Summary: Sakura almost manages to convince Aisia to stay away from the path to Kotori’s doom (as predicted by me), but Aisia grows too smart for her own good and runs away (presumably to the magic sakura tree again).

Aisia touches sakura tree
It’s futile Aisia. Your power is far too weak

However, there’s still a hope for my prediction to not come true, as Sakura mentions here that Aisia’s magical power is too n00b to revive the tree with on her own.

Aisia in deep thoughts
Aisia attempts to think. Realizes that she lacks a brain

After listening to Sakura’s explanation on why magic isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, Aisia is a little confused, but she sort of accepts Sakura’s words and it seems like we won’t get the ending I predicted after all…

Realization
Hey wait a minute! Sakura, you tricked me!

But suddenly, one of the few moments of realizations in her entire miserable life takes place and she realizes that her beliefs are not wrong. She sticks it to Sakura and runs out of the house. This part makes me feel very conflicted. Although I am very happy with Aisia for putting that stupid pedo jailbait in her place, I am also very certain that if Aisia successfully manages to revive the sakura tree, it will become the plot focus and Kotori will be marginalized once again.

Sakura is sad
Oh crap

On the other hand, it seems very likely based on the preview for episode 22 and the Newtype spoilers for 23 that the revival of the sakura tree itself may be the thing that will cause Kotori to come back into the game. It which case it could be a killer blow to Kotori’s chance, because the only plot device that is supposed to bring her back into the race is also going to marginalize her for the grand finale between Aisia, Sakura, Nemu and Jun’ichi.

This looks like it will be a tough road for Kotori ahead.

Of course, this forecast is based on the assumption that Nemu will once again fall sick due to the revival of the magic sakura tree. If she doesn’t, then the focus for the climax could very well be on Kotori, Jun’ichi and Nemu instead. I believe that the spoilers for episode 24 should be enough to reveal the final ending. We’ll just have to wait for the next issue of Newtype.

Oh man, I really got to stop analyzing the D.C.S.S. story.