01x03 - Fighting Puppet

[bunniefuu]

The hatchling's dream.

They dream of the sky.

A name?

Yes! I came up with my own.

I'm Hiro!

Why did you name me "Ichigo"?

Code 015, "ichi" for one

and "go" for five.

So that's my name.

What about me?

Think of one for me too!

In their dark, cramped nest,

all huddled together,

they await parents

who are never to return.

Hey.

Give me a name too.

Sure thing!

All of us believed

that beyond those walls was the sky.

PLANTATION INTERNAL CITY

All done?

Yes. They said everything looked normal.

Really? That's nice.

Hey

-Ichigo--

-Ichigo? Get ready.

Yes, ma'am.

He's the first to ride with her

and sustained so little damage.

He couldn't establish a common connection

with Delphinium,

but managed to connect fine

with Strelizia, albeit while unconscious.

The only conceivable possibility

An abnormal specimen.

Did something happen between you two

in the c*ck?

Why?

Ichigo has been acting funny

since the mock battle.

She did seem angry earlier.

That girl's always taken things personally

when they involve you.

Ichigo has?

There are few codes in the teens,

to begin with.

You're practically siblings.

You two and I

have been together from the start.

It's a miracle that the three of us

from the special class all wound up here.

Siblings?

Yes, that must be it.

Hey, Goro.

Yes?

Do you mind telling Ichigo,

as her partner, that it's not her fault?

Sure, I can do that.

But Hiro, what are you going to do now?

I will ask if I can ride

with Zero Two again.

Hiro

You've heard the rumors about her.

That nobody's ridden

more than three times with her?

To hell with the rumors.

You saw what happened

to the partner she had--

You know, Goro.

Supposing I can't ride with anyone

but Zero Two,

then that's the only choice I have.

After all, we were born to ride FRANXX.

So does Hiro get to be a Parasite or not?

He only managed to connect briefly,

at the start. It may be doubtful.

Please! He doesn't have a chance.

Funny you're sating that,

considering you fought him to a draw.

Blame Miku for tripping over her own feet!

What? Aren't you forgetting

what you said before that?

Don't expect me

to remember every little thing.

Unbelievable.

You two shouldn't fight.

It'll hurt your scores.

Nonetheless, it's hard to imagine

Papa tolerating a Parasite who can't ride.

That's for sure.

The others at the facility

who were like that were all taken away.

That was sad.

And let's not forget Ichigo.

For our leader,

she's sure giving Hiro a lot of attention.

I'm amazed her partner, Goro,

puts up with it.

No need to bring up Goro.

What's this about me?

Hiro would be a great combat asset

as a Parasite.

That's all there is to it.

If he were a Parasite, that is.

There's still a possibility.

You think so?

If he couldn't do it with you,

I'd say he's washed up.

Still, he was able to ride Strelizia.

Even if he was unconscious,

he saved us all.

I have faith in Hiro.

Ichigo, I don't blame you

for defending him,

but he was out cold

and merely taken along for the ride.

You don't know that for sure!

Yes, it's true that Hiro was special.

He stood out,

even among the two-digit club.

We all thought he would be

our guiding beacon.

But the reality was not so kind.

Hiro failed to become a Parasite.

He's no longer the boy we knew.

The sooner you accept that, the better.

I don't want to see him like this anymore.

You're so horny, darling.

Don't stare like that.

Sorry!

It's fine.

The Doctor says that

the best Parasites are a bit horny.

But why horny?

I was getting impatient.

Let's go.

Go? Where?

There are restrictions on

where we Children can go.

Most areas around here are off-limits.

An S-class ID!

What?

If we go through together like this

We got through.

See? Wasn't that simple?

Awesome!

How did you know about this place?

These places all have similar layouts.

It's not that interesting.

Really?

Still, this is the first time

I've entered the city.

We've only ever known the Birdcage

and a few other facilities.

Why are you staring this time?

I was thinking of a name for you.

A name?

I'm good at coming up with names.

Zero Two is good enough for me.

But a code alone lacks personality.

That's dangerous!

If we die, it's not like it matters

what people call us.

Just look at this husk of a city.

There's no sky, no ocean.

It leads nowhere.

Just one big dead end.

Seriously, it's dangerous! Come back--

Say, my darling.

Let's run away. You and I.

I could take you out of here.

I fooled you.

We've received a mission from HQ.

We're going to see action already?

Don't be so nervous.

We wouldn't start you off

on a monster like you saw before.

Thank goodness.

Ideally, we would take this slowly,

but we don't have that luxury this time.

This is a Conrad-class Klaxosaur.

It's not quite as big as a FRANXX.

Klaxosaurs are attracted

to magma energy signatures.

This one has been showing up

and causing damage deep in a mine

on level 8 of the outskirts.

The automatic defense systems

can't keep up with it.

Furthermore,

Strelizia will not be deployed this time.

Going forward, you'll have

to defend 13th City by yourselves.

If you can't exterminate

this little Klaxosaur,

you won't be able to hold your own

in the battles to come.

Approach this mission with that in mind.

Ichigo and Goro,

you will have command upon arrival.

-Yes, ma'am.

-Yes, ma'am.

Dismissed.

All members, prepare to board.

Is the mock battle still weighing

on your mind?

We're about to have a real one.

Get your head in the game.

I know.

Hey.

I'll do my best as leader.

I trust you on the controls.

Sure. Let's do this.

Finally, our first battle!

Just don't go barging in

on your own again!

Don't you worry!

I feel like I'm wasting my breath.

-You ready, Ichigo?

-Yes. Go ahead.

What's the matter, Chlorophytum?

It seems Ikuno can't do this.

Almost there! Just hold on!

We're wasting time.

Chlorophytum's capacity is insufficient.

Levels are falling.

We can't have that.

Chlorophytum will stay behind.

The remaining three will go.

Understood.

Let's hope that's enough.

What a huge hole.

How deep does it go?

Dang. That's a monster of a pipe.

So that's how they siphon up magma fuel.

You'll descend to level 8.

As I'm sure you're well aware,

the only way to take out a Klaxosaur

for good is to go for the heart,

shattering its core directly with your

unit's specialized magma energy weapon.

Be sure to shatter the core

to finish it off.

Understood?

-Understood!

-Understood!

We're heading for the target area.

All units, follow Delphinium.

Got it!

Miku?

Yes, got it!

What happened? Do you feel unwell?

No, that wasn't why

It's all right.

You have been somewhat inconsistent

in the past.

We'll have you examined tomorrow,

to be safe.

Excuse me. Might there be some issue

in our partner compatibility?

This is not uncommon when you're starting.

We won't reassign partners over this.

I see.

We have a visual on the Klaxosaur.

All units, fan out.

We're in position.

Proceeding with the mission!

Well, it's smaller than I expected.

That's a relief.

Don't let your guard down.

Let's stick to the mission.

Got you!

Nice one, Zorome!

They did it!

Not yet, they haven't.

Zero Two.

See that? I'm unstoppable!

Cut that out. It's embarrassing!

Don't let your guard down!

Shatter its core, quickly!

Yes, I know!

For a Klaxosaur,

this wasn't such a big deal after all.

Miku!

Hey! Miku!

Why, you!

Come on, Miku! Are you okay?

Miku!

Miku, are you all right?

There's another one?

No

Wait a minute!

How many are there?

Let's get out of here and regroup!

Okay!

This is bad.

The release of magma energy

has attracted multiple Klaxosaurs.

See what you get?

You should have sent me in to start with.

Now look here

Oh, so you'd rather let them all die?

Please allow Zero Two and I

to go assist them!

That we cannot do.

We cannot grant boarding permission

to one who is not officially a Stamen.

Is now the time to worry about rules?

This city's entire unit

will be wiped out again.

Quit wasting time already

and let me ride with my darling.

We cannot approve of your deployment.

If Hiro can't go,

doesn't that make me the only option?

Mitsuru?

It's true. They'll all die

if we don't deploy Strelizia.

And I'm the only Stamen Parasite here.

So the only option is for me to go.

Strelizia is not a normal FRANXX.

You've never connected

I'll be fine.

If Hiro over there could ride it,

then there's no possible way I can't.

Zero Two, can you ride with Mitsuru?

I'm sorry, did you not hear me?

I said I wanted to ride with my darling.

Doesn't he want the same?

Zero Two

Go with Mitsuru.

Are you sure?

I'll be riding with someone else.

Please.

Well, if my darling says so.

All right.

Let's hope you don't regret

this show of graciousness.

I'm going to ride Strelizia

every bit as well as you did.

Perhaps, deep down,

I was hoping she would refuse.

What?

Miku!

What?

Miku is alive again!

Thank goodness!

Excuse me! I never died.

Miku, are you all

I'm fine!

But we can't keep this up!

Strelizia is coming to relieve you.

Can you hold out?

Yes! If we can just hang on until then

Right!

Who

-Who's riding it?

-Hang on, Ichigo! Focus

The controls aren't responding

Ichigo!

Hey!

What's gotten into you?

This position is compromised!

Go to the center!

Until Strelizia arrives, we have to

What's the matter?

We can't take on this many!

Hey, Leader

What now?

If I had not let my mind

wander back there,

maybe this wouldn't have happened.

Strelizia could've made it in time.

I'm a failure of a leader.

-Strelizia!

-Strelizia!

Hiro?

Is that you, Hiro?

The rest of you, stay back!

Wait, is that Mitsuru?

Let Strelizia handle the rest.

All other units, retreat!

Roger!

Let's go, Ichigo.

Right.

Incredible!

All this power. I feel invincible!

Who knew your partner

made such a difference?

I knew the problem wasn't with me!

I won't lose to Hiro!

Hiro, are you watching this?

I'm in peak condition!

You won't see me losing consciousness!

This thing obeys my every whim!

Why, I wouldn't mind continuing

as your partner.

We would make the ultimate team,

don't you think?

Really? You think so?

Then maybe I'll let loose a bit.

Strelizia, that's enough.

The others have escaped. Withdraw--

I'm going to stick around

and have some fun.

Absolutely not! Return at once, Zero Two!

That girl

Prepare to retrieve Strelizia

and the Stamen.

Hurry!

"Retrieve"?

We had to be saved again.

I didn't expect Mitsuru

to be the one riding.

I'm sorry. It was my fault.

Don't be stupid.

It doesn't matter who was at fault.

We're partners, aren't we?

Miku!

Is something the matter?

You're not acting like yourself.

Sorry.

When I heard help was coming,

I must have let my guard down.

Keep it together!

Oh, they're back.

The hand that was offered to me alone.

The price of that smile.

Mitsuru?

The rumors were true.

So I thought, when I saw

the nearly unrecognizable Mitsuru.

I knew you weren't cut out

to be my darling.

My darling can only be you.

I remembered her words.

"I'll take you out of this place."