Episode 10

## You're Always Not There When I Want to Hit You

***You're Always Not There When I Want to Hit You*** (殴りたい時におまえはいつもいない, *Naguritai Toki ni Omae wa Itsumo Inai*?) is the tenth episode of *The Marginal Service* anime series.

## Summary

The team is investigating the politician's home, where the kidnapping of his child happened. Cyrus explains that the man received a note the next day, saying that he will get his child back if he votes against the bill that prosecutes Borderlanders, the New Residential Area Designation Bill. In pretext the bill gives new homes to Borderlanders, but in reality its a Borderlanders isolation policy. Lyra questions the family, who explain that when the maid went to wake up Kei, he was missing and his window was opened. There are no witnesses and the security footage doesn't show anything strange. Zeno sees a familiar symbol in the child's room and tells Brian that he shouldn't get involved and that he will solve the case himself.

Later, the team gathers back at the base, only to learn that Zeno have not returned since he left with them in the morning. Brian shows the symbol to Theodore and asks him what it means. Theodore doesn't wish to explain, since its related to Zeno's past, but as Brian insist, Theodore explains that ten years ago there was a serial of kidnappings that targeted only five-years olds. There were no witnesses, but on each crime scene, this symbol was seen. As Zeno's son was one of those kids, Zeno conducted an aggressive investigation and cornered the man who seemed to be the culprit. The man refused to give him information and tried running away, but got hit by a car and died. They never found the kids and Zeno resigned to take responsibility. Learning of Zeno's past, the team realizes on why Zeno is so unfriendly and guess the same criminals are involved in this situation as well.

Brian and Cyrus questions the neighbours. A woman explains that she didn't hear or see anything, but has heard of a rumors of a flying man. Lyra explains that there is a flying humanoids, UMA that has been witnessed around the world and they say it makes no sound. They are likely Borderlanders and have originated from Mexico. Bolts and Robin then call Brian and Cyrus to the Twin Towers, where they are making the decision for the bill. Seeing that Kei's father is about to sign it, Brian rushes in to stop him, since a child's life is on the line, but the father explains that he can't yield to terrorists. In that moment, the lights turn off and they see a flying humanoid outside the window. Zeno have been waiting too and uses a Marginal Launcher, shooting at the Borderlander, who manages to dodge one of the rockets, but as the second rocket hits the windows, the Borderlanders gets hit by the blast and falls to the ground. Brian and Zeno then rush down, seeing that the Borderlander as Isabella Thorn.

They take her in and Zeno wishes to interrogate her using force. Brian is against it, saying he is repeating his mistake in the past, but Zeno states that unlike that time, she is a Borderlander and won't die easily. While they argue, Brian manage to take Zeno's gun, which leaves him no choice, but to continue questioning her without using violence. However, Isabella doesn't answer any of his questions, which angers Zeno and the others pull him out of the room.

Zeno complains about the tea and refuses to drink it. While the rest enjoy it, they soon start to feel unwell and realize that he drugged it. Zeno then takes Isabella outside. Brian tries to stop him and states he wish to help him, telling him that if he continues like this, he will stay trapped in the past, but Zeno states that he still has to do it as its the only thing he can do. A bit later, Lyra and Cyrus find Brian, Bolts and Robin and wake them up. Brian then goes out, stating he needs to find the child before Zeno does anything.

Zeno takes Isabella to his old house. There he recalls how he goes to work and then returns to find out his child was kidnapped. He tells Isabella that was the only day he didn't call his son by his name and didn't hug him before he left for work. His wife, Lily, starts to blame him for not being able to find Noah, and eventually kills herself. Zeno points a gun at Isabella and asks her one last time where is the child. She tells him that he is wrong and that he haven't lost his family yet. Brian then rushes in, stating that they found the child and the culprit was the maid who worked there.

Earlier, Brian went to the politician family. He questioned them again, hoping that they can remember something more. The maid states that she went to put Kei to sleep like every night, but he wasn't there. As earlier she said she was waking him up, Brian gets suspicious. Lyra then investigates the woman and finds out her name is Shiho Sato and that her child was also kidnapped ten years ago. Brian explains that the child was hidden in the attic. Shiho was also obsessed with her child kidnapping. She revealed that it was Kei's birthday, but the parents were too busy with work, and she wanted to make them know the pain she felt, and had left the same symbol. Isabella confesses that she send the blackmail letter. She was monitoring the family and wanted to stop Agata from passing the bill. That's how she saw that the maid did it and took advantage of it, telling her to cooperate with her and she will remain silent on the kidnapping. Brian tells Zeno that this doesn't resolve anything for him, but this time he saved one person, and its time for him to take a step forward. As Zeno agrees, Brian prepares to punch him, stating its a payback from when he punched him in the interrogation room, but stops himself and smiles.

In the end the bill still get passed and Isabella is let go. When she heads home, Zeno confronts her. As she had told him that he still haven't lost his family, Zeno guesses that she knows the truth of what happened ten years ago. He points his gun at her and states they are continuing the interrogation.

## Gallery

### Episode 10 Screencaps

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## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Zeno Stokes
* Bolts Dexter
* Robin Timbert
* Brian Nightraider
* Cyrus N. Kuga
* Lyra Candeyheart
* Ryo Agata
* Shiho Sato
* Kei Agata
* Theodore Tompson
* Isabella Thorn
* Lily Stokes (flashback)
* Noah Stokes (flashback)
* Peck Desmont