The Away Mission Test: Part 7

Summary
The first special assignment is sent out to each team: 'Why do you think the teams were shuffled?' As the groups discuss their input, Squad 7's lights lose power just as Osamu's computer goes dark.

Long Summary
The chapter starts off with Kuniharu Kakizaki announcing the 1st special assignment has come in. Shōhei Kodera thinks it is interesting while Satoshi Mizukami thinks it's annoying. Osamu Mikumo reads out the assignment and the squads begin thinking. Yōko believes the answer is what they were told earlier while Kōji Oki points out they would be with their original squads if that was true, and Kōtarō Suwa agrees.

Satoshi Mizukami asks his squad what they think. Fumika Teruya wonders if there is a specific answer they must reach or if it's open ended. Yutaka Kashio believes that the phrasing makes it sounds like they have to give their opinion on the answer and not a hypothetical correct answer. Tetsuji Arafune points out they shouldn't overthink this and they all move on.

Shōhei Kodera tells his squad they shouldn't waste too much time on this assignment putting a time limit of 20 minutes to do it.

Masato Kageura thinks the answer is to simulate the shuffling on the away mission while Sumiharu Inukai points out if it was that simple they wouldn't be asking us.

Kazuto Tonooka thinks they might be trying to wear the agents down similar to how a long journey is. Kai Minamisawa points out he isn't very stressed while Shirō Kikuchihara thinks to himself otherwise.

Yoshito Hanzaki states how the answer must be related to how some agents aren't actually going on the away mission. Hisato Sasamori rebutts this by saying the mission still affects those staying because squads may lose members going on the mission. Yoshito Hanzaki then states that Rokurō Wakamura, Satoshi Mizukami, and Hiro Kitazoe were selected as captains to be substitute captains when their respective squad leaders go on the mission. Rokurō Wakamura however points out that Yōko Katori likely isn't going on the away mission. Hyuse butts in saying she might be chosen for her battle skills instead.

Tsuneyuki Okudera says nothing comes to mind but Tatsuya Kuruma tells him not to worry, as anything they come up with will help. Rui Osano reacts to this by saying maybe the squads shuffled because it's fresh and fun, to which Tatsuya Kuruma agrees. Atsushi Hokari says that they probably don't care if they have fun. Rui Osano elaborates on it and Takuma Yuba 100% agrees with her proving Osano's statement of how new relationships can be born here.

Kazuki Kurauchi believes weaknesses that are concealed on their home squads can be revealed with other teammates. Daichi Tsutsumi agrees stating weaknesses are usually made up for by teammates. Aki Hiyami thinks to herself about Shinnosuke Tsuji's weakness to girls and Yūko Kumagai thinks about Sayoko Shiki's weakness to boys. Aki further expands on this by stating they might have to conquer challenges they've avoided until now, and Kō Murakami further expands on it by saying how they will appreciate their old squadmates even more now.

Masataka Ninomiya brings up Mikumo, Wakamura, Koarai/Okudera, and Kageura due to how they all heavily rely on their teammates. Rin Kagami agrees on how some squads revolve around a particular ace. Haruaki Azuma, Chika Amatori, and Yuzuru Ema believe their squadmates will be fine. Masataka Ninomiya however says their personalities are a huge factor as well like how Masato Kageura is heavily comforted by Hikari Nire and Hiro Kitazoe. Ninomiya brings up thinking what Mikumo can do without his squadmates who usually respect him. Yuzuru Ema thinks to himself how Ninomiya doesn't have his respect either and thinks of Mirai Hatohara while doing so.

Yōko Katori sidelines the question and brings up how they chose the captains. Kōtarō Suwa asks if she wanted to be a captain and she responds no, she just wants to know what criteria they used. Kōji Oki questions whether there is actually a criteria but Katori firmly believes there is one. Kōtarō Suwa agrees with her but also states they might not have been chosen for the same reasons. Suwa believes Utagawa, Kodera, Zoe, and Ko were all selected as future squad captains. He also states Ninomiya, Kuruma, Kakizaki, and Oji were all selected due to being management material. Osamu asks about management material and Suwa states more staff are needed for the growing Border. A beeping sound is heard and the lights go out, Mikumo notices the panel is out of trion and goes to fill it up. The lights come back on and Suwa tells Oki to fill it up a bit more. The chapter ends with Mikumo discovering he is out of trion and his laptop won't turn on.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Characters in italics are seen only briefly and have yet to make a proper appearance.
 * Kuniharu Kakizaki
 * Taichi Betsuyaku
 * Masataka Ninomiya
 * Tatsuya Kuruma
 * Shōhei Kodera
 * Satoshi Mizukami
 * Osamu Mikumo
 * Yōko Katori
 * Madoka Ui
 * Masamune Kido (flashback)
 * Kōji Oki
 * Kōtarō Suwa
 * Fumika Teruya
 * Yuka Kon
 * Yutaka Kashio
 * Tetsuji Arafune
 * Shōhei Kodera
 * Yūta Miura
 * Tsuneyuki Okudera
 * Rika Rokuta
 * Ai Kitora
 * Masato Kageura
 * Sumiharu Inukai
 * Nono Fujimaru
 * Kazuto Tonooka
 * Hana Somei
 * Hiro Kitazoe
 * Kai Minamisawa
 * Shirō Kikuchihara
 * Yoshito Hanzaki
 * Hisato Sasamori
 * Rokurō Wakamura
 * Hyuse
 * Maori Hosoi
 * Noboru Koarai
 * Rui Osano
 * Atsushi Hokari
 * Takuma Yuba
 * Kazuki Kurauchi
 * Daichi Tsutsumi
 * Aki Hiyami
 * Kō Murakami
 * Yūko Kumagai
 * Masataka Ninomiya
 * Rin Kagami
 * Haruaki Azuma
 * Chika Amatori
 * Yuzuru Ema
 * Hikari Nire (flashback)
 * Mirai Hatohara (flashback)
 * Ryō Utagawa (mentioned)
 * Kazuaki Ōji (mentioned)

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