That was less of a grudge match than a love fest, as it turned out.  Which is perfectly fine of course – in the States and U.K. they call these practice matches “friendlies” for a reason.  And it’s hard to imagine Kirisaki really considers Kazemai a serious threat at this point.  I think their pride was a little wounded by their loss at regionals, but nothing that’s happened since suggests that was anything but a fluke.  In a sense it would be further damaging to their pride if they considered Kazemai a rival.

It also doesn’t hurt that Ryouhei has established a friendship with Shuu.  I was actually thinking Minato might feel a little threatened by that but in fact, it’s the annoying twins who freak out when Ryouhei greets “Shuu-kun” on Kazemai’s arrival.  As you’d expect Kirisaki is a swank, Eden Academy-like layout – it looks more like an Ivy League university than a typical Japanese high school (it even has its own cafe, which seems to be of paramount importance to the girls).  It has a spectacular archery range, impressive even to returnee Minato, who’d only used the junior high one (not to mention one of the most beautiful weeds in anime history).

The contrast between Kirisaki and Tsujimine is being played up with the subtlety of a kick in the solar plexus, that’s for sure.  As framed in this episode it’s almost like Kazemai are allies with Kirisaki against Tsujimine, though I guess in context they’re basically middle-class.  Nikaidou certainly made quite an impression on everyone, up to and including the Kirisaki coach.  It would be easy to root for him as the underdog working-class hero, using a slightly outlaw shooting style the posh boys secretly envy, if he weren’t kind of a douche and they weren’t all so nice.  The sick guy who coaches him is his uncle, as it turns out – who “taught him everything he knows”.

As for the practice match, it starts off with Shuu requesting that Masa-san fire off a ceremonial first arrow.  Which he does with his usual aplomb (and exhibitionism), dispatching a perfect bullseye (not that we’re keeping score).  Kirisaki elects to use their first team, which I guess is a token of respect in itself.  Kazemai looks in sync – their ikiai has come a long way, though not so far that they don’t have to consciously manufacture it.  It’s a competitive match, and though Kirisaki wins 18-16, Kazemai should seemingly view this as progress.  Minato is a perfect 4-4, which Shuu rather enjoys.

Afterwards it’s more of the love fest, with the girls going off to chat at the caff while the lads gather in the dorm for a takoyaki party.  We get more hints at the past tensions between Shuu and Seiya, though one gets the sense (and it would fit) that it came more from Seiya’s side than Shuu’s.  All this bonhomie can’t last forever of course – these two teams have to be enemies at nationals , and Nikaidou would likely find nothing more pleasing than disrupting the hell out of both of them.