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Episode 25 -	Graduation
	sotsukyō
First aired -	18th September 2002

With Seina and the girls having defeated every major space pirate force in the galaxy, the sad day when the group will have to break up has come. Seina is to return to his dormitory at the Academy until his imminent graduation. Amane offers to leave Seina's room as it is so he can visit whenever he has the time. A tearful Ryoko tells him she wanted to move into his dormitory too (she did, after all, promise to remain with him always), but Airi will not allow it. Even Fuku cannot come with him because animals are not allowed at the Academy. The girls all hand him the addresses of their new abodes so he can remain in touch.

Meanwhile, the mechanoid that Seina awakened in the previous episode has been brought back to the Galaxy Police for analysis, and Airi oversees the work of the researchers. "Just as Lady Seto expected..." she muses as she gazes at the enormous machine.

Later, the girls all prepare for their lives apart from Seina. Amane has all the extra beds removed from her home (the removals man thinks it is because she will be sharing her bed from now on!). Kiriko goes shopping for things for her new home. She spots a special deal on his-and-hers items which sparks fantasies about her living together with Seina, but reminds herself that won't be the case (then makes up an excuse and buys them anyway). Ryoko has moved into her new apartment, and as she enjoys a glass of wine before a roaring fire, she fantasises about the night after Seina's graduation when she hopes he will express his gratitude to her in the best possible manner! Neiju spends the time in her hotel room constructing a holographic representation of herself as she will look fifteen years from now (having left the Melmas priesthood, she is now allowed to age normally). This simulation meets with her approval, especially when she gets it to remove its night-dress! With all the girls absorbed in their daydreams of Seina, it is little surprise that Seina himself has a sneezing fit*!

Just as Amane is enjoying her new double bed (reminding herself that after Seina graduates they will no longer be teacher and student), principal Mikami calls her. Mikami asks her to join the other girls in reporting to Airi's office for an important meeting.

Later, the girls gather aboard Airi's office ship. She has an important discovery to announce. According to Professor Washu, following on from her research on Mihoshi's strange abilities, it has been discovered that Seina's bad luck changes to good when he is in the company of the four girls. Neiju remarks that their constant encounters with space pirates could hardly be described as good luck, but Airi points out that despite being put in highly dangerous situations Seina suffered relatively little personal misfortune, and ultimately their encounters resulted in the downfall of the Da Ruma Guild, not to mention Seiryo's Good Luck Fleet and Tarant Shunk's group. Principal Mikami gets to the quick of the matter, namely that the Galaxy Police want to see the four girls team up with Seina again after his graduation.

After this meeting, Airi summons Seina to see Lady Seto. He boards the Mikagami with Airi to be met not only by Seto, but also Azusa, the king of Jurai, and his wives Misaki and Funaho. The incredibly nervous Seina greets them humbly and takes a seat opposite them. Airi greets Azusa as "otō-sama" ("father", but also used to address a father-in-law), which earns her stern glances from the others.

Meanwhile, the girls consider the consequences of being partnered with Seina. They all realise that their daydreams of living a happy life with Seina are much less likely to come true now.

The meeting aboard the Mikagami begins, and the first matter is that of the mechanoid Seina discovered, which they now refer to as the Idol. The researchers have discovered that it is over a billion years old, and originates from somewhere other than the Wau planet it was discovered on. More surprisingly, they have discovered that the seed of a Juraian royal tree lies at its core, explaining why the Kamidake was able to merge with it and generate Light Hawk Wings. Misaki points out that this should be impossible since the Idol predates the Juraian civilisation, but Seto reveals that she has discussed the issue with Tsunami, the original tree of Jurai, and discovered that two royal tree seeds were given to a visitor to Jurai, and the core of the Idol is one of these ancient first-generation seeds. Seina nervously raises his hand and asks if he should even be listening to this. Seto tells him that the Idol only responds to him, meaning he has become bonded to the seed. This effectively makes him a member of the Juraian royal family, placing him third in line to the throne!

Seina leaves the meeting looking pale and drawn, no doubt shocked at this revelation. The meeting continues without him, and Azusa is displeased about Seina becoming an heir to the throne. However, Seto assures him, Yosho, Azusa's immediate successor, is unlikely to shun his duty to the throne when the time comes, so Seina should not entertain thoughts of rulership for the moment! Nevertheless, the girls have now become involved in the situation, so Seto suggests Airi talk to them about it.

Seina sits and watches the sunset over the city at the Academy, deep in thought about his position as a Juraian heir and hardly able to believe it himself. NB comes up to him, and noticing the serious expression on his master's face decides to cheer him up by taking (or rather, dragging) him along with him for a night on the town. However, their evening is interrupted when NaBiko finally tracks NB down. She apologises to Seina for any trouble NB has caused, then grabs the horrified robot, who has only just got his groove back after their last encounter, and drags him off for some private time together!

Meanwhile, Airi visits each of the girls in turn to discuss their feelings about Seina becoming heir to the throne. She talks to Neiju first. Neiju suspects that Seina will not leave the Galaxy Police, so she will simply carry on as a member of the Kamidake crew regardless. She remarks that if she had not met Seina, she might have become completely reclusive after leaving the Melmas priesthood. She knows that she will probably never feel the same way about Seina as the other girls do, so she will remain loyal to him if nothing more.

Next, Airi goes to see Ryoko. Eyeing the photograph of Ryoko and Seina's first meeting hung over the fireplace, Airi reminds Ryoko of how much has changed in such a short time. She suggests that Seina becoming part of the Juraian royal family could strengthen its relationship with the Balouta kingdom, but Ryoko insists that Seina will remain in the Galaxy Police. With tears streaming down her face, she tells Airi that just staying by his side would be enough for her.

Airi's next stop is Amane's house, and Amane herself seems out of sorts. She remembers that her mistake in enlisting Seina in the Galaxy Police cost her her promotion, but Airi says that she could happily recommend her becoming a first-class officer now. Amane maintains that she would be happier working with Seina instead. Airi asks Amane to prepare some food, and although Amane protests that she is not a very good cook, Airi replies by telling her it would be a change to eat something bad! By the time Amane returns with a tray of rather unappetising food, Airi has discovered Amane's new double bed. She teases her for furnishing her room like a newlywed, then leads the furious Amane on a chase around the house. When Amane is too tired to continue, she and Airi return to the bedroom. Airi tells Amane she is free to play at being married if she wishes, but just then the double bed disappears; Amane was only trying it out as a hologram. Amane sinks to the floor in sorrow, and Airi is surprised to see her weeping, her fantasy exposed as no more real than the holographic bed.

Finally, Airi visits Kiriko in her new Japanese-style home. Kiriko is worried that Seina may be put at risk being in the Juraian royal family, but Airi assures her that when she was part of the Airai royal family, she was rarely placed in any danger (although she did have a bodyguard just to be sure). Airi is not surprised when Kiriko announces her wish to stay by Seina's side as a member of the Kamidake's crew. Airi then asks Kiriko why she has given up trying to persuade Seina to return to Earth. Kiriko admits that she no longer feels her fears are justified, and even if she asked Seina now he would probably refuse again. She reminisces about her time growing up with Seina, and how Seina's only childhood friend was her younger brother Kai — everyone else stayed away from him in fear of his bad luck. Kiriko took it upon herself to look after Seina. She recalls the time the Yamadas came to her home, and Seina's mother cried with joy because Seina had finally found friends that would take his misfortune in their stride. When she left Earth to join the Galaxy Police her concern for Seina grew, and she would often return to check on him. But, she continues, when Lady Seto told Seina that his ill fortune was a blessing rather than a curse, she came to realise she had been treating him as a burden. She breaks down crying, and Airi comforts her by telling her she only feels that way because Seina is precious to her, and that things will all work out in the end.

Seina wanders into the docking bay where the Kamidake, now back in its original form, stands. He has made up his mind to stay with the Galaxy Police and captain his ship. Meanwhile, Airi reports back to Lady Seto. After booting the lovesick NaBiko out of the way, she presents her findings to Seto, who glances over them and quickly reaches a decision about her next course of action.

The night before graduation, and Seina's roommates, Rajau and Kenneth, decide to take him out to paint the town red one last time. But it seems that every male cadet has the same idea, and the octopus-like ink-firing security robots (last seen in episode 5) are ready and waiting for them!

At the graduation ceremony the next day, all the male cadets (except for Seina) are forced to wear paper bags over their heads to hide the evidence of their late-night exploits! Principal Mikami congratulates all the graduates, and they toss their headgear into the air in celebration - hats in the case of the women, paper bags in the case of the men! Immediately after the ceremony the graduates pile into cars to race to the post-grad party. Kenneth explains that the first students to reach the party get to date "Miss GP", so no trick is too dirty to win the race. Rajau unleashes his secret weapon to give them the upper hand — a clutch of missiles launched from the back of their car —- and the race soon turns into an out-and-out battle! Seina, Kenneth and Rajau get blasted into the ocean, and as they stagger onto the shore and massive wave washes Seina over the finishing line.

Meanwhile, principal Mikami takes the girls to the Mikagami without any explanation. They are surprised to discover crowd of people awaiting them; the new high-priestess of Melmas, Amane's parents, Ryoko's grandfather, and even Seina's parents and sister have shown up. Lady Seto welcomes the girls aboard, and tells them she has something wonderful planned for them...

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Episode 26 - Lunar Vows >>

* It is an old wives' tale in Japan that if you sneeze without any apparent reason, it means somebody is talking about you.

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