[barnstenchfartface]

I think this episode was stronger than the previous arc, at the very least, the introduction of the case and the misdirection with the Raider adds a little mystery on top of the usual competition dynamic (though it's such an obvious frame job and it's probably just Arisa Komiya or the detective dude). Looking forward to Metal Cluster next week too, though a normal episodic plot like this feels like a slightly weird place to drop a major upgrade compared to the last three. Still, looks cool, I'm sure it'll be fun.
It's just...
Feels weird to do an arc about the law in the middle of this arc, because the show is otherwise ignoring that laws exist. Gai assaults Aruto, his guy for the realtor comp causes untold amounts of property damage and walks away with no repercussions, and now Gai just flagrantly pulls out a terrorist hacking tool, assaults Aruto again, and I'm absolutely sure nothing will come of it. Well, obviously it's leading to "plot stuff," he's making Aruto angry and he's gonna make him a new toy, Rider stuff. But nothing from the "wait, that's illegal" side of the issue.
Yeah, yeah, it's a kid's show. Still, weird to in the middle of it highlight and remind the viewer that sometimes, laws exist, and you can be arrested, sometimes on weak evidence. Most of these crimes are on tape! Which, just to remind, was kind of cleverly used in a pragmatic way along these lines in episode 2, where Aruto just comes out and goes "look, public at large, it's not Hiden screwing up here, it's metsuboujinrai.net hacking our shit, and we have it on tape." What's gonna be stopping them from using Izu's feed to show everyone Gai is related to Metsuboujinrai.net, other than a need to have him in the show to sell toys? It's just...eh. Maybe something will happen, they will try to hold him accountable and Gai is just able to pay off law enforcement or manipulate the narrative or something, that at least would be something. Doubt it though.

Also feels really weird to be ignoring the whole thing last episode with Fuwa. So, hope that's acknowledged.