The episode opens with a replay of Fujiko’s victory over Tohdoh. Nagoromo gets tighter with the Kato Chu director. Matsuda is afraid that Yawara will not fight her hardest against her best friend Fujiko, which Shinnosuke predicts; based on a reading of her smile, Matsuda even suspect Yawara will lose on purpose, as her only purpose coming to the All Japan was to lend moral support to Fujiko anyway. Jigoro still hopes for Yawara to lose, and wants Fujiko to fight with full spirit. As she begins the contest, Fujiko reflects on how much judo has changed her life after meeting Yawara, and she feels almost as if she is doing ballet at her peak. Fujiko follows Jigoro’s advice and attacks first, but is quickly defeated; however, she is happy in defeat and to discover how strong her friend really is. The gap between them at this point is still too great. Contrary to Matsuda’s fears and Shinnosuke’s prediction, Yawara does not hold back and has no problem throwing Fujiko. Matsuda realizes how little he knows about Yawara, who cut the match short because she is kind and did not want to humiliate her friend with a long match and false hopes. Yawara calls her boss after the match to apologize, not realizing that his job is saved because the Kato Chu was saved by his sincere judo connection between him and the Kato Chu director. He is glad that for once he did what he believes in, rather than taking the path of least resistance. Jigoro tells Yuutenji that they’ll need to put their plans on hold for getting Yawara to Saikai University.
準決勝で藤堂と当たった富士子は起死回生の内股で技ありを取り辛勝する。次は柔との決勝だ。柔に勝たせて富士子を西海大へ編入させようと目論む滋悟郎は、富士子に試合開始直後に攻めろとアドバイスをする。
