Episode 23 - What Is It You See In Your Eyes Right Now?
At the MAR medical facility, Therestina visits Haruue and tells her some friends are here to see her. She leads Haruue into another ward where the Child Errors are sleeping. Haruue recognizes Banri Edasaki and tearfully rushes to her side; standing behind them, Therestina smirks...
At Judgement, Mikoto fills the others in on last night's events. Kuroko and Konori says it looks like the Poltergeist case can be closed, although Mikoto seems uneasy. Meanwhile, Uiharu decides to visit Haruue in the hospital. On the way, though, she remembers how determined Kiyama was to save her students, and decides to pay her a visit first. She finds Kiyama in the now-empty private ward, alone and disconsolate, and tells her there are still ways she can help.
Arriving at the MAR facility, they meet with Therestina. Kiyama hands over her research materials and the prototype treatment program, then the two of them ask if they can see the children. Therestina says that isn't possible because they are currently being moved to another facility. She adds that Haruue will be going with them too. When Uiharu asks where they're being moved to, Therestina says she can't tell them. At that moment, a doctor comes in and tells Therestina it's time, addressing her as "Dr. Kihara".
Seeing Uiharu and Kiyama's shocked reactions, Therestina blithely tells them her full name is Therestina Kihara Lifeline. As she does so, she casually tosses Kiyama's research materials onto the floor and steps on them, saying they're useless to her. Kiyama, enraged, rushes toward her, but Therestina brutally beats her to the ground and then orders her and Uiharu to leave at once.
A short time later, Saten phones Uiharu and finds out what happened. Uiharu returns to Judgement, sobbing uncontrollably, as everyone tries to figure out what to do next. Konori looks up Therestina's file in the city database, and discovers that she is Gensei Kihara's granddaughter. What's more, it seems she worked with Gensei on his research, and was actually the first test subject for the ability crystals. Uiharu, still a weeping mess, can only watch and stammer incoherently until Kuroko steps over, slaps her across the face, and asks her how long she's going to keep crying instead of helping. After a moment of shock, Uiharu nods and heads over to the computer to start working. A few moments later, Kuroko suddenly realizes that Mikoto has disappeared.
Mikoto heads straight to the MAR medical facility, passing by several large vans as she arrives. Therestina, wearing her MAR powered suit, appears and mockingly asks Mikoto what she thinks she can do. A high-pitched noise starts emanating from a large transmitter on the roof. Mikoto recognizes it as Capacity Down, and immediately finds herself unable to control her powers. Therestina boasts that she invented Capacity Down, having used Big Spider to field test it. Mikoto tries to put up a fight, but is no match for Therestina's powered suit. Therestina knocks her unconscious, contemptuously tosses her to the ground and then departs, ordering some minions to lock her up she does so. However, the commotion doesn't go unnoticed: Mitsuko Kongo, who is still recuperating in the same facility, sees it all from her window and rushes to the rescue...
Mikoto wakes up in a regular hospital bed with her friends (including Kongou) around her. She tells them what happened, then tries to head out to go after Therestina again. Saten, however, stops Mikoto at the doorway, and pointedly asks what her eyes see around her right now. Mikoto looks about to see all of her friends standing ready and determined.
Back at the Judgement office, Mikoto, Kuroko, Uiharu, Saten, Konori and Kongou start making plans. Using the Judgement satellite, they can track Therestina's convoy, which is heading toward District 17. They also notice a familiar-looking car tailing them: Kiyama's. They contact Aiho Yomikawa to ask for Anti-Skill's help, but she says it'll be tricky to get authorization to move against MAR, which is also part of Academy City law enforcement. Saten steps into the call and reminds Yomikawa of her lesson about never giving up, adding that children are in danger and need her help. Yomikawa replies that she'll do what she can.
As they prepare to head out, Uiharu checks the satellite footage again — and realizes something important...
Tropes
- Ax-Crazy: After revealing her true nature, Therestina drops the Reasonable Authority Figure façade and instantly turns into this...
- Card-Carrying Villain: ...and this...
- Chewing the Scenery: ...while indulging in a lot of this...
- Evil All Along: ...lest there be no doubt she was this.
- Evil Laugh: Noticing a pattern here?
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Kuroko snaps Uiharu out of her helpless crying by slapping her across the face. After Uiharu pulls herself together and gets to work, Saten notices Kuroko surreptitiously cradling her hand with a sad look on her face.
- Heroic BSoD: Happens to Uiharu after Therestina reveals her true nature. She simply collapses and is unable to do anything besides sob and stammer uselessly until Kuroko slaps her.
- Kick the Dog: Therestina contemptuously discards Kiyama's research and then steps in with a vicious beatdown that includes ripping out handfuls of Kiyama's hair.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: We don't see exactly how Kongou rescues Mikoto, although after the next episode it isn't hard to imagine the details.
- Quit Your Whining: Kuroko follows up the slap by asking Uiharu how long she plans to just sit and cry uselessly.
- Slasher Smile: Therestina, as part of her general Card-Carrying Villain transformation.
- Wham Line: "It's just about time, Dr Kihara".
- Wham Shot: Therestina's allegiance has been ambiguous up until now... but after she brings Haruue to visit Edasaki, her Psychotic Smirk leaves no doubt as to her villainous nature. She then goes on to prove it multiple times over through the rest of the episode.
