Episode 7

Sword Eater II is the seventh episode of the Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan anime. It aired on November 14, 2015.

Synopsis
Ikki’s impending opponent might be the most difficult one yet. He’ll have to rely on his skill and determination to help a friend rediscover their honor.

Summary
Ikki and Ayase are seen on the roof in the middle of the night and Ayase asks Ikki what he would do if he fought against someone he could never beat. Ikki replies by stating that no matter what he would fight fairly. Ayase, however, disagrees with Ikki stating that it was justice with no results and did not matter. Ayase then draws her device and the fence behind her somehow comes apart as she falls through it, falling off the roof. Ikki yells after a falling Ayatsuji and uses his Ittou Shura to catch her, before she falls to the ground, landing them both safely into the water nearby.

They both climb out of the water and Ikki asks Ayase why she had done that. Ayase tells Ikki that she wanted him to use his Ittou Shura knowing that he wouldn't be able to use it during their match, in ten hours.

Stella is then seen sleeping, dreaming about Ikki, when her dream is interrupted by a worn out Ikki who falls directly on top of her. Stella, assumes that it is a Japanese night time sneak, but then realize something being wrong as Ikki was not moving.

Ikki, the next morning, wakes up in the hospital bed, finding Shizuku, Stella and Nagi there when he had awoken. Ikki tries to explain, to them, what had happened last night, but is interrupted by Kurono, who wanted Ikki to come with her.

At Kurono's office, Kurono figured that Ikki had something to do with the destroyed side of the building, to which Ikki admits to but wouldn't give the reason why. Ikki then asks Kurono about Ayase and she decides to tell him about what had happened to her father two years ago, when he could no longer hold a sword after losing in a one on one match, to Kuraudo, giving him all of the land and gym Ayatsuji once held. Ikki asks what happened to Kaito and Kurono states that he has been unconscious since that match.

During Kurono's explanation, Ayase is seen with her unconscious father, thinking about her father's words of never losing her pride as a swordsman. She then remembers one of her challenges against Kuraudo, in which Kuraudo tells her to never come back. Ayase then believes if she could go to the seven sword art festival she could fight Kuraudo once again. Kaito is then seen talking in his comatose state, apologizing.

Ikki and his friends are then seen outside, wondering what to do, after hearing Ayase's story. Ikki decides he will fight valiantly against Ayase, but before then, he asks Stella to go with him somewhere.

The arena where Ikki and Ayase's match will take place is seen as the announcer, Hangetsu Tsukyomi, introduces herself as well as her co-announcer Yuuri Oreki. The announcers then introduce the combatants Ikki and Ayase, as they enter the ring. They both draw out their respective devices as the match begins.

Ikki quickly jumps against Ayase, however, he is somehow cut in multiple areas instead. Ayase does it once again to Ikki's back and then charges at him. Ayase explains to Ikki that he was being cut, by her noble art mark of the wind. Ayase also explains that opening up wounds was her device's ability. Ayase and Ikki both think about the ability, as Ayase had cut the area before the start of the match, leaving behind many, unseen, marks that would cause whirlwind slashes, on Ikki when activated, the moment he was close to one.

Nagi in the stands figures out Ayase's traps and knew that it was illegal to do something such as that, which would give him the automatic win when it was found out.

Ayase is then seen noticing that Yuuri hasn't noticed what she had done, and wonders if Ikki had. She then tries to use mark of the wind against Ikki, he, however, is able to dodge it much to Ayase's surprise. However, Ayase uses her Hizume to make a little cut big on Ikki' arm, causing him to drop to one knee. Ayase then decides to go after a vital spot, and then rushes him attacking very fiercely. Ayase nearly gets to Ikki, however Ikki is able to stop Ayase's attack with the hilt of his sword, called irregular guard. Ikki then smiles at Ayase seeing that she was who he had always thought she was.

Ikki and Stella are then seen with Yuuri, before the match, with Ikki telling Yuuri that Ayase will definitely cheat during the match. Ikki then asks Yuuri to look the other way when she cheats, explaining that he wants to believe that he can save his friendship with Ayase.

Ikki then tells Ayase that her swordsmanship and style was off, ignoring not only what Ikki taught her but what she could already do before, and states that because her own mind is lost her swordplay suffers. Ayase ignores what he says and believes what she is doing is the only way. Ikki then decides to bring back Ayase's pride with his strongest as he charges at Ayase, unable to use Ittou Shura.

As Ikki charges Ayase tries to use mark of the wind, however Ikki is able to dodge every attack. Ayase slams her sword through the ground, causing an explosion and tries to attack Ikki, however it was revealed to be an afterimage of Ikki, as he activates his fourth sword shinkiro, and they both slash each other, with Ayase falling afterwards. Shizuku then notices that Ikki had switched to his phantom form, before cutting Ayase.

Ayase tries to get back up but is unable to, and begins to cry out of frustration. Ikki asks her if her soul was really in this match, without her pride. Ayase's device disappears and Ayase admits that Ikki was right and admits defeat.

After the match, Ikki offers Ayase to help her get back her pride. Ayase wonders why he would do this and Ikki responds by telling her that the reason is that they are friends. Ikki then offers his hand to Ayase, with Ayase noticing the callouses on his hands just like her father. Ayase then takes Ikki's hand and asks Ikki for help.

Light Novel and Anime Differences

 * In the anime, Kurono was the one who explained about Kaito's situation.
 * Stella was present during the discussion between Ikki and Yuuri as opposed to the novels.