Darling in the FranXX/Episodes

== Season 1 ==
== Alone and Lonesome ==
: "Our sole reason to exist is to become FRANXX and fight. We were born only for that purpose, raised only for that purpose. But to me, the failure of the group, that's something I can't forgive. With nowhere I can feel like I belong... that's when I met you."—Hiro
Alone and Lonesome is the first episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
In the distant future, human beings built moving fortress cities called "Plantations" on the devastated Earth and enjoyed civilization. In one such plantation, "Cerasus," the day before a ceremony for parasites. Code 016 "Hiro", one of the parasite candidates, failed the final test and was disappointed. Hiro goes into the forest, without going to the briefing session of the enlistment ceremony, to a lake and witnessed a strange girl swimming. Her name was Code 002 "Zero Two", and from her head, two glossy horns were growing.
=== Plot ===
Zero Two narrates about the Jian, or "the bird that shares wings," and how it only possesses one wing. Unless a male and female pair lean on each other and act as one, they're incapable of flight. Despite this, she found their way of life beautiful. In a flashback, a child Zero Two, donning red skin and long red horns, walks through the snow and stands in front of a tree. She looks at her bleeding finger oozing with blue blood and hears wings fluttering. She turns to find a horde of Klaxosaurs behind her and a bird flies into the sky. A fast forward reveals her teenaged self walking with a boy through a path of cherry blossom trees, wearing the standard parasite uniform, and spinning with a happy smile on her face.
In the present, Zero Two is riding an aircraft and says she wants to take a bath, much to Dr. FRANXX’s dismay and he tells her to show some restraint. She turns to her partner and asks him how she smells but the doctor tells her to leave him alone because he is still recovering from the last battle and he complains how she is high maintenance. Zero Two asks Nana if Plantation 13 has an ocean because she wants to take a swim in ocean water. Nana says there is no such thing down there and suggests she just take a shower, but Zero Two is in the mood for a swim. They are told to fasten in for descent and Zero Two licks her wrist and complains how she hates her taste.
At Cerasus, Hiro, a dropout pilot cadet, narrates that he read about the Jian in a book he read a long time ago. He notes that it has to hide among tree leaves until it finds a partner and dream of the day it can take flight into the skies. He refers to the Jian as pitiful creatures. He wonders what a bird that cannot fly goes, but says he knows well. Hiro sits up and finds that Ichigo, Hiro's childhood friend and leader of his squad, messages him asking him to show up for the welcoming ceremony the next day and reminds him that he been allowed to stay despite what happened with Naomi. He hears a noise and finds a bird is injured after hitting the glass of the Birdcage. He then looks up to see the aircraft carrying Zero Two, who says she found one.
At the squad's boarding house, Mistilteinn, the squad discusses rumors of the infamous Partner Killer with horns, fangs, and partners who are destined to die after riding three times with her. Zorome tells them these rumors after hearing them from someone in the security force. Futoshi says he wouldn’t ride with her but Miku questions the authenticity of the rumors but Zorome insists the rumors are 100% true. Ikuno doesn’t speak as she reads but she looks at Ichigo, who is still trying to contact Hiro. Goro asks her if she has heard from Hiro and she says no. Zorome thinks he will not come to the graduation ceremony after what happened. Futoshi believes Hiro’s absence during the day’s briefing means Hiro is declining to stay. Kokoro says it will be sad if he doesn’t become a parasite and has to leave. Ikuno wonders what will happen to Naomi. Mitsuru tells them to put themselves in Hiro’s shoes after what happened but Miku retorts he said that out of compassion. Ichigo mutters Hiro is an idiot.
As the plane lands, Dr. FRANXX complains how ruggedly the seats are and Nana tells him to deal with it. He replies they haven’t seen each other in a long time but she is as stiffy as ever and he wishes her personality changed more soft. He gropes her and she gets disgusted, and tells him to knock it off. While on the escalator, Nana tells the doctor that Hachi has been asked to speed up the children’s training, as this will be the first trial run for the current unit. She questions his motives of running tests on a makeshift team at this facility of all places. He replies something had been bothering him but the ‘geezers’ at APE wouldn’t understand. After agreeing to attend the startup ceremony for the new parasites as reminded by Nana, he notices that Zero Two is missing, much to the annoyance of her partner.
Hiro follows a trail of blood and hears chirping, believing that the bird he saw earlier was still alive. He comes to a lake he is unfamiliar with. He notices clothes on a tree and notices its difference from his squad’s uniforms, picking up a piece of the clothing. He shifts his view to the lake and notices a naked girl in the lake, much to his shock. She dissapears under the water and doesn’t come back after a moment passes, causing Hiro to believe she has drowned and runs into the water to attempt to save her. Zero Two suddenly comes out the water with a fish in her mouth, making Hiro more shocked at her nakedness.
Hiro narrates how he felt like he had by a spell, between her two alluring horns and his first time seeing a naked girl’s body, he was perplexed and unable to take his eyes off her.
She curiously leans in and sniffs Hiro, much to his confusion. As Hiro questions her presence at the lake and her naked status, Zero Two says she thought ocean water tasted salty. Hiro corrects her that this isn’t an ocean, and she says this puddle was the closest thing to an ocean she could find. She asks him if he is going to swim because of how he was staring at her and he retorts he wasn’t staring and he was worried she drowned, and he shyly asks her to get dressed. She calls him a pervert and she point to his hand, which is holding her underwear. He freaks out and hands it to her, which amuses her. But she thanks him anyway for trying to ‘save’ her. As she gets dressed, she asks if Hiro is a parasite, and he says no because he no longer as the ability to pilot after failing to sync with his partner and he blames himself because he believes he is incompetent and he dragged his partner with him. She reassures him that he is not alone as she too lacks a partner to sync with due to her horns. She suggests that he find a place to belong, find a partner, and if he can’t, take one by force. She throws herself on him, causing them both to fall in the water, and she goes on lick him and enjoy his taste that made her heart race. She admits she has taken a liking to him and asks if he is interested in becoming her ‘darling’. Hiro is confused by the word, but they are interrupted by 081 who says they were looking for her. As security escorts Zero Two away, 081 advises Hiro to stay away from her, as she's not the kind of partner that anyone can handle. Before they leave, Hiro asks for her name to which she responds that her code is 002, but everyone calls her "Zero Two." Hiro is taken away by an officer and finds the bird is dead.
At Cerasus, Squad 13 attends their graduation ceremony, where they are praised by their leader, Papa. Zorome and Futoshi are amazed by the adult audience. Hiro narrates that parasites are children specifically chosen to pilot weapons called FRANXX in male-female pairs and children who can’t ‘fly’ have no purpose in life, which is why he has decided to leave. Ichigo appears distracted and Goro tells her to focus because Papa is watching them.
At Mistilteinn, Hachi gives Hiro the official instructions for his return to the orphanage. He tells him that HQ had given him special permission to remain there and asks him to reconsider. As Hiro leaves the meeting, he finds his former partner, Naomi, crying. Hiro recalls when he and Naomi took their capacity test. The rest of the team stood by, and it was announced Hiro’s positive pulse and P-Factor drop causing him and Naomi to fail.
As they wait for their ride, Naomi tells him he should stay and asks if he refused for her. He says that he wouldn't be of any use if he stayed. She scolds him running away from his partner and himself. She tells him that he's lucky to have a chance to stay at all. Crying, she says she'd do anything to stay and asks why he had to be her partner. Meanwhile, the squad is on a train to head for their startup ritual and reflect that Hiro didn’t show up. Ikuno mentions she has never heard of a parasite returning to the Garden. Hachi then tells them to get ready. After Naomi crosses the bridge, she turns and smiles; telling Hiro to take care since she doesn't think they'll ever meet again. As he runs towards her, she tosses her luggage at him saying she didn't need it anymore and tells him to share it. She smiles and thanks him for her name and hopes that he finds a good partner as her door closes. Elsewhere, Zero Two says she smells a klaxosaur.
As the parasites' FRANXX begin the startup ritual, a fog rolls in causing the ritual to be stalled. Hiro is about to board his ride when he then refuses to leave. Suddenly, Naomi’s ride is attacked by a klaxosaur and is caved in by it. The plantation begins firing at the klaxosaur as it begins attacking the plantation. Hiro survives getting killed and sees it is heading to where his friends are at, and he rushes to the location. The klaxosaur tries bursting through the doors where the parasites and their FRANXX units are kept. Dr. FRANXX notes the klaxosaur is a Moho-class klaxosaur and it is beautiful. Nana retorts it’s not the time and orders everyone to evacuate with the parasites. begins breaking through where Ichigo and Goro are with their FRANXX is. A FRANXX called Strelitzia suddenly intervenes and begins fighting the klaxosaur. Nana is dismayed that Strelitzia is in stampede mode again. Papa notes she devoured another stamen, and the Vice Chairman wonders which is the real monster.
As Strelitzia battles the klaxosaur, it is thrown at the plantation and lands near Hiro nearly crushing him. 081 falls out of the cockpit, covered in blood and slowly stops breathing. Hiro tries to help him but Zero Two, also injured, tells him not to bother because he is already dead. Hiro asks what she is doing, and she replies she is ‘monster hunting’ and she needs to get back and kill the klaxosaur. Hiro tries stopping her because she is injured and will die. She rejects him and says she is not afraid of dying because she has always been alone and if she stops fighting, everyone else at the Plantation will die. Hearing this, Hiro says although he is a failure, he wants to pilot the FRANXX with her. Zero Two earns him that he may die, and he replies that, if he can’t pilot, he is better off dead. Zero Two hesitates but when Hiro perseveres about his determination to pilot, she relents and pulls him inside the cockpit. She asks him to let her get a taste of him because he is now her darling. She kisses him and this awakens Strelitzia. With Strelitzia fully activated, it effortlessly eliminates the klaxosaur by removing and destroying it’s cores and saves the plantation, along with the parasites and others. Nana is shocked at who could be piloting it while Dr. FRANXX simply remarks how beautiful it is. Dr. FRANXX says that when the negative and positive - male and female factors - combine and their hearts become one, the iron maiden will reveal her true form as shown by the Strelitzia. He then exclaims this is a true FRANXX.
When the battle is over, everyone sees Zero Two bring an unconscious Hiro out of the cockpit. His friends are surprised that Hiro piloted it. Nana tells them that Zero Two is a former member of APE’s special defense forces and is a girl with klaxosaur blood. Zero Two remarks she has found her darling.
=== Appearances ===
* Zero Two
* Dr. FRANXX
* Nana
* Hiro
* Miku
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* Zorome
* Futoshi
* Mitsuru
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Papa
* Hachi
* Naomi
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to that Hiro and Zero Two, two parasites who are deemed prodigies, share a mutual understanding of loneliness and being alone, albeit for different reasons.
== What it Means to Connect ==
: "The act of bringing two pairs of lips together, which we'd never heard of, was called a kiss, she said."—Hiro
What it Means to Connect is the second episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Despite being able to pilot Strelizia with 002, Hiro has no memories of what happened in the cockpit, leading some of his fellow pilots to be skeptical about what really happened, since it is rumored Zero Two is capable of piloting a Franxx on her own. Hiro's fellow pilots are also wary of Zero Two due to her reputation, especially Ichigo who is concerned about Hiro's safety. Meanwhile, the leadership of APE decide to further test Hiro's abilities and instruct him to participate in a mock Franxx battle, though he is forbidden from partnering with Zero Two or using Strelizia. Ichigo volunteers to partner with him in Delphinium. Zorome and Miku volunteer to be their opponents. During the mock battle, Hiro is briefly able to connect with Ichigo and pilot Delphinium, but suddenly loses his connection with her and is unable to restart Delphinium. This breaks Hiro's confidence in himself and leaves Ichigo frustrated that she can't do anything to help Hiro.
=== Plot ===
Repairs are in midst of being done to the damage sustained by the Klaxosaur. Hiro stands with Nana as the squad commence connecting and activate their FRANXX units. He narrates that the startup ritual resumed the day after the klaxosaur attack, except Papa and the other adults weren’t present for the occasion. Hachi orders the connecting phase and all four FRANXX units activate. Hiro says he was told he piloted Strelitzia, but he has no recollection of anything that happened after he got in. After activating Delphinium, Ichigo looks at Hiro.
In the woods, Hiro buries the dead bird and walks back to the boarding house. Hiro finds Ichigo playing with a cat on the front porch. She tells him that he shouldn’t run off because, as awkward as it feels, Mistilteinn is his home now. She tells him that she heard Naomi was alright and got taken to the hospital. She asks if he was the one piloting Strelitzia. He struggles to recall doing so but wants to try again. She says Zero Two is not part of their squad, but he replies he doesn’t care. She then adds she heard awful rumors of Zero Two, in which all her partners die after riding three times with her. He remembers her previous partner, but he says, without being able to pilot, he's as good as dead anyway. Goro comes through the door and tells Hiro to come in quickly to their mess hall where they see Zero Two pouring honey all over her food, much to Miku’s disgust. Kokoro is amused how much Zero Two loves sweets. Miku calls her a not normal person because of her horns but Ichigo cautions her to act nice because Zero Two saved them before. Ikuno is curious why Zero Two has a code in the single digits while Futoshi remarks she doesn’t look like what the rumors made her out to be and Goro says that her eating habits kill her looks. Zorome boasts he is the best parasite in his squad and offers to partner with Zero Two, who wipes her honey-soaked hand on his uniform, much to his horror. Mitsuru is not interested and simply looks away from Hiro. Zero Two sits next to Hiro, who asks if he did pilot with her. She confirms he did and calls him darling, and the others are confused by the word. Hiro is amazed that he really did pilot a FRANXX. Nana comes in and announces that she'll be their caretaker, just like she was in the Garden, much to the squad’s excitement. Ichigo asks what's happening with Zero Two, and she says they're awaiting orders from HQ on what to do. Hiro asks Zero Two to let him ride in her FRANXX again. Nana, however, says that it's up to Papa and the rest to give him his orders. Nana takes Zero Two away into an elevator near the city where Nana scolds Zero Two for roaming around. Zero Two says she just wanted to have breakfast with Hiro. Nana tells her to avoid contact with the parasites, as they are nowhere near ready for her league. They arrive at the city, which Zero Two says makes her feel suffocated.
At APE Central HQ Council, it is announced that one Mahorovicic-class klaxosaur at Plantation 13 appeared but Strelizia intercepted and neutralized it, but fuel stockpile down to 54%. They request kissing with Plantation 26. The Lamarck Club authorizes it and kissing is scheduled to commence in 175 hours. Lemur says they received word that Strelizia has stayed back at Plantation 13. Gorilla notes that with no established cause, mixing with the special specimen will taint her blood and must be recalled at once. Papa says that she shone in battle and they should wait and see.
In the stamen's lockers, the boys discuss Hiro's sudden capability to run a FRANXX despite failing to do so before. Hiro says he feels the sensation of having piloted and Goro assures him he’s always pulled through. Zorome budges against Hiro and refuses to believe it. In the pistil’s lockers, Miku complains how tight the special underwear is and Kokoro says it felt weird connecting because it was different than their previous drills. Miku fondles her stomach and teases how it makes her insides tingle. Ichigo says it felt weird but that she also became one with another person. Kokoro says she wishes her numbers were higher and compliments on how Ichigo and Goro are perfectly compatible. They then discuss Zero Two’s behavior with Hiro and Miku is amused how Zero Two calls him darling. This angers Ichigo into punching a wall and walk out of the room.
In the control room, Hachi says he'll be giving overall strategic instructions, though field decisions will be made by the leader unit, Delphinium, much to Miku’s dismay. Hachi orders connecting to commence and the parasites begin connecting. The girls shriek in pain, which makes Zorome feel weird. The FRANXX pairs manage to connect as Hachi advises them to fully trust their partners and accept them wholeheartedly or else synchronization isn’t possible. The units take their first steps outside and Kokoro compliments Futoshi for doing a good job. Zorome begins to show off by making Argentea doing flips but nearly falls over and is caught by Delphinium. Ichigo warns him to be gentle as Miku will take the resulting damage. They then begin their drill practice. Hiro watches them proceed from his training unit while Zero Two arrives by train.
Nana looks at Hiro's profile and discusses a startup trial in an actual FRANXX. At the Plantation FRANXX Parking Dock, Goro tells Ichigo that he's close to figuring out the trick to connecting. Zero Two walks by them and Ichigo asks her why she chose Hiro. Zero Two realizes Hiro is her darling’s name. Ichigo says she appreciates her for saving them from the klaxosaur before but wants her to stay away from Hiro. Zero Two asks what Ichigo is to him and she replied that she is the squad leader. Zero Two sniffs her and licks her cheek, much to her surprise, and Zero Two says she tastes sweet, which she likes and walks away. Goro tries patting her head but Ichigo shoves his hand away.
At Mistilteinn, Zorome and Futoshi play ball. Futoshi wonders if they can fight the klaxosaurs like Hiro did. The boys question Hiro's alleged piloting and Mitsuru says he heard rumors that Zero Two has the ability to pilot alone, therefore Hiro was taken along for the ride. Zorome boasts this as proof that Hiro is lying as Hiro approaches, Zorome kicks the ball at him and begins mocking him. Hiro insists he did pilot but Zorome retorts he would never forget that and continues mocking him to the point of pushing him. Hiro retaliates and they get into a fight, which is broken up by Ichigo and Goro. Ichigo then receives a message from Nana.
In the conference room, Hachi and Nana announce that Hiro will partake in a mock battle and, depending on how he does, will promote him to parasite. When he is asked to pick a partner, Zero Two volunteers. Ichigo, however, intervenes and says that she will volunteer. Mitsuru questions her decision because she already has Goro as her partner but Goro has no problem with it. Nana approves of the pairing and Zero Two tells Ichigo to take care of her darling, much to her annoyance. Zorome volunteers to be the opponent to prove Hiro can’t pilot and Miku, albeit reluctantly, agrees to participate.
The parasites along with Hachi, Nana, and Zero Two watch. After activating Argentea, Zorome again mocks Hiro and is determined to prove Hiro is worthless. Ichigo tells Hiro to focus on connecting and she'll take care of the rest. After commencing the connecting phase, Delphinium manages to activate with the para sync at 100%. Hiro is amazed he is piloting and Ichigo compliments him. Delphinium approaches Argentea, which attempts to strike it, but Delphinium seemingly dodges it. However, Delphinium suddenly disconnects. Ichigo pleads for Zorome and Miku to give them a three-minute break to reconnect. Ichigo asks Hiro what Zero Two did differently before. Hiro recalls Zero Two kissing him. Confused, Ichigo asks what a kiss is, and Hiro embarrassingly explains it's when two people press their mouths together. Although embarrassed, Ichigo decides to give it a try if it will help. Hiro is resistant but Ichigo says it’s weird for her too, so she covers his eyes and kisses him. Zorome and Miku start to grow impatient when three minutes pass. After kissing, Hiro says he feels nothing, much to Ichigo’s surprise and obvious disappointment.
Argentea suddenly attacks after Zorome has grown tired of waiting for them to reconnect. He becomes too aggressive against Delphinium and Miku tells him to stop, but he doesn’t listen because he wants to beat Hiro to prove who is best. He prepares to use a dagger rose to stab Delphinium despite Miku’s protests and the shock of the rest of the squad. Argentea starts having trouble moving, which Hachi contributes to the disagreement between its pilots. To prevent Argentea from overpowering Delphinium, a tearful and angered Ichigo pilots alone and smashes Argentea against a wall, despite Nana warning her how dangerous it is. Hachi announces that, since both FRANXXs have been rendered inoperable, the mock battle is over.
Zero Two smugly flicks her hair as she leaves. Hiro apologizes to Ichigo for their failure. Trying to hold back her tears, Ichigo says not to apologize and saying that he was awful.
=== Characters ===
* Hiro
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Zero Two
* Miku
* Zorome
* Kokoro
* Futoshi
* Ikuno
* Mitsuru
* Nana
* Hachi
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to the symbolism of the children becoming official parasites - connecting with their partners via through the FRANXX units.
* In Squad 13’s first synchronization, the FRANXX units with the highest to lowest para-capacity numbers are: Delphinium, Argentea, Chlorophytum, and Genista.
* In addition, the highest to lowest parasite numbers are Ichigo and Goro had the highest negative-positive pulse numbers that were on the same rate. Miku had high negative pulses but Zorome‘s positive pulses fluctuated. Mitsuru had high positive pulses, but Ikuno’s negative pulses was low. Futoshi had high positive pulses, but Kokoro’s negative pulses were the lowest among the parasites.
== Fighting Puppet ==
: "In a name, there's power. While we were still young, when all we had was code numbers, you could say we lacked individuality. The one who gave us names was the young Hiro. At that time, you were a guidepost to us. But that's in the past. Right now, I don't expect anything from you."—Mitsuru
Fighting Puppet is the third episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Following the mock battle, Hiro's fellow pilots are assigned to their first sortie, with the task of defeating a Klaxosaur under the city, but as they are about to leave, Ikuno and Mitsuru's connection falters, thus the pilots of Delphinum, Argenta and Genista proceed without them. However, the situation turns to the worst when they end up surrounded by a horde of Klaxosaurs and are forced to flee. Zero Two asks to assist them on Strelizia, but she is not allowed to sortie with Hiro, until Mitsuru, determined to prove he is a better pilot than Hiro, offers himself to pair up with Zero Two. Together, Mitsuru and Zero Two defeat the enemies with ease and rescue the others, but when they return, they find a heavily wounded Mitsuru, as a consequence of pairing up with 002, who reaffirms her claim that Hiro is the only pilot compatible with her.
=== Plot ===
In a flashback, a child Hiro talked to Ichigo about names. He revealed he gave himself the name Hiro and gave Ichigo her name because it was what came to his mind when he saw her code number. He then explains having your own name makes you unique and she asks him to give the other children names. He does and many children surrounded Hiro, asking for a name. Mitsuru shyly asks for name. In the present, Hiro is being scanned for any problems.
At the Plantation's inner city, Hiro comes out from being scanned to find Ichigo waiting for him in the hallway. He tells her no problems were found and she replies that’s good to hear. However, he finds it awkward as he looks at her lips. Before he can speak, Nana calls for Ichigo, who leaves.
In the monitor room, Nana says that Hiro is the first sample that piloted with Zero Two and taken so little damage. Hachi says that he failed to common connect with Delphinium, but was compatible with Strelizia, even though he was unconscious. They wonder is it's because of the special specimen.
At Cerasus, Goro asks if something happened between Hiro and Ichigo in the cockpit since she was acting weird after the mock battle. Hiro says that she seemed mad when she ran into him earlier as well. Goro recollects their time together as children and states how happy he was for the three of them to end up in the same squad. Hiro asks Goro to tell Ichigo that it wasn't her fault to which Goro agrees with. Goro then asks if Hiro will ride with Zero Two again and reminds him of circulating rumors about her. Hiro says its not complicated because if she is the one he can ride with her, then he will do that, adding this is why they were born.
In the living room, Futoshi asks what happened with Hiro becoming a parasite to which the group have doubts about. Miku chides How Hiro will want to ride with Zero Two again and gets into a fight with Zorome over his behavior during the mock battle. Kokoro tells them to stop or it will hurt their numbers. Miku begins talking about how Hiro failed to connect with Ichigo and Goro must be miserable having Ichigo as a partner. Ichigo, hearing Goro’s name, asks what she means but Miku doesn’t answer. The group again doubts Hiro will become a parasite. Ichigo, however, continues to believe in Hiro's ability. Mitsuru says she is showing favoritism towards Hiro, which Ichigo denies. He goes in to say Hiro was always special, even among the double digits, and he was expected to become their leader but fate had other plans and they need to cut their loss because he doesn’t want see this pitiful side of Hiro anymore.
Meanwhile, Hiro is seen training alone as Zero Two watches from the ceiling. After he leaves, he finds her leaning against a pillar, seeming to be asleep. He walks over and stares at her horns. She calls him a pervert and to stop staring. He is taken back and apologizes. She says it's fine, since Dr. FRANXX says that parasites are better off being a little pervy. Zero Two stands and says that she was tired of waiting for him and begins walking, telling him to follow. In a hallway, Zero Two walks through a scanner only for Hiro to be stopped. He says that children have restrictions on where they can go and almost all of that area is off-limits to them. Zero Two shows her hand which shows she has an "S Rank" pass on it. She walks back and leads him forward, allowing them both to cross. She brings him to a balcony with the view of the city which amazes Hiro, as he has never set foot in the city. He looks over at her and she asks why he's staring again. He smiles and says that he's trying to think up a name for her, since he's really good at it. She says she's fine with "Zero Two.", even though Hiro thinks it’s boring for her to be called by her code number. As Zero Two hops over the railing and balances across the thin path, she goes on about the lack of purpose in life because they will only become a statistic once they die and it won’t matter what they were called. Taking note of the city, she calls the city “lifeless”, a one way street to nowhere. Hiro asks her to come back because it isn’t safe, and she asks if Hiro wants to run away with her and she can get him out if she wants. Hiro seems perplexed and Zero Two jumps back to the balcony, smirking as she tells him the she was just kidding.
Hachi says they received sortie orders from HQ. Nana tells them that the Klaxosaur won't be as big as the one they already saw, much to Miku’s relief. Nana reassures the group that Strelizia won't be a part of the mission. She explains they'll have to learn how defend Plantation 13 by themselves eventually, it will show if they can handle fighting them in the future.
Before battle, Goro asks if the mock battle bothered Ichigo. He tells her to switch gears, since they're going into actual combat. She says she knows and is about to say something, but stops herself and says that she'll do her best as leader and they fistbump. Zorome is excited to enter combat but Miku warns him not to get carried away again. As the team connects among one another in their FRANXX, Mitsuru and Ikuno struggle to connect due to their paracapacity being low. Ikuno asks for more time but Mitsuru tells her not to bother. Hachi announces that Chlorophytum will stay behind. The three working FRANXX head out to a big hole. Hachi tells them to head down to the 8th floor. He says that, in order to completely neutralize a Klaxosaur, they must extract its core, and shatter it using their customized magma-energy weapons.
Back at headquarters, Nana asks Mitsuru and Ikuno what happened, and she assumes Ikuno is tired, so she offers to run tests in her later. Mitsuru asks if it’s because they are incompatible. Nana smiles and says that happens a lot on the first time and is not a reason to split them up, much to his disappointment. Ichigo says that they have visual on klaxosaur and they're spreading out. They run to it and begin slashing it. Before Zorome can finish it, it attacks and knocks them over. Argentea is electrocuted and Miku passes out. Futoshi shoots and exposes its core while Ichigo stabs it. More klaxosaurs suddenly fall from the ceiling, so they plan on fleeing. Nana says that they attracted more because they released their magma energy. The three units barricade themselves in a room.
Hiro is alarmed by the danger of the situation and Zero Two says things would’ve turned out differently if she had been sent from the start. Hiro asks for him and Zero Two to go rescue the others. Hachi refuses and says that he isn't an official stamen, so he can't give permission to board a FRANXX. Zero Two says that the plantation squad is going to be wiped out again and to let her pilot with Hiro. Nana says she won't be allowed to sortie. Mitsuru offers to pilot with her because he is the only stamen left. Nana warns him that Strelizia is no ordinary FRANXX but Mitsuru persist, adding that he can do it if Hiro can. Nana asks Zero Two if she will go with Mitsuru but she refuses and turns to Hiro. Although reluctant, Hiro asks her to go with Mitsuru, which makes her abruptly give him the cold shoulder and she relents. As Mitsuru walks by, he tells Hiro not to come crying to him when he regrets his goody-two-shoes act later because he's going to prove that he can pilot Strelizia better than he did. As he watches Zero Two and Mitsuru about to get in Strelizia, Hiro feels strange sensation and says he wanted to pilot with her.
Miku wakes up and Zorome hugs her, relieved she is still alive. They reconnect and Argentea begins piloting again. Hachi tells them that Strelizia is about to be sent out to help them. Ichigo is surprised on who could be piloting it and she remembers kissing Hiro, which causes her connection with Goro to falter. This allows the klaxosaurs to get in the room and the units flee to the exit route but are again accosted by more klaxosaurs. Feeling hopeless and guilty for putting her squadmates in danger, Ichigo berates herself for thinking of unnecessary things and she is not suited as a leader. Strelizia then appears and kills some klaxosaurs. Mitsuru tells them to get back and Hachi tells them to evacuate. Panting and enjoying the sense of great power, Mitsuru is amazed by how changing partners could make such a difference, and he knew he wasn't the problem. As he begins brutally killing klaxosaurs, he tells Zero Two that he wouldn't mind becoming her official partner, to the dismay of Hiro and Ikuno. Zero Two says that she should go all-out for a bit.
Hachi tells her to stop, as the others had already evacuated. Nana orders that Strelizia get retrieved. During the retrieval process, the squad is surprised what happened and Zorome apologizes to Miku. When they retrieve Strelizia, Zero Two walks out and smiles and waves at Hiro, who returns the gesture but sees that Mitsuru hasn’t come out yet. Inside the cockpit, Mitsuru is gravely injured and unconscious. She says that he isn't suited to be her darling, only Hiro is.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Ichigo
* Mitsuru
* Zero Two
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* Miku
* Goro
* Zorome
* Futoshi
* Nana
* Hachi
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is reference to the squad’s first time using the FRANXX, which are robots controlled by the parasites, to fight against the Klaxosaurs for the first time.
* On the trailer posted by Crunchyroll seen on the Facebook website shows a prototype of this episode containing scenes of Zero Two in a different background.
* There is an English and Japanese DUB difference: 
** the differences between them are that when Zero Two finishes stretching, she has different animation. 
== Flap Flap ==
: "We're always fighting our fears. We might end up dragging down our partner. We might end up failing to move our FRANXX correctly. We might become unnecessary. Will we be able to overcome our fears someday?"—Ikuno
Flap Flap is the fourth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Mitsuru begins to recover, but it traumatized with his experience with Zero Two. In fear of what happened in the last battle, Zero Two is called back by the authorities to return to the front lines. As Zero Two is escorted to a transport with Strelizia, a Klaxosaur appears and attacks. The other pilots are dispatched to face it, but are overpowered by the enemy. Seeing Zero Two being taken away, Hiro finally makes his mind and urges her not to leave and become his partner instead. Zero Two then disobeys her orders and boards Strelizia with Hiro, which he manages to successfully pilot. The two then help the others to defeat the klaxosaur. Afterwards, Plantation 13 lifts off to rendezvous with Plantation 26, and Hiro resolves that he will pilot Strelizia with Zero Two, even if it kills him.
=== Plot ===
At APE HQ, Papa announces that Klaxosaur activity has increased, and large ones are showing up everywhere. An APE says the 9’s is dealing with them for now, but they still have other tasks to complete. One asks how long Strelitzia will be allowed to goof off, now that Hiro's aptitude has been ascertained, they have no reason to leave it there. Marmoset says that it isn't wise to let her mix with tainted stamens any longer.
At Mistilteinn infirmary, Mitsuru is shaking in his bed, terrified and tells the others that Zero Two is a being of demons who will kill him. Futoshi takes his untouched food and tells the group he hasn’t eaten since he got back. The group worries for his state of mind and health. Hiro walks in and asks what happened with Zero Two. Mitsuru tells him of Zero Two trying to completely devour him, including his blood, flesh, and soul. He adds that everything was normal at first but then she was out to kill him. Mitsuru grabs Hiro and says the worst thing was that she was smiling the whole time. Kokoro calls out to Mitsuru and everyone rushes in to console him. He warns Hiro to not ride with Zero Two again or else she will devour and kill him before collapsing. Hiro is shaken and Ichigo stands next to him while Futoshi helps lay Mitsuru back down.
In the backyard, Zorome and Futoshi are playing ball. Ichigo approaches Hiro about his decision to ride with Zero Two again and states how she cannot trust her, especially after what happened to Mitsuru. She says that if the rumors are true, Zero Two will eventually kill him. Hiro is deeply conflicted with on what he should do.
Zero Two rides in the elevator with Hachi and Nana. He tells her that she does not have free rein just because she has to kill klaxosaurs. Zero Two isn’t listening and says she wants to get out of this city, much to Nana’s frustration. Nana says they almost lost Mitsuru because of her. Zero Two says that as long as she has Hiro, she does not care, and the rest are nuisances who are sure to die soon anyway. Nana says that the kids are her fellow pilots, even if they belong to different units but Zero Two doubts that, referring to them as nuisances and it doesn’t matter how many there are. Hachi says she doubts that because she is special, which Zero Two takes as an offense to her not being human. He elaborates that he means about her skills. Hachi says that 016 (Hiro) will not be given permission to pilot. Nana says that HQ ordered her back to the front lines, much to Zero Two’s disappointment.
Hiro trains and thinks about Zero Two, the injuries on Mitsuru, and the rumors. He pilots the training unit and keeps running. The other members of Squad 13 discussed Hiro and Zero Two, as well as the partner killing rumor. Kokoro thinks Hiro will likely ride with her again because he wants to. Miku criticizes her for thinking that even after what happened to Mitsuru. Ichigo reminds everyone that if things do not change, they could also die at any time. Miku reminds her from when she broke down during the battle and Ichigo agrees, and assures everyone it won’t happen again. Ichigo says that they need to defeat klaxosaurs without Strelizia and cannot mess up again so as to survive. Ichigo asks others to help her and work in a team. Everyone, including an annoyed Miku, agrees. She notices Ikuno looking troubled and Ichigo offers her encouragement, telling Ikuno that she needs to be there for Mitsuru as his partner.
To prepare for the kissing with Plantation 26, Plantation 13 switches to mobile setup. At the FRANXX dock, Zero Two stares at Strelizia. Hiro sees Zero Two and hides hastily but she seems to have noticed and simply walks away. At Mistilteinn, Hiro bathes and thinks about the rumor again, as the next ride will be his second. Zero Two appears and walks into the bath, Corning him against the wall, she asks Hiro to run away with her. She tells Hiro that he is her only partner and as long as he is with her, nothing else matters. Seeing her horns as she leans towards him, he gulps. She stops and asks if he is like the others and if he thinks she is a monster as well. Before he can respond, an alarm sounds.
They detect a worm-type klaxosaur heading towards Plantation 13. Cursing, Mitsuru tries to get up, but struggles. Ikuno tells him to grab on to her and he refuses. Eventually he nearly collapses in her arms and she carries him while calling him stubborn. Hachi says that they have only detected one, but there may be more in hiding. He tells them to connect. Mitsuru says he hopes Ikuno can connect. She says she can and they connect after Ikuno touches on her left shoulder where Ichigo touched during the discussion. Mitsuru and Ikuno connect and the FRANXXs advance forward. Zero Two and Hiro go to the command room in their suits. Nana tells them they aren't deploying Strelizia. The FRANXX momentarily stop the klaxosaur, but another one appears behind them in the mist and grabs Argentea. Genista and Chlorophytum are then pinned down and Delphinium rescues them. However, all three are surprised by the Klaxosaur catching them from underground. Hiro and Zero Two watch and Zero Two says that they should help and asks who landed in the transport plane. A group of escorts arrive and Nana looks at the screen and says to Zero Two to do as they say. Nana says Zero Two is returning to the front lines. As a man takes Zero Two away, she violently throws him across the rooms, putting the other soldiers on the offensive. She decides to comply and bids Hiro goodbye. She tenderly holds his face and leans towards him, and her horns poke his forehead. She says she really did believe they could be together before she leaves. Nana then says that the order was from Papa and the rest. He asks if the partner-killer rumors are true. She answers that she's a special pistil who must keep fighting on the front lines and that she takes a toll on the stamen who become partners with her and that she isn't simply human. Hiro takes these words into consideration but he also recalls how Zero Two asked him to be her darling and her words about them being together. He abruptly runs out of the room and down the corridor, ignoring Nana’s commands.
As Zero Two walks through the hall, she turns and looks behind her where she sees Hiro come to a passage he cannot cross and yells to her. He says that he was afraid of riding together and he still is, but because he lacked resolve, not because she isn't human. Though he had been moping, he felt like he could fly with her. He realized that he never really cared about riding the FRANXX, but about riding with her. He asks her to stay. Zero Two stops and smiles and defeats the armed men escorting her. She approaches Hiro and says that nobody has ever said such embarrassing things to her before. He says it was a first for him too. Smirking, she asks if he wants to ride with her and he answers, embarrassed. They dance through the gate together and board Strelitzia.
Nana appears on screen and orders them off, but Zero Two ignores her and hangs up. She asks Hiro if he is okay and he is nervous about piloting. She encourages him that he can do it. They commence connecting and they successfully activate Strelizia. They fly through the aircraft and into the air and Hiro is happy to be able to pilot. They zip to where the other parasites are struggling and quickly save them. Ichigo is shocked to see Strelizia but Hiro says he wants to help them. Although still reluctant, Ichigo orders everyone where to focus. Strelizia rips it from the ground and reveals it was actually one long klaxosaur. Genista and Chlorophytum hold the klaxosaur to the ground while Delphinium and Argentea pry its mouth open. Ichigo asks Hiro to help. Strelizia enters through the mouth and Zero Two shows a sarcastic smug at Ichigo. Strelizia stabs its core, destroying it. Hachi announces that they neutralized it and to return to base.
Nana questions if Zero Two was always planning this all along. Hachi says that the numbers prove that Hiro is compatible with Strelizia. He wonders how Papa and the rest will react. Hiro narrates that he always dreamed of the day he could take flight, but now he may have found a pair of wings to call his own. Even if they destroy him, he is happy to at least fly once more.
=== Appearances ===
* Seven Sages
* Mitsuru
* Futoshi
* Zorome
* Kokoro
* Hiro
* Ichigo
* Zero Two
* Nana
* Hachi
* Goro
* Miku
* Ikuno
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to the fluttering sound of a bird’s wings as it flies; this symbolizes Hiro’s achievement at being able to pilot a FRANXX, which he describes as flying like a bird and he may have found a pair of wings to give him a purpose to fly.
== Your Thorn, My Badge ==
: "If the Plantation has no magma-fuel, the city can't maintain function. That's why there's mining facilities everywhere, to keep digging out the fuel. It's the same with us and food. When we eat lots, it gives us strength. So, let's eat!"—Futoshi
Your Thorn, My Badge is the fifth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Plantation 13 links up with Plantation 26 in order to transfer much-needed magma fuel. However, the process is sure to attract klaxosaurs, requiring the FRANXX pilots of both Plantations to work together. Meanwhile, Hiro becomes an accepted member of the squad but Goro notices that Hiro's health has been declining significantly, with a blue tumor-like growth growing on his chest ever since he rode with Zero Two. Hiro manages to convince Goro to keep quiet about his condition. Klaxosaurs are detected heading for the Plantation and a plan to defend against them is made, though the pilots of Plantation 26 express their misgivings about Zero Two and Strelizia being involved due to them suffering losses in a past mission due to Zero Two's actions. That night, Ichigo confronts Zero Two in an attempt to convince her not to put too much of a burden on Hiro's body, but fails. Ichigo and Goro are then both left feeling frustrated over how neither of them can help Hiro. Hiro meets Zero Two the next morning, and despite her warning that this would be his third ride with her, which may result in his death, Hiro reaffirms his desire to ride with her.
=== Plot ===
Cerasus commences kissing with Chrysanthemum. Squad 13 watches this from Mistilteinn.
Hiro narrates that, when he and Zero Two first met, she told him, "a kiss is a very special thing." He wonders if the adults kiss and who likened plantations making contact to a kiss.
The parasites watch as the plantations connect and Zorome questions what "kissing" was. Miku criticizes him for not knowing and he gets irritated and asks if she knows. She nervously stuffers that it’s when two plantations get stuck together, which makes Kokoro amused. Ikuno explains that it is a transfer of magma fuel reserves from one plantation to another through a large pipe. Mitsuru explains that the fuel is essential for both the adults and them to live and FRANXX cannot be operated without it. Goro says that, since it's a large-scale transfer of magma energy, it could attract a large number of klaxosaurs, much to Futoshi and Zorome‘s nervousness. Hiro reassures that they have Strelitzia, so they will be fine. Ichigo sadly agrees.
The next day, a grand ceremony was conducted with the utmost solemnity. The children of Plantation 26's FRANXX squad attended but seemed more calm and composed compared to Plantation 13's. Hiro also attends the ceremony however Zero Two does not. The mayor encourages the parasites to be strong in the battle against the klaxosaurs for the fate of the plantations. Hiro narrates that being treated like VIPs gave their morale a boost, though they sensed the fierce battle approaching.
At the boarding house, Goro wakes up and puts on his uniform and notices that Hiro is sick after feeling his hot temperature. Although Hiro claims to be feeling ok, Goro continues his suspicion.
Later that day, the parasites all talk about their exciting experience at the ceremony and the upcoming battle. They all have their fears but put their trust in the Strelizia being able to lead them to victory. Their parasites are happy to see Hiro function and feel normal both in and out of the Strelizia despite the rumors of Zero Two potentially killing her partners after riding with her. Hiro thanks the group for their support and formally asks to officially be part of their group which the group happily agrees upon. As Squad 13 happily welcomes Hiro, Kokoro notices Mitsuru become angry and leave.
The next morning, Ichigo runs into Hiro as they head to breakfast and reaches out to his collar to fix it. He is taken aback which surprises Ichigo. She brushes this off as him being nervous and they head into Mess Hall, where Zero Two happily embraces Hiro. She takes Hiro to the boys’ table and sits in Futoshi’s seat, much to Zorome’s disgust that a girl is sitting at the boys’ table. Kokoro offers Futoshi to sit next to her and everyone prays for Papa, but Zero Two eats anyway. She offers a piece of honey-soaked toast to Hiro, and he shyly eats it from her hand. Zorome and Goro are confused, and more so when Kokoro attempts to imitate Zero Two by feeling Futoshi. As the two laughs, Miku says Kokoro gets influenced so easily.
Hiro gives Zero Two a tour around Mistilteinn, saying that they schedule their time for waking up, bathing, and sleeping and everything is laid out for them, such as their clothes and food. As they look out a window, Hiro says it still rains despite there being a ceiling above. Zero Two is perplexed and asks him to make it rain. He says only Papa decides that but she insists. After showing Zero Two around, Hiro asks why she suddenly wanted him to show her around. She replies she is going to be living here. As she says this while jumping on Goro’s bed, he and Zorome come in, and Zorome tells her to leave the room. Hiro takes Zero Two away.
After learning this, Ichigo asks Nana about the situation. Nana says that Zero Two is going to remain there for a while with the permission of Papa. Hiro becoming an official parasite comes into question to which Nana replies is highly likely. She tells them to make Zero Two feel at home.
When Ichigo leaves, Goro is outside waiting for her. In the elevator, the two wonder about the state of Hiro as they both noticed how happy he came to be after piloting the Strelizia. The two decide that their main focus should be on the themselves preparing for upcoming battle and not about Hiro.
In the greenhouse, Mitsuru frantically asks why him and not Hiro as he takes pills. He chokes on them and asks what the difference is between them. Mitsuru notices that Kokoro, who wanted to irrigate the plants, was watching him. Kokoro says she saw him walk in and asks if he is okay, and says that she wants to help since he never leans on others. Mitsuru interrupts and asks if she is pitying him. Kokoro denies this and states it wasn't her intentions, but Mitsuru walks past her and tells her to leave him alone.
In the attic, Ichigo prepares Zero Two's room despite her wanting to be in the same room as Hiro. Small tension builds between them as Ichigo tells her the rules she must follow to which Zero Two retorted by calling Ichigo bossy.
Meanwhile, Hiro wets his face in the bathroom looking restless and clutching his chest.
As the parasites prepare for the battle, they learn from Squad 26 that their different FRANXX designs were unique to their squad. Zorome becomes excited and asks if any of the children there had became adults. Squad 26's team leader 090 is confused until his squadmate whispers Zorome might not know the truth about 'adults'. 090 says that they had not heard of any children going on to be adults, saddening Zorome. As Futoshi comforts Zorome, 090 notices their nicknames and asks if 016 was the one who came up with them. Seeing Squad 13's reaction to this mention of Hiro, 090 explains that Hiro is widely-known among the children. 090 feels Squad 13's uniqueness is strange and wonders what's the point of it since they are bound to die one day.
When Goro enters his room, he finds Hiro clutching his chest on the floor. Goro asks what is wrong and finds Hiro's chest has a blue tumor. Goro asks if it is been there since he rode with Zero Two, but Hiro doesn't answer. Goro tries to get help only for Hiro to stop him.
At headquarters, Nana sees the abnormal yellow blood cell count of Hiro's and is amazed he is still alive. Hachi notices that it is the opposite reaction to the other parasites that rode with Zero Two. Nana says that it would be dangerous to let him ride again, but Hachi insists that they need Strelizia in the next battle.
Hiro downs a glass of water and chokes on it. Although Goro asks Hiro not to pilot Strelizia again, Hiro is determined to continue. Goro becomes angry and says that it could kill him. Hiro, however, states how alive he feels when he pilots and is willing to risk it all as he stands up and walks out of the room smiling back at Goro. As Hiro leaves, Goro laments how idiotic Hiro is being.
Klaxosaurs are detected and an hour later a meeting is held. Hachi explains that there are 100 to 150, and they are expected to arrive at 33 hours from then. When he states Squad 13 will act as back up, Zorome and Miku seem insulted. When Hachi says that Strelizia will be fighting with them and positioned closest to the pipe, Squad 26 is horrified.
Nana comes in with Zero Two and Hiro. 090 says that they can't fight alongside Strelizia, since she didn't care about her allies. 090 mentioned Zero Two's reckless fighting style left Squad 26 stranded during a joint operation 2 years ago, adding that she caused the death of his partner as well. Zero Two coldly says that "weaklings die" and that it didn't matter. 090 begins to walk closer to her, but Hiro steps between them and promises to keep her from going out of control.
As they walk home, Squad 13 express their distaste in being backups. Goro then tells the group that Strelizia shouldn't participate in the battle. Much to Goro's surprise, Ichigo insists that they need the Strelizia.
Goro has trouble sleeping as Hiro writhes in pain. Goro goes outside and sits on a step sadly. He notices Zero Two and Ichigo walking off together.
Outside of the greenhouse, Ichigo asks that she stay in line during the mission. Zero Two calls her bossy and begins to walk off. Ichigo asks that she not be too hard on Hiro. Zero Two states that it was Hiro's decision to ride with her and possibly dying from being her partner wouldn't be a big deal. Ichigo tells Zero Two she isn't human and slaps her causing her limiter to fall off. Zero Two's eyes and horns turn red and angrily asks what "human" is to her. It starts raining, so Zero Two looks up.
When Ichigo walks back, Goro tosses her a towel and says she'll catch a cold. She asks if he saw everything, and he said he did. Ichigo expresses her helplessness. Goro doesn't understand his feelings or how to comfort her.
The next morning, Zero Two and Hiro stand by the lake and says that everything smells nice after it rains. She reminds him that it's where they first met. Hiro thanks her for meeting him that day and being able to pilot because of her. As she unzips Hiro's uniform, Zero Two says that she is his only partner. She says that none of her partners could ever ride with her more than three times. She says that the tumor is painful, but beautiful. She asks if he wants out of the ride. When he agrees to ride with her again, she happily twirls around.
Hiro narrates even if the wings he reached out and grabbed are to snap one day, he'll still take flight into the sky. Because he feels that's why he's there.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Goro
* Ichigo
* Zorome
* Miku
* Futoshi
* Kokoro
* Mitsuru
* Ikuno
* Nana
* Hachi
* 090
=== Trivia ===
The name of this episode is in reference to the consequences of Hiro and Zero Two’s partnership; Hiro develops a tumor-like growth in his chest due to riding with Zero Two.
* At the beginning of the episode a searchlight swoops across the screen is a nod to the 1994, 2009 and 2020 20th Century Fox and Studios Logos.
* At the short time library scene, if you look closely, when Hiro picks up the book, it reads Royce and Abagail which is a parody of the William Shakespeare book Romeo and Juliet.
* The scene where Zero Two jumps on the bed was edited into the popular 2 Phut Hon song featuring Zero Two. 
== DARLING in the FRANXX ==
: "You're mine. I love the way you taste. It's true: all the weaklings before died. That's to be expected. But you're special. Believe in me, okay, Darling?"—Zero Two
DARLING in the FRANXX (Furankusu) is the sixth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
As the horde of Conrad class Klaxosaurs, accompanied by a massive structure approach the Plantations, the Parasites make a line of defense with Squad 26 on the front, Squad 13 on the middle, and Strelizia on the rear guard. After the minor Klaxosaurs are defeated, the structure reveals itself as a giant Gutenberg class Klaxosaur that overpowers Squad 26. Squad 13 then rescues them and join for a combined attack to give an opening for Strelizia to give the final blow. However, Strelizia fails to destroy the enemy and Hiro collapses from exhaustion. He then accepts his death until seeing Zero Two fighting back desperately and decides to not give up, recovering from his tumor and joining with his companions to destroy the Gutenberg Klaxosaur. As the pilots celebrate, Dr. Franxx rejoices upon the prospect that Hiro may one day realize Zero Two's wish. Zero Two on the other hand, affirms that there are many more Klaxosaurs for her to kill in order to attain it.
=== Plot ===
A large Klaxosaur approaches with an arrival time of 0210 hours. Nana and Hachi stand in the control room in awe of how gigantic the klaxosaurs to be encountered is.
Meanwhile, Ichigo bathes in the bathroom and pours a bucket of water over herself before patting her cheeks. In Hiro and Goro’s room, Goro asks Hiro if he still plans to pilot, which Hiro confirms. Hiro walks out of the room and Goro calls him a fool. In the pistil changing room, Kokoro says she heard the klaxosaur count is higher than expected and wonders if they will make it back. Ikuno isn’t sure but has hopes. Ichigo is quiet and touches her lips.
As the boys exit the stamen changing room, Mitsuru says they can’t afford to be optimistic, given the difference in numbers. Zorome says that he is on their side, so it should be fine. Futoshi says that, Zorome aside, they've got Strelizia. Annoyed at his comment, Zorome says that they won't let squad 26 hog the glory. Mitsuru says that shouldn't be why they're fighting. As the girls come out the changing room, Goro sees Ichigo come out last and calls out to her. Alone in the hallway, Goro advises her to talk to Hiro before they head out. When they see Hiro pass by, Goro pushes her towards him. She asks Hiro if he got some sleep, he replies no. Hiro then praises Ichigo for her ability to lead them. Afterwards, he sees Zero Two, who had just walked past them, and chases after her. In Delphinium, Ichigo says to Goro that Hiro sends his regards. She tells him that they're going to save Strelizia for as late as possible, which Goro agrees.
After all the FRANXX units are dispatched to the front surface of the plantations, Hachi announces that, beside from the Conrad-class pack, they've also detected a large, tightly packed unit. Although it doesn’t match anything on file, they have labeled it as a klaxosaur based on its intelligence to move and code bamed it ‘Beta’. He gives 090 field command and Squad 13 will remain on standby, and he tells Strelizia to stay back.
The Conrad-class klaxosaurs attack but Squad 26 easily interferes with them, and quickly begins killing the klaxosaurs in a methodical order. 090 tells the squad to deal with them calmly. Zorome is irritated by 090’s attitude, as is Goro, but Mitsuru says 090 is right about them being really new to it. The Klaxosaurs get closer to the squad, so they move in to deal with them.
As battle begins, Genista struggles to hit the Klaxosaurs because they are too fast. One knocks Genista down while another moves to attack, and Futoshi is angered that Kokoro is getting hurt. Argentea attempts to slash a Klaxosaur, but it dodges the FRANXX and instead Argentea crashes into Chlorophytum which causes Zorome and Mitsuru to bicker. As Genista is being attacked, Delphinium jumps in and kills the Klaxosaur. Ichigo asks Zorome to bait the enemy without getting too close, since they're fast. She tells Mitsuru to stay close to Genista and back it up. 090 watches in awe by the power Squad 13 hold despite their young age.
In Strelizia, Hiro pants and clutches his chest. Zero Two watches the battle from afar and criticizes the way Squad 13 are barely hanging there. She adds that she really wants to get in there to fight. Hiro asks why she fights the Klaxosaurs, since she always looks like she's having fun. She says it was because she was a monster. She asks about him, and he says to protect Papa and all the adults of the plantation, since that's their purpose in life.
Strelizia quickly defeats many Klaxosaurs, while 090 scolds them for ignoring orders. Hiro says that he's just there to help his squad. Though he begins to protest, Hiro hangs up. A member of his squad asks what to do, and 090 answers saying to ignore them and take it out in one full swoop. They begin attacking together.
Zero Two and Hiro begin to disconnect, so she turns to see him panting and clutching his chest. She asks if that's all he could take. Despite the blue veins popping out of his face, Hiro continues to pilot. Ichigo tells Strelizia to go back, but Hiro says it's fine.
Squad 26 begins attacking and the klaxosaur screams before becoming its Gutenberg-class humanoid form. 090 orders them to keep attacking, but they are roughly thrown into the ground. He orders them to get back, but he is unable to move as they're out of fuel. Before they are crushed, Argentea pulls them away.
Hachi orders all Squad 26 units to fall back and Squad 13 will deal with it. Though the group agrees that they need Strelizia, Ichigo orders that they stay put. She says it'll land the finishing blow. Zorome becomes angry, but Goro says that only Strelizia's spear can reach its core, so they'll make an opening for it.
Hiro pants and Zero Two asks if it's too painful. She says it won't end until they kill it. The other FRANXX latch onto the Klaxosaur to disable its movements. Genista almost falls until Chlorophytum grabs Genista‘s hand. Ikuno reminds Mitsuru that they need to create an opening to reach the core, but he retorts she didn’t need to remind him. Squad 26 uses their weapons to wrap and restrain the klaxosaur, keeping it still. Hiro launches Strelizia into the air and lands direct hit on top of it. The Klaxosaur stops moving, seemingly killed. Hiro thinks they defeated it, but it swipes them far away and changes form again. Hiro becomes unconscious and falls to the ground.
The Klaxosaur suddenly starts moving and evolves into a much bigger one, which easily overthrows the FRANXXs. It kicks Strelizia into the plantations and begins hitting it. With Hiro unconscious, his link to Zero Two is broken and Strelizia enters into stampede mode as Zero Two takes over. It continues to smash them against the wall.
Ichigo breaks down and disconnects from Goro, thinking Hiro had died. The other parasites worry and Mitsuru says it's bad if it breaks through the wall. Crying, Ichigo says that she couldn't tell him not to pilot. Goro angrily grabs her face and tells her to get it together because all of their lives are on the line.
Hiro stands where he sent Naomi off, realizing he is likely died. Naomi appears and scolds him for giving up without listening to his partner. She asks if he's okay with that. Smiling, he says he doesn't care since he got to be of use. She calls him a liar as the elevator door closes.
Hiro sees Zero Two standing under a mistletoe tree. He thanks her for everything, but she doesn’t look at him and sadly walks away.
He wakes up to see Zero Two violently struggling and that they didn't actually kill the Klaxosaur. He thinks that she can't do it alone and realizes that she fights alone after losing her partner. He says that his wings exist for her as his veins retract. She screams in pain as the klaxosaur continues slamming Strelizia against the wall.
He hugs her from behind and she calms down. He says that he's her partner and that he won't leave her alone. They connect again and begin fighting.
Dr. FRANXX begins watching as well. They all begin attacking again to create another opening. Strelizia flies into its core as everyone watches in amazement. Dr. FRANXX says he might make her wish come true. Hiro tells her he found another reason to pilot so he can be her wings. She says she's sure he'll be fine.
They walk out together and the two groups celebrate. Ichigo tearfully embraces Hiro as the others shake hands. As Zero Two watches, she says she has to kill more klaxosaur.
Some 9s watch the battle, and 9'α says that they're really hitting it off.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Miku
* Zorome
* Kokoro
* Futoshi
* Ikuno
* Mitsuru
* Naomi (vision)
* Nana
* Hachi
* Plantation 26 Parasites
** 090
* 9'α
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode shares the title of the series and with Episode 23; it represents Hiro’s status as Zero Two’s ‘darling’ after he vows to be her partner forever.
* The Gem headed like Klaxosaur resembles that of the Geometry Dash's main character Icon's forms
== Shooting Star Moratorium ==
=== Synopsis ===
Due to their achievements in the previous battle, Zero Two is permanently assigned to Squad 13 and Hiro is officially recognized as a FranXX pilot. Squad 13 is then rewarded with a vacation to a nearby beach. As Squad 13 plays around, they observe Hiro's relationship with Zero Two and begin wondering what exactly a "kiss" and "love" are. They then stumble upon the ruins of a town nearby and begin exploring them. They are perplexed at the existence of the town since they initially believed civilization only existed in the Plantations. Zero Two explains to them that humans used to live on the surface but were forced to abandon it for the Plantations. Later that night, Zero Two decides to go for a swim while Hiro and Ichigo walk on the beach and admire the stars, catching sight of a rain of shooting stars.
=== Plot ===
Ichigo narrates that after the successful kissing with Plantation 26, Squad 13 was given a special vacation at a secluded beach where the children see the ocean for the first time. Zorome and Futoshi are excited, causing Miku to call them childish. Kokoro says it can’t be helped because it’s their first time being at an ocean they can swim in, and Ikuno adds she didn’t think such a place existed on the surface. Ichigo narrates they have been living under extreme stress since arriving at the plantation. She tells Goro Nana will pick them up in the morning. Goro wonders if it's some kind of training, but Ichigo smiles and says that they should enjoy themselves anyway. Goro blushes and agrees, turning away. Zero Two pulls Hiro to the water and they laugh as she splashes him. The group discusses how Hiro happy is and his great ability as an official parasite. Although Ichigo feels uncomfortable about Zero Two, she could see that Zero Two was what he needed.
Gorilla marvels at Hiro's ability. One notes that Zero Two's search for a partner has finally ended. Marmoset says that she still needs to be monitored closely. Papa says that Plantation 13 should be their top-priority surveillance subject and says that Code 016 is tasked with bringing her to the Gran Crevasse.
Hachi says to Nana that one of APE's special forces has become a plantation's exclusive parasite. Nana introduces Hiro to Dr. FRANXX, the creator of FRANXX. She also tries introducing Hiro to 9'α, but he tells her no need and he approaches Hiro, saying that he's the first person to survive Zero Two and says that he has an interest in them. Hachi tells the doctor that Strelizia and Code 002 are transferred into Plantation 13's purview. When Hachi announces that they're officially partners, Zero Two hugs Hiro. Hachi and Nana don’t know what the doctor is planning with the arrangement but Nana wonders why he decided to send the children to the beach on their own.
Kokoro serves a ball to Miku while Futoshi and Zorome admire their partner's figure, and Zorome says the perspective has gotten 50% cuter. They're surprised when they find Goro doing the same, as Futoshi says he thought double digits were different than triple digits. Goro finds this offensive and retorts he is a guy like them. Kokoro and Miku fall to the ground after colliding and Kokoro tells Miku her swimsuit strap is coming undone, which excites Zorome, Futoshi, and Goro. The boys then look at Hiro and Zero Two as the two swim together. Hiro follows Zero Two further into the water. Zero Two notes how nice it feels to swim in the ocean. Hiro seems embarrassed when he looks at her and she asks what's wrong. Hiro says she looks good, but he somehow can't look her in her eyes. Zero Two thanks him for all he did for her. Hiro remembers when they talked earlier. Dr. FRANXX tells Hiro not to let him consume his emotions if he wants to always be her apartment. Otherwise, he'll suffer. As Zero Two teasingly leans in to pretend to kiss Hiro only to lick him, she asks what he was expecting. Zero Two explains that a kiss is a declaration that the other person belongs to you and you should only kiss the person you love. She asks if Hiro kissed someone else. Before Hiro can answer, Goro, Zorome, and Futoshi pull Hiro underwater.
Ichigo watches the other kids. Ikuno smiles and asks if she's distracted by the ocean and asks if she is going to swim since she was always good at it. Ikuno pulls out a book and tells Ichigo to enjoy herself. Ichigo thanks Ikuno and runs off. As Ikuno begins to read, Mitsuru scoffs her and asks if she came there just to read. She says that she isn't interested in goofing around. Mitsuru says that the guy (Hiro) who once looked suicidal looks like part of the group now. Ikuno tells Mitsuru not to look to her for affirmation since she's not like him. Smirking, Mitsuru says he was merely talking to himself. He then tells her that he found something interesting.
The boys toss Hiro on the ground to ask him what a 'kiss' was and how it worked. Hiro is unable to clearly explain but says it's when two people stick their mouths together and that it also made him feel good. The boys are in awe. Before Zorome could plant a kiss on Hiro to experiment, Ichigo interrupts them. They ask her if she's ever kissed anyone before. Before she could answer, the group is called them back by Kokoro and Miku. Mitsuru leads the squad into a secret passageway, which makes Zorome excited. Kokoro voices her fears of the dark, to which Mitsuru coldly replies she need not come if she didn't want to. Futoshi demands an apology from Mitsuru for talking to Kokoro that way but Mitsuru explains he could not guarantee their safety. While walking, Goro asks if there's a relationship closer to being partners based on his observations with Hiro and Zero Two. Hiro doesn't understand the relationship status either but notices his relationship with Ichigo is different from Zero Two. Ikuno touches Ichigo’s cheek, which surprises Ichigo. Ikuno notes her face is blushing but Ichigo says it’s nothing. Squad 13 is lead to what appears to be an abandoned city. Zorome notices how this city is much different from the cities adults live in now. Kokoro wonders if people live here but Mitsuru says he’s never heard of anyone living outside of the plantations. Zorome, Miku, Futoshi, and Ikuno find a mansion. Zorome bites how similar it looks compared to Mistilteinn. Ikuno agrees, adding it is like it was used as a model to build the environment they live in. Futoshi notices that Kokoro is missing. Meanwhile, Kokoro explores a medical office and picks up a book about childbirth. Mitsuru calls out to her and pulls her back just in time before a bookcase falls on her, reminding her not to run off alone and she apologizes.
Ichigo comes to a bookstore where she sees a poster featuring a kissing couple and thinks about her own kiss with Hiro. Zero Two suddenly appears behind her and said has also done it with Hiro. Ichigo is startled and asks her what she means. She answers "kiss" and says that she probably isn't ready for it yet. Ichigo says that she has too. Zero Two asks who she had done it with and specifies that it can only be done with someone special to her. Before she can answer, Goro calls her and he and Hiro wave them over. As the group walk back to the beach, they discuss about how and why past civilizations lived in and left the abandoned cities they had found. Zero Two answers that they abandoned it and that humans used to live on the surface and that many cities like the one they found are around the world. Back at the beach, the group eat the food that they were delivered. After having eaten, Zero Two tells Hiro she wants to go swim some more and hops off to the ocean.
As the squad sits around the campfire, Hiro asks why they think humanity abandoned the surface and wonders if humanity hadn't started extracting magma energy if the klaxosaurs wouldn't have shown up. Mitsuru reassures Hiro that Papa moved people into plantations in order to protect mankind and criticizes Hiro for doubting Papa. Zorome gushes over that fact that they are the ones being able to protect the adults from harm with their FRANXX. With high spirits, Ichigo stands and officially welcomes him and Zero Two to the squad. Hiro thanks them all.
As the group all sleep together, Ichigo, wide awake, notices Hiro walk out to the beach and follows him. They walk along the beach and she says she couldn't sleep. He agrees and says that he felt it would have been a waste. Ichigo tells Hiro to look at all the stars and points out Orion. Although Hiro doesn't remember it, Ichigo reminds him of the times he would teach her about the stars. She asks if he forgot about the 'Ichigo' star, but he remembers, says that it's the fifteenth star of Orion, the same as her code. Hiro says that they promised they'd see it together after leaving the Garden. They continue to walk down the beach together and Ichigo says they all have to do their best. She says she'll do her best as the leader and tells Hiro not to give all his attention to Zero Two. Ichigo says she sees their kiss as something special, but before she can say she wants to be with him forever, Hiro tells her to look at the shooting stars. The rest of the squad continue to sleep, but Zero Two watches from a rock.
Ichigo narrates that their trails shone brightly, just like them and gave off gentle rays of hope.
Hiro says that if you wish on a shooting star, it'll come true and asks Ichigo what she wishes for. She says she tried to tell him and teasingly called him stupid. Hiro chases her down the beach. Ichigo wished on the shooting stars that night for that light to never fade.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Miku
* Zorome
* Kokoro
* Futoshi
* Ikuno
* Mitsuru
* Nana
* Hachi
* Dr. FRANXX
* 9'α
* Papa
=== Trivia ===
* The name of the episode is in reference to that Hiro and Ichigo observe a meteor shower but not in a moratorium location; while the entire planet has suffered desertification, the beach where the squad vacations at is shown to be unaffected.
== Boys X Girls ==
: "The beginning of adolescence, it's just a small realization. You can't understand the others, and they misunderstand you. It seems to me there's such a huge divide between us. A change of heart like this makes a lot of things that were obvious, not obvious anymore."—Miku
Boys × Girls is the eighth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
After an incident during a klaxosaur battle, the girls all decide to divide the house in half to avoid the boys' behavior. The action then sets off a feud between the Stamen and Pistils, leading to the girls finding boarded off rooms on the first floor. And the revelation as to what happens to most, if not all, Parasites.
=== Plot ===
As the parasites are fighting a klaxosaur, it spews goo. It leaks into the cockpits and melts the girls' parasite suits in front of the boys. Zorome, Hiro, and Goro space out in shock of seeing Miku, Zero Two, and Ichigo respectively being exposed. Futoshi has a nosebleed upon seeing Kokoro exposed. Mitsuru is indifferent but he blushes a little and looks away as Ikuno is being exposed. Not realizing what happened, the girls wonder why they aren’t attacking. Ichigo reminds them to focus and Zero Two tells Hiro to finish it off. He comes to his senses and kills the klaxosaur. Her suit melts more and Hiro gets more embarrassed. Hiro finally tells Zero Two she is being exposed and the girls realize via monitor what happened, much to their horror.
Upon returning to Cerasus, the girls cover themselves with a towel and glare at their partners. Besides Zero Two, who doesn't seem to mind, and Kokoro who is more embarrassed than angry. The boys look embarrassed, and Goro explains they only didn't tell because they didn't want to distract them during the battle. Futoshi says he didn't because he found Kokoro to be amazingly beautiful. Kokoro turns red and looks away. Mitsuru calls him an idiot and walks away. Zorome tells him that it's not like it hurt them to be seen, which angers Miku. Hiro says that Zero Two said it is better that parasites are a bit pervy, which Zero Two confirms. This annoys the girls further. As the girls shower, they discuss what happened and wonder how long the boys had been ogling them. Kokoro says they're taking things a bit too far, but Miku declares she is done being around the boys and says they should quit living alongside with the boys.
Led by Miku, the girls begin splitting the area of the house between the boys and girls. Miku tells the boys to stay on their side of the line but Zorome finds this stupid and begins to cross, but is threatened by Miku and stops. Dr. FRANXX, Nana, and Hachi watch from the control room. Dr. FRANXX contributes their feud to puberty. Hachi says that it's unprecedented for so many members of a squad to hit puberty at once. Nana says that it has always been at most one or two together and Hachi says it’s practically everyone. Dr. FRANXX says that makes things more interesting. Nana says that if they go by APE’s manual, they should intervene and resolve the issue immediately. Dr. FRANXX asks what would be the point of the test team if they did that. He tells them to observe and write to him detailed reports. He tells them not to interfere or tell "the geezers."
The girls talk about what's happened but notice that Zero Two is ignoring their split. As they go to reprimand her, the boys walk in from swimming in the lake wearing only boxers. Though Miku tells them to get dressed, Zorome says they can do whatever they like on their side and mocks Miku. As they clean the bath, Ichigo says that it must have been Goro's idea and Miku is dismayed they are stuck with the cleaning. Kokoro says it can’t be helped since they split the house apart. When they go to eat, the boys are already there. Goro says that they've already taken over the area because the girls forgot to tape it on their side. Miku becomes annoyed, so Goro suggests that drop all the rules and eat together. Zero Two walks in and Miku attempts to follow her, but the other girls pull her back. In the yard, Zero Two plays with a ball as Hiro says that everyone's gotten too stubborn and they need to do something. She says she thinks the opposite and that they need to spice it up a bit.
Kokoro fills her watering can and seems troubled as she looks at the book in front of her. She enters the greenhouse to water the plants, and she finds Mitsuru. He slips his medication into his pocket and she asks if he has an interest in plants as she tucks the baby book into her pocket. He says no, and that it's a good place for being alone. Kokoro says she begged Nana to let her take care of the greenhouse. She tells him about the meaning of some of the flowers but she sees he doesn’t seem to be listening. She then asks if he doesn't mind chatting with her when the girls and boys are "feuding." He says it's stupid and can't be bothered. Kokoro is amazed and says it takes a lot of courage to refuse to toe the line and she was too scared to say anything. When he walks past her to leave, she jumps up and drops her book. He is surprised and she quickly hides it behind her as he says she brought it back with her and she says yes. He says that it doesn't matter to him and walks out. She looks at the book and has a sad expression.
Miku, Ichigo, and Ikuno look for food from the attic, which Ikuno chides Miku after the latter complains how hungry she is. They go to the first floor and walk down a hallway they realize they had never been at before, and find some rooms sealed off that say "keep out." Miku wonders why they are sealed off. Ichigo wonders how long things will go on like that and Ikuno says she wouldn't mind if it lasted forever. Zero Two licks her and says she tastes like a secret, much to Ikuno’s surprise. She begins to walk away, but Miku tells her to wait. In one of the girls bedrooms, Miku asks whose side she's on. Zero Two says the fight is lame and that they're just playing around. Miku is offended and Ichigo says they're serious, although Kokoro nervously disagrees. Hearing that, Zero Two smirks and says she'll play along.
She tears off the “No Boys” sign on the bathroom door and tells Zorome and Futoshi that the boys can use the bath now. She then changes the girls only bath sign to the boys. When the boys enter naked, the girls are already bathing. The girls become angry and begin throwing bathing supplies at them. Zero Two runs out with their clothes and Hiro chases her throughout the house. The boys insist they were tricked but the girls are too angry to listen. Hiro follows Zero Two to the roof and she throws the clothes into the air, making Hiro laugh. He asks why she did it and she says she wanted to take part in a human fight. She asks him if she looks more human before jumping to the ground. The other parasites continue to bicker when Nana suddenly interrupts. She and Hachi scold the group after they get dressed and remind them of their priorities. Nana notes how different the children are than others and Hachi is surprised by Zero Two's participation. In the girl's room, Zero Two reveals how rebellious that was, and she tells them if they half-ass things, they'll end up adults. She says to say what they want because they'll all die sooner or later before leaving the room.
In the boys' room, Zorome is mad, and Mitsuru says that they must look down of the boys. Hiro says it was fun and got to see a more human side of Zero Two. Mitsuru says it's not the same for them, since they have normal partners. Hiro says she is a normal girl and that pistils let stamen handle all the controls, but they bear the brunt of each battle. Futoshi, Goro, and Zorome agree that they should look after them. In the girls’ room, Miku is mad and Kokoro says that they need to begin working together again after looking at her book. She says that they need them to pilot the FRANXX and, blushing but not saying it, having children. Ichigo and Ikuno note that it is unusual for her to be so assertive. Miku says she's she'll continue no matter what and runs off. The others meet to reconcile but notice Miku is missing and search for her. She is hiding in one of the sealed rooms and refuses to come out when they find out where she is and ask her to open the door. She finds a picture of another group and panics at a realization of what the room really is. Zorome kicks the door in and Kokoro goes to a distraught Miku. They wonder what the room is. Zero Two says that it's probably one of the rooms the former Squad 13 used. Goro recalls a previous squad before them and Zorome questions what happened to them. Zero Two says they were obviously wiped out. This upsets the parasites. Goro says stamen and pistil should know each other better and the feud needs to end.
As the parasites make up, Zorome apologizes and says he won't leer anymore. Miku says that she's too cute, so a little bit okay. Each pair of partners apologize to each other. Ichigo and Goro shake hands while Futoshi get on his hands and knees to apologize to Kokoro. Mitsuru walks away but Ikuno smiles.
Miku narrates. The vase by the window had lilacs in it. What were the former Squad 13 parasites thinking when they placed them there? There is no way for us to find out now, but the next day, we went back and replaced them with fresh lilacs. In the language of flowers, lilacs represent friendship, fond memories, and youth.
Later on, Zorome and Miku are seen bickering before they enter their FRANXX. Hiro says that he wants to get to know Zero Two better. She tells him to grab on and never let go of her.
=== Appearances ===
* Squad 13
* Dr. FRANXX
* Nana
* Hachi
=== Trivia ===
* The name of the episode is in reference to the central conflict of this episode - the boys and girls have an emotionally charged feud that is rooted from their entrance into puberty.
== Triangle Bomb ==
: "Presents bring out special feelings. The feeling inspired by receiving something from someone. The feeling you get when you want to give something to someone. And then, there's that feeling when in the end, you couldn't give. I have been wondering for a long time what that emotion was, but it has finally hit me."—Goro
Triangle Bomb is the ninth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
The children of Plantation 13 receive presents from Papa. They have a custom of, once a year, asking for a something they want and then Papa sending it to them. In each of their joy from receiving a present, Hiro finds that Goro has a hairclip. But this hairclip is one that Goro couldn't give to Ichigo when they were young. This time, they are attacked by a Klaxosaur. In the middle of battle, Delphinium is swallowed by the klaxosaur. Though Goro ejects Ichigo, he is left alone in the cockpit.
=== Plot ===
Goro watches Ichigo. He narrates that he's always trying to figure out what her outlooks is. Ichigo plays with a cat while sitting with Ikuno. Futoshi yells that their presents arrived.
The parasites are happy to receive their annual gifts from Papa. Ikuno receives books, Kokoro receives a sewing kit, Miku receives perfume, Mitsuru receives a pen, Zorome receives a ball, Futoshi receives food, Ichigo receives a plush cat, Goro receives a fishing rod, and Hiro a book about birds.
Goro teases Ichigo for asking for something childish and she says it doesn't matter. Hiro tells Zero Two that, once every year, they can ask Papa for the things they want. She asks if he got a picture book, but he explains that it's an illustrated guide. He asks if she likes picture books and says they might have some in the study.
Zorome shouts that he'll read Papa's message. The message is as follows: "Boys and Girls, your numerous accomplishments represent a ray of hope, a harbinger of peace and prosperity for mankind. Glory be to you noble parasites, who risk your lives for us." The parasites smile as he reads it out loud. The letter congratulates and praises them, making everyone happy. Hiro notices that Zero Two is unfazed by the letter.
At 7:10, Goro notices Ichigo sitting on the step. He asks what she's doing, but she shushes him. Hiro gives Zero Two Naomi's mirror. Smiling, he says that he wanted to find something for her. She smiles and hugs him, saying that she never knew getting a present could make her so happy. She promises to take good care of it. Looking at Ichigo's hairpin, Goro remembers their past.
In a flashback, a child Goro tells Ichigo that her bangs have grown at that it will be hard to see. Ichigo says that he asked for another stuffed toy and asks what they asked for. Goro writes a letter asking for a hairpin. When he's about to give it to her, he finds that Hiro is already putting one on her.
Back to the present, in their room, Goro holds the same hair clip. Hiro comes into the room. Goro teases him for how Zero Two smiled at him. Hiro blushes and asks if he was watching. Goro apologizes and Hiro asks if the hair clip he's holding is Ichigo's. Goro says that it's the same type of hair clip, but it's the one he tried and failed to give to her. Goro asks if he remembers when he said he didn't understand "love" and says that he's starting to think it means the other person is special to you. Hiro agrees with his definition. Goro says that he'd always been Ichigo's hero, and that it's special. He says that Ichigo feels the same way about Hiro as Hiro feels about Zero Two, like wanting to know more and be together, and kiss. Hiro is taken back and Goro asks if he hadn't noticed. Goro says he knows what makes her laugh, cry, but none of them would work for him, only Hiro could. He says that watching him lately made him realize that he loves Ichigo, much to Hiro’s surprise. He says he feels relieved to tell someone and quickly takes off his glasses to sleep. Lying down, he smiles and says he's happy with the things are.
As Hiro and Goro turn off their lights, Ikuno tells Ichigo that she's turning off theirs. Ichigo tells her to wait. She puts her hairclip on her bedside table and snuggles her two stuffies. In the attic, Zero Two looks at herself in Naomi's mirror.
The next morning, Hachi tells the parasites that they've detected a Gutenberg-class Klaxosaur 2,000 from there. Nana says it's moving slowly. As she continues to talk, Hiro looks over at Ichigo but turns away when she looks at him.
The FRANXX approach the tentacled klaxosaur and Argentea approaches first. It is wrapped in tentacles and brought closer. It attaches explosives, which causes slight injury. Mitsuru notices the core and quickly charges at it. He only nicks it and it begins to multiply its jelly. Goro quickly pushes them out, but is stuck instead. Goro quickly launches Ichigo before it explodes.
Goro wakes up and turns off the alarms. Hiro begins messaging him from the briefing room at Plantation 13. He says that Ichigo's fine but got knocked out by the ejection and is getting treated with Zorome and Miku. Hiro explains that he's inside the klaxosaur and they were ordered to retreat. Futoshi promises that they'll figure something out. Goro says that he's switching to safe mode to conserve power.
Ikuno says that you can't utilize a FRANXX's magma energy without its pistil. Mitsuru says that they are programmed to run their life support systems on backup power. Zero Two says he'll die if it runs out and they'll all be in danger.
Ichigo suddenly charges in with Miku and Zorome following. Though Miku tries to stop her, Ichigo asks what happened. Zorome says he told her that he tried to save them. She turns and asks why they aren't going to rescue him and how they could abandon him. She asks why he'd cut her loose when he's helpless alone. Zorome becomes uncomfortable and backs away from their argument. Miku sighs and calls her annoying and says that Goro's always looking out for her, like the time Hiro almost died when she broke down and Goro got her back on her feet. Ichigo asks what gives her the right to talk to her like that. Miku says that she's supposed to be the leader, but she loses her cool and lashes out constantly, and Goro must have a hard time with her as his partner.
Nana and Hachi enter and, smiling, Nana claps her hands and says that she's glad they're safe. Hachi explains that the klaxosaur vaporizes its bodily fluids to expand and explode. Kokoro asks if Goro's stuck in its fuel. Nana says that the fluid is harmless to FRANXX. Zorome says that they'll rescue Goro first, since he owes him. Hachi coldly says that their top priority is preventing the target from making contact with the plantation and explains their plan. Hiro angrily asks if they'll leave Goro to die. Nana says absolutely if worst comes to worst. Hachi tells them to prepare to sortie. Ichigo asks to speak to Goro.
Goro says it's been 30 minutes since they radioed. Sweating, he tries to loosen his collar. In his hand, he holds Ichigo's hairpin. Ichigo calls out to him and he is happy that she came to. She suddenly shouts, scolding him, but he smiles. She sadly asks why he doesn't lean on her a little. Crying, she promises to save him, which Goro finds surprising. He says he came up with a plan and he's going to kill it and come home to her. He says he needs to go to conserve power.
Ichigo asks Hachi to be allowed to save him. Hiro agrees. Nana asks what they intend to do. Zero Two says that there's an exhaust hole on top of the klaxosaur.
Genista and Chlorophytum stand as the last line of defense. Ichigo sits in Strelizia's hand. Hiro says that, to get to Delphinium, she'll have to cross an area of highly pressurized vapor fuel. Zero Two says she wouldn't do it if she was her. Smiling, Ichigo says she believes in her. Zero Two smiles and says she doesn't dislike that. They throw her in and she swims to Delphinium.
Inside, Goro pants. He remembers two kids asking why he always picks fights with them. The other says he's weak, so it doesn't matter. Goro says he was sick of the communal lifestyle and thought he'd get to be alone if he made everyone hate him. Ichigo asks why he keeps getting into fights when he's so weak. He tells her to mind her own business. They push him to the ground. She helps him up and they defeat the other kids together. She says they can win together. Goro smiles and thinks that he loved her since then. Hiro suddenly walks in and smiles at Ichigo and the kids all stand around him and forget about the fight. Goro notices she is overjoyed to see him as well. Though he looks sad, he narrates that it was okay because Hiro was special to him in his own way too.
The klaxosaur approaches the line. Goro thinks that he used to think that he didn't mind if his feelings never got through to her. As Ichigo swims, her hair clip comes off. At 6%, Goro says that he has more than enough to self-destruct, and an extra pack. He says he wishes he could have told her. Ichigo suddenly bursts in and says that the air's thin. He asks why she came, and she says he's so headstrong, even though he's weak. She says that they can't win alone, but together they can. Goro smiles with tears in his eyes. He narrates that he though he was satisfied that she would cry for him, but he's happier than ever to see her smile. He extends his hand to her. They leave and Goro drops the bomb, causing it to explode once they're away from it.
Ichigo bandages him. He asks where her hair clip is. She looks around, distressed. He hands her his and she asks if he picked it up for her. He says that he waned to give it to her, but couldn't. Smiling, he says that he loves her. He says that he doesn't want to regret not taking action. She smiles and thanks him for being her partner, but she doesn't know how to respond to his love. He says he wasn't trying to put her on the spot. They hug and he asks if they can stay like that for a while.
Goro narrates: "What is the outlook for tomorrow? Right now, you're impossible to forecast."
=== Appearances ===
* Goro
* Ichigo
* Ikuno
* Kokoro
* Zorome
* Futoshi
* Miku
* Mitsuru
* Zero Two
* Hiro
* Nana
* Hachi
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is based on a real-life firework called Triangle Bombs. This could also reference two things: the triangle shape of Ichigo’s hair clip which she loses inside a Klaxosaur before a bomb is detonated to kill the Klaxosaur.
== The City of Eternity ==
: "I've never directly spoken with an adult. But they are always looking after us. If we do our best, they praise us and even give us rewards. If I continue fighting for them, I'm sure that someday I can also become an adult. I've been dreaming forever for this day to come."—Zorome
The City of Eternity is the tenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
The members of the 13th plantation are rewarded for their many recent successes in battle. An award ceremony is held where they are to be given medals,lauded in front of an enormous audience in an even more amazingly enormous auditorium taking place in the city. The children are ecstatic, as it will be their first trip (outside of battle missions that is) to the city which they protect. Among them, Zorome, who had always dreamt of becoming an adult, and have in a similiar way, youths raised soley to be disposable 'assets' doing the same job Zorome is currently undertaking, except in this future anyone that survives their military services & duties, surely himself at the very least will grow-up to be an adult, and just the thought of getting to live such a life is just beyond ecstatic for him.
On the day of the ceremony, the mayor of Plantation 13 personally encourages the children. The ceremony itself ends solemnly, and on the way home, Zorome strays from the group and becomes lost in the depths of the city.
=== Plot ===
Zorome narrates that he'd been having the same dream over and over again where he's surrounded by darkness and staring at a distant bright light, and crying. Gradually, the light grows larger until it envelops him, and he lets out a loud peircing scream.
Squad 13’s FRANXX units attack a klaxosaur and easily disarm it. Before Strelizia can kill it, Zorome and Miku deliver the final blow. However, Zorome takes too long to pull Argentea out of the klaxosaur and it shoots blood all over Argentea, much to Miku’s annoyance.
The Seven Sages discuss how Squad 13 is moving ahead compared to other squads. However, they are concerned individualized FRANXX giving a unique asset to the squad as a whole is creating an imbalance with APE’s ideology of calmness and informality, thus making the children imperfect. They decide to move on to the next stage of their plan, as klaxosaur activity has been detected in the depths of the Gran Crevasse recently and it is Squad 13’s duty to escort Zero Two to the Gran Crevasse. Papa agrees and says he will arrange for the squad to undergo maintenance at the Garden. Tarsier suggests that they reward the children and explains it has been custom since ancient times to reward soldiers as inspiration and their way of life reflects a bygone era. Papa agrees.
At the docking lounge, Zorome and Miku argue about their previous battle. Hiro notices that Zero Two seems sad and hasn’t come out of the cockpit, so he asks her what's wrong. She replies that she was just thinking about something. Nana shouts that she has good news.
The parasites gather around her and she happily explains that they have to wear their formal clothing the next day as Papa is going to award them medals. The ceremony will be held in the Plantation Parliament HQ. Though the other kids are excited, Zorome doesn't understand and seems indifferent to the medals. Miku explains that it means they can go into the city. Zorome looks to Nana for confirmation and she smiles. He becomes overjoyed and yells, to the annoyance of Miku.
Zero Two looks indifferent and turns to leave. Before she can, Nana stops her and says that she'll arrange for her to undergo tests while there. Zero Two says that she hates the tests and always feels lousy after she takes them. She turns and smiles, saying that she's in great shape right now and will pass on the tests for a while. After she leaves, Nana says that she thought she'd grown more obedient since she teamed up with a certain someone.
The next morning, the kids stand at the door and they remark that Zorome looks cooler than usual. Zorome smugly agrees, but Futoshi teasingly says that he was checking himself out in the mirror the entire morning. Mitsuru asks how he didn't get sick of it, causing Zorome to become angry. Kokoro giggles and says that he does look a lot cooler, though, returning him to his positive mood. Miku tells Kokoro not to flatter him, causing she and Zorome to bicker again. Hiro notices that Zero Two is being standoffish, but Hachi and Nana open the door and they all leave.
At an ID gate, Hachi and Nana easily pass through. The children hesitate so Nana tells them to come along. Zorome suddenly throws himself through the gate, to the amazement of the others, but lands on the ground.
The children marvel at the city. At the ceremony, the mayor congratulates them and thanks them for their efforts. When he congratulates Ichigo, she says that it was everyone's effort. He tells Zero Two that their plantation is honored that a former Nine like herself has joined them. He turns to Hiro and says that he's lived up well to the expectations placed upon him. Hiro thanks him, but looks troubled and turns to Zero Two who still looks indifferent.
He thanks Miku and when the mayor thanks Zorome, he is overjoyed and offers his hand. The mayor seems confused and walks away.
Afterwards, Zorome stares at his hand. When Hachi says that he's leaving the rest to Nana, the children are disappointed with how the ceremony actually played out. The girls push Nana to let them walk back, and she reluctantly agrees.
The children look around as they walk back. Zorome happily looks forward to when they too can live there as adults. The others disagree and feel like they won't be able to become adults, though they don't know why. Ikuno says this is a delusion.
Zero Two and Hiro walk far behind the group. Hiro asks what she meant when she said the city was lifeless. She says just what I said. Hiro says that she'd been acting weird, and asks if something happened. She says that she just couldn't care less about this place.
The children marvel at the city's main energy source. When Goro asks Ichigo something, she seems uncomfortable. He says that maybe he shouldn't have told her how he felt and says to not let it bother her.
Nana tells them they have to return, but Zorome wanders off and is separated. He looks at the energy source, but realizes that he's been separated and cannot contact the others.
Zorome notes that the city seems empty. He sees a person and calls out, but they walk away. Zorome tries to crawl down, but notices an adult and falls to the ground.
He wakes up to find that he'd been treated by an adult. She is happy that he is okay and says that the medical checker just wouldn't work on him. But she tried a bunch of things, like using pet mode settings, and then it worked out. Before she can let them know where he is, Zorome asks to just talk for a bit. She agrees and removes her face covering.
The woman disinfects the house by spraying orange liquid, and then offers tea and sweets. Zorome stuffs them in his mouth. He asks her various questions, and she explains that there was a time when she used to enjoy the sense of taste, but she doesn't really care now. As long as her body gets the nutrition it needs, that's enough, she lives with her partner. She asks if he'd like to meet him.
She brings him to a dark room where her partner lies in a machine. He smiles and the woman explains that he's activating his brain's reward system to gain a sense of pleasure. Zorome says that he'd rather gain it by eating those snacks from earlier. She falls to her knees and says that talking had just made her tired.
They return to the living room. She says that she doesn't even remember what his voice sounds like. She doesn't think either of them is dissatisfied with their partner. They don't meddle in each other's business, which gives them the freedom to live their lives as they please. Zorome complains about Miku, so she says that he should change his partner, then. He is taken back and begins defending her. The woman somehow already knows his code 666. She becomes more ill and says that she needs to get him picked up.
On the phone, she says that she checked with him, so there's no doubt about it.
She returns to say he'll be there soon, but notices that he's crying. He says that he doesn't know why, but he feels really familiar somehow. He recalls his living in the Garden. He feels that someone's always been watching over him. Gentle and kind, like they're always there to protect him.
She wants to comfort him and tries to move her arm towards Zoromo, but she stops. She says that he is mistaken, as kids are the ones protecting them allowing this immortal environment, designed for mass storage, but are fairly close in appearance to any large city's condos. Zorome becomes happy and tells her that he'll keep protecting it, fighting until he kills all the klaxosaurs, and then one day, he'll become an adult. He begins to ask if she can be his family when he lives in the city, but stops and instead asks for her to be his friend. She finds this funny and says that's obviously out of the question but is cut off before she can explain.
The woman explains to a man that she treated and fed him. He hands her a heart. A man tells him not to waste their time and infected children shouldn't enter. The other man tells him to knock it off, since they're victims too, calling them pitiful.
Ichigo happily announces that they found Zorome and everyone sighs in relief. Miku calls him a jerk for making them worry. She sentences him to clean the bath for a week.
Zorome rides the elevator with Nana. As he cleans the bath, he hums. Miku enters and yells at him to take it seriously. He asks why she's watching him for. She says that he won't take it seriously unless she does or he might get lost. He laughs and asks why she got such a useless kid. He scrubs her with his brush. Outside, Hiro hears them bickering and laughs before looking at Zero Two's window. She looks at herself in the mirror and sees that her teeth have become fangs.
He thinks that they're not pitiful. He wonders why the women felt so familiar. He thought about it a bunch of times after that day, but he never found an answer. Eventually, he stopped thinking about it, and even forgot about her and stopped having that dream.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Goro
* Zorome
* Futoshi
* Mitsuru
* Zero Two
* Ichigo
* Miku
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* Hachi
* Nana
* Mayor
* Old Woman
* Seven Sages
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to that the Inner City, which the squad visits for the first time, is inhabited by a population of immortal adults.
== Partner Shuffle ==
: "CHILDREN are usually obedient, docile and rational. They only live to fulfil their mission: fight the Klaxosaur and protect the ADULTS. Not these kids. Too many times, they don't know what to do with their emotions and get carried away. That's definitely not CHILD-like."—Nana
Partner Shuffle is the eleventh episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
During a battle with a Klaxosaur, Mitsuru gets affected by "child fever", putting Chlorophytum out of commission. Though the fever is temporary, the sync rate of Mitsuru and Ikuno declines to such an extent that battling Klaxosaurs will become difficult. In fear that the combat of the entire unit might be affected by this, Nana presents the parasites the option of swapping their partners.
=== Plot ===
Smiling, Hiro tells a group of children that he's been chosen to represent them. They stare back in admiration. Mitsuru tells his younger self to stop looking at him with admiration. He shouts that he's a traitor, causing him to wake up from the dream. Zorome notes that it's unusual for Mitsuru to sleep in and Futoshi asks if he was having a good dream, as his face is all red. They head off for breakfast as he rubs his forehead. He narrates that he chose to not expect anything from anyone, preventing his hopes from being betrayed. He slips out of bed and leaves the room.
In the briefing room, Ichigo reports that they killed 25 Conrad-class klaxosaurs. Nana thanks her and says that the S - Planning in their area is proceeding smoothly, thanks to their efforts. Hachi tells codes 326 and 196 that they need to improve their kill count, and that their parasite score is dropping as well. Mitsuru dismisses his concerns, saying he wasn’t feeling well. Hachi dismisses the group, leaving him and Nana alone. Hachi notes that they've now killed over 90 in their area. Nana smiles and says that their kills over the past fortnight are 3.7 times greater than in their first. She says that what would normally cause problems in a group are drawing out their full abilities. Hachi says that it would be a total refutation of their previous methods. Nana replies that it might be what Dr. FRANXX is after.
As the units stand on guard, Zorome asks what "S-Planning" is. Hiro replies that it seems like they're digging for something, and Zero Two says that it's probably nothing good and jokes she is going to choke from the stench of klaxosaurs. Futoshi tells Kokoro that they've grown stronger, as they're on a special mission. Kokoro says that it's thanks to him carrying her through. Futoshi says that she's his responsibility causing Kokoro too giggle and thank him. Blushing and nervous, he tells Kokoro that he is going to work hard to be the best partner she will have and asks her to promise to be his partner forever. She is surprised but then smiles and agrees. Futoshi is happy and promises to always protect her. Miku suddenly interrupts and says he's gross. Zorome agrees and says to cut off his communication. Kokoro giggles, but Futoshi reprimands them for listening.
An alarm suddenly sounds and Ichigo announces that seven Conrad-class klaxosaurs are approaching. Goro wonders if they have a nest nearby. Ichigo tells them to get ready. Chlorophytum suddenly falls to its knees. Ikuno turns to see what's wrong and finds Mitsuru sweating and panting.
As Mitsuru lies in bed, Hachi notes that his child fever came sooner than expected. While Nana gives him an antipyretic, Hachi looks at his profile and realizes he has already had the procedure. Goro notes that Mitsuru had always been frail, and Ichigo adds that he was the only one who received the injection and came back. Miku is confused, so Ikuno says that it was the Elixir Injection, a highly concentrated drug that induced yellow blood cell production and greatly increases parasite aptitude. Miku asks if he had always acted that way. Goro says no, he used to follow Hiro around. Futoshi says that's shocking and Zorome asks how they ended up always butting heads. Goro says he doesn't know, thinks but it started not long before Mitsuru took the injection. He says that Hiro changed a little back then, too. Kokoro says that the injection has only a survival rate of 15% and didn't know he had such a risky procedure.
While dreaming in the hospital bed, Mitsuru remembers telling Hiro that he wanted to be like him, fight in the FRANXX together. He sadly says that he can't because he's too weak, so if he takes the injection and comes back alive, he asks if he would pilot FRANXX together. Before Hiro replies, Mitsuru wakes up, cursing. The next morning, Nana notes that Mitsuru seems to be out of the woods for now. He asks to pilot a FRANXX. She is reluctant and thinks it over. When they test, his capacity is getting lower and Hachi notes that he might become a pruning target. Nana thinks of what they should do.
Later on, Nana suggests Squad 13 try a "Partner shuffle." She tells them that it's simply an option available to them. The children discuss their thoughts, and Futoshi says to Kokoro that they don't need to since he promised to protect her forever. He asks if she agrees and she reluctantly agrees. Hiro asks Zero Two if something is bothering her and asks if she remembers when he asked her to speak her mind with him because he wanted to get to know her better. As he speaks, Zero Two covers his mouth and says it’s annoying and they can understand each other just fine by piloting Strelizia together before she walks away.
Mitsuru watches Hiro from far away and Ikuno tells him to stop since he knows what caused the mess. He asks what she's talking about. She tells him to drop the act and that it takes courage to face up to others and himself. He asks what her point is, and she says that he wants to be acknowledged by Hiro, not by Papa or the adults. Mitsuru suddenly shouts for her to shut up. Everyone turns to look at him, causing him to look away, ashamed. Ikuno smirks and says that it suits him better than acting cool and aloof before adding she's not like him.
Nana asks if there is anyone who wants to try piloting with a different partner. Ikuno asks to try a pistil-pistil connection as a backup plan when they've lost a stamen. She asks Ichigo to help. Ichigo is surprised by this but reluctantly agrees. Nana agrees to let them try and asks if there's anyone else. Kokoro shyly puts up her hand and asks to try piloting with Mitsuru. This surprises everyone, and Futoshi is hurt as by doing this she is breaking their promise. Kokoro apologizes, but Futoshi begins to cry. During testing, Nana announces that 160 seconds have passed. Ichigo says she doesn't feel anything, so Delphinium times out. Genista's score crossed the minimum required, and while it is in the lower range, it is stable. In the locker room, Ichigo smiles and says she knew it wouldn't work without a boy. Ikuno coldly says that she was serious before closing her locker and walking out. Both she and Mitsuru leave at the changing area at same time. Ikuno looks to the floor and tells him to laugh if he must.
Futoshi cries into his pillow as the other boys are at his side. He asks if he did something wrong. Zorome says maybe he annoyed her and suggests that he should lose weight. Goro mulled over Kokoro's action and Hiro replies that she must have felt she had to do something for Mitsuru. Zorome smiles and adds especially since Mitsuru's so miserable. Futoshi leaps out of bed and begins shaking him, claiming he's clearly the most miserable. Goro tells him to calm down, as Mitsuru suddenly returns. They all turn to look at him. He begins to leave, but Futoshi angrily asks if he thinks he's pathetic. Mitsuru asks what it matters who their partners are. Futoshi easily throws the others off of him and says he has no idea how he feels. He tries to punch him but misses and falls on his face. Mitsuru adjusts his tie, says Futoshi is annoying and walks away. Hiro tells him to try and understand Futoshi's feelings. Mitsuru clenches his fist and asks what right he has to say that. Hiro doesn't seem to understand and Mitsuru walks away. On the floor, Futoshi says that, when he thinks of Kokoro, his chest feels tight. He says that the tightness hurts now and wonders why. Hiro smiles at him and says he understands. In the greenhouse, Kokoro twirls around and hums. To her doll, she says that the flowers smell nice. Mitsuru suddenly enters and asks what she's doing, and Kokoro throws her doll in surprise. They sit together and Kokoro asks why he thinks humans stopped having children. Mitsuru says probably because they don't need to anymore. She says that it seemed that having a baby was the most natural thing in the past. He tells her not to waste time thinking about unnecessary things, as one look at the adults makes it clear: They don't need others to live. Mitsuru asks why she volunteered to be his partner and that Futoshi hates him now. He asks if it was out of pity. Kokoro says no, and begins to suggest something, but is interrupted by sirens.
A Gutenberg-class klaxosaur approaches and Hachi commands to set up a defensive line 500 meters from the S-Planning and neutralize the target. He says that Genista and Chlorophytum will act as rear support. As Kokoro and Mitsuru go to their FRANXX, Futoshi stops him and tells Mitsuru to protect Kokoro. Mitsuru scoffs and tells Futoshi not to be ridiculous. Kokoro stops him and says she'll be fine. Futoshi tells her to be careful and says he'll do his best with Ikuno. Kokoro smiles and nods. Futoshi begins crying and rushes into the cockpit, causing Ikuno to sigh in annoyance. Zero Two suddenly leaps off and attacks the klaxosaur, but fails, causing Hiro to realise its core is too deep. She rushes in again but gets trapped, forcing Miku and Ichigo to save her. After being freed, Zero Two tells Ichigo to mind her own business and charges at it again. The pieces she cut off turn into the Conrad-class klaxosaurs they'd been fighting.
Before she can attack again, Hiro tries to stop her but Zero Two tells him not to get in her way. As he asks Ichigo what they should do, Kokoro says they need to shoot at it to expose the core. Ichigo disapproves of the idea, stating the plan is too risky for Genista right now. Futoshi cries as they talk. As the large klaxosaur lumbers on, three Conrad-class klaxosaurs get past and Futoshi goes after one of them. He tells Ikuno that she's too tense, but they manage to kill it. Mitsuru struggles as well, and Kokoro says that there's no need to rush. Strelizia kills it for them and Hiro asks if they're okay. Kokoro thanks him, and he tells Mitsuru to hand in there before rushing back. Mitsuru becomes annoyed and charges blindly at the klaxosaur, causing Genista to smash into it. An operator announces that Genista's positive pulse is dropping below the minimum. Just as they are about to be squished, Chlorophytum protects them. Ikuno asks if they're okay. Kokoro thanks both of them. Miku and Ichigo cut its back legs, but it begins stretching in place towards the S-Planning. Ichigo says she and Miku will stop it. Miku tells Chlorophytum to take care of Genista. Futoshi says that he'll protect her as they shoot into its foot.
Kokoro says that they should start over and turns toward Mitsuru. Kokoro's head is bleeding. They power down and Mitsuru tells her that if she places her hopes in him, she'll only be let down because he's incompetent. She disagrees and Hachi orders them to reconnect. Kokoro enters them into radio silence, leaving Hachi confused. Kokoro says that he can rely on others more and that she believes in him. She tells him to believe in her too. Mitsuru smiles and asks if she's joking. As a child, he asks Hiro to pilot together. Hiro smiles and promises. After his injection, he approaches Hiro, who forgot all about it. He tells Kokoro that believing in someone will only get you betrayed. Mitsuru says he was a fool for expecting anything from him and asks why to make a promise if it was going to be forgotten. He holds his head in his hands and cries. Kokoro says the broken promise must have deeply hurt him. She says that she acted similarly towards Futoshi, and she isn't the nice girl they think she is. She says that if someone did something like that to her, she wouldn't have any right to complain or blame them. Mitsuru angrily asks if he should forgive him (Hiro), then. Kokoro says that they aren't perfect like the adults, but she still wants to have relationships with other people and that she believes in him. She turns to reconnect to the FRANXX but begins to enter stampede mode. Before Kokoro gets seriously hurt, Mitsuru stops her. He asks how she can trust someone so much and Kokoro smiles. Mitsuru remarks she is ‘unbelievable’ and smiles back at her.
Genista reconnects and their sync levels reach the maximum, and Kokoro tells Squad 13 work together to kill it. Afterwards, in the hanger, Futoshi storms over to Mitsuru and asks why he was so reckless during battle. Kokoro moves towards Futoshi, but Mitsuru stops her. Futoshi asks why Mitsuru hurt Kokoro and punches him in the face. As Kokoro rushes to care for Mitsuru, Futoshi asks why he didn't dodge it. Mitsuru asks Futoshi if he realizes how unreasonable he's being. Futoshi shouts at him before Mitsuru slowly says that he promises to protect Kokoro from this point on. Upon hearing this, Futoshi falls to his knees and wails that he loved Kokoro so much. As Hiro sadly looks on from his FRANXX, Zero Two embraces him from behind. She tells him that they'll be together until they die.
Mitsuru reflects that he doesn't know if he can forgive Hiro, but he agrees that he knows these things will keep happening between them all. The next morning, his temperature returned to normal.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Futoshi
* Mitsuru
* Zero Two
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Miku
* Zorome
* Nana
* Hachi
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode represents the central conflict of this episode - Mitsuru/Ikuno and Kokoro/Futoshi swap partners due to incompatibility issues.
== The Garden Where It All Began ==
: "We call the training facility for Parasites, the Garden. There, CHILDREN are brought up to develop a sound mind and learn how to behave properly as CHILDREN, they are then pruned and only the Parasites who leave the Garden's nest with their heads high have the honor of defending ADULTS against the Klaxosaur threat."—Hachi
The Garden Where It All Began is the twelfth of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Squad 13 goes to their childhood home, the Garden, for testing, and encounter Zero Two's former teammates - the 9's. An intense battle with Klaxosaurs exposes Zero Two's lust for combat, giving Hiro cause for concern.
=== Plot ===
Hiro narrates that where he came from doesn't matter to him, but he does about living life to its fullest. He thinks this is what it means to be human. Though he thought that Zero Two felt the same, he isn't sure.
Squad 13 looking out of the glass shield of Mistilteinn as Cerasus travels through heavy snow. They then see the Garden as they approach it. Zero Two is in the library within the boarding house, looking for picture books but to no avail.
Hiro narrates that they are headed to the Garden; where they grew up. It's a parasite development facility where hundreds of children live. There is also the research hub (Nursery 3: Laboratory) located above the Garden and the children call it the Lab.
As they walk into the lab. Miku says she saw it every day but never went inside. Kokoro says that very few children got to enter, though Hiro did a few times. Hiro says he was designated special research subject. When Futoshi adds that Mitsuru would have gone there too, Hiro doesn't remember and Mitsuru is offended. Nana tells them that they were brought to run tests on them. She says that they are banned from entering the Garden. Ichigo wonders what they're being tested on and Goro wonders why the tests have to be done here of all places. Hiro says that they're probably just tagging along with Zero Two. Hachi confirms that she, in particular, will undergo thorough testing. Zero Two bites her nails and says she will pass but Nana says this is an order and they can’t put it off any longer. The 9's appear and 9'α says Zero Two must be there for maintenance as well. She walks away and 9'α says she's the same as always. Kokoro wonders who he is and Miku says he's hot. Nana introduces the 9's and 9'α says it's a pleasure to meet them. He asks that they escort Iota safe and sound. Ichigo asks where he means. He says that they must know that all the plantations on the continent are currently heading to a single location. Nana says she'll tell them later. Hiro asks why she's called "Iota" and he says that she used to be a Nine as well. He says that he's surprised a normal squad could "tame" her. Ichigo says that she's one of them and that the "special forces" haven't been taught basic etiquette. She says that she'd rather fight along Zero Two than them. He laughs and says that they aren't a normal squad. He walks over and kisses Ichigo's hand, much to her embarrassment. The other girls are flustered and Goro gets irritated. Nana calls Squad 13 to leave. As they walk away, 9'α says that he'd love to be part of their squad sometime. Ichigo says that they only have space in the attic and it wouldn't befit them. 9'α says to himself that she's proud and dignified.
Squad 13 undergoes their tests. Hiro sits in the hallway and recalls a moment with Zero Two in the library before. Hiro asked Zero Two if something happened recently as she looked through books and threw them in the floor. He asked that she talk about it since they're partners. She asked him to kiss her and approached him, making him back up into the wall. When she opened her mouth, he noticed her fangs and she stopped, saying never mind and walked away. Goro comes out of the room and confirms the tests were normal. Hiro says he is thinking about going to the Garden because he wants to see Naomi and tell her that he found a partner.
Meanwhile, Nana is watching Zero Two struggle against some APE soldiers. She beats them up and orders them to get their hands off her before turning her attention to Nana. Nana gives an officer permission to tranquilize Zero Two, who is then restrained by two soldiers. When she is hit by the bullet, she attempts to charge at Nana but loses her balance and is held down. Nana tells Zero Two not to cause any more trouble.
Disobeying orders, Hiro, with the other members of Squad 13 visit the Garden, hoping to meet Naomi again. They have flashbacks of their childhood as they observe the children. Goro mentions it has been no more than six months since they left but it feels like a distant memory. They look through a room and see that children are already receiving ‘parasite shots’ despite being so young. An adult caregiver confirms this because the recent increase of klaxosaur attacks has made it necessary for them to develop more obedient parasites and she notices they are Squad 13 but reminds them they are not allowed to be here. Hiro asks her if a girl named Naomi, or Code 703, has been returned to the Garden. She says no because once anoarasite leaves, it never returns, baffling the squad. While walker ng outside, Hiro stands in front of a mistletoe tree and he senses he has been there before despite having no memory of it. As they return to the Lab, Kokoro suddenly asks them where they think they came from. Miku replies Papa and the others made them but Kokoro asks if that is true, but everyone seems indifferent to this. Nana angrily calls out to them. After she scolds them and sends them off to return to the plantation, 9’a initiates a conversation with Ichigo and says it’s a wonder they weren’t punished for disobeying orders, and they must be different than other squads. Ichigo brushes him off and tries to leave until he offers to tell her about Zero Two, which catches her attention. At Mistilteinn, Zero Two looks at her fangs in the mirror and the mirror cracks.
Ichigo keeps an eye on Zero Two as she wonders throughout the house and she is startled when Zero Two violently breaks every mirror in the house. When a group of Klaxosaurs attack the Garden, Squad 13 is dispatched. When they board Strelizia, Hiro notes that Zero Two's canines and horns have grown longer. During the battle, a hysteric Zero Two ignores direct orders and attacks alone, despite Hiro trying to keep her under control. Even though the klaxosaurs were Conrad-class, she went all out on them, stabbing their remains with Strelizia's spear even after they were defeated. Zero Two claimed she was running out of time and she must kill more Klaxosaurs in order to become truly human, perplexing Hiro and horrifying the squad. Strelizia deactivates due to running out of power.
After the battle, Hiro asks the meaning of her words and finds her sitting alone in front of a lake. He asks her what she means about becoming human but she refuses to answer and coldly says he is nothing but her fodder. This initially surprises Hiro but he grabs her and tells her that he didn’t know how to express how he felt. However, after watching Goro and Futoshi regarding their feelings for Ichigo and Kokoro, Hiro finally understands and says he loves her. Zero Two is indifferent but offers to show him what goes beyond a kiss. She shoves him to the ground and unzips her uniform, and kisses him. He resists and rolls her over, saying that’s not what he meant. She further rejects him and walks away. Meanwhile, Ichigo eavesdrops on a conversation between Nana and Hachi in which they affirm with each other that the Saurification process in Zero Two and Hiro is intensifying and Hiro will undergo a genetic mutation any moment, much to her horror. When the second wave of the Klaxosaurs attack, Squad 13 sorties again and once more Zero Two turns rogue. Hiro tried to restrain her while shouting that she can’t become human. Ichigo remembers the rest of her talk with 9’a, who said Zero Two is pretending to be human and she can never coexist with humans because she has consumed over a hundred stamen and she is only using Hiro to devour his humanity. Hiro is attacked by Zero Two who begins strangling him. She says she is going to become human and find her darling from before. He deeply connects to her consciousness, and he receives visions of a past long forgotten about him and Zero Two meeting as children.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Zorome
* Miku
* Mitsuru
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* Futoshi
* Nana
* Hachi
* 9'α
* 9'β
* 9'γ
* 9'δ
* 9'ε
* 9'ζ
* 9'η
* 9'θ
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is reference to the squad returning to the foundation of their childhood and where they were raised, the Garden.
* The book discussed by Hiro and Ichigo is a real book written by James George Frazer.
* As of episode 12, Mitsuru and Futoshi switch positions in the opening.
== The Beast and the Prince ==
: "They're tiny fragments of memories. It's white, cold and filled with things unknown, but it's beautiful. In the outside world that I felt for the first time, I heard a voice calling to me from somewhere. And before my eyes, a warm hand was reaching out for me."—Zero Two
The Beast and the Prince is the thirteenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
An unusual phenomenon begins within Zero Two's body. She seems mentally unstable , and under its influence Zero Two begins to expose hostility, shouting at herself more than ever. Even the words of Hiro, her partner, seems even out of reach. In the middle of such a fight, Hiro connects deeply with the consciousness of Zero Two and catches a glimpse of the memory that flows from there. It was a memory of their childhood; Hiro remembers that they had once met when she was nameless beyond a number designating her as a test object and unable to speak.
=== Plot ===
Nana warns that Hiro's and Zero Two's consciousnesses will connect through Strelizia and merge. Zero Two is strangling Hiro, who suddenly has a vision.
Remembering their past, Zero Two narrates that her small room was the entirety of her world, where a closed room never touched anything outside. Hiro narrates that the Garden, a place where children lived, was the entirety of his world. Zero Two adds that one day, she went outside for the first time. Though Zero Two says that she can't forget, Hiro says he'd forgotten completely. She says she can remember the vastness of the outside and how warm the hand she held was, or the promise they made, despite multiple attempts to purge her memories.
As a child, a shackled Zero Two wonders who she is, though until then it never crossed her mind. She was trapped in her room for as long as she could remember. Though she felt like she had even older memories, she soon forgot about them. When a person enters, Zero Two says that she was probably a stand-in mother. She would bring her food and pet her head. One day, for the first and only time, she brought her something that wasn't food. Though she tries to eat and break it at first, her "mother" flips open the page and Zero Two begins looking at it. She is amazed by its bright colors and different shapes. Though it had words, she couldn't read. After that day, she never showed up again. The book was her first "pretty thing." She was sure the outside world surely had many more. She adds that she was half right and half wrong. She is unshackled and dragged out of her room.
Looking out a window, Hiro also wonders who he is. In contrast, he says that he always thought about it. He was in the Garden for as far back as he could remember. They lived there to become parasites who would fight for Papa and the others. All children were referred to by their code numbers. The lower the number, the higher the child's potential as a parasite. The double-digits up to 099, especially the teens in particular, were given special treatment. Hiro was one of them, and he was told he was special, unlike everyone else. When Hiro tosses a ball, it rolls into Ichigo's feet. She sits crying and doesn't look up. Ichigo wonders if she's strange since everyone else has stopped showing emotion, though she continues to cry and says she wants to be like everyone else. She asks if she should get more injections. Hiro says that their codes are in the teens, so they were different from the others to begin with. She says she doesn't want that and being different is scary. Hiro sits beside her and asks if she wants a name since he gave himself one. He says his name and says she'll feel better if she has a name like him, so he names her "Ichigo." She asks why Ichigo and he says it was what came to mind when he thought of her number. He says that having a name makes it feel okay to be different. She is amazed and asks if he can name the others. He begins naming the other children, including Mitsuru, who was happy to receive his name. The other children are happy to get names. Two adults enter and say that they can't change their designation without permission. Hiro politely asks what the problem is. The adults realize he's one of the teens and simply tells him not to just do as he pleases before leaving. Hiro thinks that they never answered his questions and the other children never asked any.
The children watch as the adults pack up one of the beds. Hiro narrates that children were gradually disappearing from the Garden at regular intervals, though the adults wouldn't tell them why. Hiro was designated a special research subject and underwent tests at the Lab all by himself. If he did well, he was given a reward (two pieces of candy). One day, after testing, he witnesses Zero Two being dragged along for testing. Dr. FRANXX looks over her and notes that she leagues better than all of their past specimens and can't believe she developed such a human form. A laser is centered on her palm and when it fires a hole into her palm, she screams in pain. Dr. FRANXX is amazed at how quickly her skin regrows. Hiro asks an adult who "the girl with horns" is. She becomes frustrated and scolds him for always asking questions and orders him to his room. There, he decides to find out for himself who she is. After testing, he tries to sneak off, but is stopped by an adult. He fails in his other attempts and runs out of ideas. Outside, he notices the girl trying to get her book back from an adult. He scales a large tree to look through her window. Zero Two manages to take the book back and the woman gives up. For a reason unknown to Hiro, he is overjoyed to see her happy.
As Mitsuru walks off with an adult, Hiro asks if he's going to the lab and if there is something wrong. Mitsuru says he's going to get an Elixir Injection, as he won't be able to stay if he doesn't. Hiro and all the children knew exactly what getting the injection meant, as it was expected to give one a drastic increase in their aptitude results but it had an incredibly low success rate. Mitsuru says he wants to become a parasite with him. He asks if he comes back alive, if he would pilot with him. He happily agrees and the two make a pinkie promise. Afterwards, Hiro, Goro, and Ichigo quietly walk back together. They find that 494 was taken away. Another child notes that it was 367 before that. The three look on, scared, until Hiro says they have to do something. Goro says that Papa and the others made the decision and Ichigo says there's nothing they can do. An adult suddenly appears to collect Hiro for testing. Though Hiro asks where the other kids went, but the man ignores his question and tells him to get ready. As Hiro undergoes testing, an adult notes that is sensitivity is troubling and may affect the other children. Dr. FRANXX observes him and a man asks if they should increase his yellow blood cell dose. Dr. FRANXX says no because he is interested in what kind of parasite a child like him will grow up to be. After finishing his testing and receiving candy, he leaves the room alone. He hears screaming and goes to investigate. He rushes over to find Zero Two undergoing painful electroshock testing with a group of adults surrounding her. Hiro is horrified and falls to the ground. A man suddenly appears and orders him to return to the Garden. He asks him to stop causing her pain. The man says it's none of Hiro's business and pulls him away. Frustrated with his situation and unwilling to watch the girl suffer anymore, Hiro packs a portable searchlight and scaled one of the trees near her cell. She had just gone through testing and is now curled up on the floor. Hiro shouts and slings his searchlight at the window. Shattered glass carpets the floor and wind floods the room. Though Zero Two is initially aggressive, she sees his tears and begins to crawl towards his outstretched hand. When they both put their weight on the branch, it breaks and they fall to the ground. Hiro loses consciousness.
Zero Two carries Hiro through the snow. She is amazed at the outside world and looks around curiously. When she trips and drops Hiro, she notices a group of mice and begins to try and catch them. Hiro wakes and finds Zero Two eating a mouse. When he tries to get her to spit it out, she bites him. To get her to stop, he begins petting her hair. This reminds her of her "mother" and she lets go. He calls her mean and she appears to be ashamed. He realizes that she can't understand him but introduces himself anyway. Though he asks her name, she can't answer, and he sees on her ankle that her code is "002." He thinks of a name, first thinking "Oni," then "Zero Two." He thinks they're both bad, but she begins to try and say "Zero Two." When she continues to say it, he says he should have thought of a better name but begins to call her that himself. Zero Two notes that she didn't understand his words, but knew his voice called to her, saw new things with her, and walked with her. He makes her shoes out of stress of cloth. As they sit under a tree, Hiro hands her one of his candies, but she doesn't understand with it is. He tells her to go "Aah," and slips it into her mouth. She enjoys it and Hiro eats his own, enjoying her reaction. She shows him her book, "The Beast and the Prince," and she notes that the pictures are pretty. As he begins reading, a group of adults appear, looking for them. The two hide and Hiro tries to calm her down. One man asks what they should do with 016, and the other answers that 002 takes priority and to kill him if he resists. Hiro pulls her closer and promises to protect her. The two continue to flee from the adults and they eventually fall into the freezing water.
Hiro narrates the story. “In the deepest, darkest part of the forest, lives a strong and beautiful beast princess. Beckoned by the moonlight, she wondered into a world of humans. In the garden, she fell in love with the prince. But the princess was a beast. She has impassioned wings in her back. Not knowing what to do, she went to se a witch who lived in the outskirts of the forest and said “I want to be human. I want to live with him.” The witch replied, “So be it but keep this in mind. You are a beast and you will consume the prince.”
The two sit under a tree and Hiro finishes reading as Zero Two lies against him. He tells her that it's sad the prince and princess can't get married because the princess is a beast. When she tries to say "married," Hiro explains marriage is when two people who love each other promise to be together forever. When he looks at her, she smiles back. He says that they should get going, but she falls when she tries to stand. She had scraped her knee and blue blood oozes from the cut. He looks for something to bandage it, but is forced to lick it instead. He explains all he knows is that he read in a book that animals lick their wounds to heal them. With him kneeling before her, she confuses his pose with the prince proposing. She asks if it's marriage. Smiling, he says that they will once they escape. He tells her he wants to be with her forever too and become her darling. She begins crying and blushing and hugs him close. Looking back, Zero Two knows she want crying because her wound hurt but those were tears of joy, and she believed she could do anything as long as she was with him. They look up and notice that they are under mistletoe. They are suddenly interrupted by a group of soldiers, who attempt to grab them Hiro tries defending her but is knocked unconscious when he is hit by the butt of a gun. Zero Two is grabbed and cries out to him as he lays unconscious and bleeding on the ground.
Hiro wonders why he had to be a child who doesn’t have the power to protect anyone. Zero Two wonders why she failed to notice that she and him were different creatures with different colored blood, and she was a monster.
After that, Papa orders Dr. FRANXX to erase their memories. Hiro forgets his promise to Mitsuru, who is distraught and calls him out as a liar, and Hiro stops naming other children. Since that day, Zero Two swore to become human no matter what she had to do since if she were like him, they could be together.
In present time, Delphinium's arm is ripped off and thrown along with Strelizia. Ichigo yells for Hiro to get away from Zero Two or he'd lose his humanity. Zero Two agrees because of what she is. Hiro, crying, says that she was the girl with the picture book. She looks back at him with tears in her eyes.
=== Appearances ===
* Zero Two
* Hiro
* Ichigo
* Mitsuru
* Dr. FRANXX
* Goro
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to how similar the roles of Hiro and Zero Two were compared to the characters of Zero Two’s picture book; Zero Two, a Klaxosaur hybrid, was seen as a monster by the adults but Hiro was the only one who showed her compassion and affection, which makes him fill in the role as the prince whom the beast fell in love with and motivated her to want to become a human so she could be with him.
** The name of the episode also references to the Disney film Beauty and the Beast (albeit; gender swapped). 
== Punishment and Confession ==
: "She puts a curse to drain the life out of stamen, the one who's not human. I can't consider her as one of us anymore. Even if she's considered as the key to save the world, even if as a result that I'm hated by the person that I consider the most important."—Ichigo
Punishment and Confession is the fourteenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
As a result of continuing as Zero Two's partner, Hiro's body undergoes a major mutation. As a result, Hiro temporarily falls into an unconscious state. Ichigo knew that Hiro's mutation was caused by Zero Two and pulled her away from Hiro. In response to the situation, a notice from APE headquarters was issued to return Zero Two to the 9's, who are directly controlled by APE. Hiro and Zero Two wish to talk to each other again, but the time that they cannot meet each other continues...
=== Plot ===
Zero Two and Hiro realize they knew each other as children. Hiro recalls seeing a memory from her in which she would return to the mistletoe tree, hoping to be able to see him again. Hiro asks himself how could he forget something so important before losing consciousness. Zero Two is still crying and she catches Hiro before he collapses and asks if he's her darling from her childhood and is horrified thinking of what she had done. Ichigo suddenly opens the cockpit door and throws her off of him and into Goro. He asks if she's alright as Ichigo tries to revive Hiro. The other FRANXX wait for help. When they return to the docking facility, Hiro is taken for treatment. Zero Two realizes what Hiro meant when he said he wanted to understand her better.
In the control room, Nana notes that Hiro’s yellow blood cell count has gone far beyond what the human body can handle and his saurification could begin at any moment. At the hospital, Zero Two goes down the hallway to talk to Hiro, but is stopped by Ichigo, who has a cast on her broken left arm. She blames Zero Two for Hiro’s hospitalization and says she can't see him again. Goro and Miku tell her to calm down. When Ichigo reveals that Hiro will lose his humanity and Zero Two has been using Hiro the same way as she done with the other stamen she killed after devouring them, the rest of the parasites don't believe her and ask Zero Two. She tells them to shut up and mind their own business before trying to see Hiro again. Ichigo stops her again from seeing him and says that she isn't a member of their team but, for a while, Ichigo believed they had been teammates for real. Zero Two scoffs this. Overcome with anger, a tearful Ichigo vows to never let Zero Two see Hiro again.
Hiro wakes up and is surrounded by his teammates. He asks where Zero Two is and Ichigo says she stopped her. Hiro has strangulation marks on his neck. Ichigo tells him that they will protect him. They all leave, but Hiro stops Mitsuru. Hiro says that he made a promise to him before he got an Elixir Injection. Mitsuru is surprised but tells him it didn't matter, plus it was a long time ago. He says he'd forgotten about it before that. He says that any other stamen would've died long ago. He tells him to listen to Ichigo and stay away from her. Hiro says that he has something to ask her and thanks Mitsuru. After Mitsuru leaves, Hiro says that after that day, his aptitude kept decreasing. Though he felt like he died, she gave him a new life. He thinks it must be because he drank her blood. Zero Two sits in her room, biting her nails.
Hachi announces they must neutralize every klaxosaur inhabiting Gran Crevasse. Nana says that it is a joint operation with the 9's and FRANXX squad from each plantation. He says that Squad 13 is scheduled to be part of the sixth wave. Nana says it will be their most difficult mission and Ichigo raises her hand. She asks that Zero Two be removed from Squad 13 as of that mission and, if not, Squad 13 will not participate in the operation. Nana says that she was set to return to the 9s as of the mission anyway. A stunned Zero Two protests, but the parasites don’t back her up. When Hiro gets up and tries to leave his room, he is stopped by Miku, who was guarding his room. Zero Two is also guarded and prevented from leaving her room by Futoshi and Zorome.
Ichigo comes in to see Hiro and they chat. She gives him an apple. As she peels it, he notices how the red slices are similar to Zero Two’s horns. She tells him that Zero Two is returning to the 9's the next night, which surprises him. She asks if he hates her and says that, even if he does, not to go anywhere. Hiro apologizes and Ichigo cuts her thumb, so Hiro bandages it for her. Zero Two remembers what Ichigo said and thinks that she knew she could never be a human. Ichigo leaves the knife and apple peels. Zero Two breaks out of her room as Ichigo returns. She roughly throws Goro against a window. Ichigo scolds Zero Two and asks if she wants to lie to him again. She says she's wrong and just wants to talk to him. Goro tells Ichigo to let her see him and Kokoro agrees, stating that it's sad to see them apart. Goro says that she can meet him, but they're all going to be there. When they enter the room, it's empty. Hiro had used the knife to make a rope out the curtains. He then tied the knife to it and climbed upstairs, escaping containment. Zero Two becomes enraged and says that they tricked her.
Hiro unknowingly goes to Zero Two's room. He asks through the door if she knew about their past. He opens the door to find the room destroyed with marks all over the walls from her horns and dried blood. He returns to the hospital to find all his teammates unconscious and her strangling Ichigo. Zero Two, with red sparkling eyes and a devious grin and laughing, invites Hiro to "talk lots and lots". Ichigo tells Hiro to run away and Zero Two drops her to the ground. Hiro scolds her for what she has done and calls her a monster. She realizes the damage she'd done to him and believes this is her punishment.
The next morning, Zero Two leaves the plantation as the other parasites watch her leave silently. She passes by Hiro outside without saying anything. When Ichigo suggests they go inside, she finds that he's crying. He is about to go after her, but Ichigo stops him, saying he'll turn into a monster. When he turns away again, she grabs his face and kisses him. 9'a greets Zero Two and presents her with the stamen that Dr. FRANXX brought for her. Ichigo says she doesn't regret the kiss they shared during the mock battle and that she wants to be with him forever. Goro overhears this and sadly smiles. Ichigo says that he'd always been her everything and that she'd never been interested in anyone else. She bows and confesses that she loves him. A stunned Hiro looks up at the sky to see Zero Two's ship fly away.
=== Appearances ===
* Zero Two
* Hiro
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Nana
* Hachi
* Zorome
* Futoshi
* Miku
* Kokoro
* Mitsuru
* Ikuno
* 9'α
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to the breakdown of Hiro and Zero Two’s; Zero Two believes she is being punished for hurting and deceiving Hiro, who despite everything realizes he still loves her and yearns to confess now that they have regained their lost memories.
== The Bird that Shares Wings ==
: "You and I; alone and lonesome. With the wings that I tore apart with my own hands, it will never be possible again to fly away. The days that I could spend as your wing, the sky that I dreamed we could take to some day. It has all started fading away, far, far away."—Hiro
The Bird that Shares Wings is the fifteenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
After Zero Two is sent away from Mistilteinn, Plantation 13 were to take part in a strategy to control the big base of the klaxosaurs called Gran Crevasse. If they can capture this base, the long fight against klaxosaurs will turn to dominance at once. It is an important strategy for APE. Many other plantations, as well as numerous FRANXX troops belonging to them, are also put into battle. Among them was Strelizia, fighting with 9's. Meanwhile, Hiro, who was separated from his partner, was left by his squadmates in Plantation 13, who sent out Squad 13 to fight. Dr. FRANXX appears there...
=== Plot ===
At Cerasus's internal briefing room, Hachi explains that their objective is to take control of Gran Crevasse. Though other FRANXX squads are attacking, they aren't making headway. Squad 13 is to group up with FRANXX squads from other plantations to form the 6th United FRANXX Company to fight against the klaxosaurs. Kokoro asks what Gran Crevasse is, so Nana shows them a video where a massive number of klaxosaurs are. As the video plays, Squad 13 gasps in horror at the awful scene. Mitsuru comments that compared to all their previous battles, this is on a completely different scale. Hachi explains that taking over Gran Crevasse is Papa's long-standing wish and would be a turning point in humanity's history. On screen, the 9's FRANXX walk behind Strelizia in stampede mode.
At APE central HQ on Cosmos, Dr. FRANXX meets with the council. Papa realises that Zero Two devoured all of her stamens and calls her a hellcat. As the Seven Sages discuss, one of them says that they may finally get their wish if they take over Gran Crevasse. Another says that Hringhorni's construction is proceeding smoothly. One says, if they have both, they can bury "those pests" once and for all. One happily exclaims that the time has come. Dr. FRANXX begins to walk off and is asked where he is going (referring to him as "Werner"). He says he wants to watch it from a front-row seat. Watching the battle on the monitor, Hiro watches Zero Two attack a klaxosaur. Ichigo suddenly grabs his hand and squeezes, but doesn't look up at him.
The parasites of Chrysanthemum struggle against the klaxosaurs large numbers. 090 screams when one of his squadmates is almost killed. Strelizia kills it, saving the FRANXX, and 9'α appears to take out more of them. He compliments 090 saying he did well for human standards. 9'α jokes they'll take over so they can go chill in the rear. In Cerasus's command room, they receive a message from mission command saying they're prepared to sortie. Nana tells Squad 13 to get ready. As Squad 13 walks away to battle, Goro tells Hiro not to be sad because they'll be fine. Ichigo says that she'll teach Hiro how to pilot from the ground up once she gets back. Hiro asks them to come back alive, and they smile at him.
The 6th united FRANXX company begins marching together. The 9's take out a bunch of klaxosaurs. Ichigo is amazed, saying it's like having a bunch of Strelizias. 9'α says that there's a lot of them. 9'β points out Plantation 13 fighting. He jumps behind Ichigo and says that her FRANXX is adorable. She sarcastically thanks him. 9'α says that they're holding them off fine, but they're not making any progress and that the Crevasse has been sealed off inside a thick dome. They need to strike from the inside to get rid of it. Hiro sadly watches from the control room. The unit takes out many klaxosaurs and Squad 26 notes that they're fighting well. 090 notes that they're still all over the place, but he's happy they're there and tells them to regroup. They are about to enter the hole in the wall, but all the klaxosaurs flee. The control room detects magma energy readings underground ascertained to be of a super Lehmann-class klaxosaur. Dr. FRANXX walks in and is amazed that it was hidden underground. Hachi says he never heard of that class. As the super Lehmann-class comes from underground, it pushes Plantation 26 on its side and it begins to break. 090 reacts in horror as his plantation is destroyed. Vice Chairman says to get 090 on the line and tells him they're moving to Protocol 32. When he notices Code 090 hesitating he adds that it's a great honour. The klaxosaur moves toward Plantation 13. Unit 26 lines up with bombs. 090 whispers that they're counting on Squad 13 now before his squad explodes. The super Lehmann-class klaxosaur stops, but its face smashes through the wall and it releases klaxosaurs inside Plantation 13. Zero Two runs in and begins attacking. The adults say that Squad 13 has to neutralize the Super Lehmann-Class and Papa and the rest will take care of Gran Crevasse. Nana says that Dr. FRANXX should return to HQ and Hiro to Misilteinn. Dr. FRANXX asks if Hiro finds Zero Two more beautiful than any human, pure, proud, and more alone than anyone like a klaxosaur. Hiro says that she isn't a klaxosaur. Dr. FRANXX says that he thought Zero Two had finally found a partner and goes up to Misilteinn. The FRANXX struggle against the klaxosaurs' large numbers. Zero Two takes out a large number of klaxosaurs. 9'β says that she's in a foul mood. 9'α says that the thought of getting on that unseemly beast's bad side gives him the chills.
In Zero Two's room, Hiro finds scratches and blood on the wall. In front of the window, he finds Naomi's mirror, which Zero Two taped back together after breaking. Gulping, he asks himself why he's holding back.
Kokoro says that they're being pushed back. Chlorophytum runs out of ammo, so they use a pillar to attack. As Argentea is pushed back, the Old Woman watches it, walking forward to her window. Ichigo watches Strelizia and Goro tries to get her to focus. They notice a training unit zip by them, as does Argentea. They realize it's Hiro. The training unit is taken out, so Delphinium stops him and says that they won't let Hiro see Zero Two. Goro suddenly stops and says he can't stand watching Hiro and Zero Two like that anymore. He steps out and tells Hiro to get in. Goro says that Hiro has something to say and Ichigo is worried about Zero Two too, so he asks her to take him to Zero Two. Hiro apologizes to Ichigo and they begin to connect. Finally connecting to Hiro, Ichigo is disappointed to find that all his memories are of Zero Two and realises he'll never have space in his heart for someone else. She cries as they head out. Smiling, Goro quietly wishes them good luck. Argentea picks him up and Zorome and Miku ask what he's acting so cool for.
Zero Two thinks she was human, though she pretended, she wished to become one. Ichigo charges towards her. Zero Two attacks Delphinium, to which Ichigo yelled she hated how Zero Two toyed with her feelings. After Strelizia breaks Delphinium's spear, Delphinium slaps her and Ichigo says she wishes she'd never known her. Zero Two breaks Delphinium's helmet and Ichigo demands Zero Two get her act together as she headbutts her. As the door opens, Hiro finds that Zero Two's horns have grown and branched and her eyes are red. Hiro tells Zero Two he came to see her. Ichigo instructs to protect Strelizia since it's the only one that can kill the klaxosaur. As Genista and Argentea attack klaxosaurs, one of the cores crack in half and something yellow falls out it. Ikuno says it looks like a human. Suddenly, there is an explosion. As it is announced that the backup plan is almost complete, Papa says that they can let the plantation go now. The stamen of the plantation are confused as to why they're making plantations self-destruct. 9'ε and 9'a say that they're planning to end things without Strelizia's help. Dr. FRANXX is disgusted with their choice. Hiro tries to connect with Zero Two, but he gets no response. He holds her horns and asks to be taken to her. In Zero Two's memories, Hiro sees a man saying that, though 016's memories were erased, 002's couldn't be completely erased. The doctor tells them to continue to try and erase, regardless of the effects on her and orders a young Hiro back to the garden. The doctor adds that he's probably useless now that he ingested Zero Two's blood. Zero Two cannot remember things but begins to when she recognizes familiar actions. She licks her wounds in a similar way. Seeing her book, she begins eating it. She learns the word "boku" and Zero Two, and "darling." She remembers him getting attacked and begins crying. Zero Two's horns break and Hiro hugs her. She pushes him away and tells him not to look at her. They apologize and cry holding each other. Hiro says they can see the world together and kisses Zero Two as she cries. Strelizia attacks and transforms into a red version of it, easily taking out the klaxosaur. Hiro and Zero Two confess their love for each other. Futoshi and Zorome cry and Ichigo says she's happy for them. The 9's begin attacking as well. The sages say that the door to Gran Crevasse has been opened and the day of humanity's liberation is upon them.
Inside the mountain klaxosaur, they find that its core is a collective mass of cores. A large klaxosaur hand suddenly shoots up from the ground. 9'a laughs and says that it reacted quickly. It smashes a majority of Plantation 13, leaving Mistilteinn in ruins.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Goro
* Ichigo
* Zorome
* Miku
* Mitsuru
* Kokoro
* Futoshi
* Ikuno
* Nana
* Hachi
* Dr. FRANXX
* 9'α
* 9'β
* 9'γ
* 9'δ
* 9'ε
* Papa
* Vice Chairman
* 090
* 245
* Old Woman (Non-speaking)
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to the Jian, and how Hiro and Zero Two become it to symbolize how they vow to lean on each other as one in order to be together forever and live their lives together.
== Days of Our Lives ==
: "The birdcage is still here. And so are we. The people we were supposed to protect aren't there anymore and our wings are still being repaired, but we believe that the ten of us will all be able to fly again soon. Until then, we'll make it through on our own."—Futoshi
Days of Our Lives is the sixteenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
It is about a month since the fierce battle at Gran Crevasse. Though Cerasus was destroyed, Mistilteinn miraculously escaped destruction and its parasites were ordered to wait there. However, since then, there has been no communication from the adults, and they are unable to contact their supervisors, Hachi and Nana. In Mistilteinn, the function of maintaining the environment causes problems, making it impossible for them to live comfortably like the past. Even in such a situation, the children begin devising their own plans in their everyday life, including Zero Two, who begins to bond with the other parasites.
=== Plot ===
Hiro narrates a passage from The Beast and the Prince, in which the princess became a human to be like the prince and live with him. Despite the excruciating pain after ripping her wings, the princess smiled happily, with tears of joy streaming down her face and exclaimed “I’m human! I’m human! I’m the same as him now.”
In her room, Zero Two happily files her horns as she looks at herself using Naomi's mirror.
At Cosmos, one of the Seven Sages says their parasite reserves have dwindled to 60% after the last battle. Another asks if they didn't go too far blowing those plantations up. The Vice Chairman says that the end justifies the means. Humanity now has control of the Gran Crevasse. He says Hringhorni's construction has entered the final phase. Papa says that he sent two messengers and it will likely be their final warning to the klaxosaurs. One says that there is no need for two keys.
Futoshi says that, in the battle of Gran Crevasse, their plantation was left in ruins, but they're still living in Mistilteinn. They are standing by and waiting for their next mission. One month has passed since they were given those orders. He says that the damage to the plantation has affected the water supply system, and they had to restrict their electricity usage. Their caretakers are gone too. The only contact made is from the food supply delivered once a week.
Looking out the window with binoculars, Zorome spots a ship and says that it's Papa but is disappointed to see it land at the Gran Crevasse ruins. Futoshi, Kokoro, and Miku do the laundry. Zero Two suddenly bangs a spoon against a pot. Kokoro and Miku recall she's on messenger duty this week. Goro finds a note among the boxes of food supply and pockets it. Mitsuru and Hiro inspect Cerasus' water sources. Mitsuru says that it's turning foul as well. Hiro says they should try and filter it. Mitsuru says that their water supply could stop anytime as he stands up. They're interrupted by Zero Two banging on the pot and says that breakfast is ready.
Ichigo serves up their rations. When Zorome complains about eating the same things, Ichigo takes his rations and says he doesn't have to eat it but he doubles down. Ikuno enters and offers to help, but Ichigo says that it's fine and asks if her fever went down. Zero Two places her forehead on Ikuno and says that she's 36.7 degrees (a normal body temperature) and reminds her not to push herself. They pray for Papa before they eat, though Zero Two eats anyway. Zero Two lists off the chores and Miku, smiling, notes that she's meticulous. As the stamen eat, Futoshi stops. Hiro asks if he's okay. Futoshi lies and says he's dieting. Zorome laughs and pinches his stomach, saying he isn't cut out for it.
Nana and Hachi call Dr. FRANXX. The doctor asks if they had made contact with the children. When Hachi confirms they hadn't, Dr. FRANXX seems happy. He explains if they intervene with the children, the whole project will be ruined. Nana says she doesn't understand and that their efforts will have been in vain. Dr. FRANXX comments she's inflexible and she's been down the road, too. He compliments Hachi and hangs up. Nana gets a headache.
Goro says it's been a month as he and Hiro stock cans of food. Hiro asks if he wants to get back in the FRANXX. Goro says even though when they were fighting they could die anytime, not fighting makes them fidgety. He says he thought Hiro was the most obsessed piloting the FRANXX, yet he didn't seem the least bothered.
Mitsuru goes to the greenhouse and askes Kokoro to cut his hair. She gets confused, questioning where that request came from but upon seeing Mitsuru timidly look down, she merrily accepts. As she cuts his hair, Mitsuru wonders what he was hoping for with Hiro. He admits that he was wrong to be angry at Hiro for something Hiro never did wrong and he now believes he was probably using his grudge to carve out a niche for himself and now he has nothing. When Kokoro finishes, she tells him to look up and giggles when he does. Mitsuru worries and asks if he looks weird, to which Kokoro replies he looks handsome. Turning to keep her scissors she says if he understands, he can start over. Mitsuru smiles and says her saying that makes him feel like he can do anything, she's kind and gifted with her hands. Before he can finish, Kokoro gets down on her knees and kisses him. Mitsuru is surprised and does not say anything. Kokoro notices his reaction wasn't positive and got embarrassed. She blushes as she realizes what she has done and hastily apologizes and runs out of the greenhouse, leaving Mitsuru behind.
Hiro and Zero Two walk together. Hiro says that Goro was down with the child fever last week. Hiro notices Zero Two's attention has turned to the pink things on the trees lining the walkway. Hiro explains they're sakura buds and says they're a really pretty colour when they bloom, like her hair. Zero Two giggles and says she wants to see them in full bloom someday. Hiro asks how she felt about their lives at the moment, to which she says they're having fun and would like to live like that forever. Hiro reaches for Zero Two's hand when she remembers she was supposed to go bathing with the other pistils. She reminds him not to peek.
The girls bathe in the river. Miku asks if they'd seen Mitsuru's hair as she washes Zero Two's hair. Kokoro smiles awkwardly as she was the one behind it. Ikuno says that he looks pretty good. Zero Two sees a fish and runs forward to pounce on it, but Miku stops her. Miku says Zero Two's hair's a pretty color, to which Zero Two replies that Hiro said so too. Miku pours water on her head and asks if they always talk about such corny stuff. Zero Two playfully tackles Miku and pushes her into the water, splashing water everywhere. When Zero Two says that she'll wash Miku's hair, she notices that Miku has greying hair but keeps quiet about it.
The parasites meet in their living room and Ichigo states they have five sources they can use for drinking water. Mitsuru adds two of them are usable only with filtering. Ikuno asks if they can repair the circulation system themselves. Hiro explains Mistilteinn doesn't have the equipment. Futoshi adds their access to the elevator is restricted too. Zorome suggests sending a letter to Papa and ask him to fix it. Goro replied he didn't think there'd be a point. As the parasites sadly reflect on their vulnerability Zero Two suggests they could cook their own food.
Hiro agrees with her, and Mitsuru agrees with him, remarking about seeing cookbooks in the library. Kokoro says that maybe they could do it then. They all agree, except for Zorome who pouts.
When Futoshi starts a fire, he tries to show Zorome. Zorome asks if he's not dieting. He eventually becomes enthused as well. Miku and Ikuno make the dough for bread. Using her knowledge of plants, Kokoro makes a salad out of edible plant leaves and flowers. Mitsuru follows the instructions for making the salad dressing. Ichigo welcomes Hiro, Goro, and Zero Two back from fishing. Zorome and the rest are impressed with the 11 fish Zero Two caught. Goro caught 9 and Hiro, awkwardly smiled and scratched his head, saying he didn't catch any. Zero Two smiles and whispers she'll teach him all her tips and tricks later. The others remark they want to try fishing next time as well.
Goro asks Ichigo how she is, and she says that the mood really changed. She happily watches as Zero Two teaches the rest how to fish. Ichigo says that Hiro was right about her being a normal girl. She says she wants what's best for Zero Two and Hiro.
Before they eat, they all marvel at how they were able to cook. Though Ichigo's about to pray, Zorome starts eating and asks why should they when they did everything themselves. He says it's delicious as Miku tries Kokoro's salad. When she says it's good, Kokoro is delighted she and Mitsuru's joint effort paid off. They smile at each other.
Zorome is happy at what they've accomplished and tries to get Futoshi to eat. Futoshi accidentally drops the food and Mitsuru asks if he's okay. As Futoshi picks up the shards of the broken ceramic plate, Zorome tells him to quit forcing himself and begins helping. Zorome confronts Futoshi, stating he knows he is forcing himself to eat and throwing it back up. Though Futoshi denies it, Zorome grabs his collar and begins crying. He says he has to eat to survive. Futoshi forces himself to eat but chokes, so Hiro puts his hand on his back. Zorome asks why Papa isn't getting in touch as he cries. Miku begins crying as well.
Futoshi narrates that, even after seeing what happened to Squad 26, he was sure it wouldn't happen to him.
Mitsuru says that as FRANXX pilots, there's a limit to their lives. Miku cries as she says that she was worried too, but too scared to speak up. Ikuno and Goro agree. Goro says that he'd been writing to Nana and Hachi to let them know how they're doing, but they never accepted his letters. Hiro says it's fine if they were cast aside by Papa as long as he's with them and there's more to their lives than piloting. Futoshi starts crying and says he's hungry. They all laugh and Zorome says he suits being fat.
Futoshi narrates that they cried and laughed more than ever before.
That night, Kokoro and Miku sleep soundly together in their room. Zero Two draws pictures in her room of the book they read together - The Beast and the Prince. When Hiro comments it's a sad story, she reveals it was her first "pretty thing." When she was little, she met Hiro and wanted to have something beautiful with him. Zero Two realizes that's what it means to be human and they embrace. She hears a klaxosaur scream. As the screaming continues, the Klaxosaur Princess is shown, waiting for something.
=== Appearances ===
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Ichigo
* Mitsuru
* Zorome
* Futoshi
* Miku
* Goro
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* APE
* Klaxosaur Princess
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode represents how the parasites spend their time being left alone and discovering concepts they were oblivious of.
== Eden ==
: "Everything comes to an end. The only difference is whether it comes sooner or later. And even though we sense the end is nigh, we spend another day, idling in the cradle of our lives."—Ikuno
Eden is the seventeenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
In the midst of a situation where there is no contact made to Squad 13 by the adults, the 9's suddenly show up at Mistilteinn. They inform Squad 13 that Papa had sent them and that they were not abandoned by him, making them relieved. The 9's seem to be interested in the life Squad 13 has been leading at Mistilteinn and saying they will be staying at Mistlilteinn too. That night, the "notebook" which Kokoro has secretly held from everyone was found by chance by the 9's...
=== Plot ===
Ikuno narrates that everything comes to an end eventually and when it happens is the only difference. Even when they sense that the end is nigh, they continue to idle.
Kokoro reads her baby book by the greenhouse. Ikuno reads on the boarding house's steps when she notices a sakura petal and looks up to see the cherry blossom trees are starting to bloom.
In the backyard, Ikuno holds a mirror for Zero Two as she files her horns. Ikuno asks if it hurts and Zero Two says not a bit. When she finishes, she tells Miku she is ready. Miku presents a flower headband and places it on her head. Zero Two asks what it looks like and Miku says perfect and that Hiro will love it. Zorome suddenly runs up and says there's a problem.
9'α, β, γ, δ, and ε stand at the door. Ichigo asks why they're there. 9'α says they came to check on Papa's orders and that he had been worried sick about them. This is a great relief to Zorome and Miku. 9'β notes the problems in their environment and 9'γ agrees. 9'α asks for them to ready rooms for them. Ichigo is surprised that they intend to stay there, and he smiles and says that he'd taken a liking to them. Ichigo is surprised to hear that all the surviving squads had been gathered in one place and sadly asks why they were the only ones left out. 9'γ says that it wasn't what Papa wanted and that Hachi and Nana should have told them about it. Miku cries while eating, and 9'δ asks why. Smiling, she says that she's just relieved that they weren't left there to die. Zorome throws his arm over 9'β shoulders and encourages him to eat, though he politely refuses his offer. Ichigo says that she assumed that they were there to take Zero Two back. 9'ε laughs and says they aren't her babysitters but her squad mates. Even though she didn't seem pleased to see them.
In a flashback from earlier, 9'α smiles and asks how long she's going to play human since she'll never be the same as them. Though they're unique, they're imperfect unlike she and the other nines. She tells him not to call her "Iota" but "Zero Two." He asks if she's throwing away the Special Forces code name that Papa gave her. She says that her darling gave it to her and it's important. He begins laughing at her as she walks away. He wishes her luck, again calling her "Iota."
Zero Two looks at the flame of a candle in her room when Hiro calls out to her. He asks about her flower headband. She says that Miku made it for her. She shyly tells him not to stare, but says it's okay after he compliments her. Zero Two pushes his bangs back to reveal small blue horns poking through his forehead. She says that they'd grown bigger. She thinks that they must be because he rode with her or because she drank his blood. She sadly says that she drastically altered his destiny. He leans in and places his horns against her's. They kiss and rest their foreheads against each other. Blushing, Hiro says that it makes him happy to be more similar to her. She tells him that she ate her old picture book when they were trying to erase her memories. She says that she started wanting to become human because she wanted to see him again and she was told that she could do that by killing klaxosaurs, though she realizes she shouldn't have believed them. Hiro asks if Papa and the rest told her, but she doesn't answer. She asks that he show her the picture he drew. He refuses, so she playfully snatches it from him. She finds that he crudely drew a picture of a king. She begins laughing and he covers his face in embarrassment. She says that it's approved and she loves it as she holds it against her chest.
9'δ looks through the hallway when she almost bumps into Kokoro. She holds her before she falls and asks if she's okay. Kokoro thanks her and asks what she's doing. She says exploring and asks that she doesn't tell the others. She agrees to and bows after saying goodnight. On the ground, she notices her Baby Book. In the glass building, 9'δ brings the book to the other nines. 9'α notes that it covers things that Papa hadn't taught anyone, such as reproduction, childbirth, and fetuses. Kokoro smiles as she plays with her doll in one of the abandoned rooms.
The next day, Kokoro brushes Mitsuru's hair in the greenhouse. She says that, since the 9’s are there, someone should be coming to get them soon. Mitsuru says that he'll be a bit sad to leave since they only began spending time together after he came there. She smiles and begins patting his head. She slides her hand down the nape of his neck, to his confusion. She says that his body is much tougher than a girl's. She rubs his chest and says that boys and girls have such different bodies, and there's a reason. Mitsuru asks what she means. She says she read that boys and girls can create new life by joining their bodies together. She gulps and starts unzipping his uniform, saying that it represents hope for them. He shoves her hand away and stands, asking what she's doing. Before she can explain, Zorome comes and asks if they just tried to stick their bodies together and if they're imitating Hiro and Zero Two. Mitsuru zips up his uniform and asks if Zorome needed something. Zorome says that Mitsuru was supposed to be on water duty. When Zorome asks again what they were doing, Mitsuru says he'll get the water. Zorome stomps off saying to Mitsuru to hurry up. Mitsuru asks Kokoro why did she do that out of nowhere. Kokoro says she'd been thinking about it for a long time.
Mitsuru stands motionless in front of a body of water. Hiro appears and they lay in the water together. Mitsuru says he doesn't understand what Kokoro's thinking. Hiro smiles and says that he's changed, as before, he'd only distanced himself from them, though Hiro says that it was all his fault for breaking their promise. Hiro says that Mitsuru’s probably in love with Kokoro since Hiro has similar feelings for Zero Two as Mitsuru does for Kokoro. Hiro elaborates that Mitsuru wants to get to know Kokoro and Hiro himself loves Zero Two for that reason. Mitsuru remembers when Kokoro comforted him during their first sortie and her smile when she cut his hair. He thinks to himself that he is in love with her. Hiro says he can't be sure, but that is how it's for him. Hiro thinks he confused Mitsuru as he stands up. Mitsuru stands as well and says it’s alright, and that he's similar to Hiro and he's glad that he could have a nice chat with him after so long.
When Hiro and Mitsuru enter the living room, Miku says that they've been waiting for Mitsuru. Smiling, Ichigo says that Zorome told them about Mitsuru and Kokoro. Ikuno says that she's not surprised. Zorome angrily explains that he just asked if a boy and a girl getting all clingy was the cool thing to do. Miku tells him to be quiet. Futoshi suddenly grabs Mitsuru's collar and asks if they'd kissed. Kokoro looks down, embarrassed, and Futoshi realizes they had. Mitsuru is about to say something but is interrupted with the 9's entering the room. 9'α holds up the childbirth handbook and asks if they recognize it. With Kokoro and Mitsuru's reaction, he says that they do. He asks for an explanation from Kokoro, since she's the one who dropped it. He says that it's strange, since it wouldn't have been provided in the study there, and it doesn't belong to her. Kokoro apologizes for not telling them all. She turns to her squad and says she wants to make a baby. This confuses the other parasites. 9'α smiles and says that Papa had banned that. Zorome says that it sounds like trouble and Goro asks Mitsuru if she said anything, and he fidgets uncomfortably. Kokoro turns back to the 9’s and asks if it's so bad since it's how all humans were born. Futoshi asks if Papa didn't create them. She says they were born like any other animal and it had always been like that for all living things. She says that's why they have boys and girls. She says that she wants to leave something behind before she's gone. She happily explains that their purpose in life isn't just to ride FRANXX and that they could carry new lives and leave them for the future. She says that it made her happy to hear that, but she is interrupted by 9'α calling her disgusting. When she turns to him, he says that she's disgusting. He explains that humans have evolved and cast their reproductive functions aside in the process. Reject that, and they all have to go back to conforming to one gender. He asks if gender isn't just a pain that's tolerated to operate the FRANXX. Kokoro has tears in her eyes and Mitsuru begins to say something, but Ikuno suddenly walks up and slaps him. 9'γ whistles and the other 9’s seem surprised, as is Ichigo. Ikuno asks what if it matters if it's a pain. Alpha says that humans have also cast away their tendency to be ruled by emotions like her since it serves no purpose. He smiles and tells them to look at themselves, though. Ikuno begins to walk up to him, but is pulled back by Goro and Ichigo. Nana and Hachi appear and ask them to stop.
Nana exclaims that this is why she didn't want to let the 9’s in. Hachi calmly says that Papa sent them, so they couldn't just turn them away. She says that they should put an end to their test now. Kokoro asks what she means. Hachi says that it was on Dr. FRANXX's orders that they didn't contact them over the past month and that it would be their final test. Though they still monitored them, and know what she was trying to do with Mitsuru. In regards to having a baby, Nana says that no one can speak of that, let alone do it. When Kokoro asks why they have organs for reproduction, Nana says to pilot the FRANXX. When she asks what her feelings are for then, all of a sudden, Nana has a blurred flashback and then swipes at Kokoro before clutching her head in pain, telling her to be quiet. Hachi tells her to return to her dorm and they'll give her her orders in time, and Kokoro proceeds to leave. Hachi asks when it started and Nana says a week ago, also saying watching them go about their lives made her feel so irritated. 9'α comes by and asks if she relapsed into puberty. She denies this, but he smirks and asks if they didn't already undergo emotional indoctrination when they were parasites. He tells Hachi they should have her replaced with a new Nana, and says he hopes they go back to doing their actual job instead of getting up to mischief with the doctor. He then says he'll be reporting to Papa before leaving.
Dr. FRANXX asks if Nana is useless now and Hachi answers that he believes continuing the test will be difficult. He agrees but says he gained some intriguing data about the development of humanity's original reproductive instincts.
In a blue volcano, Lemur and Tarsier go down an escalator. Lemur says that klaxosaurs' development differs greatly from human civilization and culture. They approach 001 and Lemur tells his men to lower their guns. He says that it is a great pleasure to meet her. He says that humans and klaxosaurs have waged a war spanning close to a century and orders her to surrender. She screams and they all cover their ears but Tarsier. Lemur asks if they're words sent directly to the brain. Tarsier hears her words and draws two blades, telling her to prepare to die. Lemur tells him not to, but he continues and is quickly killed. Her two dragons go forward and kill the rest of the men. 001 descends the stairs and pushes off Tarsier's mask, revealing there is nothing under it. She calls them "Dammed human wannabes" without opening her mouth.
Mitsuru sits alone in the greenhouse, thinking and waiting for Kokoro. In the living room, Futoshi says that Kokoro is taking a long time to return. Miku says she had no idea Kokoro was thinking about that and wishes Kokoro would have told her. Ikuno looks down and says that everyone has things they can't talk about. Miku asks if they think they really can make babies. Zorome says he has no idea and Goro wonders how they were born if Papa didn't create them and asks what Hiro thinks. He says he doesn't know, but that they may have the potential to do something Papa hadn't told them about. They reflect that they may be able to leave something for the future. Smiling, Zero Two says she's envious, since she can't leave something behind, as her body is incapable of doing that. She calls them all wonderful since they have the ability to decide their futures themselves.
Mitsuru leaves the greenhouse and finds Kokoro crying in one of the abandoned rooms. She says she was wrong and apologizes for trying to force him to go along with it. He tells her not to and says she wasn't forcing him to do anything. She says he's lying and tells him not to try and be nice. She asks him to leave her alone. As she walks out, he grabs her arm and refuses. He pulls her into a hug and asks her not to do things on her own because he is here for her. He begins to tear up as he asks for her to lean on him more because he wants to make her happy. She is still crying as she asks if it was so bad to create a new life and if they aren't allowed to think of the future. He kisses her and she pulls him closer to her.
Ikuno narrates that everything comes to an end eventually. The only difference is whether it happens sooner or later. As for what comes after, they know nothing.
Zero Two shows Hiro a picture of a bride that she drew in her room. Ikuno sits on the porch with her head on her hands. Mitsuru and Kokoro lie naked in each other's arms after consummating their relationship.
Papa and the Vice Chairman sit on Cosmos and Papa says that the klaxosaur princess chose to go down the path of annihilation. The Vice Chairman says they'll feel the pain of having their earth scorched by their own creation. The Nines that visited the 13th Plantation appear and 9'α says there's something he needs to know.
=== Appearances ===
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* Zero Two
* Miku
* Zorome
* Ichigo
* Goro
* 9'α
* 9'β
* 9'γ
* 9'δ
* 9'ε
* Mitsuru
* Futoshi
* Hiro
* Nana
* Hachi
* Dr. FRANXX
* Lemur
* Tarsier
* 001
* Papa
* Vice Chairman
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to the biblical garden from Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived after God created them. The garden contained the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, from which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat but when they disobeyed, God punishes them and drives them from the Garden. Their sin and consequence loss of God’s grace and their paradise became known as Fall of Man.
* Similarly, as Kokoro and Mitsuru, living under the propaganda of APE, find solace in the greenhouse, where they explore forbidden concepts and act on them, despite knowing the potential consequences.
* Kokoro and Mitsuru’s code numbers add up to 882 (see Trivia) and this episode was released on May 12, 2018 - the day before Mother’s Day.
== When the Sakura Blooms ==
: "We will leave the birdcage when the sakura blooms. Together, we had our laughs and we had our clashes. All these memories are as delicate as glass, but they're also the beautiful and invaluable testimony that we were here."—Ikuno
When the Sakura Blooms is the eighteenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Instructions come from the caretakers who avoided contact with the children for the first time in a month. When the next supply ship comes, Squad 13 is to abandon Mistilteinn and move to the APE Parasite facility called the "Bird Nest". Hiro suggests opening a wedding ceremony for Mitsuru and Kokoro as the last memories to be made while staying in Mistilteinn. The ceremony, the dress, the rings... Everything is handmade and they prepare to the extent that they can. That day, the cherry blossoms in Mistilteinn were in full bloom when the children's wedding ceremony began.
=== Plot ===
Mitsuru wakes up after spending the night with Kokoro again. They look out the window together where Sakura trees have fully bloomed and the petals float in the wind. He says it's beautiful and she agrees.
In the control room, Hachi tells Ichigo that they will abandon Mistilteinn shortly and tells her to be ready. She asks why and he replies that the situation has changed, so they will take the next supply ship to the parasite camp. Ichigo realizes that, even though they weren't in contact for a long time, they were still being monitored. Goro holds his head and Hiro asks how his fever is. He smiles and says fine. Hiro says that Miku had her fever recently as well. Ichigo comes out and Goro asks what's wrong. In the elevator, Ichigo tells Hiro and Goro the adults' plans to abandon Mistilteinn. Though she wants to stay, Goro says that they have enough rations for only a few more days and Mistilteinn won't last very long in itself. As they walk back, Goro says that their life there wasn't all bad. Ichigo says it's sad that they have to leave. Hiro says there's something he'd like them to do while they're still there.
Hiro explains to the parasites that he wants to have a wedding. As they don't know what it is, Hiro explains that it was a ceremony where two people make a vow to be true to each in sickness and health until parted by death. Miku asks who will get married. Hiro says Kokoro and Mitsuru. Kokoro says that Hiro told them about it and it sounded wonderful. Mitsuru says they decided to do it before leaving. Goro, Miku, and Zorome voice their support. Though they stop to check on Futoshi, he exclaims that he wants to play the priest so he can be right beside Kokoro and Mitsuru and be the first to congratulate them. Kokoro thanks him. Zero Two shows Kokoro a drawing of a wedding dress. Kokoro asks what material they can use to make it. Miku and Ichigo collect curtains to do so. Ichigo and Miku gather the curtains in the abandoned room that Kokoro and Mitsuru have been sleeping in and Miku finds fresh flowers in the vase and Kokoro’s doll on the bed. Ichigo looks around and notices a camera left behind by the former Squad 13. Meanwhile, while Mitsuru and Goro are in the greenhouse as Mitsuru makes rings for the wedding, Mitsuru explains what the rings are for. When Goro says that Kokoro will love it, Mitsuru blushes and says he hopes so too. Zorome kicks a ball around as Futoshi and Hiro set up chairs. The sakura petals are blown in the wind. Zorome kicks the ball to Hiro and the three pass it back and forth. Miku comes out and scolds them for slacking off.
Ikuno lies on her bed when Ichigo enters the room. Ichigo asks her if she's feeling under the weather. Ikuno replies that she's fine. Ichigo asks if something happened with the 9's since she never saw Ikuno get so angry before. Ikuno replies that nothing happened with the 9's and Ichigo apologizes for prying, thanking her for standing up for Kokoro and Mitsuru. Ikuno responded that she didn't do it for them. Ikuno sits up and asks if Ichigo is interested in her. Ikuno takes off her butterfly clip and pins Ichigo down on the bed. Ikuno reveals she also hates the boy-girl system of the FRANXX, like the 9's, and she slapped 9'α to hide it. She continued, saying she realized she wouldn't be herself if she refused to acknowledge it and neither would Ichigo. Ikuno hugs Ichigo and says that her feelings are a mess and she confesses to loving her. Ikuno admits she did ever since Ichigo named her. In a childhood flashback, a boy says Ikuno should be named "Ikuro," and a girl laughs at her name. Ikuno asks if Ichigo remembers everyone started copying Hiro and naming each other. Ichigo adjusts the 6 and makes it look like の, giving Ikuno the name "Ikuno." Ikuno says that Ichigo probably thinks her reason is stupid, but she loved her since then. Ikuno also revealed that she notices small, insignificant things about Ichigo, like Ichigo wearing a new hair clip. Ikuno asks if she's creepy and says she gets jealous of boys who get to stand by Ichigo just because they're boys and she wants to keep Ichigo to herself. Ikuno begins crying and asks why she's such a pain. Ichigo realises that Ikuno is just like how she used to be and sits up to hug and comfort her. As Ichigo pets Ikuno's hair, she says that there's nothing wrong with being a pain and that they all are. Ikuno thanks her. Squad 13 paints the side of the house for the wedding. Ichigo brings Ikuno out and they all pose for a picture, using the camera found in the abandoned room Kokoro and Mitsuru were secretly meeting in.
Zero Two looks at her mirror and headband. She is about to draw something but stops and looks at the drawings for her book. Zero Two hears screaming and a black hole appears in the ground. Her previous partners, such as 081, climb out of the hole and pull at her. The large klaxosaur hand suddenly appears and is about to strike her, but she is woken up by Hiro. He asks if she's okay and she shakes in his chest. Zero Two smiles and says she dozed off. Hiro says her book is almost complete and Zero Two smiles, saying and says she'll show it to him when she's done.
The next day, Zero Two and Hiro walk through the cherry blossom trees. Zero Two wears the standard pistil uniform that Kokoro lent her for the wedding and Hiro compliments her. Zero Two asks if he remembers their childhood promise to marry and he says he does. Zero Two reveals that was also the day when he became her darling. They spin around in the petals and Hiro recalls how profoundly beautiful it was.
As the others wait outside, Mitsuru paces at the bottom of the stairs. Kokoro comes down in her wedding dress. Mitsuru blushes as he looks at her but becomes embarrassed and looks away. Kokoro asks him to look at her but Mitsuru is too embarrassed. Kokoro takes his hand and says they'll find happiness together, to which Mitsuru nods. Ikuno runs down the stairs, gives them flowers and opens the doors for them. Zorome asks if they ring the bells now and Miku says yes. Squad 13 rings their bells as Mitsuru and Kokoro walk together down the aisle, with Goro throwing sakura petals as well. Futoshi cries. Hachi watches the wedding from the control room but an APE assault ship appears. 9'α greets him from the monitor and Hachi asks who authorized them. 9'α answers that Papa did. Hachi asks why APE is going to force Squad 13 into the parasite camp's re-indoctrination program when they are exempt from it. 9'α says it will just be Mitsuru and Kokoro because of what they have been up to. 9'α jokingly tells him to just sit there and watch, like usual.
After exchanging vows, Futoshi tells Mitsuru and Kokoro to exchange rings. They do, even though Kokoro’s ring is too tight on her finger. Futoshi tells them to seal their vows with kiss. Before they can, they are interrupted by APE SP who tell them to freeze. When Zorome questions them, he is hit with a gun. Futoshi stands in front Kokoro and Mitsuru to protect them and tells them to run. They attempt to do so but are stopped by the 9's. When Mitsuru asks what is going on, 9'α tells them that Papa said Mitsuru and Kokoro were ‘dangerous’ and need to be re-indoctrinated, much to their horror. Zero Two leaps forward and 9'α asks if she's still playing human. She tries to attack him, but he jumps away. The other 9's begin attacking her as well. They hold Zero Two down and 9'α tells her that she mustn't defy Papa. SP take Mitsuru and Kokoro and tear them from each other. Kokoro cries out to Mitsuru and Mitsuru orders them to let Kokoro go before he is knocked unconscious. Hachi comes down the steps and watches as the children are in distress.
Afterwards, the parasites sit sadly around the yard. Hiro thinks that it's like the Garden and they're not allowed any happiness. As they pack, Hiro wonders where they were taken and if they'll come back. The cargo ship comes and picks them up. Nana sits in a cell and Hachi asks what he could have said to them if he had emotions. He remembers Nana as a parasite and she was in a romantic relationship with her partner. When her FRANXX was destroyed, Hachi opened it to find her and her stamen, who was killed. The SP later took her away too as he watched. The door to her cell closes and he wonders if she could have supported them.
One APE asks what happened with the Klaxosaur Princess. Gorilla says he thought she would just surrender and asks why they weren't told she was to be assassinated. Marmoset says they seek a world where APE and humanity can live for all eternity. Vice Chairman says they predicted what happened and it won't be a problem since they already possess the replacement key. Papa tells them to look at the big picture and that they will be released from their bodies when they realize their ideas.
At the Bird Nest, Ikuno says the parasites are being summoned in order. Miku says that it reminds her of Garden. They wonder how long they have to wait. Zorome mentions it’s been weeks since their last mission. Ichigo gets a message and they go to the door. Kokoro and Mitsuru walk through the doors and Hiro apologizes for causing them trouble by suggesting the wedding. Kokoro and Mitsuru are confused and ask what a wedding is. Everyone else is also confused and Zorome tells them about the ceremony, and Goro points out their rings but Mitsuru says those were already there before. He and Kokoro believe the other is a new member of the squad. Zero Two says their memories were altered just like hers and Hiro’s were before. Hachi watches this nearby.
Kokoro walks through a hall and looks at the window, and sees a vision of sakura, which she subconsciously recognizes. She then looks at her ring and the sakura turns out to be a fragment of a memory she shared with Mitsuru. Hiro narrates how they will now have to fight for their destiny because they are at their ropes’ end.
=== Appearances ===
* Mitsuru
* Kokoro
* Hachi
* Ichigo
* Hiro
* Miku
* Goro
* Zorome
* Futoshi
* Ikuno
* Zero Two
* 9'α
* 9's
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode represents the season of spring and symbolism of renewal via the cherry blossoms; the squad is motivated to live beyond piloting the FRANXX.
* Coincidentally, this episode was aired on the same day as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in Great Britain - May 19, 2018.
== Inhumanity ==
: "Fate is cruel. In order to obtain something, one must lose something else. Humanity has searched and sacrificed a lot for what lies beyond life which is our limit. And then we met her, such a beautiful and perfect being."—Dr. FRANXX
Inhumanity is the nineteenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Dr. FRANXX, when informed of the Lamarck Club's brutal actions towards Squad 13, recaed how he was invited to APE in 2025. That time, Dr. FRANXX was still known as Werner. A clean and universal energy source known as "magma energy" had been excavated by APE. Thanks to APE's findings, human beings undertook full-scale research on immortality and even Werner participated in it. However, in 2037, with the sudden appearance of unknown beings called klaxosaurs from underground, the human race entered the era of suffering.
=== Plot ===
Marmoset explains to Dr. FRANXX that they wanted to eliminate all irregularities before their operation. Dr. FRANXX warns that, if they continue, there's no guarantee that the children will remain obedient. Another member says that they haven't done anything to any of the other members of Squad 13 but those two. When Dr. FRANXX asks why, the vice chairman answers they decided to rid the parasites of all unneeded emotions and memories. Dr. FRANXX asks why he wasn't consulted, Papa asks him to behave since he wished for their plan to come to fruition as well. Once they hang up, he thinks that he's no different than they are.
Dr. FRANXX remembers the past that led to current events. In 2025, a younger Dr. FRANXX is in a disarrayed study when he scolds someone for entering his office without permission. The man says that the chancellor asked him to get him. His real name is revealed to be Werner Frank, as he is told by someone about APE and asks what they want with him. The man says that they want to hire him, since they're impressed by his research. When he asks what part, the man tells him to ask for details when he's there since he accepted their offer. When he asks why he would accept without consulting him, the man replies that he shows no signs of ceasing his illegal experiments, such as cloning, and the community is up in arms against him. He says that the law only cracks down after he's done. The man says that's because no one would expect him to show up. He agrees that he's an atheist. The man says that he's talented, but terrifying, which confuses Werner.
Ape is a group of scientists with no known origins or nationalities. It operates with the Lamarck Club at its core. They introduced revolutionary mining technology, dug up magma energy from underground reserved far deeper than man had ever ventured, and created a new energy source that was both all-encompassing and low-cost. With this energy revolution, humanity drastically sped up its progress towards the apex of material civilization. At the same time, APE gained huge influence in international politics and the economy.
At a building, a woman walks beside him and asks if he's Werner Frank. She says it's an honor to meet him and that she read all the papers he's published. She introduces herself as Karina Milsa. Though she extends her hand, he shifts away from it. He asks if she's of regenerative telomere medicine fame. She confirms this is he is surprised.
Werner looks over his contract and an APE asks if he has a problem with the contract. He says no, that he was just surprised with the amount of funding. A member answers that it's simply a fair valuation of his talents. He says what they expect is outside his field of expertise. One answers that, with his abilities, he should be able to contribute more than enough. One says, with magma energy, they can make immortality a reality.
In 2030, two scientists test and find no signs of aging. Karina Milsa reports that they couldn't have done it without Dr. Frank's help. She later notes that he doesn't seem happy about it. He answers that mankind might lose its reproductive functions in exchange for its immortality. She says they don't have indication of that, but he says it's inevitable. She asks if he thinks it's wrong for mankind to attain immortality. He says no, that he always wanted to know mankind's pinnacle, but wonders if they'll still be humans at that point. She asks if he means they'll be gods. He smiles at her and says he's an atheist.
Dr. FRANXX narrates that the treatments led to the loss of reproductive functions, but many still made the choice to become immortal. Around that time, mankind recovered from its rut and quickly approached the apex of material civilization. But the only ones to benefit from it were the rich, with access to immortality and the class divide continues to grow wider. Some years later, to combat the population explosion, a law passed in East Asia to heavily tax childbirth. At the same time, rapid desertification was observed in the southern parts of North America. Some identified the mining of magma energy as the cause, but they were ignored.
Futoshi shouts at Kokoro and says that she isn't changing his mind and storms off. Mitsuru happens to see this and asks Kokoro what they were talking about. She says he doesn't want to be her partner anymore and that he'll team up with Ikuno and he wants her to team up with Mitsuru. They're both confused, and Mitsuru says that they keep telling them all this stuff that happened between them, but neither of them remember anything. He says even if they are telling the truth, he doesn't believe he'll develop feelings for her. She agrees and looks at her wedding ring.
In 2036, humanity's immortality rate exceeded 70% and the rest were scheduled to complete their procedures withing two years. But he still refuses to.
Karina asks if he still can't bring himself to undergo the procedure. He says that he doesn't like having his body messed with. He says he'd prefer to replace it with a mechanical one. She smiles and asks if he doesn't think it's time he stopped to think about his future. He says that isn't like him and asks if she isn't going under the knife. She says she wants to have a child. He is surprised and says he didn't think she had a partner. She says that he's dense and hasn't noticed her feelings. He says that she should asks him for dinner instead of himself. She says that she did. He is still confused, and she asks if he isn't being too dense. He asks if she means him and says that she has bad taste.
By that time, desertification had become a serious issue across the globe, and APE presented to nations its plantation project, which would be humanity's ark. It essentially became the leader of the world.
In 2037, at an offshore magma energy mine, a klaxosaur appeared and destroyed the mining facility and made a landfall, only stopping after several nuclear missiles hit it. The eastern half of the Australian continent became an exclusion zone. They were called klaxosaurs for "screaming reptiles," and began showing up everywhere. They too were attracted to magma energy mines. The plantations turned into mobile anti-klaxosaur fortresses, cities were abandoned, and mankind disappeared from the surface.
Karina asks where he is going, and he answers that they've secured a decently preserved klaxosaur corpse in Alaska. She says they were supposed to submit their marriage registration next week. He tells her to submit it if he's not back. She later signs her section alone.
He was enthralled that their bodies could be both mechanical and organic, and thought they were extremely beautiful. He noticed that it contained the same XX chromosomes seen in female humans. He was appointed lead developer of an anti-klaxosaur weapon, the FRANXX.
In 2042, they hold the 13th startup trial for the FRANXX prototype. It hit a roadblock where it wouldn't start up. After rigorous testing, it was discovered that the pilot needed to possess reproductive functions.
Werner tells Karina that she didn't have to volunteer herself. She enters and it begins to move, but it smashes its head against the wall and she dies.
Tests continue and many lives are lost. They are injected with yellow blood cells that act as a conduit to the FRANXX and have them ride in male-female pairs. After losing its reproductive functions, mankind found a need for new children. As parasites, pilots of the FRANXX, they were called "children," and were made to refer to the rest of them as adults.
Goro says that Mitsuru and Kokoro were implanted with fake memories. Ichigo wonders if their memories are lost forever. Futoshi asks if what they did warranted their memories being erased. Zorome says that Papa has his reasons. Miku asks if he's serious and Ikuno says they destroyed everything about the wedding they'd worked so hard for. Zorome says that they've only had Papa their whole lives. Miku says she thought he was better than that. Hiro walks up and Ichigo asks about Zero Two. He says she just needs some final tune-ups. He tells the group that he's thinking of directly asking Papa to return them to normal.
In the initial usage phase of the FRANXX, entire squads would die off, taking the klaxosaurs down with them. They developed weapons that worked on klaxosaurs. After massive sacrifices, they started formulating an effective way to kill them. The Garden was founded as a facility to nature the children and the plantations were fitted with a quarantine zone for parasites, Mistilteinn. Because parasites needed emotions, they found that antiquated environments were best suited to raising them. Their health is monitored in extreme detail, and everything is controlled to keep them in the best possible shape. Eventually, the "adults" forgot about the existence of klaxosaurs and obtained eternal tedium. He says that, at that time, his interest of the future of mankind had faded, and he engrossed himself in research into a perfected lifeform. A strange rumor began that said the klaxosaurs had a leader and APE discovered where it was hiding.
Papa tells him that he can go under the condition that he bring back a sample of DNA.
They found remains of an unknown, ancient civilization. A voice asks why they are there and why they kill their brethren. Werner realizes that she's transmitting directly into their brains. A member of SP says they're being surrounded. She says that they're needlessly belligerent. Everyone but Werner is killed and she orders that he be brought to her.
She appears before him and he thinks she's the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life. She orders him to hold out his hand and then she sniffs it. She says she smells her brethren on him and that his sins are far too grave to be punished with mere death. She licks his hand and bites off his arm. He says that he remained in love with her and might have already lost all of his humanity. She spits out his arm and tells him to tell his kind not to lay a hand on her brethren anymore.
Looking at his robotic hand, Hiro asks that Misturu and Kokoro's memories be returned. Papa refuses and says that they removed the unnecessary information and there is no way to return them. The rest of the parasites are distressed and the Vice Chairman says that what they're doing is a severe breach of protocol and would normally be punished, but they'll let it off with a mere mention on their record. He says to return to their waiting quarters. Futoshi demands that they apologize. Zorome asks how many klaxosaurs they have to kill before they can become adults. They don't answer and Zorome asks what they're living for. Hiro says that they took away Zero Two and his precious memories as well as Kokoro and Mitsuru's. He says they can't see him as their Papa and to set them free once the battle is over. Papa agrees, as long as they fulfill their duties in next mission. Then they hang up. Dr. FRANXX tells them to show whether they can become real humans. Hiro says he saw him in Zero Two's memories and that he can't forgive him before walking out.
Zero Two sits outside. He stares at her horns and she calls him a pervert. He smiles and tells her that they made their decision. He holds out his hand and they walk away. The doctor watches them walk away holding hands.
He narrates that fate is more often cruel, but it can be powerless in the face of desire. He thinks that she would hate him if she knew.
In a flashback, Werner Frank wakes up in his hospital bed with a fist full of the Klaxosaur Princess' hair and makes an embryo out of it.
=== Appearances ===
* Dr. FRANXX
* Marmoset
* Vice Chairman
* Papa
* Gorilla
* Baboon
* Karina Milsa
* Futoshi
* Kokoro
* Mitsuru
* Goro
* Zorome
* Ichigo
* Miku
* Ikuno
* Hiro
* 001
* Zero Two
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode represents how humans, namely the adults, lost their humanity, along with many other losses and damage to the planet, in order to become immortal.
== A New World ==
: "We won't become ADULTS. We just keep on fighting until we die. That's what we were born and raised for. But, we're about to decide our own future. We're finally ready to take flight. Now is the time for us, nestlings, to leave the nest."—Zorome
A New World is the 20th episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
With much sacrifice, the Gran Crevasse was successfully captured. In the basement, a klaxosaur mega-weapon called Star Entity slept. If humanity could start it, it would be possible to put an end to the long fight with the klaxosaurs. There was no way the Klaxosaur Princess could accept that, so she tried to crush the Gran Crevasse with full strength. While Dr. FRANXX searches for her, APE gives orders against Hiro and Zero Two. Hiro declares that Squad 13 will no longer follow Papa's instructions after this battle.
=== Plot ===
Nana's replacement explains to Squad 13 that the Star Entity is now under their control and they'll be booting it up the next day. The FRANXX squads are tasked with keeping all enemies away from it. Miku asks where Nana is, and she replies that she is Nana. She introduces herself as Code 007 and says that she's been appointed the new caretaker of Squad 13. Ichigo asks what the Star Entity is, and Nana says it's a klaxosaur weapon. Ichigo asks if it's risky, but Nana simply smiles.
Gorilla says that they don't need to worry and Baboon says that that's why they modified it for so long. Another says that they're implanting Strelizia in Star Entity's core. Papa says to Zero Two that it is for that purpose that they raised her. She is unimpressed, but Hiro grabs her hand and asks what happens after that. Papa says that the future will belong to humanity if they defeat the klaxosaurs. He says they won't call him "Papa" anymore and they'll control their own destiny.
Hachi tells Dr. FRANXX that Hringhorni is ready for action. Dr. FRANXX asks if a massive spear built using Klaxosaur cores was necessary. He asks how Nana is, and Hachi answers that she's briefing the squad. He says that he didn't mean that Nana, but says to do as he likes.
As the squad eats snacks, Futoshi tells Goro that both Kokoro and Mitsuru took off their rings. Goro is surprised he noticed and begins to ask if he's not over her, but stops and apologizes. Kokoro suddenly spills her water and runs to the bathroom to throw up. Miku, Ichigo, and Ikuno follow her and Ikuno says that it'd been happening a lot lately. Ichigo suggests maybe Kokoro shouldn't go along with them during the upcoming mission. Kokoro says Papa sent her back even after erasing her memories, so she must fight for him, even if she dies. Miku is shocked and hugs her, saying that none of them belong to Papa and they have to leave their mark on the future, just like she said. Kokoro is perplexed by Miku’s words.
On D-Day, at Bird Nest, all the parasites from every plantation attend the assembly. Vice Chairman says that APE has always desired peace and prosperity for mankind. Marmoset tells them to offer all of themselves. Papa says they will finally prevail. 9'α watches the squad and becomes annoyed when he sees Zero Two yawn.
After the assembly, the 9's mock Squad 13 by telling them that they are not special. Zero Two steps forward and says they're all stronger than them since they have their eyes on the future. This angers 9'α and he says that Papa only treats them differently because they're his tools before they all walk away. The squad is thankful to Zero Two for standing up for them but are interrupted by a siren.
An announcer says that a klaxosaur pack is headed towards Gran Crevasse. All the parasites activate their FRANXX and begin heading out. Kokoro rubs her ring finger and Mitsuru says they were partners, so they should be able to connect. However, Kokoro appears troubled.
At the Gran Crevasse ruins, the FRANXX attack the klaxosaurs. When Mitsuru compliments Kokoro for fighting well, he initially calls her by her code number but then says her nickname, and he gets a sharp pain in his head. Kokoro asks what’s wrong and says Mitsuru's name, causing her to feel the same pain. Fear-stricken, they surmise the pain is because they said each other’s names. Genista’s connection starts to falter as a result and the other FRANXX jump in to help them.
Hiro, Zero Two, Dr. FRANXX, and Hachi go down an elevator with Strelizia. Hiro and Zero Two discuss their plans and Zero Two says she doesn't care as long as they're together. She is about to say something about the last page of the book but stops herself. They kiss as they promise to be together forever.
As they reach the bottom of Gran Crevasse, Zero Two hears something coming and they leave. One of the snake klaxosaurs break through the wall, but 001 says she won't allow them to do what they wish with their child. Dr. FRANXX asks if she's there to take back Star Entity, but he says she can't since she's the last surviving klaxosapien. Dr. FRANXX says he'll operate it with her since he always dreamed of it since they met. 001 suddenly pins him down and says she needs no partner, but she will use the one he's offered.
Strelizia tries to open a gate, but can't. 001 catches up and pulls Zero Two out, saying that she's a duplicate that does not realize she is being used by the invaders. 001 says she isn't fit to pilot their child before throwing her out. She kisses Hiro and says he must not be an ordinary human before closing the door. 001 says she will devour him and opens the door.
At Cosmos, Gorilla says that the worst has come to pass and the work on Zero Two will be in vain. Marmoset says that if she connects to Star Entity, they'll be defeated. The Vice Chairman says they've already taken measures.
Hachi and Dr. FRANXX see that she connected to Strelizia, and Dr. FRANXX falls into Hachi. He says he wasn't expecting 001 to link with a human and thinks she will devour once again.
Hiro asks 001 how she can pilot Strelizia. 001 says it was originally one of their brethren. Her horns begin glowing and she sends a message to the pilots. Dr. FRANXX and Hachi hear it as well. Dr. FRANXX says that he found that the klaxosapiens split into two forms. One returned to the earth and became energy. Baboon says that calling it stealing is an affront. Gorilla says that the magma energy is part of the planet's resources that saved humans from ruin. 001 says they're selfish and asks if they now want to steal her child. 001 says she will not allow it and that the child is a crystallization of their bonds.
9'α tells 001 not to talk down to Papa. Dr. FRANXX finishes that the other form consumed that energy and evolved physically and stopped mingling with one another and lost their intelligence. Hachi asks what they are, and he says weapons built by the klaxosapiens. They are composed of one male and one female klaxosapien. The female's soul connected to the weapon and the male's soul took root in the core, the cockpit. Hachi says that it's similar to the FRANXX. Dr. FRANXX says they're an application of the klaxosaur system. Klaxosaurs that can be piloted by humans genetically modified to be similar. The parasites are shocked by this revelation and deduce the S - Planning drilling facility was actually digging up klaxosaurs to create the FRANXX and they'd been kept in the dark about everything.
001 tells her child to awaken since they're nearly there. She begins the implanting process. Papa says that he was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but they have no choice. Vice Chairman says they wanted to take it and Hringhorni to space as soldiers. Papa says that, if they can't have it, then it can go down along with the planet and they will return to their original roles.
Klaxosaurs begin popping out from the ground and shooting into space. They shoot spaceships in the sky. Star Entity wakes up and Dr. FRANXX says its beautiful. 001 says that the humans made her ugly, but it's okay. She says a long time ago when they were attacked by invaders from the expanse of space, they fought and drove them off and then holed up in the earth to prepare. They shoot at a VIRM fleet. They shoot back and 001 says that she won't let them touch their planet. It shoots back and destroys it. Papa says its futile and she asks what VIRM did to their child. Papa and vice chairman's masks fall and the Vice Chairman says that Star Entity is a mass of life that could disturb the universe's peace. Papa says that if the klaxosaur princess took over the implanting process, they programmed it to explode. They say that the planet will explode and leave nothing behind. Papa says that they'll take them to eternal paradise.
Zero Two continues to walk staggering and says she'll keep her promise to Hiro.
=== Appearances ===
* Nana's replacement
* Kokoro
* Ikuno
* Ichigo
* Miku
* Futoshi
* Zorome
* Goro
* Mitsuru
* Gorilla
* Baboon
* Dr. FRANXX
* Papa
* Vice Chairman
* Marmoset
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Hachi
* 9'α
* 9'β
* 9'γ
* 9'δ
* 9'ε
* 9'ζ
* 9'ζ
* 9'ζ
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode could represent the squad’s motivation to move on to living lives beyond piloting the FRANX by participating in the final battle against the Klaxosaurs.
== For You, My Love ==
: "We are the defenders of this planet. Once upon a time, during a long battle, we turned ourselves into an immortal weapon. Except fighting, all was lost, so we went to sleep at the bottom of death, our bond was to prepare for the returning invader."—001
For You, My Love is the 21st Episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Strelizia gets hijacked by the Klaxosaur Princess. With this key, Star Entity starts up under her control.
Suddenly, a mysterious creature is seen in the sky from the battlefield of humans and klaxosaurs. Papa's true form - VIRM, is revealed to be the true enemy. It is also revealed that the klaxosaurs were painted as the enemies so they would be killed off.
VIRM attacks both humans and klaxosaurs. Meanwhile, Zero Two, thrown out of Strelizia, hears about Dr. FRANXX's shocking relationship between himself and the Klaxosaur Princess...
=== Plot ===
Vice Chairman announces that it is VIRM's will for star energy, which is a mass of life that could disturb the universe's peace. Papa says that if the klaxosaur princess took over the implanting process, they programmed it to explode. The other members of the counsel are confused and Papa explains that they have assimilated several lifeforms from all over the universe and helped them break free of the shells of their bodies. Vice Chairman says that the time has come for humans to embrace their evolution. They say that there exists a form of pleasure that is gentle and perpetual that they will experience. The three fall to the ground dead after their souls are absorbed by VIRM and the souls from the adults in the Plantations are absorbed, killing them all.
Hiro curses as 001 struggles. He connects to her consciousness and sees that her mind resembles a galaxy. He wonders how long has she been alive because she has existed long before humanity existed. He asks if she's been alone since humanity existed. Zero Two walks along looking for Hiro despite bleeding profusely from the injury of her arm. The VIRM begins attacking he klaxosaurs and numerous parasites are killed as well. Squad 13 wonders who they should be fighting. Zorome says the klaxosaurs because that’s how it’s always been. Kokoro doesn’t care because she feels obligated to keep fighting, which worries Mitsuru. Goro says he heard about the Star Entity detonating as a bomb to destroy the planet. Mitsuru says he heard the VIRM are invaders. Ichigo tells everyone to return to Gran Crevasse to figure it out themselves and to check on Hiro and Zero Two.
Dr. FRANXX says that the detonation stalled once Hiro connected because he is a foreign factor to Star Entity and it can be triggered by stampede mode. Hachi wonders how much time is left and Dr. Franxx calculates the countdown which is 72 minutes. Zero Two says that he bought them some time before collapsing.
001 says that VIRM got her and that it's no use. Hiro asks about VIRM and how long she'd been alive. 001 says that it has been more than sixty million years. They inhabited Earth as an advanced civilization. One day, VIRM arrived. They were a group mind with no physical bodies, and they wanted them to cast aside their bodies and join. During war, they forged themselves into immortal weapons and evolved into Klaxosaurs. By the time they fought off VIRM, fighting and warfare were all that remained of their civilization and they lost their ability to procreate. The enemy they fought off was VIRM's vanguard. To prepare for their return, they went underground and the weak turned themselves into energy, and the strong combined to evolve into even stronger weapons.
Zero Two wakes up and says that 001 called her a fake. Dr. FRANXX says that 001 is the sole survivor of the klaxo sapiens, and she is her clone. She was created to operate Star Entity on behalf of the human race as it can only be operated by a klaxo sapien. He says that there were several specimen who failed to survive and she was the only success. He also created the 9‘s with her cells though they didn’t inherit klaxosaur abilities. Squad 13 is confronted by the 9’s. Alpha asks why they are not in their positions and orders them to follow Papa’s orders. Ichigo shouts they can’t get in touch with him and need to analyze the situation to make their own decisions. Delta berates them for thinking they are special and Papa’s orders are absolute before the 9’s rush into battle, killing countless klaxosaurs. Zorome calls them crazy and the group resumes returning to Gran Crevasse. Kokoro briefly hesitates before Mitsuru asks her to go and she agrees. When two of the 9’s are then brutally killed by VIRM, Alpha goes into a murderous rage, who begins killing both klaxosaurs and VIRM.
Zero Two announces she is going to rescue Hiro and doesn’t care about anything else because she and Hiro made a promise to be together forever. Dr. Franxx says he will go to. The FRANXX break though while taking down two VIRM soldiers and Zero Two smiles as she realizes they came to help her. Dr. Franxx says Zero Two, Hiro and the princess may be ae to create a miracle but this is just a theory. More VIRM start following them and they run into a corridor that is caved in. Kokoro says she will stay behind to defend them but Miku refuses to let her throw her life away and Mitsuru tells Kokoro to let everyone work together. Ikuno and Futoshi decide to clear the path in full power despite Ichigo’s warning not to, but after doing so, Chlorophytum shuts down and Ikuno’s hair turns grey. Ichigo tells everyone else to take care of Ikuno before she and Goro leave with Zero Two and Dr. Franxx.
001 and Hiro continue to struggle and she says it’s over. Hiro asks if it really is and she can’t do anything. He says they are similar because they both believed their purpose in life was to fight and die in battle, but thanks to Zero Two, Hiro now fights to live.
Hringhorni begins flying. Alpha asks Papa to say something. Dr. FRANXX and Zero Two arrive at the Star Entity entrance. A VIRM tried to attack them and Delphinium fights it, losing a limb in the process but lunges at the VIRM and both fall down a shaft. Dr. FRANXX sacrifices his arm to open the door as it contains 001's cells, though he wanted them to turn him into a klaxosaur like he wanted but it’s the least he can do to atone. One of the princess’ snakes approaches them and offers Zero Two to ride with it and Dr. Franxx tells her to go. She asks him if he took her to Plantation 13 to reunite her with Hiro. He says he wasn't expecting them to rekindle what they had, just a whim. Smiling, she says whatever the reason was, she thanks him for creating her and helping her meet Hiro. After she goes, he wonders how she became so human.
As they arrive at Star Entity’s core, where Strelizia is, the snake throws Zero Two out and it dies. She opens the door to Strelizia and sees Hiro is nearly consumed by the virus. She tries to revive him and begs for him to wake up, realizing he is close to death and is covered in blood. The countdown ends and Hachi says that they'd run out of time. Zero Two’s horns break free and her skin turns red and she kisses him. 001 watches them and says she understands what Hiro meant; by casting aside their bodies and emotions, they believed they could achieve strength and emerge victorious. She sacrifices herself by giving the rest of her strength to them and stake the planet for them.
In their consciousnesses, two reunite under a mistletoe tree after keeping their promise. They kiss and the bomb disintegrates. It breaks the virus program, causing Strelizia to evolve into Strelizia Apath before the new FRANXX begins attacking VIRM. Dr. FRANXX is infatuated with Strelizia Apath and finds her beautiful before a rock falls on him and kills him. VIRM takes their leave and withdraws. Papa says that they will bring back their army to destroy all of Earth. Hringhorni begins to fly away and Strelizia tries to stop it but it escapes. The other Squad 13 FRANXX and pilots are seen to have survived their siege.
Panting, Hiro smiles and says to Zero Two that they did it. She doesn't respond, and her face is lifeless as the last of her horns crumble.
=== Appearances ===
* Squad 13
* 9's
* Dr. FRANXX
* Hachi
* 001
* Papa
* Vice Chairman
=== Trivia ===
The name of this episode is in reference to Zero Two’s willingness to do anything to save Hiro, whom she truly loves.
== Stargazers ==
: "Things keep changing. Until now, food, shelter, a reason to live, even a place to die, everything was only given to us. But that's over too. Now, we have woken up from that long dream and we will never go back to being CHILDREN. That choice, we made it on our own."—Goro and Ichigo
Stargazers is the 22nd episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
The fight between humans and the klaxosaurs was over. In order to fight off VIRM, the true enemy, the klaxosaurs left the ground one after another and went up into space. Among them was Strelitzia Apus which no one was riding. The surviving parasites started a new life. Even though they were being thrown into a harsh environment, they survived without relying on the adults. Meanwhile, Hiro tended to Zero Two who seemingly became empty after the battle.
=== Plot ===
Goro narrates that no man ever steps in the same river twice and that Hiro told him that saying. He says that he recently had been recalling those words and what they mean frequently.
The parasites work in the fields and harvest crops to survive. They stop when klaxosaur ships blast off into space and remember when Strelitzia did the same thing after the battle was over. Hiro tries to feed Zero Two but she won't open her mouth. He notices blood oozing through her clothes and rolls up her sleeves to find a mysterious cut he can’t explain.
The parasites of Plantation 13 hold a meeting about their supplies and resources. Miku suggests they increase the rations but Ichigo replies that won’t do because they have enough rations for another year. Zorome mentions the crops are growing well, and Miku compliments Kokoro on her knowledge of plants and how much it's helped them. Mitsuru mentions the power to the water system is down. When Futoshi is asked about the water purifier's efficiency, he says its efficiency has dropped too. He wonders if they should keep using magma energy. Miku and Zorome answer that they have no choice but are interrupted by Kokoro suddenly becoming nauseous. She excuses herself to lie down and a concerned Mitsuru attempts to follow her but stops himself. They ask Hiro what he thinks about magma energy, but he doesn't answer. Ichigo smiles and says that they have to survive in any way possible. After the meeting, Ichigo reminds Hiro to ask if he needs anything.
A girl runs up to Ichigo and says they have a problem. Ichigo goes to see the 9's, who are gravely ill and bedridden, saying she heard they refused to eat since the day before. Alpha answers that they need maintenance rather than food. She leaves the food and exits the room. Alpha throws his pillow across the room and curses in pain.
Goro goes to the new Nana for more water and maintenance but she refuses, saying she needs Papa's approval. Though Goro says that they might die, she doesn't change her mind and is indifferent, making Goro uneasy and back away from her. Goro brings Ichigo, who is looking at some paperwork, a hot beverage and discusses what the new Nana said. Ichigo remembers the same saying from Hiro and Goro hopes that Hiro and Zero Two get better soon. Hiro finds more cuts on her arm. The next day, as the parasites work on the field, Ichigo notices how tired Ikuno looks and advises her not to push herself. Hiro runs out and apologizes for being late. Goro tells him he looks tired and to sit the day out, but Hiro declines. They are then interrupted by something crashing into the earth. They find a VIRM soldier and Klaxosaur in a crater, as both had killed each other out. A group of Klaxosaur spaceships fly to the sky. Kokoro becomes nauseous again and collapses in Miku’s arms. As Miku pleads for help, Kokoro sees Mitsuru kneel next to her and call out her name despite the pain he feels doing so. She then passes out.
In the infirmary, the new Nana informs Kokoro that her test results show traces of human chorionic gonadotropin, which is hormone secreted during pregnancy. Kokoro and the others are confused about what ‘pregnancy’ means, and Ikuno asks what it means. After being told what it is, everyone is shocked. Mitsuru realizes he is the father of her unborn child and falls to the ground in shock. Kokoro grasps her bed sheets and trembles from the shock. The new Nana tells her that a pregnant pistil cannot pilot a FRANXX and recommends abortion as a treatment. She says to let her know what she decides to do before leaving. Kokoro panics and asks what she should do. Miku and the other girls comfort her. Mitsuru sits on the floor, shell-shocked, as Ichigo asks the boys to leave the room.
In the hallway, the boys are silently walking when Mitsuru stops. He is troubled with what he should do and asks Hiro what the right choice is. Futoshi tries to tell him something before Hiro says he doesn’t know what is right and wrong anymore. When Hiro returns to his room, he finds that Zero Two isn't there. He runs to find her and, when he finds her standing and looking at the sky from a window, he asks if she's normal again. She doesn't answer and blankly looks at the sky. The next day, as Miku and Ikuno tend to other parasites, Goro yells for them to come quickly. They find all their crops have withered despite following the instructions. They see a carrier ship and run to find Nana, who is in a wheelchair, and Hachi.
In a flashback, Nana and Hachi enter a room together under Dr. FRANXX's orders. Hachi finds a database of adults and all of their memories have been copied and archived. Nana asks why he didn't just abandon her since she doesn't serve a purpose anymore. The database reveals a hidden room in the doctor’s laboratory. They travel to the room where the children, including Naomi, who were deemed unfit, are in a cryostasis state. Hachi tells her that he received an email from Dr. FRANXX after the siege of Gran Crevasse that was set to go off after his death, telling Hachi to retrieve Nana and for them to become the children's new adults. Nana wonders how she should do this when the children run up to them. Miku cries and asks her to save them. Hachi inspects the fields and tells them that the extracting of magma energy has stripped the soil of life. Everyone goes quiet. Zorome fidgety tries to say that doesn’t mean they are going to die but Goro and Futoshi stay quiet. Ikuno says at the end, they were rejected by the planet. Miku starts crying. Ichigo collapses and Ikuno runs to her side as it begins to rain. Back at the Bird Nest, Hiro frantically searches for Zero Two again. While Kokoro holds her abdomen in the infirmary, Mitsuru attempts to knock on her door but stops himself.
Goro gives Ikuno pills and she says that Ichigo collapsed from overwork. Ikuno adds that Ichigo has been so busy caring for and worrying about everyone else that she has been neglecting herself. Goro becomes angry and runs to Hiro in the hallway, telling Hiro that he wants to figure something out about the fields. Hiro spots Zero Two standing in the rain and runs off, leaving Goro behind. Hiro grabs Zero Two’s hand and tries to get her to come inside or she will fall ill. Then, there is an explosion in the sky and two cuts appear on Zero Two's arm. He brings her back to her room and puts her to bed.
After changing their clothes, Miku asks Hiro if he needs anything else but he says no. After Miku leaves, Hiro notices Zero Two‘s picture book on her bed table. Flipping through the book, he notices she left the last page to him. Hiro realizes she deliberately left it blank because she foresaw they would part ways one day and cries. When he touches their horns together, he sees a vision of Strelizia Apath Apus in space and being attacked by a VIRM fleet, causing Zero Two to be inflicted by the same injuries sustained by Strelizia. He falls to the floor, horrified to find she's mentally in space, fighting VIRM in Strelizia.
Hachi and Goro discover the ruins of Mistilteinn through a satellite camera. Hachi says Mistilteinn contains soil from the planet before it became a desert and that they can use that to grow crops. Goro runs off to tell everyone. After he leaves, Hachi notices Hiro in the doorway. When Goro tells Squad 13, they become excited. They notice Hiro in the doorway, and he says he has to talk to them about something. He tells them that he will be travelling to space and rescue Zero Two, who is fighting VIRM. Miku is confused and Hiro explains her body is in her room but her mind is with Strelizia, which makes Goro more confused. Hiro says he will be using a klaxosaur ship the klaxosaurs left behind. Squad 13 tells him that it is a dangerous mission in which he will probably get killed. Hiro acknowledges this and says he can never forgive himself if he leaves Zero Two before he leaves the room.
Goro is enraged and confronts Hiro, telling him they need to work together to survive. Hiro says he understands how they feel but he also wants them to understand him too. This angers Goro further, accusing Hiro of being selfish by going out on a mission that will likely get him killed while disregarding everyone else’s feelings and their efforts to survive. Hiro again understands what he means but says he still has to go, his eyes and horns glowing blue, shocking his friends who were unaware he had been growing horns. When Goro again protests because Hiro is not considering the people who care for him and are trying to protect him, Hiro replies he would rather be dead if Zero Two didn’t smile at him. Goro punches him, and Zorome and Futoshi hold him back while Ichigo looks on with tears in her eyes.
Miku, Futoshi, Ikuno and Zorome sit outside together and watch a meteor shower. Miku wonders if they'll ever find something that they're willing to die for but Ikuno says it’s different for everyone. Ichigo thanks Goro for what he said to Hiro, but he says that it was all about him. He admitted he the one that was scared about the world they live in. She sits next to him and says Hiro’s old saying, and says that they all have to find their own path in life because their lives have just begun. Close by, Mitsuru stands by with a determined expression and holds something in his pocket while Kokoro keeps to herself in her room. Alpha meets with Hachi, with a determined look on his face. Nana comes across a traumatized parasite girl and forces herself out of her wheelchair to comfort the girl. Hiro and Zero Two hold hands and sleep by the window.
The next morning, Hiro gets ready to leave when he is met by his squad mates waiting for him, dressed in their parasite suites. They explain they have decided to go with him to rescue Zero Two. Zorome says they are not doing this for Hiro but they want to take out VIRM in revenge. Futoshi says waiting for the VIRM to kill them isn’t their style. Miku says their lives have just begun and Ikuno agrees. Nana instructs the new Nana to take care of things, such as Kokoro, while they are gone. As Kokoro is pregnant and hasn’t made a decision on whether to abort or give birth, she is unable to go on this mission and stands by the new Nana. The three surviving members of the 9's have also decided to go with him because they have chosen to make the battlefield their burial place. Ichigo says they don’t intend to die and will come back to grow crops and survive. Goro tells Hiro that because this is Hiro’s decision, he won’t fight it and now they are even, and this is the path they have chosen to live, moving Hiro to tears. Mitsuru, dressed in uniform instead of his parasite suit, approaches Hiro and says something while Kokoro watches.
Goro narrates that everything changes like the flow of the river. Everyone is all the same with their own choices but if that part of nature scares you and if you don’t accept what you already have and should appreciate, you will never grasp the future ahead. Which is why they decided to reach out.
=== Appearances ===
* New Nana
* Nana
* Hachi
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Goro
* Ichigo
* Zorome
* Miku
* Mitsuru
* Kokoro
* Futoshi
* Ikuno
* 9'α
* 9'β
* 9'γ
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to the moment the squad contemplates their future in midst of a meteor shower.
== DARLING in the FRANXX ==
: "If I look up, I see thousands of lives shining deep in the sky. So far away and although I try, I just can't reach out. Yet, even with broken wings, we'll fly away once again. For the promise we must keep. For the future we must pass on. "—Kokoro and Mitsuru
DARLING in the FRANXX (Furankisu) is the twenty-third episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Hiro wants to reunite with Zero Two, who is mentally connected to Strelizia Apus and travels to space with other parasites. The ship's fleet gathers in Mars airspace. There, there is a fierce and massive battle that is too large to compare with what was done on the ground by the ship's fleet and VIRM.
=== Plot ===
Kokoro narrates how everyone has their own feelings and they all believe this is their final battle. However, she was having a different feeling and she doesn’t know what to do with it.
Kokoro and Mitsuru watch as the other parasites blast off into space. Earlier, Mitsuru told Hiro he would be staying behind and Hiro said he understood because Mitsuru wanted to try to reconcile with Kokoro, who was surprised. She asks Mitsuru why he stayed behind because he could’ve chosen another partner and gone with them. He says he wanted to and it’s his responsibility as well. She says she doesn't expect anything from him since they don’t remember anything and tells him not to mind her, although this troubles him. Zero Two blankly watches the sky.
The FRANXX fly into space and Miku asks Zorome if he's okay as they randonmly fly Argentea. Everyone is amazed how natural it feels to be in space and they can move more freely. Futoshi is impressed with the FRANXXs’ new weapons and it feels like they have become a real time. Zorome says they have always been a time. Nana and Hachi wonder if they were left with the equipment on purpose by the klaxosaurs. Nana wonders if Hiro is right about the klaxosaurs and Hachi surmises this means humanity has been allowed to join the fight to defend Earth but Nana wonders if they have that right. Hiro is amazed he and Alpha are able to connect, and he tells Hiro that the Nines can be both stamens and pistils. But Alpha says Hiro puts too much strain on his partner and no ordinary pistil can handle that and Nana says Alpha is not in the best shape either. Alpha asks Hiro to give him a taste of what he can do and flies the FRANXX in speed mode. Hiro says that it feels like Zero Two, and he agrees that he's her clone after all. Alpha expresses his amazement that his final partner is a human. Hachi tells everyone to return to the ship.
Kokoro asks Zero Two what she sees as she bandages her fresh injuries. She sadly says everyone is fighting in space but not her because she isn't a parasite anymore as she rubs her stomach. Mitsuru works in the fields but is still keeping a close eye on Kokoro. Hachi is able to work the ship and Nana is curious how the panels are similar to the humans‘. Hachi thinks this means klaxo sapiens were similar to humans. The monitor shows Strelizia is heading towards Mars’ orbit and they are tagging behind. Nana admits she doesn’t want to watch the children hurt themselves any more and finds it odd because she had watched over them for so long as tools for warfare. Hachi asks if that feeling is wrong because their sole purpose in life was to fight but if this is their final battle, she will be needed in their lives afterwards.
On the dock, Goro and Ichigo meet with Hiro, who is looking at a picture. Ichigo assures they will rescue Zero Two no matter what and reminds Goro he has something to say. Goro apologizes for hitting Hiro, who playfully nudges him and says it's fine. Alpha watches them nearby. They spot a VIRM fleet surrounding Strelizia and ship accelerates, and creates a shield when VIRM begins attacking. Hiro and Alpha head straight into the battle with everyone tasked with providing backup. The VIRM blocks the FRANXX units from reaching Strelizia. Ichigo tells Hiro to head straight through while they will cover him. Zorome plows Argentea through the fleet to let Hiro through to where Strelizia is. However Hiro and Alpha are cornered by a massive VIRM and are unable to land a direct blow on it. Alpha says this is as far as he can go and launches Hiro into Stelizia and tells him that he learned a bit about being human, but his home is the battle field. He asks Hiro to tell Iota hi for him before self destructing, killing himself and the VIRM.
Hiro makes his way to the cockpit and recalls his promise to be with Zero Two forever, wondering why she chose to leave him behind. The catatonic Zero Two falls to the ground and more injuries appear on her body while reaching for the sky and Kokoro tries to stop her. Her consciousness reaches Strelizia and the pistil seat is filled with mechanical wires that surround Hiro. Hiro, realizing it is her, tells her to devour him. He enters her conciousness and finds that her mind is filled with pictures from her picture book. She asks him why he came and he says he wanted to see her. She asks him to stay away but he refuses because he wants to be with her, and she says they can’t be together because she wants him to remain human.
A VIRM fires an attack at the ship and the two other 9’s intervene and decide to “go in a blaze of glory”. Meanwhile Nana and Hachi run to another ship. The ship is hit by a blast and Hachi is injured for trying to shield Nana. He tells her to go on alone, but she refuses because its also his responsibility to look after the children and they walk away together. After escaping in another ship, they notice the ship was equipped with a bomb. They then hear the voices of Papa and Vice Chairman, who tells them to surrender and become one with them for the sake of ending a cycle of hatred and discrimination. Hachi says adults would have found this utopia. Nana says not the children, who have chosen their own destiny. Hachi adds it’s not a matter of right or wrong but this is simply the path the children have chosen. The other 9’s are killed after being accosted by VIRM soldiers. Ichigo says the battle is getting intense and Zorome wonders what is taking Hiro so long. Goro says not to worry because Hiro has always pulled through and Futoshi reminds them about Kokoro and Mitsuru on Earth.
The effects of the battle creates a severe thunderstorm on Earth. Kokoro is holding Zero Two when Mitsuru tries to help her get inside but she refuses to leave Zero Two. When Mitsuru says it will be bad for her, she cries out she doesn’t care because she is not a parasite anymore and has nothing left but she can only protect Zero Two. Mitsuru decides to stay with them but she begs him to leave her alone because she doesn’t hold him responsible for her and the baby. He insists he is not trying to be responsible and if she has nothing, he doesn’t either but he has found a reason to live, which is to protect Kokoro and their baby. Although he thinks of himself as a weakling and he doesn’t understand what love is, he believes they can find it together and he can keep going forward as long as she is with him. He shows her his wedding ring. She asks him why does he still have it and why he calls her name even though it hurts him. He says even if saying her name causes him pain and they don’t have their memories, they can start over and he will call her name as much as she wants. Kokoro shows she also has her wedding ring and cries out to him, and they cry together as they embrace and reconcile.
Zero Two tells Hiro she wants him remain human and insists she is fine with being alone but Hiro calls her a liar and asks if that is true, why is the last page of her book blank. He offers his hand to her and asks her to let him stay with her so they can rewrite that story together. On Earth, Zero Two smiles and her body turns into stone. Hiro embraces her and vows to never let her go. Strelizia evolves into the Strelizia True Apus and eliminates the VIRM fleets. Two satellites emerge from nearby rocks and create a warp gate. Zero Two explains the klaxo sapiens created them a long time ago. She and Hiro decide to enter the warp hole and leave the solar system. Their friends are confused and ask them why not return to Earth now that he got to meet with Zero Two again. Hiro says Strelizia is connected with the gate’s system and neither of them can stop it, and the gate will close soon anyway. Ichigo asks why they have to go and Zero Two says it’s to end the war and takes a bomb from within the ship. Ichigo suggests they all go but Hiro declines because only Strelizia can withstand going through. Ikuno says the enemy’s fleet will be much larger if they go and Hiro says that’s why they need to take them by surprise. Ichigo refuses to let them go but then says, by leader’s orders, they better come back alive. Goro agrees and Futoshi says the squad isn’t the same without them. Ichigo asks Zero Two to come back with Hiro so they can build a home, moving Zero Two to tears. She promises to come back with her darling.
On Earth, Kokoro and Mitsuru are holding hands and wearing their wedding rings. Strelizia enters the warp gate as Kokoro recounts how everyone has their own feelings and was later told her how beautiful Strelizia looked, and all they can do now for Hiro and Zero Two is pray for a happy ending. In the cockpit, Hiro looks at the wedding photo the group took.
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode shares the same one as Episode 06. It symbolizes Hiro and Zero Two coming together again as Hiro vows to be with her forever and their reunion imitating the marriage scene of Zero Two’s picture book.
== Never Let Me Go ==
: "The distant skies. Beyond time and distance. An overwhelmingly long journey just for the two of us. You're a part of me. I'm a part of you. I'll remember your warmth, along with the memories we've made together. I'll never let you go again!"—Hiro and Zero Two
Never Let Me Go is the twenty-fourth and final episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.
=== Synopsis ===
Hiro and Zero Two, after separating from their squadmates, travel to the end of the universe with Strelizia True Apus to settle it once and for all with VIRM. Continuing to fly in just dark space is like nothing else - the journey that seems like forever eventually makes Hiro lose his sense of time. On the other hand, on Earth, the parasites who returned from space started living their own lives. They reconstructed Mistilteinn, awakened the comatose children, and witnessed the birth of a new life. While they encountered separation time and again, they took it day by day, trying to become adults they wished to be.
=== Plot ===
70 days (2 months) after opening the gate, Hiro and Zero Two travel through space. Hiro notes how he hasn’t had the need to eat and sleep since they left Earth, and wonders if he is becoming a full klaxosaur. Zero Two asks him if he is scared but he says no because he feels like he is becoming part of her. They come across a large swarm of VIRM soldiers and proceed to wipe them out.
On Earth, 72 days after the gate passage, Kokoro enters the third month of her pregnancy and her stomach is noticeably bigger. The new Nana makes arrangements to get her maternity clothes, which makes Mitsuru glad. She also insists Kokoro be given special treatment because she will be the first parasite to give birth and thus must set a precedent for the others. The other parasites return to the plantations and find plants are still alive. Ichigo, Goro, Miku, Zorome, Futoshi, and Ikuno see that Miltisteinn has been destroyed and are sad. Noticing the plants are thriving after they seemed to be dying before, Ikuno says it’s a miracle. Zorome comments how much they went through and Miku wonders if Mistilteinn protected them this whole time. Goro says they can make a fresh start. They begin harvesting the soil and plants, and Goro teaches other parasites how to farm in the fields to grow crops. All the parasites managers rendezvous to cultivate a new way of living for the parasites. Ikuno begins researching and when Ichigo asks what the documents are needed for, Ikuno says there is something she wants to get done.
As Kokoro teaches some of the girls how to sew, Mitsuru asks her if she needs anything but she assures him she is fine. Zorome and Futoshi come running in and offer her food they say has good nutrients, and she thanks them. They then decide to head back to the fields and have to drag a reluctant Mitsuru with them because he doesn't want to leave Kokoro's side. Ichigo and Goro talk about Hiro and Zero Two while looking at the sky. She says she can’t help but feel guilty for living peacefully while those two are fighting. Goro assures her to believe them. In space, Hiro notes how he doesn’t recognize the stars because they are so far away from Earth and the perspective is different. Zero Two suggests they create their own constellation before they come across more VIRM and proceeding to destroy them.
245 days (8 months) after the gate passage, Mitsuru rushes towards Kokoro's hospital room. He finds that she has given birth to a baby girl and he falls to his knees, overcome with shock and love for his daughter. Kokoro refers to Mitsuru as ‘papa’ and tells their daughter that he’s here. Mitsuru reaches his finger out to touch the baby’s hand and she grabs his finger, and he breaks down crying. In the hallway, everyone congratulates Mitsuru for becoming the first parasite to be a father, particularly Futoshi who hugs him and declares him as the first father.
Shortly after, the comatose children, including Naomi, are awakened and join the other children. Naomi is happily greeted by Ichigo, Miku, and Ikuno. Overtime, everyone devotes themselves to this new life. Crops begin to slowly but surely grow. Naomi begins helping Ikuno in her research. Ichigo and Hachi educate the younger parasites. Kokoro and Mitsuru learn how to be parents as they care for their daughter. Goro, Zorome, and Futoshi use parts of FRANXX units for engineering. Nana and the New Nana tend to the small children who are still struggling. Later, Goro leaves to go on a journey to gather supplies needed to help the parasites survive and to rescue any children left behind. Everyone bids him farewell and Ikuno asks Ichigo if she will be alright because she will miss Goro the most. Ichigo replies this is something Goro has to do. As Goro asks her to wish him luck, Ichigo tells him to stay in contact with them before Goro kisses her, much to everyone’s shock. Ichigo blushes furiously, and Goro promises Ikuno to bring back what she asked for, and buds them farewell. Ikuno notes Goro has changed a lot recently. During the winter, Ichigo finds Zero Two’s storybook and is baffled to see the last page blank.
783 days (2 years) after the gate passage, Hiro and Zero Two fight more VIRM and defeat them with ease. Hiro falls asleep, which Zero Two notes is unusual and worries that he is getting weaker. When Hiro wakes up, he tells her that he had a dream in which their friends were living good lives on Earth. Zero Two then announces they have arrived at the home planet of the VIRM and come across another swarm of VIRM, including Papa and the Vice Chairman. They strike Zero Two and when she tries to counterattack, she doesn’t move because Hiro had lost consciousness. Papa and the Vice Chairman said it was because of Hiro and Zero Two’s incompatibility due to him being human and her a klaxosaur. Hiro’s consciousness slowly starts to fade away and Zero Two is repeatedly attacked before she is impaled by Hringhorni. She screams out for everyone to save Hiro.
As Ai plays near Zero Two’s statue, she begins saying "darling." Her parents overhear this and tell their squad mates about it. They surmise the statue can link them to Hiro and Zero Two in space. They link arms and shout to them their thoughts. After a couple of days, more and more of the parasites begin joining. Their voices eventually reach the two; Ichigo and Goro reaffirm their belief the two will return, Zorome and Miku are still unwilling to let Hiro and Zero Two outshine them, Ikuno says is working hard with the time she has left, Futoshi says Squad 13 is not the same without them, and Mitsuru says he and Kokoro named their daughter Ai because it means "love", a word they were never taught but learned from Hiro and Zero Two and they want her to inherit the bond Hiro and Zero Two have.
Hiro wakes up as the wedding picture floats in front him, says he hears Squad 13 and the other parasites' voices and says Ai’s name. Zero Two tells him that humans are strong and all the events that happened are what Hiro started because of his desire to live with everyone. Hiro says it’s something not to be proud of because all he did was cause trouble. Zero Two insists it’s because how much he wanted to live and how he dazzled her because he was the humanity she so desperately needed; they are bound by a kiss, met by chance, and are attracted to each other by nature. She asks him to come with her and he takes her hand, and she declares they are the Jian and kiss. Upon reconnecting, they take control of Hringhorni. Zero Two declares she is blessed to have met everyone and she is happy to have been born. She professes her love to Hiro, and he reciprocates. They begin pushing the bomb into the VIRM’s planet as the Jian, reverting to the Strelizia's Iron Maiden form, but in a pure gold color rather than its usual form, in the process. They force themselves and the bomb into the planet, vowing to rewrite their own story. Knowing they will die, they profess their love to each other and vow to meet on Earth one day again as long as their souls exist. The bomb detonates, eliminating the VIRM home planet and liberating all the souls held captive by the VIRM but at the cost of Hiro and Zero Two’s lives. However, Papa and the Vice Chairman are still alive and vow to face them again at the peak of evolution, as Papa says the VIRM cannot die.
Holding hands, Hiro and Zero Two’s souls begin making the long trip back to Earth. The blast can be seen from Earth. Everyone realizes Hiro and Zero Two won but wonder if their prayers reached the two in time. Kokoro breaks down crying at the sacrifice of her two friends and Ai and Mitsuru comfort her. Ichigo also sheds tears but vows everyone will continue rebuilding the planet and society so Hiro and Zero Two will have a home to return to one day. Zero Two’s statue breaks and turns into ashes, leaving behind a single plant. The bright light from the explosion shined in the sky for three days and, after a few more days, many klaxosaurs returned and became part of the Earth. Hachi surmised this meant the klaxosaurs decided to let humanity keep the Earth.
3705 days (10 years) since the gate passage, everyone stopped using the magma energy as part of their commitment to the planet and created a self-sufficient lifestyle from scratch, although they faced adversity after adversity due to this decision. By using their food reserves as a foundation, they were able to grow the food needed to survive. The majority of the parasites start having children, including Kokoro and Mitsuru having their second child. Eight years after Hiro and Zero Two‘s deaths, Ichigo finishes Zero Two’s book so future generations will know about them and she is amused by how awful Hiro was at drawing. As they look at the new community the parasites have built, Nana wonders what else they can do for everyone. Hachi says that, since they can't age, they'll watch the world together. She comments how unyielding he is, which he attributes to him having no emotions. However, Hachi wonders if he can change if she stays by his side forever. Before she can reply, two children ask Hachi to play with them and he agrees. Nana notes he has begun to change and so has she.
At a school entrance ceremony, Zorome has become a teacher, and he is amazed how many children all the former parasites have now. Kokoro and Mitsuru sit together with their two youngest children and their youngest daughter is reading Zero Two’s storybook. Two young girls tease Zorome for skipping a teachers' meeting. Miku scolds him for slacking and they get into a fight. Ikuno, who is now a doctor and in a relationship with Naomi, checks on Ichigo who is pregnant and married to Goro. Ikuno is amazed that Ichigo is going to be a mother and she wonders what the baby will be like. Futoshi comes in with a new bread recipe for them. Naomi teases him for not having lost any weight, which he blames Ikuno for helping him get his appetite back. Futoshi credits Ikuno for her research in keeping the former parasites’ accelerated ageing process under control, allowing them to properly grow into adults, although this shortens her own lifespan, causing her to be sickly and bedridden. She compliments him for making delicious food for the kids. Futoshi mentions that Kokoro and Mitsuru are expecting their fourth child and Ichigo says he is one to talk, as his pregnant wife and two children come to get him for the ceremony. As he leaves, Ichigo tells Ikuno that Goro will be here soon, as he is still traveling. Ikuno says Goro has decided to postpone his traveling so he can stay by Ichigo and the baby’s side. Goro later arrives and eagerly runs to Ichigo, and embraces her.
The former squad, minus Ikuno, who is bedridden, and Naomi, who stays and holds hands with her, reunites at a cherry blossom tree that had grown from Zero Two’s ashes and thank Hiro and Zero Two, speaking of the lessons they have learned from them and expressing gratitude for their sacrifice to give everyone the freedom to live good lives.
Time passes, and the cherry tree grows. A thousand years later, a child resembling Hiro in hair colour sits under the tree, reading The Beast and the Prince. A girl who looks like Zero Two in terms of hair colour runs past him and trips. As the boy helps the girl up, they introduce themselves, symbolizing the beginning of a new story.
=== Appearances ===
* Ai
* Kokoro
* Mitsuru
* Ichigo
* Goro
* Zorome
* Miku
* Futoshi
* Ikuno
* Naomi
* Hiro
* Zero Two
* Nana
* Hachi
* New Nana
* Papa
* Vice Chairman
=== Trivia ===
* The name of this episode is in reference to a quote of the princess to the prince from Zero Two’s picture book, which is “Never let me go, darling.”
* The cherry tree is based on the Yamataka Jindai Cherry Blossom tree in Hokuto, Japan. It is the oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan, being approximately more than 2,000 years old, and is famous for attracting tourism during the Hanami festival.
== Errors ==
=== Episode 4 ===
There is a slight animation error where Zero Two's red scalene is missing when both she and Hiro are alerted by the alarm sound.
=== Episode 7 ===
During his introduction to Hiro, Alpha refers to Zero Two by her preferred name rather than her code name, Nine Iota. As he consistently refers to her as Iota through the series, this contradicts his belief that anything tied to individuality is inconvenient.
=== Episode 8 ===
When Zero Two gets off the top bed in the girls' dorm there is a weird looking object that looks like the colors of her skin appearing in 1 frame.
=== Episode 10 ===
While Zorome is bragging about things, when Hiro looks at Zero Two, parts of her uniform aren't colored.
=== Episode 14 ===
When Zero Two grabs Ichigo's collar, Zero Two's face has a frame laying over another in 1 single frame.
=== Episode 17 ===
The flowers in the room where Kokoro and Mitsuru meet in are not the lilacs Squad 13 left there in Episode 08 but are the original withering flowers and, by Episode 18, the lilacs reappear. It is evident to be the same room based on the same window design and the same contents on the bookshelf.
=== Episode 18 ===
Mitsuru‘s wedding ring is missing when he puts Kokoro’s wedding ring on her finger, as she put the ring on his finger first. It reappears in subsequent scenes.
=== Episode 22 ===
* Kokoro’s hCG results are inconsistent with the timeline of conception and gestation age.
** A pregnancy due date is calculated by adding 40 weeks (280 days) to the approximate first day of your last menstrual period or 266 days to the day of ovulation.
** As Ai was born 245 days (8 months) after the end of Episode 23, which was May 10th, this calculates that Kokoro was about 4 weeks pregnant during her hospitalization.
** However, her hCG levels 101596.1 were those erroneously consistent with a pregnancy at the 7th or 8th week.
* The new Nana said a pregnant Pistil cannot pilot a FRANXX, which might not be true. Kokoro was already a month pregnant, based on her HCG results, yet still able to pilot without an issue in episodes 20 and 21.
** However, the effects from piloting may have worsened her morning sickness and made her severely ill.
** It is highly possible that a pregnant Pistil is prohibited from piloting not only because of interference with Para capacity with the Stamen. However, it is more likely that the fetus lacks the yellow blood cells that serve as a conduit for the FRANXX, possibly increasing the risks of a miscarriage or detrimental harm to the fetus.
=== Episode 24 ===
* Mitsuru’s wedding ring is noticeably absent from his finger, such as when he went to Kokoro’s hospital room to see Ai and then when he holds Ai while Kokoro does laundry.
* Hachi’s scar on his right eye is absent and his eye is open when the camera focuses on Kokoro, Mitsuru, and Ai with Nana and Hachi behind them following Hiro and Zero Two’s sacrifice.
** Upon the release of the English Blue-ray disc on May 28, 2019, these mistakes were corrected.
** In addition to the English Blue-ray version, Kokoro’s medical profile was added on the hospital monitor when she gave birth to Ai; this note was absent in the Japanese debut on July 7, 2018.
== Trivia ==
* DARLING's director, Atsushi Nishigori, said he always intended for Hiro and Zero Two to have a happy ending but felt he needed to make their fate more sentimental after discussing it with his assistants. So, he went ahead with them making the decision to give up their own lives to save those of their friends and start over as humans via reincarnation.
== Gallery ==
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