Wow. This episode is focused on Primula’s predicament and its effect on the rest of the cast but Asa-chan really shone through. I am well pleased with the dramatic turn of the series and how the various SHUFFLE! game backstories are tying together.
Rin accidentally overhears Foebeshii and Eustoma’s discussion and realises that not only was his unlocking of her emotions responsible for her condition, he was also complicit in sending Primula on a one-way ticket back to Hell, to loneliness and condeming her to an impending reset of her memories and emotions. Crushed by guilt and helplessness, he finds himself haunted by Primula’s empty room and Kaede’s deep sadness as well as feeling betrayed by Shia and Nerine’s silence.
After finding out the details from Kaede, Asa-chan runs after Rin. She gets him to calm down and snaps him out of his guilt by shouting at him, telling him that it was not his fault since he did not know how it would turn out. She reminds that Rin had tried his best to look after Primula and had even caused her smile. Rin realises that he sees Primula as family and that he wants to meet her again.
With Asa-chan in tow as winggirl, he tells the other three girls about his intentions. Kaede remains morosely irresolute while Shia and Nerine raise all kinds of wait-and-see objections. Asa-chan gives them all a piece of her mind, finding it incredulous that they all aspire to be his lover, yet they cannot see that he is in terrible pain at being unable to help and protect his loved ones and are unwilling to support him. Rin acknowledges that Asa-chan helped him to realise this and what he should do. This brings Kaede and Shia around but Nerine snaps and runs out. At Asa-chan’s prompting, Rin runs after her. They meet in the playground and it looks like the next episode will reveal the Nerine-Liquorice-Primula backstory.
Kaede, Shia, Nerine - you have just all been pwned by Shigure Asa-sempai. 50+ screen caps ahoy! (For a more balanced set of screenshots, see Omni’s entry).