Kazuma Satomi (chapter)

Short Summary
''Midorikawa introduces Kazuma Satomi to Osamu and Yūma. Satomi explores the strengths of Yuba and Ninomiya to Osamu. Then, Midorikawa and Yūma meet Yuba himself.''

Long Summary
Yūma and Osamu meet Kazuma Satomi, a gunner from Kusakabe Squad. Yūma asks him about how Yuba behaves in battle. Satomi asserts that Yuba is the strongest one-on-one fighter because, unlike other high-ranked fighters, Yuba earned his points by winning lots of solo rank battles. Yuba Squad's rank fell because one of their members, Kanda, left to concentrate on his academics. The strategy the team would employ prior to Kanda's departure was to have Yuba confront people one-on-one, while Kanda took out the rest.

Yūma and Midorikawa leave to meet Yuba, as Osamu asks Satomi about Ninomiya. Like with Yuba, Satomi describes him as the strongest one-on-one fighter, explaining that he imitates Ninomiya's style alongside Yuba's techniques. Ninomiya's style is to combine the use of small, numerous shots and large, powerful shots to divert and overwhelm an opponent. He further tells Osamu that even though Ninomiya's strategy is known, countering it is difficult nonetheless; though he believes Hyuse may stand a chance against him. Osamu asks whether Yuba or Ninomiya would be victorious in a solo battle. Satomi responds that in normal situations, Ninomiya would win due to his superior trion levels and range of abilities, but in a complicated map, Yuba could win if he got Ninomiya in range. Shooters are inherently slower than Gunners because they have to divide their trion before shooting, so a Gunner who can whip our their gun quickly can outdo a Shooter. When asked, Satomi explains that he chose to be a Gunner, as he could not shoot Trion cubes properly; the guns feel as though they are an extension of his body.

Satomi is summoned by his teammates, so he bids Osamu farewell. Jin shows up, with Osamu explaining the conversation he had with Satomi. Jin informs him how good he has it, revealing to him that Satomi is the No. 1 Gunner.

Yūma and Midorikawa rush to Yuba Squad's operator room when Yuba emerges to greet them.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Characters in italics are only seen briefly and have yet to make a proper appearance.
 * Kirie Konami (flashback)
 * Osamu Mikumo (flashback then present)
 * Yūma Kuga (flashback then present)
 * Shun Midorikawa
 * Kazuma Satomi
 * Takuma Yuba (mentioned)
 * Masato Kageura (mentioned)
 * Kei Tachikawa (mentioned
 * Sōya Kazama (mentioned)
 * Masataka Ninomiya (mentioned)
 * Kō Murakami (mentioned)
 * Tadaomi Kanda (mentioned and flashback)
 * Yuzuru Ema (flashback)
 * Hiro Kitazoe (flashback)
 * Hyuse (mentioned)
 * Yūichi Jin
 * Ryūji Saeki (back of head)
 * Hayato Uno (back of head)
 * Takuma Yuba (debut)

Triggers in Order of Appearance

 * Raygust/Shield Mode (Kō Murakami)
 * Various Attacker and Gunner Triggers
 * Asteroid (Model)
 * Shield/Normal and Focused (Model)
 * Mantis (Yūma Kuga/flashback)
 * Meteor/Grenade Launcher (flashback)
 * Asteroid/Hangun (deactivated)