Ep 7. A Flock of Plovers

Rin and his classmates are tasked with a training exercise that involves protecting a small village from hordes of demonic plovers. Despite the seemingly trivial task, Shura warns Rin and his friends that they should take it seriously because the safety of the village's residents is at stake. Shura also cryptically mentions to Rin that not everything is as it seems.

As they begin the exercise, Rin quickly realizes that the plovers are much harder to eliminate than he had initially anticipated. The birds are able to drain the life energy out of any exorcist who gets too close, causing them to drop out of the game. Rin and his friends quickly realize the gravity of the situation and begin to strategize.

The dynamics between the classmates come to the forefront during this exercise. Shiemi is hesitant to harm the plovers because of her love for all things living, while Bon is more practical and thinks they should eliminate the threat as soon as possible. Rin struggles to lead the group, as he feels responsible for the safety of his classmates, but he also feels like he isn't good enough to protect them.

Throughout the episode, a mysterious hooded figure watches Rin and the other exorcists from a distance. Rin senses that there's something off about the person, but he can't quite put his finger on it. As the plovers increase in number and the situation becomes more dire, the hooded figure finally steps forward and helps the exorcists.

The person's identity is revealed to be a powerful exorcist and friend of Rin's father. The revelation surprises Rin since he thought his father didn't have any friends. The exorcist helps the group take care of the plovers and teaches Rin and his friends a valuable lesson about teamwork and trust. Rin also learns that he shouldn't shoulder all the responsibility himself and that he needs to trust those around him.

The episode ends on a bit of a cliffhanger as Rin and his classmates celebrate their victory. The hooded exorcist warns Rin that there are darker forces at work and that he needs to be careful. Rin worries that he's not strong enough to face these forces alone, but the mysterious exorcist tells him that he's not alone and that he has the support of his friends.

Overall, "A Flock of Plovers" is a tense episode that highlights the importance of trust and cooperation. It also introduces the idea that there are more sinister forces at play, setting up future conflicts for Rin and his friends. The addition of the hooded exorcist is also interesting, as it expands the show's mythology and sets the stage for future revelations about Rin's past.