The Away Mission Test: Part 4

Summary
The A-rank agents judging the expedition selection exam deliberate over the teams taking part.

Long Summary
Before the first phase begins, Shinoda outlines two things: members of the same provisional teams may not communicate with each other before the test begins, and that the captains of the provisional teams must attend an interview on the 16th.

The A-rank Squads are given an orientation by Netsuki. They will act as the judges for the first phase, and they are to determine whether the examinees are worthy of being on the expedition. They will judge each candidate based on their skills and character. However, the upper echelons will have the final say in who passes and who does not. Katagiri notes that the ultimate decisional authority of the upper echelons indicates that the true nature is to evaluate the assessment capabilities of the A-rank teams. Netsuki further explains that the A-rank teams must predict the outcome of each phase. Deliberation amongst team members to form predictions would be recorded. Maki is confused as to how they are supposed to predict team performance without knowledge of the tests. Fuyushima informs her that the first test is the sealed phase, which will involve intellect. The other A-rank Squads discuss the potential adversities certain members may pose to a sealed phase. The following points are noted:
 * Tsuji gets nervous around girls
 * Shiki does not work well with boys
 * Urushima does not work well with anyone
 * Yūma is a foreigner
 * Hyuse waits for and expects assistance without requesting it
 * Minamisawa's boisterous nature will conflict with Kikuchihara's side effect
 * Kitazoe is too frivolous for captainship
 * Kageura loathes Inukai
 * Betsuyaku is prone to costly slip-ups

Following this, they discuss Squads that are likely to succeed based on intellectual ability:
 * Kodera's Squad
 * Mizukami's Squad
 * Murakami's Squad

Tachikawa Squad discusses Ninomiya. His stern personality may be incompatible with the young Chika and Ema. Tachikawa asserts that Ninomiya was chosen by the higher-ups to test his leadership abilities, while Azuma is unlikely to assume any leadership roles even when prompted.

Kusakabe Squad discusses the fighting potential of Kuruma's Squad. Kusakabe notes that their mobility ranges drastically, making it difficult for them to quickly form effective fighting formations. For the same reasons, Kitazoe's Squad and Suwa's Squad will also be disadvantaged.

Ichijō predicts a victory for Ninomiya's Squad, but Yuitsuka reminds that Tamakoma Second won over Ninomiya in their last rank battle. The other Squads are noted as follows:
 * Utagawa's Squad will be fierce in battle. Urushima will proceed as usual.
 * Kitazoe's Squad will employ Kikuchihara in a nighttime battle, where his hearing will compensate for the general unwillingness for night vision usage. Kitazoe can destroy lights, hindering other teams.
 * Kodera's Squad prioritizes mobility over trion capacity.
 * Wakamura's Squad has strong fighters but Wakamura's leadership skills are unknown.
 * Suwa's Squad is not particularly powerful but nevertheless very skilled and capable.

After the deliberation is over, Netsuki reveals the general consensus: Ninomiya's Squad will be the victor of the long-term combat phase, with Utagawa as second. Other than that, there is no consensus. For the sealed environment phase, Kinuta reveals that the predictions generally favoured Kodera, Murakami, Mizukami, and Kuruma. Wakamura's Squad is expected to perform poorly, and those who know of Hyuse's Neighbor status have ranked the group low. Karasawa admits he has an interest in Suwa's Squad; not because of Osamu, but because that Squad has three captains.

On March 17, the sealed environment phase begins.

Translation Error

 * When Viz first released their English translation, they mistranslated Spotter as 'Supporter'; this was later corrected.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Characters in italics are only seen briefly and have yet to make a proper appearance.
 * Hiro Kitazoe
 * Rokurō Wakamura
 * Masato Kageura
 * Masafumi Shinoda
 * Isami Tōma
 * Shinji Fuyushima
 * Kirie Konami
 * Kyōsuke Karasuma
 * Eizō Netsuki
 * Reiji Kizaki
 * Sōya Kazama
 * Kaho Mikami
 * Asumi Amakura
 * Yukimaru Ichijō
 * Karin Yuitsuka
 * Tōichirō Momozono
 * Takaaki Katagiri
 * Shun Midorikawa
 * Hayato Uno
 * Saki Kusakabe
 * Kazuma Satomi
 * Ryūji Saeki
 * Futaba Kuroe
 * Mai Kitagawa
 * Nozomi Kako
 * An Kobayakawa
 * Risa Maki
 * Ken Satori
 * Jun Arashiyama
 * Haruka Ayatsuji
 * Mitsuru Tokieda
 * Kai Minamisawa (mentioned)
 * Masato Kageura (mentioned)
 * Sumiharu Inukai (mentioned)
 * Kei Tachikawa
 * Kōhei Izumi
 * Yuu Kunichika
 * Takeru Yuiga
 * Ren Tsukimi
 * Shūji Miwa
 * Yōsuke Yoneya
 * Masataka Ninomiya (mentioned)
 * Rui Osano (mentioned)
 * Tōru Narasaka
 * Eizō Netsuki
 * Motokichi Kinuta
 * Katsumi Karasawa
 * Tatsuya Kuruma
 * Wataru Urushima
 * Yūma Kuga
 * Osamu Mikumo
 * Hyuse
 * Kuniharu Kakizaki
 * Shōhei Kodera
 * Satoshi Mizukami
 * Masataka Ninomiya

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