Encouragement of Climb

Aoi and Honoka explore Gunma's shrines and go to a hot spring while Hinata and Kokona reach the peak of Mt. Akagi. At the end of the day, Aoi, Hinata, and Kokona ride the same train home, where Hinata becomes jealous of all the time Aoi spent with Honoka.

Aoi makes plans to go to Gunma with Honoka while Hinata, unable to get in touch with Aoi, ends up making plans to go to Mt. Akagi with Kokona on the same day.

With Aoi busy at her part-time job, Hinata goes on an outing by herself, finding herself lonely without Aoi. During closing time, Aoi manages to use what she learned throughout today to help Kokona's mother buy a cake for her daughter.

Hearing about "mountain coffee" from Hinata's father, Aoi, feeling provoked by Hinata, becomes determined to try it as well, despite finding coffee bitter in general. After getting some advice from Kaede and Yuka, Aoi goes with Hinata to the Kanhasshu Observation Platform, where she puts her coffee making into practise.

Aoi, Hinata, Kokona, and Honoka go to Lockheart Castle in Gunma, each bringing their own unique cameras to take pictures of everything.

Aoi is approached by her classmate Mio and invites her and Hinata to karaoke out alongside her friends Kasumi and Yuri. As Aoi worries about what to sing, Hinata encourages her not to overthink things and become more confident around everyone.

Aoi decides to tackle the Hanno Alps, inevitably finding the experience pretty tough by herself. She is soon joined by Kokona, who accompanies her to Nenogongen to look at the shrines.

Finding that she won't be able to take on Mt. Fuji again until next summer, Aoi goes with Hinata and Kaede to look at some hiking shoes. Initially sceptical of their price and heaviness, Aoi finds some shoes she likes and climbs up Mt. Tenran to break them in.

Wanting to repay Hinata for the souvenir she got her from Mt. Fuji, Aoi invites her for a late night climb up Mt. Tsukuba to treat her to a night view at the top. Arriving at the top, Aoi resolves to once again take on Mt. Fuji.

On the day before the Tanigawa climb, Kokona, whose birthday is on the same day, gets some new shoes as an early present from her mother and decides to go on a walk to Akebano Children's Forest Park to try them out. After returning home, Kokona celebrates her birthday with her mother, who ran a little late home from work. Meanwhile, Aoi, who spent the day making a pound cake, wonders about what will happen after her dream is fulfilled.

Having made much progress in her preparations for the Mt. Tanigawa trip, it soon dawns on Aoi that she hasn't touched her summer homework. With Hinata on vacation, Aoi asks Kaede to help her out, only to find she hasn't finished any of her homework either. Kaede instead calls in Yuuka to help tutor them over the next week, allowing them to get it done in time.

Running low on funds for her mountaineering, Aoi applies for a part-time job at a cake shop. There, she meets college sophomore Hikari Onozuka, who shows her the ropes. After a hard day of work, Aoi feels her horizon has expanded a little.

Wanting to help Aoi get over her fear of heights, Hinata takes everyone to Shinrin Park. After participating in various activities, Hinata helps Aoi to cross a suspension bridge before managing to get her to try some bouncy mountains.

Aoi is anxious about climbing Mount Tanigawa as it involves riding a cable car, which isn't good for her fear of heights. Later, Kaede invites the girls to her house, where she explains she too was scared whilst riding a cable car, but found it less scary on her second go. As Aoi is encouraged by Kaede's words and decides to take on Tanigawa, Kaede gives her her old raincoat that she bought with Yuuka.

Upon finding an old raincoat in her closet, Kaede recalls her middle school friend, Yuuka, who was often concerned about her climbing mountains. When Yuuka got upset with her after she ended up spraining her leg, Kaede came to realise she had never taken Yuuka's advice to heart and apologised, after which they bought a raincoat together. Feeling nostalgic, Kaede rings up Yuuka and the two go out shopping together.

With Aoi's mother still cautious about her climbing up mountains again, Hinata and her father suggest that she invite her to climb Mount Kirigamine with them. Whilst climbing the mountain, Aoi is reminded of the mountain she climbed with Hinata when they were younger, though neither can remember which mountain it was. Hinata's father later reveals that mountain was Mount Tanigawa, leaving the girls excited to try and climb it once more.

After being invited to go firefly watching, Aoi and Hinata recall that they once went firefly watching when they were younger. When they ended up getting lost, they were led back to their parents by an alleged firefly, though they both have different ideas about what kind of firefly it was.

Aoi is depressed about not making it to the top of Mt. Fuji. Hinata and Kokona are unsure of how to approach her. How can Aoi recover from such a frustrating defeat?

Having succumbed to altitude sickness, Aoi is forced to stay behind with Kaede. Hinata and Kokona make it and experience the rising sun atop the summit of Mt. Fuji, and walk around the caldera and to the highest point of Japan. Aoi is extremely frustrated and has to descend the mountain with Kaede, where they later meet up with Hinata and Kokona and head home together.

The climb up Mt. Fuji starts to become a bit more difficult. Maybe Mt. Fuji isn't easy after all. Aoi starts to push herself to keep going. Will the girls make it to the top to see the sunrise together?

The girls arrive at the fifth station on Mt. Fuji. They have lunch and Aoi and Kokona buy walking sticks to get stamped along the way. The climb starts and they take it easy on the way up to the eighth station.

Aoi makes the plan for climbing Mt. Fuji. She buys snacks and drinks for the climb the next day. Even though she is prepared, she still feels uneasy. Finally, the big day arrives and the girls make their way to Mt. Fuji.

You thought it was all about mountain climbing, but no! It's actually about swimming! So obviously you need to buy a swimsuit now.

Aoi meets with Hinata and her father and gets motivated to climb Mt. Fuji. Aoi begins preparations, but her mom is not okay with the idea of climbing the mountain at night. She learns to stand up for herself and pursue something she really wants.

Aoi, Hinata and Kokona eat crepes together and talk about the past. On the way home, Hinata really embarrasses Aoi. Later, Hinata tries to make up with her but only makes things worse. In the end, Hinata has to think of a way to truly apologize to Aoi.

The girls reach the summit of Mt. Mitsutouge and Aoi realizes something about herself. After eating lunch together, they begin their descent. It's a difficult descent, but a reward awaits them at the bottom!

The girls continue their climb up Mt. Mitsutouge and discover plenty of interesting things. The climb gets more difficult, but Kaede shares some wisdom with Aoi. After a difficult part, Hinata is finally able to surprise Aoi with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji!

Hinata, Kaede and Kokona meet to discuss secret plans to surprise Aoi with a special view of Mt. Fuji, and decide on climbing Mt. Mitsutouge together. They meet up with Aoi and begin the climb, but they are steadfast in keeping the surprise a secret from her until the top!

Aoi and Hinata put up a real tent in Hinata's yard! Afterwards, Kaede and Kokona join them and they cook a meal outside together. They camp in the tent overnight and get excited about climbing mountains soon.

Aoi and Hinata embark on their second climb and meet some interesting people along the way.

Aoi picked the mountain but now she needs the right equipment.

It's Aoi's turn to pick the mountain, so she calls on her new friend to help.

Aoi meets a girl from her school who is crazy about backpacking.

Aoi and Hinata have a camping cook-off.

Hinata convinces Aoi to try climbing a mountain, but Aoi thinks they should start with a small mountain and work their way up to the big ones.

With the help of Hinata's dad, the girls familiarize themselves with the necessary gear to climb.

Aoi spends most of her time alone, but an old friend from middle school has arrived to make good on an old promise.