The Away Mission Test: Part 18

Summary
''Day 2 cumulative scores are released. As squads settle down for the night, each reflects on their performance and plans moving forward.''

Long Summary
With their improved special and universal assignment scores by way of Osamu and Ui, Suwa's squad bounces back from their previously poor standings. Mizukami's squad retains a substantial lead. Katori is bothered by her teammates' low squad rankings; the cumulative point system will be detrimental if a squad continues to under-perform. As the post-simulation results are pulled up, Osamu notices they can access limited data on their opponents. Squad 9's massive lead is again questioned: how are they excelling in universal assignments and simulated battles all at once, with no plausible gimmicks? Suwa saves the discussion for another time.

Over in Murakami's squad, their low special assignment scores are met with an offer from Hiyami: to have Kurauchi on special assignment duty, while Kumagai controls his units akin to Nasu. Through Hiyami's steady guidance via communication intercoms, her captain approves of this decision; Kumagai expresses optimism at this new development. Murakami silently thanks Hiyami for her leadership advice.

In Utagawa's squad, Yūma admits to facing tough opponents after their recent string of simulated defeats, as well as Tomoe's significant absence in the latter half. Urushima agrees. Utagawa and Shiki reassure Tomoe about his special assignment score; he affirms to working harder.

Tsuji of Ōji's squad is concerned over Ikoma's lack of serious behavior, to which the person in question compliments him instead. Hikari regards Ikoma's cooperation as fruitless, but Tsuji thinks he has potential. When prompted, Ōji admits to dismissing "functionality" — citing Tachikawa's test-taking incompetency to support his theory that their ingenuity and problem-solving are what is most important. Tsuji brings up their battle sim struggles without Ōji's aid, but his captain comforts him.

Kodera reviews Kitora's special assignment response while she expresses doubt for her perceived underachievement, much to the others' reassurances. Okudera nominates Azuma to give a reliable opinion. Meanwhile, Ema is frustrated at his own response score.

Translation Discrepancies
In the battle simulation ranking results, draws/losses are incorrectly swapped by the Viz release. For example: Suwa's Squad 7 had 7 losses and 1 draw, not 7 draws and 1 loss.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Characters in italics are seen only briefly and have yet to make a proper appearance.
 * Kōtarō Suwa
 * Osamu Mikumo
 * Kōji Oki
 * Yōko Katori
 * Madoka Ui
 * Hana Somei (Mentioned/Yōko Katori)
 * Rokurō Wakamura (Mentioned/Yōko Katori)
 * Satoshi Mizukami's Squad 9 (Mentioned/Kōji Oki)
 * Shōhei Kodera's Squad 6 (Mentioned/Madoka Ui)
 * Yūko Kumagai
 * Kō Murakami
 * Daichi Tsutsumi
 * Kazuki Kurauchi
 * Aki Hiyami
 * Rei Nasu (Mentioned/Aki Hiyami)
 * Yūma Kuga
 * Wataru Urushima
 * Masataka Ninomiya's Squad 8 (Mentioned/Yūma Kuga)
 * Rokurō Wakamura's Squad 11 (Mentioned/Wataru Urushima)
 * Hyuse (Mentioned/Yūma Kuga)
 * Kotarō Tomoe (Mentioned/Yūma Kuga, then Present)
 * Ryō Utagawa
 * Sayoko Shiki
 * Shinnosuke Tsuji
 * Yukari Obishima
 * Hikari Nire
 * Kazuaki Ōji
 * Tatsuhito Ikoma
 * Kei Tachikawa (Mentioned)
 * Shūji Miwa
 * Kyōsuke Karasuma
 * Kirie Konami
 * Shōhei Kodera
 * Ai Kitora
 * Rika Rokuta
 * Yūta Miura
 * Tsuneyuki Okudera
 * Haruaki Azuma (Mentioned/Appearance)
 * Yuzuru Ema
 * Rin Kagami
 * Chika Amatori

Triggers in Order of Appearance
None appear over the course of this chapter.