Naoki uses Eradicator, Tempest Bolt Dragon to defeat Shingo, thereby freeing him of Reverse. Naoki, Naito, and Suwabe then take Shingo inside the school where he regains his senses. Meanwhile, Aichi thinks about what Leon said to him as he walks to Card Capital. Once there, he wonders where Naoki and Shingo are, and Misaki deduces that the two have gone off on their own to take on any Reversed fighters. Back at Miyaji Academy, Naoki remembers the secret room where he previously followed Maki to, and it is there that Naoki engages her in a cardfight while Shingo, Naito, and Suwabe watch. As the two wage battle, Maki reveals she knows about how Naoki was previously a loner like herself and further exclaims that he should embrace the darkness of Link Joker like she has. As Naoki gets caught up in Maki's image, Shingo reminds Naoki that he is not alone. Those words snap Naoki out of the image; he then goes on to beat Maki with Tempest Bolt Dragon. Her loss means that the last of Miyaji Academy's Reversed fighters have been dealt with, resulting in the gate floating above the school dissipating. Afterwards, Maki, no longer Reversed, regains consciousness under the care of Naito and Suwabe, both of whom discovering a new appreciation for Vanguard. Aichi and Misaki arrive and meet up with Shingo and Naoki, who collapses from exhaustion. When Shingo tells them about Naoki's reasons for doing all of this, Aichi finds the resolve to confront his other Reversed friends and starts heading towards Takuto's place.