One phrase would best describe our two contestants in this match: they reject reality and substitute their own. After mysteriously disappearing one day and reappearing six months later with no memory of what happened during that time, Tōwa Erio withdrew from society and started to believe in the existence of extraterrestrial life. Having gone through a sudden loss at a very young age, Takanashi Rikka desired to find the Unseen Horizon with the help of her Tyrant's Eye. But even delusional girls still have a normal human desire to find people who will accept and love them. Whose reality will you acknowledge?

Today’s challengers may be willing to settle for what they have, but both have realized that it’s okay to try something different and venture out to meet others. Hasegawa Kobato already has her favorite anime show, a favorite character to cosplay as, and an older brother to rely on. Even though she has fun with what she has, it isn’t enough. What she truly desires is a friend to get along with, even if that friend is a rival that she wants to argue with. Meanwhile, Natsume Rin already has friends that she hangs out with and has no problem giving her honest opinions or getting into fights to let them know that they did something wrong. However, that only applies to the friends she is already familiar with. She wants to get past her obstacle of being shy to strangers in order to both help others and make new friends. Rin is looking to prove that she can be a "Little Buster" in her first year in ISML, while Kobato hopes to increase her dark powers and improve on her Top 16 finish from last year. Both wish to win their early Regular Season matches and motivate themselves even more—which girl will you support?

The decisive moment has arrived as this fight for Aquamarine Necklace match tickets takes place. Holding onto the highest SDO in Nova Division, Hasegawa Kobato knows better than anybody not to let this chance slip past without putting up a fight. Being the contestant with the best Postseason rank of a first-year character last year, and with Haganai having finished not long ago, she needs to give all she has while she is at her strongest. But her opponent is not someone to look down on. Holding an excellent record as the winner of the summer diadem and the champion of diadem winners last year, Yūki Asuna carries the hope of many Sword Art Online fans. With her comrades from the same series suffering several bitter defeats already, every win brings more hope to her fans. What she needs right now is to prove to the voters that her show is not just another mainstream anime. This is the first time they have met each other, both aiming for the win and entrance to the Necklace Match, but one of them will fall.

This round of the Aquamarine Period pits two girls of similar strengths against each other as they try to win the Nova group before fighting for the Necklace. With a difference of merely five points in terms of SDO, both girls know that this is one of the deciding battles where they have to win in order for a chance in the period’s final match. Once delusional and unable to accept reality, Takanashi Rikka has matured nicely and has come far to show everyone that even a girl like her deserves a chance. On the other hand, Shiina Mashiro is a very talented girl, but faces problems in real life—she, too, wants to show everyone that a chance is all she needs in order to improve and get rid of her weaknesses. With both girls striving hard to gain acceptance from the people around them, whom will you acknowledge? Who will be the one whose effort pays off?

This match pitches one of the strongest potential winners for the necklace against the defending champion. Tachibana Kanade holds the highest SDO overall in the round so far, beating even Nova’s current winner, Hasegawa Kobato. With the pace like this, she knows that she can't slack off with her opponent so close to her. Kanade also has the added pressure of trying to defend her crown, as she is capable of repeating the feat of winning the necklace again. First, she must face the current holder of second highest overall SDO: Nakano Azusa. With a strong fan base and a desire to overthrow the defending champion, Nakano Azusa knows that this is one match she'll have to win in order to cause a disruption to the momentum on which the current defending champion Tachibana Kanade rides. Both girls show no signs of waning, as they still stand strong despite the many new faces that have joined them. With these two girls having such solid perseverance, who will prevail?

The time has come for the sea to call out a new bearer, and every girl in the competition is capable of getting the protective charm. Defending necklace holder, Tachibana Kanade, knows that the time has come to prove to the sea once again that she's the rightful heir. Always putting others before herself, she has the courage to walk alone in order to make sure everyone attains their happiness, while sometimes indirectly hurting herself—making her worthy of being the owner of the necklace again. However, she'll have to prove her worthiness in front of the other six girls, who will give their best to show that they, too, are worthy of being the owner. Hasegawa Kobato, who is protective of her brother, yearns for the necklace as she seeks out ways to overcome her shyness to form new friendships. Shiina Mashiro, once shunned by others due to her talent as well as lack of sensitivity, seeks the necklace as she finds the courage to overcome her weaknesses to understand the emotions that everyone desires. Aisaka Taiga from a young age was neglected of care and concern and seeks the sea once more to learn how to express her love for the one she cares for. Kuroyukihime, the girl who would never abandon a lonely soul, pursues the sea as she tries to bring happiness to those that she approaches. Kōsaka Kirino entered the necklace match last year, but her efforts were proven futile. This time, she chases victory again as she struggles to show affection to others who are close to her. Last but not least, Gokō Ruri, the girl who is socially inept, answers the call of the sea as she seeks to grasp the changes that the water brings, and hopefully, make new friendships. With each girl struggling to overcome their individual flaws and strive towards building better futures for the people around them, who will be the one that the sea acknowledges? Who will be the one bearer of happiness, love, affections, and care?