Torikago

**Torikago** (トリカゴ, *lit. Birdcage*) is the first ending theme of *DARLING in the FRANXX* anime. It's performed by the musical unit XX:me (キス・ミー, *Kisu Mī*), which is composed of Haruka Tomatsu (Zero Two), Kana Ichinose (Ichigo), Nanami Yamashita (Miku), Shizuka Ishigami (Ikuno), and Saori Hayami (Kokoro).

It was released as part of the Ending Collection vol.1 on CDjapan on March 28, 2018.

## Lyrics

Singers

* Kanji
* Rōmaji
* English Translation

教室の窓越しに　ぼんやりと空に問う

何のため　ボクは生きているの？　分かんないよ

教科書の余白に描いた理想のボクは

オトナ達の言いなりじゃない

飛ぶ鳥のような　自由があって

夢を魅せたくせに　叶えれる才能(チカラ)を

与えてくれないなんて　辛くなるだけだよ

スカートの丈さえ　決められた長さで

やりたいこともできずに　ボクはどこにいるの？

知りたいと思わないことばかり学ばされ

気づいたら自分の言葉さえ　矢くしていた

はじまりのチャイムに　背筋伸ばすけれど

気持ちはもう　折れかけてる

”ふつう”と云う　トリカゴから逃げたい

死んだような目をして　生きて行くのは嫌だ

だけどひとり飛び立てる　勇気なんてなくて

髪の毛の色さえ　自分で選べないで

やりたいこともできずに　ボクはどこにいるの？

心の中　声がする　"ここにいる"と

ブラウスの１番上まで留めたボタン

息苦しくなって　ため息が出てしまう

空は綺麗なのに　ボクには届かない

脱ぎ捨てて　羽ばたきたい　誰か聴いて

夢を魅せたくせに　叶えれる才能(チカラ)を

与えてくれないなんて　辛くなるだけだよ

スカートの丈さえ　決められた長さで

やりたいこともできずに　ボクはどこにいるの？

心の中　声がする　"ここにいる"と

空は綺麗なのに…

Kyoushitsu no madogoshi ni bonyari to sora ni tou

Nan no tame boku wa ikite iru no? Wakannai yo

Kyoukasho no yohaku ni kaita risou no boku wa

Otonatachi no iinari janai

Tobu tori no you na jiyuu ga atte

Yume wo miseta kuse ni kanaereru chikara wo

Ataete kurenai nante tsuraku naru dake da yo

Sukaato no take sae kimerareta nagasa de

Yaritai koto mo dekizu ni boku wa doko ni iru no?

Shiritai to omowanai koto bakari manabasare

Kizuitara jibun no kotoba sae nakushiteita

Hajimari no chaimu ni sesuji nobasu keredo

Kimochi wa mou orekaketeru

"Futsuu" to iu torikago kara nigetai

Shinda you na me wo shite ikiteyuku no wa iya da

Dakedo hitori tobitateru yuuki nante nakute

Kami no ke no iro sae jibun de erabenai de

Yaritai koto mo dekizu ni boku wa doko ni iru no?

Kokoro no naka koe ga suru "koko ni iru" to

Burausu no ichiban ue made tometa botan

Ikigurushiku natte tameiki ga dete shimau

Sora wa kirei na no ni boku ni wa todokanai

Nugisutete habatakitai dare ka kiite

Yume wo miseta kuse ni kanaereru chikara wo

Ataete kurenai nante tsuraku naru dake da yo

Sukaato no take sae kimerareta nagasa de

Yaritai koto mo dekizu ni boku wa doko ni iru no?

Kokoro no naka koe ga suru "koko ni iru" to

Sora wa kirei na no ni...

Through the classroom window, I absentmindedly ask the sky.

What's the purpose of my life? I have no idea.

In my textbook's margin, I drew the ideal version of myself.

It wasn't the one who decided by the adults, but free as a bird flying in the sky.

Being showed a dream like this, but not given the power to grant it.

It only brings me pain.

Even the length of my skirt is already decided.

I can't even do the things I want to do, where exactly am I?

I am being taught things I don't even want to know.

When I realized it, I have lost my own words.

I straighten my back when the school bell rang.

But my feelings are about to break.

I want to escape from this birdcage they called "normal."

I don't want to live with a dead expression in my eyes.

But I don't have the courage to fly away alone.

I can't even choose the color of my own hair.

I can't even do the things I want to do, where exactly am I?

There is a voice in my heart, saying "I'm right here."

My blouse is buttoned all the way to the top.

It suffocates me and I let out a sigh.

Altough the sky is very beautiful, I can't reach it.

I want to leave it all behind and flap my wings. Someone, please listen to me!

Being showed a dream like this, but not given the power to grant it.

It only brings me pain.

Even the length of my skirt is already decided.

I can't even do the things I want to do, where exactly am I?

There is a voice in my heart, saying "I'm right here"

The sky is very beautiful though...

## Animation

Ichigo, in a hoodie and what seems to be a high school uniform, is seen in a city under construction. Holding onto a metal barrier, she looks up as a train passes by. Miku, carrying a backpack and too wearing a school uniform similar to Ichigo's, is seen going to go through a road under construction. It is raining, and Ikuno, equipped with an umbrella, is standing near a train station track with an active railway signal. Kokoro is in a street with a vending machine nearby. Zero Two is then seen standing atop a crane as she jumps off from it and birds fly away. She starts running as Ichigo is seen arriving in an area surrounded by barriers. Ichigo holds the barrier and looks inside it, where there is a room that has a screen showing a city and a bird, with eight seats in the room, only two standing while the others are laying on the floor.

## Gallery

DARLING in the FRANXX ED1 (creditless)Title screenIchigoMikuIkunoKokoroZero Two's bagZero Two standing on a craneZero TwoBlack birdsZero Two runningIchigo gasping for breathThe bird

## Trivia

* Episode 01 and Episode 06 use a shortened version of the theme, with the ending visual sequence not being featured.
* In Ending Collection vol. 1 where Zero Two, Miku and Ichigo sing a song solo, Miku sings the TV size version of Torikago.