As the school readied itself for the annual Sports Tournament, a quiet note of absence rippled through the student body. Yet, a sound his friends knew well guided them to him.

The competitors in the regional tournament carry a spectrum of anxieties and aspirations. Each is distinct, yet bound together by a single thread: the discipline of kyudo.

Kazemai's skill secured the win, yet a rival team is rapidly gaining recognition for their unconventional, yet remarkably effective, kyudo methods.

Masaki's decree had banished Minato from the firing range, a sentence that stripped him of his bow and the familiar rhythm of his craft. Simultaneously, Kaito wrestled with a heavy guilt, the weight of which he bore for the team's lacklust…

Minato patiently absorbs Masaki's relentless stream of directions. Elsewhere, the distance between Nanao and Kaito widens, a shadow falling across the whole archery club.

The opportunity had come their way: Seo, Hanazawa, and Shiragiku had registered for a kyudo tournament, and anticipation thrummed within them at the prospect of their first team competition.

Having gained clarity on their purpose, Minato and his companions now embark on the search for their individual "ikiai"—that unique reason for being, the thing that gives their lives meaning.

The Kazemai kyudo club journeyed to Kirisaki's campus for a combined practice.

The summer training camp at Kazemai was abuzz with excitement – they had secured a secluded archery range right on the coast! Their joy, however, was short-lived; the Tsujimine archery club had arrived first.

Minato pondered the enigma of Tsujimine, how such disparate individuals could exist in such seamless harmony. He sought an answer to this question from Fuwa, a query that would be forthcoming only if Minato revealed the reason behind Nikaid…

The national tournament brought Kazemai, Tsujimine, and Kirisaki together, though its significance resonated uniquely with each of their schools.

Though marked by adversity, Minato's persistent dedication has brought him to this national competition. Now, as he prepares to take his aim, he finds himself once again facing Shu.

With the national tournament concluded, the days of summer draw to a close. Minato, contemplating his practice of kyudo, and his companions lend a hand to Masaki in preparations for the Star Festival at Yata Shrine.