Live A Hero Midsummer Hero Festival Episode 7

The next day after where we left off, we tune in at the stadium as the O-1 Hero Grand Prix is going through the last battle of the A block team tournament. Toshu signals to Kyoichi, and Kyoichi moves to attack against UEHA Japan. Victom however intercepts and uses his surfboard as a shield to Kyoichi's surprise. Furlong says he'll cover for Victom and sprays his water, which causes Kyoichi to lose his footing. Marfik then intervenes by using his ultimate to summon an old fortress watchtower as a wall for Heroic Educators.

Furlong is surprised by the building suddenly popping up, and Kyoichi thanks Marfik for saving him. Marfik waves it off, but he reminds them they can't turtle away since the wall will only last a few minutes. Also the fortress wall he summoned is from late 1700s Japan and made of wood in the Edo period, so it won't hold up against much attacks either. UEHA is starting to break through as Marfik points out, so Shouen says he'll cast one of his words when it does break. Toshu then plans to charge in after that and continues discussing the attack plan.

On the other side of the wall, Barrel open fires on the wall and says the other team only has this moment to hide away. Cracks start appearing on the wall as he attacks, and Okitaka suggests leaving the wall breaking to Barrel. The bigger issue is what will happen after the walls come down, and he predicts that the other party will attack then. He thinks aloud about how there's plenty of possible plans, but he thinks it's likely going to center around Shouen. So in that case, Okitaka suggests Formation O-F and says he'll be counting on you. You either respond affirmatively or ask Okitaka what that formation is. The latter gets an extra line of Okitaka being taken aback and having to quickly explain using sound effects for the people assigned O and F, even though I'm pretty sure he's just using initials for these.

Anyways, Victom points out that the wall is coming down and that the team needs to get ready. The whole building Marfik summoned fades away from getting destroyed, and Shouen jumps out to writecast "Board." Okitaka sees that he was correct, so he opens up his fan and twists himself around to swing at the word and sends a blast of wind at it. The word hangs suspended in the air while the wind attacks the other team. Shouen is surprised at this, and Okitaka prompts you to continue with the plan. You respond affirmatively and signal to Furlong as you send him a ton of VP. Furlong thanks you as he aims at the word, firing his ultimate to break it. The word dissolves back into ink, which then rains on Team Heroic Educators.

Marfik spits out some of the inky water saying he swallowed some of it, and Shouen is dejected about this turn of events. They've also had their transformations undone, and it's noted Toshu and Kyoichi are down for the count too. The announcer calls the end of the match and declares the winners of Block A to be Team UEHA Japan and going on to the finals. Heroic Educators will be fighting for third place and the rankings will be sorted out then.

You cheer about the team winning, thank everyone for their efforts, and/or wonder if the other team is okay. Barrel cheers about making it to the finals and hugs Furlong. Furlong is embarrassed as he tells Barrel to stop that since they're in front of so many people. Kyoichi is disappointed they lost but notes that you guys are pretty strong and, Toshu admits you guys outplayed them. Kyoichi then notes that the ink is getting sticky and considers just jumping as is into the ocean for a swim, prompting Toshu to yell at him to not pollute the the water. Shouen mumbles that he feels his ink isn't that dirty, so Toshu backtracks in shock about how he didn't mean it like that. Marfik laughs about how the team is the same as always and comments that it's nice to come back to Earth after a while.

Title card pops up, and this episode is called Fight! Midsummer Hero Festival

Scene then shifts to UEHA's waiting room as Okitaka thanks everyone for their work and getting them so far. He also thanks you, saying it was worth it staying up late to come up with so many plans. You either compliment Okitaka, start to say something about what it means to get here so smoothly, or say you're drowsy from sleep deprivation. C gets an extra line of Okitaka being concerned for you, asking if you can hang in a little longer since there's one battle left.

Gammei asks what's going on since it's both weird that Okitaka stepped up to fight in a battle and partnered up with someone who wasn't a veteran Operator for strategizing. And yet despite you joining temporarily for the tournament, he's surprised Okitaka could pull something like the strategy just now out of his sleeves. Victom snorts in amusement.

Barrel changes the subject to ask who the team is going to be going up against, already excited to go. Okitaka checks his phone or whatever, then informs you guys the other finalists are from S&S HEROS. You think on the name on a bit and say you feel you've heard it somewhere before, so Okitaka explains it's the hero agency for heroes who also do work in inns, hotels, and department store services among other things. Them making it up to this point is pretty good proof of their ability to earn Views. UEHA doesn't really associate with them much, so there's not much he can tell you though. Furlong says they usually don't make it to the finals, so he wonders what kind of people they are. Victom says he heard that the team leader is the head clerk from a Japanese inn in the city, and while he only saw the matches in passing he does seem pretty strong.

You start getting your suspicions when you hear the mention of a Japanese inn worker, and at that point someone knocks on the waiting room door. Okitaka is curious about who it could be and goes to answer it. When he opens the door, the visitor politely bows as he comes in. It's Nessen, and he says he came to greet everyone before the final match. He introduces himself to everyone with his full name and a description of his day job and hero affiliation. You either react in surprise at Nessen being there, be amazed at his casual clothes, or treat him as a stranger and note how polite he is. A and B has an extra bit of Nessen being mildly surprised to see you there and says the rumors were true. He then says that while he's going up against you, he hopes that you'll go easy on him.

Nessen peacefully smiles, and Gammei is taken aback at Nessen's demeanor. Barrel is surprised that Nessen is your guys' opponent and feels let down. Furlong asks Victom if Nessen was the guy he was talking about, and Victom confirms, though he seems to be in disbelief as well. Okitaka is also surprised, but he goes on to politely introduce himself back and suggests both teams give their all for the final match. Nessen says he's heard much of UEHA's activities, so his team won't be acting carelessly then.

Okitaka and Nessen shake hands, and the first thing Okitaka notices is that Nessen's hand is wet. Nessen is confused for a second before he apologizes, saying he's both an inn manager and just someone who likes bathing. He went to wash up right after his last match, and he's usually in there for half an hour after every battle, which he's a little embarrassed to admit. You either express shock at that statement, sigh and says that sounds like Nessen, or suggest joining him after the last battle. C gets an extra bit with Nessen being shocked at the idea and Okitaka dismayed as he tells you not to flirt there.

Anyways, Gammei is baffled at the idea of Nessen bathing so often and mentions that there are just some days where all he does is wipe down with a towel. Barrel says that sounds like too little cleaning to him, so Gammei gets embarrassed and blames the city's water bills for being expensive. Furlong says he thought he smelled shampoo earlier and notes that Nessen really likes keeping clean. Victom says Furlong always did have a good nose, though all he can smell himself is Gammei. Gammei is offended and says he washed up the day before even with his leg injury. Okitaka is embarrassed by the team's bantering and tells them to stop acting like that in front of an opposing team member. Nessen just laughs at how lively they are and figures their teamwork comes from how well they get along, but Okitaka apologizes for the display.

Nessen leaves soon after, and Okitaka talks to himself about understanding something just now. You curiously ask him if something was up with Nessen, so Okitaka asks if you're up for an unorthodox strategy based on some assumptions on certain conditions happening. You ask for further detail, and Barrel is surprised Okitaka picked up something from that short amount of time. Okitaka prompts the team to get together so he can explain, saying that if he's right it should lead you guys to victory.

Time skips over to the announcer saying it's time for the tournament title match, UEHA Japan vs. S&S HEROS. UEHA was the winning agency from last year and S&S HEROS has made it to the finals again five years from last time they did so, and the announcer hypes about who the winners will be. Nessen turns to his team and says their agency has been wanting this for five years, so they should do everything they can to win. He is accompanied by trainee mob heroes who are every bit the excitable newbies raring to go as they call Nessen 'young master.' Nessen just sighs that he asked them to stop calling him that, then says they're going with the Goose formation and prompts everyone to transform.

S&S HEROS all move into their designated positions and proceed to suit up. Once Nessen is in hero mode too, he tells you guys that after getting this far they can't hold back. Barrel is surprised at how differently Nessen acts when transformed, though he notes it's not as extreme as Furlong's change. This comes as a shock to Furlong as he says he doesn't go that hard, and Victom remembers that Furlong has no self-awareness of his personality shifts. Okitaka tells the team to can the small talk and get to transforming and signals to you, so you respond affirmatively and hit the button for the whole party.

Furlong is the first to suit up and drops a line about extinguishing flames with his own hands. Barrel announces his hero mode next and says he's gunning for the crown. Victom says he'll put all his efforts in this time to make everyone believing in him smile. Okitaka says he'll guide the team to victory and to leave things to him. The team takes a moment to pose before getting into position themselves, and Okitaka tells you that the plan is to stick to Formation B-F-V-O until it's time to pull out the secret strategy. If the state of battle turns that way they'll go for it, and he asks if you understand. You respond affirmatively, though you hope it'll work out right. Gammei wishes the team luck, and the announcer declares the start of the episode battle. More happens after that.

 The story tunes back in midway as Barrel fires off at Nessen's team, but Nessen counters by heating his water sword to 250℃. Barrel yelps at how hot that attack is, and Furlong is pressured as he tries to keep the team formation up. Trainee Red attacks with a fire blast to interfere with that, and Furlong frantically attempts to put it out despite the flames continue to appear.

Nessen uses Red's fires to evaporate his water blade to make a cloud, and Green follows up with Vine Whip to scatter said cloud into a cooling mist over the spectators and creates a rainbow. The audience oohs in amazement. Yellow explains to the crowds that this is Orient Spring Resort's specialty, the Jouren Waterfall Splash, and he advertises the resort as 30 minutes by express train from Central Station. Okitaka is impressed they worked an ad into that, shocking Victom into telling him to stop. Okitaka says he knows and notes they've planned for this, so it might be better to scrap the original strategy and come up with something else.

Okitaka thinks to himself for a minute, then calls out to you to change the tactics to go with the Firewall plan. You are taken aback at this and ask what that even is, and narration says it's different than what he came up with in the waiting room. This one is meant for use against a more fire-heavy team. You point out to Okitaka that it's not really the most suited situation to be using it and ask if he's sure. Okitaka tells you it's fine and insists he'll make it work, looking at you with a serious expression as he asks that you believe in him.

You decide to throw your lot in with Okitaka, ask him to do his best, and say you believe. You send cues out to the whole party and split the VP between them. Barrel is shocked at this, asking what happened to the old plan and if you guys are sure. Furlong also has misgivings and says it doesn't have a good shot at working. Okitaka however is sure it'll be fine as he says he believes in everyone's strength, then fans his fan at the party. This is one of his abilities, a morale booster called the Wind of Victory. The rest of the party rallies together and agrees to go with the new plan.

Victom jumps onto his surfboard and rides into the sky with it, then flings his floatation ring at Nessen. Barrel follows up by firing his ultimate at the ring, shooting it with multicolored water. Red is shocked that Barrel didn't fire his attack at them, then shocked at the water that splashes on him. Green initially thinks it's paint before realizing it's colored water. The two are distracted enough by this ploy that Victom and Okitaka take the opportunity to attack them, knocking them out of the fight. Green manages to get an apology out to Nessen as he goes down.

Nessen is concerned for his two eliminated teammates, then tries fighting back by cutting at Victom's ring. When he hits it though, the colored water inside the thing bursts out and coats him, surprising him and Yellow. You either cheer about Nessen falling for the plan, note how wet he is, or comment that it's kinda sexy.

Nessen spits out some of the water and plants his sword into the ground, letting out a bunch of steam from it to evaporate the water. He quickly realizes Okitaka must've come up with this when he shook hands with him earlier. Nessen then comments that it's a shallow plan not nearly good enough to be called an actual counter strategy. Water and sweat drips off him as he stands imposingly in the middle of the steam, unapproachable due to said steam. Okitaka however taunts him about underestimating his planning, and Nessen is surprised as the steam is blown away before someone swoops in.

Furlong is the one charging in close given his innate heat resistance, and he lets loose with his ultimate at point blank range. The force of it blows him away, and Yellow attempts to go help him. Okitaka pops up behind Nessen and declares it's checkmate, using his own ultimate Capture "Wind Change Victory Blade" to slash with his fan. Nessen's suit cancels out, and he admits defeat.

Silence passes for a moment for everyone to process this before the announcer declares UEHA Japan the winners of the O-1 Hero Grand Prix 2221. The crowd roars with cheers and flings confetti into the air, which showers over both teams. You cheer about the team winning and how every effort paid off, and Barrel cheers too as he runs over to grab you in a hug and call you the best Operator.

You react in surprise as you tell Barrel to stop since he's hugging you too hard, but you're still enjoying it. Furlong tells Barrel to stop too as he's getting you soaked, though he also thanks you for all you did. Gammei apologizes for the team idiot and asks you let it go for the day. Victom isn't saying anything, prompting Gammei to comment on him being rather quiet for having won. Victom says he's not the type to go on an emotional rollercoaster when winning, but he does decide to turn to you and holds his right hand out for a fist bump. You either fist bump him back or grab his hand, and either way he says you did good.

Okitaka sighs in amusement about how young people are, pointing out that they have interviews to do later. Nessen walks over to congratulate Okitaka, saying both he and you are strong. Okitaka thanks him, saying they wouldn't have won this time without you and that you did well for how young you are. Nessen says it's indisputable that he lost, and he graciously says it was a good match as he holds his hand out for a handshake. Okitaka is taken aback at this, asking if he's sure since he could read into them again this way. Nessen laughs at this, and Okitaka soon joins him for a bit before the episode ends with Okitaka shaking his hand and saying it was a good match.