episode 7 dials the student council conflict up further and continues to be the arc of the season i'm least invested in. i get why the show needed some kind of external threat to push the Hero Club into a more unified direction but the student council just doesn't feel like a natural fit for this show's energy. that said episode 7 does some genuinely good character work in between the conflict beats. there's a scene between Mizuki and Nakamura that is quieter and more sincere than anything the show has done before — no dramatic chunibyo posturing, just two people actually talking to each other — and it's honestly kind of lovely. Nakamura without his theatrical armor on is a surprisingly grounded and thoughtful person and the episode hints at this without overexplaining it. Mikuriya also gets slightly more interesting this episode. his backstory starts to become clearer and you begin to understand why he gravitates toward the Hero Club despite seeming like the kind of person who could fit in anywhere. there's something about the sincerity of these delusional boys that appeals to someone who has spent a lot of time performing a version of himself for other people's approval. that's actually a fairly interesting dynamic and i hope the show develops it more. the chunibyo gags are still funny this episode but they take a back seat more than usual. the balance between comedy and light drama is slightly off. the show is at its best when those two things are happening simultaneously rather than taking turns.