, injuring his arm.
• Divine entered the café and attacked the Yin-Yang Guards and Lizard Mlortha; Kashu felt that Divine was familiar, while the necklace glowed more intensely.
• Divine sensed civilians hiding nearby and told Kashu and Yuki Anju to leave before the fight continued.

Divine and Spirit defeated their opponents in the cold drink shop and outside, but Kashu’s strange connection to Divine remained unexplained. Naraku and Muramasa found Kashu, revealed that an illusion had taken control of him, and ordered him to manifest his true nature.

• Divine lured the Yin-Yang Guards and Mlortha into attacking him, then defeated them with the Frost Dragon Staff and killed Mlortha.
• Spirit defeated Heavenly God Fang, forcing Tsuchimikado Kan out of his armor; Tsuchimikado Kan vowed to return for the Beast Soul Drivers and left with his servants.
• Dark clouds and purple lightning gathered as Takai Geki and Senba Gari noticed the ominous sky, while Yuki Anju questioned Kashu about his familiarity with Divine.
• Naraku and Muramasa confronted Yuki Anju and Kashu, and Naraku revealed that an illusion placed on Kashu had taken control of him.
• Kashu pushed Yuki Anju aside, approached Naraku, and summoned a Chimera-head belt before inserting the Snake Eye crystal into it.

Kashu transformed into Chievil and attacked Yuki Anju, but Divine arrived to protect her and was forced into a battle with Muramasa. Divine tried to rescue Yuki, but Muramasa pinned him down and Chievil stabbed him through the abdomen, leaving both Divine and Yuki in danger.

• Kashu transformed into Chievil under Naraku’s command, and Chievil drew Thunder Chain to kill Yuki Anju.
• Divine interrupted Chievil’s attack and confronted Naraku, while Muramasa ambushed Divine and challenged him to fight.
• Divine awakened Hurricane Soul and battled Muramasa, whose blade wounded Divine’s wing.
• Divine knocked Muramasa away and grabbed Yuki Anju in an attempt to escape, but Muramasa caught him and pinned him with his katana.
• Chievil stabbed Divine through the abdomen with Thunder Chain while Muramasa withdrew to Naraku’s side.

Divine survived Naraku’s attack, while Naraku sent Chievil to fight Divine and Spirit at a chemical plant beneath a storm of purple lightning. As the battle escalated, Yuki Anju ran toward the plant, determined to bring the real Kashu back.

• Naraku withdrew with Muramasa and Chievil after Divine’s abdominal wound mysteriously healed.
• A mysterious man awakened in a blood-red realm and noted that a third key had awakened.
• Senba Gari left μ's at home doing homework after Takai Geki called him about a dangerous plan at a chemical plant.
• Yuki Anju recognized the purple lightning near the plant and ran there, resolving to find the real Kashu.
• Chievil attacked Divine, Spirit, Silver Phantom, and Golden Firmament, overpowering Divine and Spirit in close combat.
• Chievil unleashed a lightning strike, and Divine changed into Divine Diamond and raised a stone wall to shield Spirit.

Divine, Spirit, Silver Phantom, and Golden Firmament fought Chievil until Yuki Anju and the robot Ziying intervened, helping Kashu recover his memories. Kashu later moved into the Senba home, where his attempt to cook blew up the kitchen and Ziying joined Silver Phantom in eagerly greeting a new game delivery.

• Divine and Spirit transformed into stronger forms and attacked Chievil while Silver Phantom and Golden Firmament provided covering fire.
• Yuki Anju stepped between Divine and Chievil to protect Kashu, and Ziying stopped Divine from striking her.
• Naraku ordered Chievil to kill Yuki Anju, but Ziying pressed a colorful gemstone shard to Chievil's forehead, breaking his armor and triggering memories that caused Kashu to collapse.
• Senba Gari revealed his identity to Yuki Anju and asked her to explain Kashu's past and their plans; Kashu later recognized him as his brother.
• The next day, Kashu accidentally blew up the Senba kitchen while trying to cook, and Silver Phantom and Ziying swiftly seized a newly delivered game package.

As Otonokizaka Academy welcomed a new semester and celebrated renewed enrollment, Honoka Kosaka took over as student council president and struggled with her first speech and a mountain of paperwork. Senba Gari and the former council leaders checked on her, while Yazawa Nico prepared to show Hanayo Koizumi and Rin Hoshizora the results of their special training.

• Senba Gari showed Senba Gari the expensive capsule-toy bill, and Senba Gari collapsed after hearing the kitchen was ruined and meals would be scarce; Kashu accidentally destroyed the phone meant to call an ambulance.
• Kotori Minami announced that Otonokizaka Academy would continue accepting students after enrollment exceeded expectations.
• Honoka Kosaka appeared as the new student council president and delivered an energetic address after taking over from Eli Ayase.
• Honoka Kosaka recalled forgetting her prepared speech, then faced piles of council paperwork and student requests as Umi Sonoda urged her to learn the school's affairs.
• Eli Ayase, Nozomi Tojo, and Senba Gari visited the new council, encouraged Honoka Kosaka, and Senba Gari reminded her to do her share of the work.
• On the rooftop, Yazawa Nico told Hanayo Koizumi and Rin Hoshizora she would show them the results of their special training.

Hanayo Koizumi discovered that a second Love Live! competition had been announced, prompting the μ’s members to gather and discuss their chance to compete. They decided to enter the regional preliminaries, which would determine who advanced to the larger main competition.

• Yazawa Nico tried to coach Maki Nishikino, Hanayo Koizumi, and Rin Hoshizora while filming them, but her plan to promote herself as a potential Center was exposed.
• Hanayo Koizumi saw news about the second Love Live! competition and rushed through the school searching for Honoka Kosaka before finding her relaxing with bread.
• Hanayo Koizumi showed the announcement to the club, explaining that the competition would be larger and use regional preliminaries instead of popularity rankings.
• Umi Sonoda concluded that groups would qualify for the main competition by winning their regional preliminaries.
• Yazawa Nico, Maki Nishikino, and the others agreed that they had a chance and decided to aim for Love Live!

The μ's members discussed entering Love Live! despite the prospect of facing A-RISE, but Honoka unexpectedly said they did not have to compete. When everyone pressed her to explain, she changed the subject and led them out for an evening of fun, ending at a photo studio.

• Eli Ayase pointed out that entering the regional preliminaries would mean confronting A-RISE, and the members briefly lost confidence before Umi Sonoda and Eli encouraged them to try.
• Honoka Kosaka calmly said the group did not have to enter Love Live!, startling everyone and prompting them to question what had changed.
• Honoka said singing and dancing together made her happy, then suggested taking a break and going out before the next day's practice.
• Honoka led the group through the evening streets, where she and Rin Hoshizora bought crepes and the others followed along without knowing the plan.
• Honoka and Rin posed with Eli at a photo studio, and Eli asked what photo stickers were.

Honoka Kosaka hesitated to enter the upcoming Love Live!, prompting μ's members to wonder why she wanted to withdraw. Yukiho Kosaka helped her realize that the third-year members would graduate soon, while Senba Gari privately faced a worsening condition and a cracked Beast Soul Bracelet; the chapter ended with Honoka looking at the Love Live! poster at school.

• Honoka Kosaka edited Eli Ayase's photo into a comical sticker, and the girls teased Eli at the cold drink shop.
• Senba Gari told Honoka Kosaka to cherish her remaining time at school, and she later recalled his warning while watching A-Rise's promotion at UTX Academy.
• Eli Ayase led a group chat in which μ's discussed Honoka Kosaka's reluctance to enter Love Live!, while Yazawa Nico insisted that she wanted to compete.
• Yukiho Kosaka told Honoka Kosaka that Love Live! would take place in March, making Honoka realize that the third-year members would graduate after the competition.
• Golden Firmament warned Takai Geki that his vitality had fallen dangerously low, while Senba Gari discovered a crack in his Beast Soul Bracelet and heard a mysterious voice mention the incomplete Seed of Sin.
• Nozomi Tojo asked Eli Ayase whether μ's could really skip Love Live!, and Honoka Kosaka saw the competition poster at school.

Honoka Kosaka overcame her hesitation about Love Live! after Yazawa Nico challenged her to race up the shrine steps, and she rallied the group to enter together. Senba Gari was then summoned by Kotori Minami, who assigned him to guide visiting parents around Otonokizaka.

• Yazawa Nico challenged Honoka Kosaka to race up the shrine steps, declaring that the winner would decide whether they entered Love Live!.
• Yazawa Nico got an early lead but fell, and Honoka Kosaka stopped to help her as the rain began.
• Eli Ayase and Nozomi Tojo explained that this was the nine members' last chance to compete together before the seniors graduated, and Honoka admitted that she wanted to take part despite her worries.
• Honoka Kosaka declared that they would enter Love Live! and aim for the championship, and the rain stopped as the nine members rallied around her.
• Kotori Minami asked Senba Gari to guide students' parents during an upcoming school visit, and he protested that the assignment put him in an awkward position.

μ's went to Maki Nishikino’s mountain villa for a training camp after learning Love Live! preliminaries required a new song. The chapter ends as the girls explored the villa, while Honoka had already been forgotten on the train and rescued by Senba Gari.

• Hanayo Koizumi explained that μ's had to submit a song they had never used before, and Eli Ayase proposed a training camp to write one.
• Senba Gari traveled with the nine girls to Maki Nishikino’s mountain villa and complained that he felt something unlucky was about to happen.
• At the station, the group realized Honoka Kosaka was missing, so Senba Gari transformed and chased the train to bring her back.
• Maki Nishikino led everyone to her spacious mountain villa, where they admired its scenery and luxurious interior.
• Honoka Kosaka and Rin Hoshizora explored the fireplace as the group settled into the villa.

Maki Nishikino welcomed the others to her home, where μ's began training and preparing a song, but Umi Sonoda and Minami Kotori struggled to focus. During a break, Yazawa Nico and Rin Hoshizora chased a squirrel downhill and lost control, racing toward Senba Gari as he fished.

• Maki Nishikino refused to light the fireplace because she wanted to keep the chimney clean for Santa Claus, and Senba Gari reassured her when the others teased her belief.
• Eli Ayase led dance training while Maki Nishikino took Umi Sonoda and Minami Kotori upstairs to rooms she had prepared for writing lyrics and designing outfits.
• Umi Sonoda and Minami Kotori found it difficult to settle down to their tasks, while Maki Nishikino went to the piano to work on songs.
• During a training break, a squirrel stole Yazawa Nico's wristband, and Yazawa Nico and Rin Hoshizora chased it down a steep slope.
• Yazawa Nico and Rin Hoshizora raced downhill without being able to stop, while Senba Gari fished near the bottom, unaware they were approaching.

Senba Gari scolded Rin Hoshizora and Yazawa Nico after they collided with him and nearly fell down a mountainside, then apologized and helped the group address the pressure on the girls preparing their next song. Eli Ayase divided μ’s into three work groups, while Senba Gari sent Beast God Cubes to watch over them; the chapter ended with Maki Nishikino composing as Yazawa Nico grew restless in their tent.

• Rin Hoshizora and Yazawa Nico crashed into Senba Gari while he was fishing, and he angrily warned them about the danger before apologizing for his harsh tone.
• Honoka Kosaka discovered Umi Sonoda, Minami Kotori, and Maki Nishikino sitting outside in a slump over the pressure of preparing for the preliminaries.
• Nozomi Tojo suggested that everyone contribute ideas, and Eli Ayase split the girls into groups for outfits, lyrics, and composing.
• Senba Gari transformed three Beast God Cubes into animal forms and assigned them to watch over the groups.
• Maki Nishikino worked on sheet music in a tent while Eli Ayase kept her company and Yazawa Nico grew restless.