Kaoru Setouchi/Story Plot

Kizu Random arc
Setouchi is first seen arguing with Iori, who starts snapping at. Setouchi explains that she only wanted to know if Yui is ok, but Iori, having her impulse unleashed, furiously demands Setouchi leave her alone since she doesn't know what's wrong with Yui, either. Iori comes back to her senses and tries to excuse her behavior, but Setouchi is not so easily pacified and accuses Iori of looking down on her. Watase suggests Taichi do something, but Taichi can't find the courage to step in. He looks over to Inaba who similarly remains unresponsive to the dispute, instead she chooses to leave the room. Suddenly, Fujishima breaks up the argument, defending Iori by claiming a lot of people have been asking her about Yui and she has become stressed as a result. Iori states that she is terribly sorry for her behavior and Setouchi chooses to forgive her.

Michi Random arc
Setouchi confronts Iori, who chews her out for rejecting Shiroyama. Setouchi calls Iori a fake who has only pretended to be nice, but Iori turns the tables on her and deems Setouchi conceited for making Iori's business her own. Setouchi wonders why Shiroyama would like a girl like her and, when Iori scoffs at Setouchi's frustration, she snaps and calls her horrible before walking away. Since then, she starts antagonizing and tormenting Iori for what she did to Shiroyama. Nasty rumors about Iori begin to spread throughout their class, though she does nothing to deny them. The root of the rumors, Setouchi, sneers as Iori's reputation plummets. The next day at school, Setouchi pushes Iori, who doesn't react towards it.

The next day at school, Taichi and Inaba observe Setouchi and her friends slandering Iori. Unable to stand watching Iori's reputation suffer, Taichi declares to the class that Iori's behavior is his fault; lying that he forced himself on her and that she has been upset ever since. Taichi's lie works and most of the dissent toward Iori is directed at him. Setouchi refuses to believe him and Setouchi and her posse confront Iori again, who accuse Iori of making Taichi defend her, though Iori again states it's none of Setouchi's business. Setouchi then demands Iori make the StuCS forfeit their competition with the Jazz band. Iori asks if she only cares because Shiroyama is in the Jazz band, which causes a furious Setouchi to lunge at her, though her friends hold her back. Walking away, Setouchi and her gang begin scheming something against Iori, who suddenly becomes worried about what they're talking about, asks what they are planning, but they spitefully tells her it's none of her concern and that she brought this on herself, as she continues to ask what they're planning against. It turns out Setouchi hired thugs to vandalize the Cultural Society's clubroom to get back at Iori for rejecting Shiroyama. After finding out what she did, Iori becomes infuriated at Setouchi for getting the others involved and angrily goes after her for revenge, forcing Taichi and Himeko to stop Iori in her tracks.

Inaba obtains Setouchi's number from Fujishima and the pair confront Setouchi, warning her that Iori is hunting for her as they speak. At that moment, Iori arrives and charges at Setouchi, but is held back by Taichi and Inaba, who warns her to stop. Setouchi is horrified by Iori lunging at her and seeing what she has become, but Inaba tells her to run away, which she does as she manages to escape, and as Iori breaks down.

Setouchi is called by the thugs to meet her at the warehouse, where she finds them holding Inaba hostage. Realizing she went too far with her schemes, she pleads with the thugs to let Inaba go. Blaming her for them ending up in this sort of situation, one of thugs lashes out at Setouchi, knocking her to the ground when she tries to pin the blame on them. Inaba glares daggers at her captor, but before he can do anything, Taichi, Aoki and Yui burst in. As the others start fighting against the boys who kidnapped Inaba, one of them puts a knife towards her. Just then, Iori arrives and manages to use the emotion transmission to take down the last thug and get Inaba to safety, while leaving the thugs behind.

The gang, with Setouchi in tow, leave the warehouse to talk near the riverbank. Inaba summarizes that Setouchi acted against Iori and the StuCS because she has a crush on Shiroyama, who Iori hurt. Setouchi confirms this and admits what she did was wrong before tearfully apologizing to Iori for everything she put her through. Iori decides to take her revenge on Setouchi by giving her a light slap. Unfortunately, since she doesn't know how to slap, she accidentally knocks Setouchi to ground. Iori helps Setouchi to her feet, saying that they are now even. Knowing that she is a good person at heart, Iori too apologizes for everything that she herself has put her friends and her former tormentor through and Setouchi admits she only acted tough to impress a boy she liked. Seeing their similarities, Iori offers to be friends with Setouchi, surprising everyone.

The next day at school, Setouchi makes her debut, her hair cut short and dyed black and deciding to drop her bad girl act, and be her true self. She is greeted by Iori, who are now friends with each other, compliments her earrings which Setouchi has chosen to keep on. The class is surprised by Setouchi and Iori being civil to one another and many approach the pair warmly, glad to see both with better attitudes. Fujishima looks on, proudly declaring this result was all part of her plan.