During the Sports Festival, Sakuraba and Yurika reach the scavanger hunt portion together. Yurika sees that the object she has to find is "a friend", and she tearfully tells Sakuraba that she is bowing out, because she will never find that. Sakuraba smiles and gently tells her that she has one right in front of her. D'awwww.
Volumes 7.5 and 8.5
Princess Charl's many interactions with the Blue Knight, most significantly when she and Princess Alaia made his badge.
Volume 13
So, so many beats
This looks like much, but over repeated readings this tropher has gotten misty-eyed at this list of alternatively heartwarming and tearjerking points.
The revelation that Fire Dragon Emperor Alunaya was possessing Shizuka, just waiting for Koutarou to call him out to "play."
The temporary defeat of Blue Knight, followed by Theia's decision to self-destruct so that she and Ruth can't be used as hostages against Elfara and their subsequent brave conversation.
Alunaya flying Koutarou and Harumi to their rescue, then distracting Elexis's forces while they boarded Blue Knight
Blue Knight apparently autocancelling the self-destruct order when they boarded, then accepting Koutarou's orders to restore functionality.
The moment Theia accepted The Powerof Friendship and fully completed her trial, readied to become an empress.
Elfaria's video message describing the full functionality of Blue Knight to Koutarou, Theia, and Ruth, and particularly the conclusion to any other "friends of Theia's" aboard the ship, and Harumi's response.
The one thing even Elfaria couldn't have anticipated: that Theia's "friend" was the reincarnation of Princess Alaia, able to add Ancient Forthorthian Magic to the already inconceivable power of the Blue Knight when controlled by Koutarou, Theia, and Ruth.
Harumi invoking Ancient Forthorthian magic to repeat the ritual, word for word, that Alaia used to bind Signaltin to Koutarou, extending its magic powers to the Blue Knight's beam sword.
In the process naming herself as "daughter of Forthorthe ... Alaia, the silvery white snow of Mastir." Reincarnation much?
The reactions of Clan and the Forthorthian exiles aboard the Hazy Moon watching the battle, particularly the moment at the end when Clan forgets herself and calls Koutarou "Veltlion" in their hearing.
The exiles, particularly the young boy who later filmed Koutarou in the Hazy Moon, had been discussing the meaning of all of these symbols of the founding legend of Forthorthe come to life - the knight in blue armor, his glowing sword, the giant red dragon, silver-haired lady who looked like a princess - combining to save their empress and princess. Clan's accidental admission definitely gets their attention.
After the battle, the moment when Koutarou finally confesses to Theia what happened during his journeys to the past, her self-depreciating response comparing herself to her idol, Princess Alaia, and Koutarou's heartmelting reply:
"There is only one person in this world who I've asked to make me her knight. Theia, you are my only princess."
In retrospect, given the happenings of the subsequent volumes, the first meeting of Elexis and Maya following their mutual defeats by Koutarou and the Invaders.
Volume 22
Ruth introducing Koutarou to her father.
"He's more serious than me, firmly keeps to reason, and doesn't hesitate to correct the mistakes of others, even if they're royalty. He really is a model knight. And because of that, he's untouchable. ... Not even Princess Alaia could sway him."
