Live A Hero Midsummer Hero Festival Episode 4

There is no title card for this episode, so for the record the episode title is Anguish! Demon Captain of the Rescue Squad

Things tune in to just after UEHA Japan has won the first half of their rank battles for the day, and the announcer wonders aloud whether they can keep the steam up for the second half. Gammei walks back into the team's waiting room, letting out a huge breath as he comments on managing to win and how hard it is to battle continuously. This is the third day of the preliminary rankings, and you either congratulate Gammei and say he did great, or you comment on how you like his hero suit. In A and B Gammei thanks you, saying he had a hard time out there, but he's glad he found an opening to win the fight. In C, Gammei gets embarrassed as he tells you to stop staring and swears he'll hit you one of these days.

Anyways, Okitaka congratulates Gammei and says he managed to get tons of ratings points in his battle. Gammei is surprised to hear this since he doesn't have any abilities that are visually coded as cool and refreshing like Barrel and Furlong do. Barrel says that from what the comments are saying, everyone likes how sexy Gammei's hero suit is and highlight his body lines. Apparently there's a bunch of his fans in there. Gammei is baffled and questions what his fans are like. You either try to say having fans is great, say it's because of his costume, or say you can't let yourself lose out to them. In A, Gammei reluctantly agrees, but says he has conflicting feelings. In B, Gammei tries denying wanting his suit to look like that, but then confuses himself about how his wish may have made it turn out that way. In C, Gammei is shocked at you getting competitive and begs you to not do anything weird.

In any case Gammei sighs and says it's not all bad, and he starts questioning what would be so attractive about an old man like him before it occurs to him that he should take his suit off. Once he does, he tells Victom they'll be counting on him for the second match of the day. Victom just gives a brief affirmative response as he remains seated on a bench. You wonder if he's in a bad mood, say he's a little scary, or comment that he's so unexcited.

Furlong attempts to talk Victom into loosening up even though he's aware he's not that into these kinds of things, and Victom apologizes for worrying you guys. He says he'll give it his all in the match, then says he'll count on you to operate. You respond affirmatively if still intimidated, but you worry about whether it'll go well at all. Victom then excuses himself to use the restroom and says he'll be back soon. He walks off, still looking stone-faced as ever.

Gammei sighs about Victom's lack of enthusiasm, though he expected as much knowing what his stance on things are. You ask about this stance, so Furlong starts explaining that Victom became a hero who devoted himself to saving lives. If people are in danger, he's prepared to lay his life down to get them to safety, but in an event like this he's not really the type to care much. Okitaka talks about how helping people is the duty of heroes and how those situations are where they show their skills to the utmost. In that respect Victom's philosophy is a valid one, and Okitaka says they don't really have room to argue about it. It's something worth respecting after all, and Okitaka says he at least likes that Victom lives his life that way. You nod and say that does sound like Victom.

Time skips to the point where you and Victom are heading to the stage now that it's been cleaned up. Victom is still as stoic and silent as he has been, making it hard to approach as you attempt to talk to him and say you guys should do your best. Victom apologizes for unintentionally putting pressure on you, saying he'll complete his duty and will be counting on your support. You nod and think on how he referred to this as his duty.

When Victom steps up to the stage, his opponent turns out to be Hisaki. Hisaki is surprised to see you but remembers he was there when UEHA asked you to fill in for them. He laughs about the coincidence and asks that you guys go easy on him. You either express shock or surprise at seeing Hisaki on the other side, or you cheer about seeing him. C gets an extra bit of him being surprised as he reminds you that he's your opponent for now. He does kinda like the fact you're happy to see him though.

The event announcer commentates about how the heroes for UEHA and Laborer's Site have entered the stage, which prompts cheers from the crowd. Hisaki starts mugging for the crowd, thanking them for the warm reception as he waves and smiles. He also draws attention to a part of the crowd holding up a banner with his name on it, and he promises to win the match for them. He makes an exaggerated expression as he blows a kiss towards the section, which prompts shrill cheers and the banner to shake. You note that Hisaki's really attuned to pleasing fans, comment that he's used to being in front of crowds, or you accuse him of being a cheater. C gets an extra line describing how Hisaki gives you a teasing smile and a wink when he hears you yelling that.

Victom is baffled and irritated at how Hisaki is acting just before a fight, and Hisaki in turn asks if Victom isn't going to try engaging with the audience since they have the time for that now. He suggests it'd be best for him to keep them in mind. Victom is offended as he says he's taking this seriously unlike him. Hisaki is a little taken aback at this, but he shrugs it off saying there are people who think that way too. Hisaki then makes a point of saying that taking a position like that in a battle like this is going to turn out badly for him, saying Victom might not win against him.

You comment on how confident Hisaki is and/or wish Victom good luck. Victom is personally offended at the taunt and says he'll take him on as he asks you to transform him. You comply but have your worries about how this will go. Hisaki goes through his transformation at about the same time. Once he's suited up he challenges Victom to get started, saying he'll show him how to really rake in Views. Victom rejects the idea that Hisaki has anything to show, and the announcer goes on to declare the start of the episode battle. More happens after that.

The story picks back up midway through the battle as Victom moves himself into a favorable position and pressures Hisaki with his attacks. Hisaki keeps his defense up as he concedes that Victom's strong, what with him tearing his suit up in places. He shows no signs of attacking back, and you either say Victom can win if he keeps this up or get the feeling that something is up.

Victom calls to you to get ready since things will be over soon, and he stops his assault for a moment. This however is what Hisaki was waiting for as he calls for his Operator to send him 30k Views. Victom is shocked as Hisaki's suit gets repaired by the Views sent in, and Hisaki starts creating something in his hands. Hisaki declares a sudden turnaround from behind is the best way of drawing attention, and he kicks off in a blue flash off the ground towards Victom.

You yell to Victom to dodge, but Victom is unable to react fast enough. Hisaki deploys his own ultimate Invention "Opus Creation" to create a beam shield around himself and uses that to ram into Victom. He yells out, and you yell out Victom's name. The force of getting Tech Charged sends him flying away, and when he lands his transformation falls apart from the damage. The announcer ends the match as he calls it for for Laborer's Site. In addition to the victory points Hisaki won, he also gets another 136 ratings points while Victom got 32. In the waiting room Furlong cries out in concern for Victom, and Barrel sadly notes that Hisaki has dominated the match and got a great reception from the audience. Gammei notes that's the part Victom has the most trouble with, and Okitaka is worried for him.

Victom is frustrated by his loss, and Hisaki walks over offering to help him stand back up. Victom however rejects it as he glares and gets up on his own. Hisaki is a little sad at this, but he lets him be on that point. Hisaki then starts talking about how saving lives is a hero's greatest goal, and any other duties can come second to that. He figures that to be Victom's philosophy is, but Hisaki argues that being a hero is not something that can be done alone. To be a hero you need an Operator and those watching and cheering you on, otherwise you'd be unable to use any moves. Neglecting to consider that could impact your ability to save lives. Victom is unable to bring up an argument against Hisaki's reasoning, so Hisaki excuses himself and asks you to join him for tea again sometime. He waves as he turns around and walks off, and all Victom can do is watch him leave.

Time passes to the evening after the matches for the day have ended, with the sun setting into the mountains and the sea dyeing in warm colors. You and Victom are walking together along the beach, and Victom is as silent and stony as ever. You comment that he must be bothered about his loss, and while you're worried about him it's awkward how he isn't saying anything.

Eventually Victom says your name as he abruptly stops, and you react either in surprise or by politely rolling with it. Victom asks you if you think making fans happy is necessary. You say it is to a certain extent, but not something that needs to be focused on that much. He just goes oh at that after a moment, then lets the silence persist a bit longer.

When Victom starts talking again, he talks about how he feels it's a hero's obligation to save lives. He doesn't intend on changing on that part ever, but he admits that this is the first time he's started having doubts about how he should be going with things. You ask for elaboration, so Victom says he knows better than anyone else how unsociable he is, which means he could never behave in the same way Hisaki did even if he tried. There wasn't anything stopping him from doing so, but before he says anything more a beach ball happens to bump into his leg.

Victom picks the ball up out of curiosity, and a little girl runs up thanking him for getting it as she runs over. You figure the ball must be hers and comment that beach volleyball sounds nice. When the girl reaches for her ball she meets Victom's eyes, and the mask ends up drawing attention to his emotional state. This scares the girl to tears as she starts apologizing, shocking him and making you sigh sympathetically as you note it was because of his expression.

The girl's mother comes up at this point, apologizing for her daughter's behavior and scolding her for crying upon looking at the person who picked up her ball for her. The mom takes the ball and bows repeatedly to him, then walks off with her daughter. Victom sighs heavily at this, and you either say he was looking too upset or try to talk to him. Victom mutters to himself that his daughter would be the same age as that girl if she were still alive, and now he feels like he's letting his daughter down. You either turn to him in confusion, ask if he said something, or ask what he said about his daughter. B and C get and extra line of Victom backtracking and saying it's nothing.

Victom thinks to himself for a bit before speaking up again, and he asks you if he's frightening. You either admit that you think he is a little bit scary, or you attempt to deny it. A and B has him quietly put out by that. C instead has him tell you to stop as you don't need to spare his feelings. But either way, Victom asks you if he'd perform better if he started acting like Hisaki. Would that let him save more people? You hesitate to answer or say that might be the case.

Victom says this is the first time he started thinking about wanting to be a hero more people would like. It doesn't have to be a permanent thing, just long enough to last through the summer festival. If he can make that girl earlier smile, that'd be good enough for him. Your phone faintly glows in response with the new path message window, weak connection strength for V-----, and the episode ends with you reacting in surprise and/or silence.