The Kouka High School freshmen meet their sophomore advisors, and Sarasa needs to think about her aspirations. Later, the freshmen take a backstage tour of the Kouka Theater.
Kaoru looks back on her last summer before attending Kouka, where she struggled with misplaced assumptions about her on her fourth and final try at auditioning for the illustrious school.
The first-year class learns they'll be participating in the once-a-decade Kouka Grand Sports Festival. A spark of jealousy and deep-seated resentment tear a rift between Chika and Chiaki.
The Romeo and Juliet auditions begin in earnest. Yamada looks back on her pre-Kouka years as she finds her bearings in her role. Sarasa revisits a conversation she overheard between Kouzaburou and Akiya.