Gentle Fragrance of Distant Days

Shizuku was defeated by Hitoto in the battle for the "Seventh Apostle." Feeling the overwhelming difference between herself and Hitoto, she grew increasingly suspicious that the battle for the "Drops of God" was a rigged game orchestrated by Toyotaka to make her lose, and she was absent from the opening of the "Eighth Apostle's" will. She also stopped coming to work. Worried, Miyabi went to see Robert, who told her, "Unless Shizuku and Hitoto fight to the end, we will never reach the 'Drops of God,' which stands at the pinnacle of the 'Twelve Apostles.'" The next day, Shizuku returned to work after a long absence and declared that she was dropping out of the apostle search competition. While everyone in the wine division desperately tried to stop her, Hitoto suddenly published a description of the "Eighth Apostle" online, declaring war on Shizuku.