Chapter 44

This is the forty-fourth chapter of DARLING in the FRANXX (manga).

## Synopsis

Mitsuru is having a dream from when he was a child. In the dream, young Mitsuru asks Hiro to promise something to him before he takes the injection. Mitsuru tells his young self not to admire that traitor. In his room, Mitsuru wakes up from his dream, panting and perspiring. Zorome notes that it's rare that Mitsuru oversleeps, to which Mitsuru doesn't reply and he frowns in dismay.

Later in the greenhouse, Kokoro plays pretend baby with her baby doll. As she asks the doll if the flowers smell nice, Mitsuru walks in and asks what she is doing. Shocked by his sudden entry, Kokoro freaks out and unintentionally tosses the doll into the air. Mitsuru notices the baby book on the table, picks it up and starts reading. As he does, Kokoro wonders out loud why humans stopped having children. Mitsuru replies it's probably because it's useless and it is evident by looking at the adults that they don’t need others to live for. Kokoro asks Mitsuru if he feeling alright because he looks unwell. He assures her that he is fine and asks about the 9’s. She tells him that she brought food to Alpha but he doesn’t need food to eat.

Earlier, Kokoro and Futoshi brought a tray of food for Alpha. Alpha explained he and the other 9’s had absolute control of their metabolism and they don’t even need to use the bathroom, the same goes for Iota. Futoshi said he would eat the food then. Kokoro said she knew Zero Two eats and takes a bath. Alpha noted that’s the strange thing about Iota; she does unnecessary things on purpose, which he couldn’t understand. Alpha added that Zero Two had the same powers as the 9’s but he wondered why she still tried to act human.

Back at the greenhouse, Mitsuru remembers that Zero Two inherited Klaxosaur blood. Kokoro wonders about Alpha's words from earlier that Zero Two had the same powers as the 9's. Mitsuru says they probably have a lot they don't know about the world and Kokoro quickly agrees.

Meanwhile, Miku is talking about Mitsuru and Kokoro to Ikuno. Miku says that she saw Mitsuru heading towards the greenhouse where Kokoro is at. Miku playfully adds that she is suspicious about them. Futoshi, who is sitting on the stairs and is eating the food meant for Alpha, listens to their conversation. Futoshi seems troubled and Ikuno seems to be thinking about something.

Hiro meets with Hachi for a meeting. Hachi asks Hiro what he wants and Hiro asks what happened to Naomi. Hachi says he doesn’t know what happened to her but there was no reason for Naomi to receive special treatment and pruning may have been applied. Hiro asks if all adults and Papa have done this. Hachi confirms this and rationalizes with Hiro that he understands how Hiro feels because he and Nana experienced the same situation and at the end, Nana’s memories were erased and he couldn’t do anything about it. Hachi tells Hiro it is good to worry about his previous partner but he still has a duty to complete. Hachi mentally tells himself that after being reinstated, he and Nana became who they are, neither children or adults but given the important task of pairing the children in twos in different cities. Hiro replies he understands.

During a battle, Zero Two begins violently rampaging against a horde of Klaxosaurs. Hiro tried to slow her down but she says she has more than enough to stop the Klaxosaurs and insists to kill every last one of them. Hiro asks her why she is acting this way and asks if this behaviour is due to the growth of her horns. Hiro asks for Zero Two to tell him because he wants to know more about her. Zero Two tells him to shut up and she retorts this has nothing to do with him. Hiro is unfazed and he declares it has everything to do with him because he vowed he will always be with her. Strelizia proceeds with fighting the Klaxosaurs as the others watch. Ikuno says Zero Two is acting strange. Ichigo looks concerned by this. Mitsuru pants in Chlorophytum, which Ikuno quickly notices. Mitsuru angrily tells Hiro to not act like he has feelings because he isn’t that kind of person. The battle then ends as dozens of Klaxosaur remains lay scattered on the battlefield.

At Mistilteinn, Mitsuru walks along the hallway, leaning against the wall for support as he continues to pant. Ikuno comes up behind him and tells him to go the infirmary, to which he tells her to leave him alone because he doesn’t want to cause her any problems. Ikuno is unfazed at this. At this moment, Futoshi bursts into the room and declares he wants to fight Mitsuru for Kokoro. Futoshi shouts at Mitsuru that Kokoro is his partner and Mitsuru must leave her alone if Futoshi wins. Ikuno is confused by Futoshi's behavior but suddenly Mitsuru collapses to the floor. Futoshi and Ikuno are worried about Mitsuru.