[SPLIT LIP]

SCREW YOU YGGDRASIL!

That episode was even better with subs. THIS is why Kouta is fast becoming my all-time favourite rider. Everybody's so quick to just except what they've been told as absolute truth, and hide behind the old idea that victory demands sacrifices no way around it.

Well Kouta's not so gullible, nor is he so black-and-white. Change the rules! Fight the machine! I love the end, too. "You want to keep secrets? Then get out there and actually DO something!" Yggdrasil loves to talk big, but they've really accomplished nothing. They just want to hide in their giant fortress tower and put blankets over the mess instead of cleaning it up, claiming "Oh, but we're the GOOD guys because we have a plan to commit mass murder on the flimsy and poorly-though-out pretense of stomping an invasion!" And then never stop the invasion.

Welp, now Kouta's got all the power he needs to start doing something about it, and the knowledge of where to start. Can't wait to see where things go from here.

Also yes, I also believe not-Mai is really future Mai. My guess is her enigmatic words and her weird phasing-out-of-reality bit have to do with her communicating through time, rather than havign travelled back successfully. Plus, with all the lies and deception from her friends just to protect her, I can see that being her motivation to go back in time and try to change events.