Episode 7 starts with Barnaby and Kotetsu finally having the chance to get drinks like they've been trying to for a while, only for Kotetsu to forget his wallet at home.
When they get to his house, he finds Kaede and her friend there. They're supposed to ask their parents what they do for their jobs, and wanted to go see where Kotetsu works. He tries to get approval for it, but Lloyd shoots him down, with Kaede being fine with the whole situation. The whole time she's understanding of him, with Ryan saying that kids are only like that when they something or are up to something. And just like he said, the two of them were about to leave when Barnaby showed up, taking them to his childhood friend's job.
For the past few episodes, Barnaby has been meeting and talking to his friend that's researching a drug that can give any NEXT powers in a effort to break down the boundaries between those with powers and those without them. What Barnaby doesn't know is, is that his friend has been testing the drug on himself and the side-effects have been rough on him. At the end of the episode, he's going to be told he's running out of time to make the drug, and if he doesn't, the whole thing will be shut down.
While Kotetsu and Yuri are at Law class for children, the subject of Lunatic comes up. One of the kids asks, "Since killing a person in defense of another isn't a crime, then what about Lunatic? Does that mean that he's protecting us since he only kills criminals?".
Kotetsu quickly just says that he's not protecting anyone, that he's a murderer and he's going to bring him justice, and I just thought the whole situation was funny considering the man that they were talking about was right there.
After trying to sneak away again, the real reason why Kaede went to go to Sternbild is revealed. She wants to be a hero, and wanted to go to the Hero Academy open house. Since she thought her father would be stuck at work, she tried to go without telling the man. While Kotetsu is happy that she would want to follow in his footsteps, he's obviously worried about her safety. After getting into a big fight, Kaede and her friend leave, only to see a nearby accident happening. Kaede using the NEXT powers of her friend, tries to save a falling man, only for the man to have powers too, and just when she's about to fall down, Kotetsu comes just in time to save her.
With all the people rescued, they decided to go the Hero Academy at the end after all for a tour. The principal was so happy to see Kotetsu and Barnaby, and it makes perfect sense why, they're basically giant success stories. There, the two girls learn that it's not just a place for NEXT to learn how to become heroes, it's also a place where NEXT can learn to live with their powers. It's something that Kaede's friend, who doesn't like being a NEXT herself was glad to hear. When all is said and done, Kaede and Kotetsu both agree to have another discuss about her attending the school, with him saying that he has a lot to think about in general when it comes to being a hero.
This episode starts with He is Thomas and Subaru corning a thug, but the guy gives up without a fight at first, frustrating Subaru since he wanted a chance to show off. While arguing with Thomas, the criminal shot his weapon at them, hitting a nearby woman who was watching the whole thing. Thomas quickly took the gun out of the guy's hand, but as soon as he got to him, starting beating the crap out of him. And too make things worse, it was caught live on Hero TV.
As punishment for what Yuri decided was an excessive use of force, Thomas got suspended for it. Yuri also brought up what triggered Thomas in the first place, an incident from his past, but of course, Thomas denied that it had anything to do with it. When Subaru asked about it, Thomas said he didn't trust anyone, partner or no partner and left.
It's after that we learn that the whole rich kid thing is just how the marketed him, he's had a very rough life. He lost his parents when he was 9 and his younger sister was 7 after they died in a car accident. On top of that, him being a NEXT made it so no one wanted to adopt him at the orphanage they were at, and not wanting to be separated from him sister of course, no one would take her too. So one day, the man in charge of the orphanage did try to separate them, only for Thomas to take his sister and run away. At night, at some rundown place, these 2 guys try to take the necklace his sister has that their mother gave her. Thomas tries to defend themselves using his powers, but one of the men drew out his gun and shot his sister in the leg. While his sister was suffering, one of the man beat up on Thomas.
Eventually, they were brought back to the orphanage when Thomas' sister was separated from him,
and from then, he's been all by himself. His reason to become a hero was so that no one would ever suffer like his sister did and he saw that woman get shot like her, he reacted the way that he did.
So yes, him and Barnaby do have a lot in common.
To make things even worse, after coming out of the Hero Museum, he meets an elderly couple in need of help. So after assisting them, right after he's told he can come back to work, he finds out that the two of them are a couple of criminals who prey on people who come to help them. Thomas is able to shrug off the drug they used him and take them down, but...
I just feel so bad for him. Just when he thinks he can trust people again after what the other heroes did for him, that crap happens. I can't help feel sorry for him and that experience is just more proof for him that he can't trust anyone.
And something I have noticed that this season has shown is how some people don't like NEXT and how they treat them.
The terrible duo has made it to Sternbild as well, I can't what to see what will happen next.