Kogami remains hospitalized as he recovers from the Dominator-enforced paralysis; Akane begins a normal work day after meeting with friends and checks on his condition. Enforcer Tomomi Masaoka teams up with Akane to take out a threat in the mall, and after they return, Akane shares a meal and some revealing conversation with Kagari. Later, she greets Kogami, who reinforces her belief she made the right call during the hostage situation; she turns in her report with no regrets.

Unit One attempts to find the culprit behind the murder of a man known online as the popular avatar "Talisman", now controlled by his killer. Akane, with the help of the avatar "Spooky Boogie", infiltrates a CommuField gathering to expose the murderer, but the ploy goes awry. Afterward, the murderer, who happens to be working with Shogo Makishima, kills the owner of "Spooky Boogie" and takes over her avatar as well.