Ep 5. The Love-Crazed Blade, Warabi Hanasaka

The Love-Crazed Blade, Warabi Hanasaka is the fifth episode of season one of the anime series Armed Girl's Machiavellism. The episode follows the character Nomura Fudou, who has been enrolled in a school that holds a strict hierarchy based on martial arts abilities, where girls are armed with weapons to maintain order.

In this episode, Nomura finds himself targeted by Warabi Hanasaka, a girl who is infatuated with him. She decides to challenge him to a fight instead of expressing her feelings for him, as is the custom in the school. Nomura, who has no romantic inclination towards her, refuses to fight her, which results in her getting angry and challenging him to a duel.

As the duel begins, it becomes apparent that Warabi wields a sword that is extremely sharp and deadly. She uses it to cut anything and everything that is in her path, including the school's infrastructure. Nomura realizes that her love for him has blinded her, and he makes several attempts to reason with her, pleading with her to stop the fight.

Despite his efforts, Warabi's love-crazed state continues to drive her forward in the fight, causing significant collateral damage in the process. Nomura, who is an expert martial artist, does his best to dodge her attacks. He finally manages to outsmart her, leaving her defenseless and open to attack.

Nomura decides not to finish her off and instead reaches out to Warabi, reassuring her that he would still be her friend even if she did not win the fight. His words finally sink in, and Warabi's love-crazed state comes to an end. She is horrified at the destruction that she has caused and begins to apologize profusely.

The episode ends with Warabi, who had previously been an antagonist, begging Nomura to be her friend. Nomura agrees to her request, and she lets out a sigh of relief.

Overall, The Love-Crazed Blade, Warabi Hanasaka is an emotionally charged episode that explores themes of unrequited love and the consequences of letting one's emotions get the better of them. The episode is an example of how the series balances action and drama, making it an entertaining watch for anime fans.