Live A Hero Midsummer Hero Festival Episode 6

At the stadium, the announcer is hyping up the O-1 Hero Grand Prix now that the first phase of the competition has been finished up. The top eight scoring agencies have been determined, and they will now go on to the tournament phase which the announcer will now name. Scene then jumps over to Parallel Flight's office as Mokdai excitedly points out to you that UEHA Japan made it in, though he then remembers you would have been told that earlier in the morning. It's still amazing, even if UEHA has always made it to this phase of the competition every year. Since this is your first time in it, Mokdai says it must be pretty awesome. You uneasily thank Mokdai or nod along, which surprises him into asking you if you aren't happy about this. You deny that idea and/or stay quiet, and you look at the email Okitaka has sent you on your phone.

Title card pops up, and this episode is called Meander! Intellectual Commander

Time then passes to the point where you reach UEHA's waiting room at the stadium. Okitaka greets you and apologizes for suddenly calling you over. There's a heavy mood in the air, and Gammei is here with a cast on his leg because of what happened last night. Gammei apologizes for messing up, and you either ask him if he's okay in concern, say you're glad it isn't a serious injury, or ask what happened.

Victom explains that Gammei saw a cat on the road near his home nearly get run over by a car, so he jumped in to save it. He ended up getting hit instead. Barrel adds that the damage is limited to Gammei's ribs and foot, but it'd still take a week for it to all heal. Furlong says the doctors have pulled Gammei out of the competition, though that's to be expected. Gammei apologizes again for putting the team in this position, especially with all the work you've put in.

You wave off Gammei's concern, say he's kind, and tell him to focus on getting better. Okitaka says it is like Gammei to try to save any lives in danger in front of him, figuring he acted on instinct. It's the right thing to do for heroes, so he's not blaming him for having done so. It is a problem to be down a hero right before the final act tournament though. Victom asks what the plan is now since you guys can't stay if you don't have enough heroes, so Barrel brings up the idea of getting a hero from one of the other branch offices in Japan. Okitaka says there has been talks about the branches helping if it isn't a problem, but it's just not realistic to send anyone over on such short notice. Furlong sadly concedes the point, then asks if you guys will have to withdraw. Okitaka firmly states that it won't come to that if he switches out for Gammei. Barrel is shocked at this, and you either express surprise at Okitaka volunteering or ask if he can even fight. The latter gets an extra bit of Okitaka being taken aback at your shock as he insists he's a hero too.

Okitaka says while he is filling in for a blank spot, it's not like he's helpless in a fight, and he intends on showing you guys how the boss fights. Victom brings up that Okitaka hasn't actually fight in almost a year by that point, and despite his position it'd be natural for him to get rusty at it. Gammei agrees, saying UEHA Japan is going to flip its lid if anything happens to him, though it's weird coming from him. Okitaka insists it'll be fine as he laughs about how Victom and Gammei are worrywarts. And on a completely unrelated note, he wants to go get some warming up done as he starts looking at Furlong, and Furlong is confused by this.

Scene shifts over to UEHA Japan's underground level simulation room, which has been set to resemble a city park in a space like a TV studio set. You express your amazement at this, and Okitaka explains that this is a place they use to train their heroes. You can program the stage settings to a bunch of different scenarios, or you can get it to do so automatically. The trees and buildings you see just holograms though.

Furlong starts getting nervous about sparring with Okitaka, so Okitata attempts to point out he's an actual hero, even if he hasn't been doing it that long. He also tells Furlong he needs the courage to go up against any opponent no matter who it is, then challenges him to come at him. Furlong starts psyching himself up with his self-hypnosis or whatever, then asks over his phone to some other Operator working remotely to transform him. Once he gets suited up, he says he's ready to go at any time. Okitaka approves of his determination, then prompts you to transform him now. The window hides Okitaka's code name but tells you the path connection is strong as it brings up the prompt button.

You click on the button and get the transformation rolling. Once Okitaka is dressed up, he announces his hero name as The Commander, posing with his half-transparent fan fanned out. You take note of Okitaka's hero form aloud or say he looks awesome. In A, Okitaka is slightly disappointed you gave less of a reaction than he was expecting, then tries fishing for compliments. In B, Okitaka is pleased as he laughs, then tells you that you can keep the compliments coming.

Anyways, Victom is taken aback at Okitaka's behavior and asks if he knows why he's doing all this.  Okitaka is chastised a little as he says he knows he's here for battle practice. Barrel explains to you that their training battles are viewable only by their channel followers and streamed to where spectating is possible, so you can go on as normal. He also tells you he'll be cheering for you and wishes you good luck, prompting Okitaka to complain and ask if he's cheering for the actual heroes fighting too. 

Gammei tells them this isn't the time for a two-man comedy act and says Furlong is getting impatient. Furlong is surprised by this as he denies the statement, but Okitaka figures it's about time they got started. He once again challenges Furlong to come at him hard since he'll be responding in kind. Furlong says he'll do his best, so Okitaka prompts you to start the battle stream. You comply, and the two start going at it. Okitaka gets the advantage at first, but as the battle goes on it slides into a deadlock. Barrel is surprised Furlong can equal Okitaka in a fight, but Gammei points out that this isn't happening because Furlong got stronger and tells him too look closer. Gammei immediately takes it back but trails off on explaining any further to Barrel's confusion.

Every time Okitaka fends off one of Furlong's attacks, his legs can be seen bracing hard on the ground like he's trying his best to keep Furlong from getting any further. You soon realize that Furlong is starting to overwhelm him and try to encourage Okitaka. Okitaka says he's doing his best to defend and starts saying no strategy he can come up with will turn things around before stopping himself and trailing odd. He looks sad and frustrated, and he jumps back after the next attack. Okitaka calls off the sparring match and thanks Furlong for helping him as he cancels out of his suit. Furlong is shocked at this, as are you since it hasn't really concluded decisively.

Okitaka says it's fine since he's gotten a grasp on where his capabilities are right now, sighing as he smiles wryly. He tries laughing off and preemptively apologizing if the team loses the tournament due to him. He then says he'll go rest since he's getting older, then thanks Furlong one more time and says he'll be counting on him tomorrow. Furlong is still taken aback as he thanks Okitaka for his own efforts, and Okitaka thanks you next, saying your operation made it easier for him to fight. You awkwardly thank him and/or look at him in concern. Okitaka decides to excuse himself, then says everyone should get ready by getting some food and rest, waving as he goes. Barrel is surprised as he says Okitaka is usually the last to leave. Gammei tells him to think about it and expresses regret about getting injured. Victom just watches Okitaka go silently.

Time moves on to the evening as the scene shifts over to Parallel Flight's festival stall cafe, and Mokdai walks up to you to switch places with you for his shift. He also thanks you for coming to help since you have the tournament to deal with too. You can either say it's fine, thank Mokdai, or ask-but-not-really him to let you play with his stomach because you're tired. C gets an extra bit of Mokdai being shocked at you touching him and getting ticklish. Akashi then yells at you guys to get serious.

Akashi sympathizes with you for having been working through things day after day, so he says you should at least get some rest after this. He's been so worried about you he hasn't been able to look away from you, and he suggests you might be overworking yourself. Sui asks Akashi about being as excited today as he was the first day of the festival. Mokdai figures he's happy to be working with you, and he says he feels the same way. Akashi gets blushy and embarrassed as he claims it totally isn't that. You either tell everyone to not argue, casually comment on how well they get on, or be touched as you say Akashi's name.

Ryekie laughs about how it's good to be engaged, but you guys should also be having fun with other people. This is a public place with customers, so everyone should be focused on work. Akashi quickly complies and prompts everyone else to get back to it. Sui agrees, then wishes you good luck for the tournament tomorrow. Mokdai promises to come watch as he wishes you luck too. Ryekie remembers at this point that he has your share of the staff meal, and he says you should eat it in the back before you go home and before it gets cold. It's a bento box of curry in a bag he gives you, and you thank Ryekie and/or cheer about the curry before heading to the back.

A little time later, you comment on the spiciness of the curry, whether it's too much, just right, or not enough. Victom comes by soon after and asks for a moment to talk, so you ask why he showed up. Victom says he heard you were there from the others, then apologizes for taking your time when you're about to leave. He says he has a favor to ask, then sighs.

You ask about this favor, so Victom asks if you'll go see Okitaka. He should be at the training room you guys were at earlier in the day, though since it's inside their agency, Victom gives you a guest pass that'll let you inside. When he hands you the key card, you agree and can ask why he's asking you. B gets an extra line of Victom saying it's because it's specifically you that he wanted to ask. But anyways since you're going to be Master Operator for Okitaka tomorrow, Victom wanted you to cheer him up. He then leaves, and you think to yourself that Okitaka must be depressed then like you suspected.

Time passes as you head straight over to UEHA Japan's underground simulation room, and Okitaka is down there just like Victom said he would be. He's training himself against an automatic dummy with unarmed martial arts in civilian mode, and he eventually stops for a moment to catch his breath and comment to himself it isn't enough yet. You call over to Okitaka and ask if he's doing some self training, and Okitaka is initially surprised to see you there before he figures Victom must have put you up to this. He looks embarrassed as he scratches his head, wipes some sweat off his brow, then shrugs and says it's a good time as any to take a break and asks you to hang around with him.

Some time later, Okitaka laughs in a self-deprecating manner about looking lame there, carrying a Reversi board in his hands. He starts setting the board up for a game and apologizes for suddenly asking you to play it with him. He's actually better at shogi and likes that more, but he figures if you don't know how to play it then it wouldn't be any fun. He asks if you've ever played before, so you say you have a little bit, say you're good at it, or say you know nothing about it. In A and B, Okitaka is excited to hear that and suggests playing that next time, then warns you that he's a strong player. In C, Okitaka laughs and says he figured as much. Then again, kids nowadays don't play stuff like that either. If you have time and interest later, then he offers to teach you since he'd like to play a game of that with you.

Okitaka says it's your turn and that you have a chance to flip a lot of his pieces. You think to yourself about where you should play, say you aren't good at Reversi, or say you don't know much about the rules. B has extra lines where Okitaka is surprised and apologizes for pushing you to play him. He does ask you to stick with him on it, saying that he wants to sort his thoughts and that he'll hold back. C also has extra lines that are mostly the same, though he instead suggests reading the rulebook with you while he thinks.

The game continues on anyways as you place your tile, and your white tiles flip Okitaka's black. Okitaka says that was a good move, but then puts his piece in a spot you didn't think about. He tells you that while he'd be holding back, he'll still go take what he can. He pretty much wins the game there, and he talks about how profound Reversi can be. Learning takes a minute, but mastering takes a lifetime. He stops to take a long drink of something, and when he starts talking again he says he's the type who's good at strategies. In battles he typically discusses the situation with Operators and gives commands to his comrades, and he's always thinking about how to actually win.

You comment on how unusual Okitaka's role is for being a hero. Okitaka says he's often told that, but since he's not particularly good at attacking, it's the position he shines best in. So because of that, it's how he handled every battle he's been in. His experience grew little by little until he was eventually given the post of branch commander. He was always better at directing people so he was happy about the job, and so he was withdrawn from the front lines. He comments that if veterans always get fielded, then newer heroes would never get a chance to grow.

You nod along as you process how a hero became a commander, and Okitaka makes a point of saying he didn't actually hate going out to battle. The position was weirdly comfortable to him, and he's spent years issuing commands and never stepping forward to fight himself. But if he doesn't get out there once in a while he'll get rusty, he notes with a bitter, sad smile. Okitaka sounds resigned as he says it was stupid of him to sub in for Gammei, especially since Gammei has been actively battling. There was just no one else who could take his place when he got hurt, but even so he wants to do the best he can.

You call Okitaka's name sympathetically or stay quiet. Okitaka muses aloud that if he linked up with an experienced Operator, then maybe he could fight and strategize at the same time. But in this case he's either going to be working with you, or somebody over the phone, so there's no way he can fight like normal. Maybe that's why he can't seem to get things to come together.

You stare at the Reversi board, and you note how Okitaka has been steadily winning strategically even if he was holding back. You decide to ask Okitaka why, but a lack of a complete question prompts him to ask you to clarify. You then ask Okitaka why he has to fight like he normally fights. Okitaka is surprised by this, so he explains with it unclear how rusty he is, it'll be impossible to work with you since he doesn't know how well he can do anything himself. He wanted to get back his old familiarity back, but that's turning out to be a bit much. That means as far as he can tell, his only options are to sit back and strategize, or step forward and leave commanding to someone else. And as it is, he has to step forward.

Okitaka sighs about how it's just theorycrafting, and with neither of you two knowing each other that well and Okitaka not knowing his own ability level, he'd rather not throw in more information that would confuse you. You then suggest that the two of you start being more open with each other, surprising him. You ask Okitaka to do what comes easiest to him, say you want to know him better, and/or suggest that you guys win the tourney together. Okitaka is taken aback as he thinks in silence for a bit, but when he speaks again he has a mischievous grin as he warns you that this will take a while and asks if you're okay with that. On that note, the episode ends.