The Worst One IV.During the selection match, Stella, Shizuku, and Alice easily defeat their opponents. Meanwhile, Ikki begins studying Kirihara's Noble Art, which renders him invisible and makes it difficult to even detect him using the other senses. Ikki meets up with Alice and confides in her about his match against Kirihara: during the previous school year, when the Kurogane family still had influence over the Academy's superiors, Kirihara had been harassing him with his Device and Ikki refused to fight back, believing it would be used as an excuse to expel him. In the next day's match, Kirihara starts off by activating his Noble Art, which covers the battlefield in an illusory forest. At first, Ikki is able to deduce Kirihara's location by observing the visible arrows he fires, but Kirihara uses a new, improved technique he developed which also allows his arrows to become invisible, injuring Ikki. Kirihara ridicules Ikki by saying that he must win the Festival in order to graduate. Enraged, Stella stands up for Ikki and tells him to continue fighting. Using everything he learned about Kirihara's attacks, a rejuvenated Ikki pinpoints his location with his Noble Art and defeats him, then collapses from exhaustion. At the hospital, Ikki is met by Stella and he confesses his feelings for her. Initially embarrassed by the confession, she then kisses his cheek. The two then promise to meet and fight each other in the final match of the Festival.