Focus is brought on a number of suspicious persons lurking around campus. They all are dressed in black jumpsuits, with towels wrapped around the entirety of their heads. (How do they see?)
An announcement is made over loudspeaker, stating that the 7th Annual Spring Festival has started. The school gate has been closed, and nobody is allowed to leave until the festival is over. Sawaki and Oikawa meet up with Takuma and Misato, and ask them what the commotion is all about. They are informed that Spring Festival is held every year, and though the school gates are closed, there is plenty of good food to eat. It ends when the 'objective' is met, but every year the rules and 'objective' change. This year's theme is apparently wearing a small balloon on the top of one's head. The group go to exchange yen for 'agri', the only currency allowed during the festival. Takuma advises that they should not exchange more than 2,000 yen, as you do not get your money back after the festival ends.

/gg if you live off-campus.
As Sawaki, Oikawa, Takuma, and Misato head to the shop booths to buy food, Sawaki spots Professor Itsuki's shop. When the group goes to inspect his wares, however, Professor Itsuki motions Oikawa away. After she leaves, he begins the description of his wares. It is revealed that Professor Itsuki is selling a variety of aphrodisiacs, with the guarantee to get any girl you want. As expected, this piques Sawaki, Takuma, and Misato's interest; but the cost is 100,000 agri's. The trio vow to raise that sum of money.

I'm sure it's not a placebo, but still…
Night falls, and the Noushi Association guarding the gate have not had anybody try to escape yet. After getting reports on what various student groups are doing, the leader orders the rest to 'attack'. (Uh oh?) Back in the lab, our trio of lonely males discusses their plan for obtaining 100,000 agri's. They are shocked out of their discussion by Oikawa, who tells them to turn off the computers. Mutou says that they need to conserve power, since they are using power generated from the bio-gas plant. The bio-gas plant generates energy from animal waste, by using microbes to break it down into methane gas.

Needs moar fusion power
After closing the lab, the girls head off by themselves, leaving Sawaki to ask Takuma and Misato who they would use an aphrodisiac on. Returning to the dorms, Sawaki, Takuma, and Misato find their dormmates having a drinking party outside. Takuma comments that it's lame because there are no girls, since all the girls (And guys who have girls) are at another party. As Sawaki and co go into the dorms to wash up, some Noushi are shown hiding in the bushes, watching the dormmates.
Bath scene with guys is not too interesting, they just argue about which girls they should take. Upon finishing bathing and coming back outside, the trio stumble upon the aftermath of the Noushi Association's attack. Having their balloons popped, the party-goers were relieved of their agri.

Srsly, how do you SEE?
Apparently that is this year's 'challenge'. The next day, the trio almost lose their balloons while standing on the balcony connected to Professor Itsuki's lab. However, as the Noushi Association attempts to follow Sawaki and co inside the lab, they are called 'out'. With this, another rule is revealed: The Noushi cannot enter any buildings. One of the Noushi, a girl named Aya, takes off her mask and hands Sawaki and co 2,000 agri for getting her out. She also gives them a hint: hunt the Noushi on a sunny day.

The hint is, of course, not heeded.
Next day, another rule is discovered; that the Noushi cannot attack near stores. While strolling through the shops, Sawaki and co are stopped by a man in the bushes who offers to sell them cigarettes against festival policy. He is soon discovered, however, and quickly apprehended. The trio see Professor Itsuki, and it becomes clear that they are not the only ones vying for his product as a number of men ask the professor if he's still in stock.

Oops, and these guys have already raised 50,000 agri.
The trio vow to beat them, and the next thing they know, they're under attack by the Noushi in the rain. Noushi riding horses show up, and they end up hiding the rest of the day. Upon returning to the dorm, they find their dormmates having another party. Noticing that the trio are still alive, the dormmates offer them information regarding the rules. One of them relates to what they heard from Aya; the Noushi cannot attack under sunlight. The other is a rumor that the festival will end when the lead Noushi has his balloon popped. Doing this is also rumored to net the doer 100,000 agri's, which is exactly the amount the trio need. However, the leader is always guarding the gate, which 1.) is always under shadow and 2.) always has a good amount of Noushi standing around.

Sherlock, no, shittles, etc.
After conveying their information, the dormmates use it as collateral to beg the trio to ask Hasegawa and Aoi to drink with them. This causes Misato to go into Pinocchio mode, whereupon he says that after pleasuring Haruka and Aoi, he will ask them if they wish to drink with the dormmates.
Thoughts:
Hmm, I always thought festivals were supposed to be fun and voluntary. Also, the whole 'taking agri's away from people' - isn't that just plain stealing? I know I'd just hand over a small amount and say that's all I have. Anyway, the episode involves a lot of 'guys being guys', with the fantasy that an aphrodisiac will net you a relationship with a girl. (Well, who knows, this is an anime…) I'm interested in Kei's character, since …well, I won't spoil it for those who don't know yet. In any case, he doesn't appear at all in this episode, and he was last seen with Professor Itsuki. Hmm…
January 28th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Secks?