Episode 23

Mikako's frenzied endeavor to obfuscate her anguish and resume her usual academic homeostasis is not lost on Risa who decides to have Tsutomu explain his collaborative prologue with Ayumi being a very innovative deus ex machina during a school project while Mikako tries to sort out her feelings. Frightened by the prospect of being marginalized from Akindo when she sees Yuusuke preparing to transport Ayumi, Mariko lashes out at Tsutomu as she affirms her contributory volition. After a brief recess to feed her dog, Ayumi takes notice of the other Akindo members' cohesiveness and diverse talents as she inadvertently insigates Tsutomu's memories of his recent divergent concourse with Mikako who has decided to stitch and sew away her anguish. An ecstatic Mikako races off to proclaim her recent accomplishment -- and right into a very cantankerous Ruriko that has found the backbone to demonstrate some decisive family government. The deus ex machina lies in Tsutomu barging in on Mikako with the news that he has finished the Akindo display and that he realizes that Mikako is anxious about his relationship with Ayumi who pulls Mariko away so that the two can ultimately reconcile.