EPISODE CONTEXT

Sitting right at the midpoint of the 26-episode season, this beach outing follows Episode 11's individual character spotlights by throwing the entire group together in a shared setting, letting established dynamics collide in new ways. It serves as a classic mid-season palette cleanser — consolidating relationship dynamics between characters like Harima and Eri before the back half of the season pushes those connections into more consequential territory. The relaxed summer setting is deceptive; the interactions here quietly establish evolving character pairings that become increasingly important going forward.