Episode 4

Failure Knight IV is the fourth episode of the Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan anime. It aired on October 17, 2015

Summary
Stella battles against Momotani and, before Momtani could even land a single strike against Stella, he gave up do to the fear of being covered in Stella's flames.

Shizuku and Nagi, while in the locker room, talk about how easy Stella's match was, as Stella was showering as well as revealing that both her and Nagi had won their respective first matches as well. Kagami then barges in wanting to interview the three first years and Nagi and her quickly become close as both enjoy gossip.

Ikki watches one of Kirihara's matches, and had accidentally imagined himself in the position of the helpless girl who was going against him, as she was about to be struck down with one of Kirihara's arrows. Stella then comes in and they talk about Kirihara's ability, area invisibility, allowing him to shoot arrows at blazers from a safe place. Ikki notices Stella's worry, of him, and Ikki assures her that he will win.

Ikki then goes on a run, where he runs into Nagi, who wanted to know the story between Kirihara and him, knowing that Ikki and Kirihara had some sort of blood shed. Ikki recollected his first year at Hagun Academy, as he told Nagi the story. Ikki told Nagi that the head of the Kurogane family had connections to the director of the school, at the time, and the director was looking for a reason to get him expelled.

Ikki then remember his first year in the academy where he met a fellow first year Kirihara, who approached Ikki with the idea of fighting him in order for Ikki to have fighting abilities recognized by the staff. Ikki had rejected his offer but Kirihara refused to his refusal and fired arrows at him continuously.

Ikki, back in present now, tells Nagi that he was not able to fight back in any way as he thought he would be expelled for giving in to provocation. Nagi then asks Ikki what he would do if things hadn't changed like they did and Ikki stated that he would keep going to prove his strength no matter what, which prompts Nagi to tell Ikki that he is used to being hurt and that he hopes Ikki will meet someone who hears the screams in his heart.

The next day, while Ikki registered for participation on the selection battle he is approached by Nene Saikyo, who was impressed by his no hesitant thought on agreeing to the registration from, as so many others do. Ikki then recognizes Nene as a strong fighter as Nene closes the space between her and Ikki, in an instant, and offers private lessons for Ikki. Kurono, however, interrupts and drags Nene away from Ikki so she can return to her duties as the commentator of the matches.

Ikki then goes to the waiting room, where he tries to focus. He closes his eyes and thinks about all the events leading up to this point, becoming more agitated as he thought on, and in an instant it was already time for his match.

Ikki and Kirihara are introduced by the announcer and Kirihara and Ikki both draw out there weapons as the buzzer begins the match. Kirihara summons a forest and uses his area of invisibility, beginning to fire his arrows at Ikki. Ikki is able to figure out the trajectory of the arrows and is able to figure where Kirihara is the moment he fires and arrow. Kirihara then decides to play a game with Ikki and call out where he is going to shoot Ikki. As his game begins he unveils that he can hide his arrows in his area invisibility, and is able to shoot Ikki down without much effort.

Stella, Shizuku and Nagi are then seen in the stands watching on. Stella wonders why Ikki didn't use his technique the moment the match started and Nagi explains that he couldn't as his nerves are getting to him. Kirihara then begins to mock Ikki, as he is shooting him, mocking his very need to win the sword art festival just to graduate. The crowd joins in Kirihara's mockery of Ikki, and begin to chant, with Kirihara leading them, worst one, discouraging Ikki even further. Stella, listening to all of it and being frustrated more and more by the chanting of the crowd, finally stops the chanting and tells Ikki to get up, encouraging Ikki to fight back against Kirihara.

Kirihara then decides to aim at Ikki's brain as Ikki activates his noble art, Ittou shura. Kirihara fires his arrow, however, it was caught by Ikki who knew he would aim at his chest instead of his brain, terrifying Kirihara. Nene explains that Ikki was able to take in all the logic of his opponents technique and use it against them, naming it Perfect Vision.

Kirihara, terrified, fires everything at Ikki, even using his technique Million Rain, but was unsuccessful as Ikki already knew where his arrow where coming as well as him. Ikki then charges at Kirihara but before he cuts him Kirihara admits defeat, being terrified of being cut. Ikki stops his attack before cutting Kirihara and the commentator announces Ikki's win. Ikki then collapses and is taken to the infirmary room for treatment.

Ikki, at the infirmary, wakes up to find Stella sleeping at his bed side. As Stella, she is flustered by Ikki seeing her drool. Ikki, after Stella had calm, had wanted to tell her that he liked her to. Stella, however, stops him and instead tells him to close his eyes. After he did so she kisses him on the cheek. Ikki responds by hugging her and they each promise each other to fight in the finals of the sword art festival.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Stella Vermillion
 * 2) Shizuku Kurogane
 * 3) Nagi Arisuin
 * 4) Kagami Kusakabe
 * 5) Ikki Kurogane
 * 6) Nene Saikyo
 * 7) Kurono Shinguuji
 * 8) Shizuya Kirihara