01x18 - When the Sakura Blooms

[bunniefuu]

Good morning.

Beautiful, aren't they?

Yes.

We will soon be abandoning Mistilteinn.

Be prepared to leave at any time.

We're leaving? So suddenly?

The situation has changed.

When the next supply ship comes, you will

be taken to the Parasite shelter.

Doing this after leaving us

to our own devices for so long.

They've been watching everything.

You okay? Your fever.

It's nothing serious.

Before this, it was Miku who got a fever.

Everyone is dealing with their own issues.

Ichigo, what's up?

Abandoning the place?

You think there's any way

we can stay here?

We have barely a few more days

worth of food.

Besides, Mistilteinn itself

won't hold out much longer.

All things considered,

life here wasn't bad.

But we won't be able to stay much longer.

I'm going to miss the place.

Hey, guys.

There's something I want to do,

while we're still here.

-A wedding?

-A wedding?

What's that?

For the people of the past,

it was like a vow-making ceremony.

"To have and to hold, in sickness

and in health, till death do us part."

That's a wedding, according to this book.

So who's going to be doing this wedding?

Kokoro and Mitsuru.

What?

Hiro told us about it,

and it sounded wonderful.

We both agreed that

we would like to do it before we leave.

Pretty gutsy, after the scolding you got.

How romantic! I'm in favor!

I don't really get it,

but as the last chance

to make some memories here

Futoshi? Look, I

I'm going to be this guy!

I'll do it, and you can't stop me!

I'm going to be right up close!

To bless Kokoro and Mitsuru!

Thank you, Futoshi.

-In that case, let's start to prepare.

-Cheer up!

-Yes!

-Yes!

This is a wedding dress?

Yes. It's what you'll wear

for the ceremony.

How pretty! But can we make one?

What material will we use?

Who else would have thought

to use curtains to make a dress?

They are white though, which is perfect.

Our potential?

What are these?

Rings.

We're supposed to exchange them

during the ceremony.

Oh, that will be nice.

I'm sure Kokoro will love it.

I certainly hope so.

This should be enough, right?

Yes.

Hiro!

Here, pass!

We have to really fancy things up.

Fancy things up?

You boys! Enough fooling around!

Oh, shove off!

We were just about to get to it!

Then you could help

with the preparations a bit!

Ikuno, are you up?

You're still not feeling well?

Do you have a fever?

No, nothing like that. Don't worry.

Hey.

Did something happen

between you and the 9's?

It's just that I've never seen you

get angry like that before.

No, nothing happened.

Oh, sorry. I jumped to conclusions.

Of course. I mean,

who wouldn't get angry there, right?

Thanks. For standing up

for Kokoro and Mitsuru.

No. I didn't do it for them.

Then why?

You want to know?

You really want to know about me?

Ikuno, what

At that moment, I was thinking

the same thing as the 9's.

I slapped him to try

to shake off those thoughts.

What do you mean

by thinking the same thing?

About how FRANXX need

a boy and girl to pilot.

About how we'd be better without such

a bothersome, inconvenient system.

Ikuno.

I only realized afterward.

That however much of a bother

I may find it, if we did away with it,

I wouldn't be me anymore.

And you wouldn't be you anymore.

I couldn't bear that.

It's just too much.

My feelings may as well be a dead end.

Your feelings?

I love you, Ichigo.

Why me?

Because when we were little,

you gave me my name.

Ikuro! You're Ikuro!

That sounds funny.

Remember how everyone started doing it,

at the Garden?

The name game Hiro came up with.

"No."

Turn it this way, and it's "Ikuno", see?

"Just over that?" You must think.

Still, since that day,

you were the center of my world.

You changed this some time ago,

didn't you?

Yes.

Something like that won't escape my eyes.

Did you lose your old one?

Or did someone give you a new one?

Sickening, aren't I?

I immediately envy those who get

to stand by you just for being boys.

I want nothing more than

to have you all to myself.

I know, it's selfish. Bothersome.

I wish I knew why I was like this.

It's enough to make me sick of myself.

I remember feeling like her,

for the same reason.

Ichigo?

What's wrong with being bothersome?

I'm not much better on that front.

We're plenty bothersome, all of us.

But you know,

I'm starting to think that's fine, lately.

Maybe it's the collection of moments

like this that you call living.

I don't think

I'll be able to give up easily.

I'm stubborn like that.

Yes. I know.

Ichigo. Thank you.

All right!

ZOROME WAS HERE!

Okay, here goes!

Zero Two!

Are you okay?

What's the matter?

I must have nodded off.

Wow. You've practically finished it.

Yes.

Once it's done,

you'll be the first I show it to.

Okay!

You were right, darling.

They're in full bloom.

Kokoro lent me this

to wear at the ceremony.

It's pretty novel to see you wearing that.

Is that all you have to say?

You look great in it.

Say, do you remember?

Way back then,

you and I vowed to get married too.

Of course.

"Marriage is when you promise to be

with someone you care for forever."

You taught me that.

That was the moment you became my darling.

Cool!

Darling!

I never imagined these moments

of shared laughter with you

could make me feel so warm,

could be so beautiful.

Mitsuru.

Mitsuru? Won't you look this way?

Absolutely not. That is quite impossible.

Kokoro.

From now on, I'm yours.

Yes.

Mitsuru. Kokoro.

This should make you

a bit more presentable.

Here.

Thanks.

Thank you, Ikuno.

Hey, can we ring these yet? Can we?

Ring away!

Do you think we should shout something?

Like what?

Don't ask me!

Look at him, all primped up.

Kokoro looks beautiful though.

Here!

This signal An APE as*ault lander?

Hey.

What is the meaning of this?

On whose authority are you

On Papa's, who else?

You're going to force them into

the re-education program at the shelter?

The 13th Unit should have been exempted.

Not all of them. Just two.

What?

You must be aware of what

those two have been up to.

You just sit right there and watch.

Like you always do.

Next, we will have the ring exchange.

I'm sorry.

No, it's okay.

Now,

you may kiss the bride!

Nobody moves. If you do, we'll sh**t.

-Hey, what's your deal?

-On the ground.

Zorome!

Both of you, run!

Futoshi!

Everyone!

You have no place to run.

We're inside the Birdcage, you see.

What is the meaning of this?

Papa has designated you two

as dangerous elements.

You'll have to undergo re-education.

You haven't had enough of playing human?

It's frankly unsightly.

I'm not as hideous as you.

You think?

Zero Two!

Naughty, trying to fight Papa's will.

Don't you think, Iota?

Take them away.

No! Mitsuru!

Get your hands off her!

Mitsuru!

Kokoro

Mitsuru!

No! Let go of me! Mitsuru!

So not even this much is permitted to us.

We may as well still be at the Garden!

Where were Mitsuru and Kokoro taken?

Will they ever come back?

The days went by,

but none of us got an answer.

If I had emotions,

what would I have said to the Children?

Perhaps as you are now,

you could have connected with them.

Let us hear the details of the negotiation

with the Klaxosaur Princess.

Our objective was at most

to demand their surrender.

There was no mention of

an assassination attempt.

I had thought we of APE

were united in our goal,

to create a world where

humanity can live in perpetuity.

No matter.

We accounted for this eventuality.

We already have a replacement key in hand.

Do not be caught up in the present.

What our mission ultimately entails

is the freeing of our people

from the shells that imprison them.

Those shells called bodies.

CHILDREN'S SHELTER: THE NES

Sure enough,

they're being called away one by one.

I wonder where they're being taken.

I don't like this place.

It reminds me of the Garden.

How long will we be stuck

in this situation?

Well, we were told to stand by

until the next mission.

Yes, but it's been weeks!

I hope Kokoro and Mitsuru are okay.

Look!

-Kokoro!

-Mitsuru!

Thank goodness! We thought

we would never see you again!

I'm so glad you two are all right!

I'm sorry! It was my fault

for suggesting we hold a wedding.

A wedding?

What is a wedding?

We made a huge event of it!

You vowed, "till death do us part."

You even exchanged rings.

This I just happened

to find it on my finger.

Who is she, anyway? A new teammate?

I thought you were the new one.

Come on, what's up with you two?

You're acting funny.

They had their memories modified.

Just like what happened to us.

This place we found was gone the moment

we turned to each other for strength.

That which we hold dear

is always quickly destroyed.

Cherry blossoms?

If that is to be our fate,

we'll no longer resign ourselves to it.

We've just about had enough.