Gundam Build Fighters Ep. 16: Dad, We Meet Again?

Sei has a dream where he runs up to Takeshi’s workshop, and the two spin around on a giant Haro while surrounded by dancing Gunpla. Takeshi gives Sei a shining nipper as a present, and Sei wakes up from the dream, wondering where his father is. Kirara reports on day 10 of the tournament and the 16 teams that will be competing when the finals start in three days. She interviews Rainer, who comments that Fellini will lose. Rinko packs her bags and imagines that she’s going to be interviewed by reporters over Sei’s success in the tournament. She then locks up the store and runs off for the tournament. Reiji apologizes to Sei for wrecking the Star Build Strike, but Sei says it couldn’t be helped since they were fighting Fellini. Reiji asks if the repairs can be finished in two days, but Sei notes that China and Ral are helping. Reiji wants to help too and grabs the Star Build Strike, and the resulting struggle accidentally beheads the kit. Sei yells at Reiji to leave him alone, so Reiji angrily storms off. China and Ral show up to help, and Ral thinks it could be a good development since Reiji is showing interest in Gunpla now. Aila eats yogurt at the mall and is amazed by how good Japanese food is. She recalls being homeless and wishes she could stay in Japan forever. Reiji walks into a model shop with the intent of showing up Sei and wonders how many types of Zakus there are. He then looks at an Elmeth kit and is joined by Takeshi, who is disguised with a beard. On his own, Takeshi selects the Beginning Gundam as a starter kit for Reiji and starts babbling about its features. Aila eavesdrops on them, so Takeshi gives her an SD Command Gundam. She says she’s never built Gunpla before, so Takeshi offers to teach them. They notice that he immediately becomes militaristic as the lesson starts. Takeshi guides them through the process from beginning to end, and they manage to catch on. Reiji and Aila finish the kits, and Takeshi congratulates them on a job well done. However, he wants them to put an extra touch by doing the panel lines and using matte spray. Mashita leaves in a golden limo and asks Baker to take care of dealing with Reiji. Nils spies on Baker and overhears her arguing with C on the phone about interfering outside of the tournament. C watches from nearby as Reiji and Aila work on their Gunpla. Reiji notes that Takeshi becomes like a different person when working on Gunpla, which reminds him of someone.

China asks Sei if he can finish his work in two days, and he answers that he’ll be cutting it close. China vows to cheer for Sei until he’s done. At the model shop, Reiji and Aila are impressed by how much better their Gunpla look with the panel lines and matte spray. Reiji wants to try them out in Gunpla Battle, but Aila lies that she doesn’t know anything about it. Takeshi says that’s ok because Reiji can fight against the computer. The Gunpla Battle begins in a space level at A Baoa Qu, and Reiji gets used to maneuvering the Beginning Gundam. Takeshi comments that it’s easier to master a Gunpla that you’ve built. Reiji wants to see what his opponent is, which turns out to be C’s Hell Zeong Galaxy. Reiji recognizes it, and Takeshi wonders how such a heavily customized Gunpla could enter the fight. The Beginning Gundam is damaged by an all-range attack, which angers Reiji since he worked so hard on it. He then realizes that this is how Sei must feel every time that the Star Build Strike suffers damage. Takeshi tells Reiji to get in close the way Amuro Ray did, but that tactic doesn’t work since the Hell Zeong Galaxy has legs. C charges the head cannon, but he’s blasted by missiles from Aila’s Command Gundam. C performs another all-range attack, but Reiji and Aila trick him into destroying his own hands. Aila destroys the legs, and she and Reiji rush in to stab the Hell Zeong Galaxy and destroy it. Reiji comments that Aila is good but isn’t supposed to know how to fight, so she lies that she learned from watching him. The two then start arguing until she notices that Takeshi is gone. Takeshi confronts C in a bathroom and reveals himself as a Gunpla Battle Official Referee. He places C under arrest, but C tries to punch him and gets knocked into a urinal. Back at the hotel, Sei, Ral and China are amazed by the quality of the Beginning Gundam that Reiji built. Reiji mentions that some old man helped him, and when he pulls out the nippers, Sei knows what’s going on. Takeshi drives off with C in tow and vows to watch Sei in the finals. Later, Rinko arrives and congratulates Sei and Reiji on reaching the finals. Sei asks about the store, but she tells him not to worry about it. In Tokyo, Takeshi shows up at the store and wonders why it’s closed.