Chapter 31

This is the thirty-first chapter.

Synposis
The 9’s hold a meeting at the Bird Nest. 9'α tells the squad that their objective is to gather all the parasites from every plantation, neutralize all the klaxosaurs at Gran Crevasse and take control of of the area. He also tells them their duty is to decrease the amount of klaxosaurs before the big moment arrives. 9'γ says they will see a few days of less load. 9'β says there are large numbers of Gutenberg klaxosaurs around Gran Crevasse and they need to take care of it or it will be a burden. 9'ε says it is the elite who takes care of the ordinary people. 9'δ says she lov s the feelings that explodes inside when you crush the nucleus of the klaxosaurs and asks 9'ζ, η, θ if they feel the same way but neither of them respond. Ellison says if only Iota would lighten the work up a bit. Delta argues that she always ends up coming back and leaving, which diminishes the amount of prey she could take on, and Delta says she dislikes Iota for her attitude and pink hair, and she thinks it was a bad idea to bring her to the team to begin with. Alpha jokingly says Delta is strict but, to be honest, he believes Iota will return to the 9’s soon. He explains it doesn’t matter how exeptional Hiro is because he is an imperfect human and he can never be her companion because she had klaxosaur blood. The 9’s head to the battlefield; AlPham says they will be waiting for her on the front lines until she completely devours Hiro because she is a monster.

At Miltisteinn, Hiro finds Zero Two in the library and she says she is looking for a book. He offers to help her but she declines. In Kokoro’s room, she reads her baby book. Futoshi asks Miku and Ikuno where Kokoro is. Miku says she didn’t feel good and is resting, which panics Futoshi. Miku says it’s something boys wouldn’t understand and she thinks it’s unfair that girls have to suffer every month. Ikuno agrees and says she thinks about the difference between boys and girls. Kokoro learns the book contains concepts such as reproduction, pregnancy, and conception. She says these are concepts she and the others where never taught in the Garden. She remembers when the mayor came during an assembly meeting when she was still in the Garden. The mayor began a speech about the children’s bodies containing a biological part of ancient humanity but the difference between boys and girls, along with containing emotions, is unnecessary. He talks about how nothing can be done to them for being imperfect but it is contrary for the adults thanks to years of scientific development and immortality eliminates all general problems, which makes a perfect being, such as the adults, without any weaknesses. He encourages the children to work hard to become official parasites to pilot the FRANXX and protect the adults, which excites the children. Thinking back, Kokoro wonders if the boy-girl differences are unnecessary for the adults because it was important in the past for humans. She also remembers when Hiro raised his hand and asked if the difference between boys and girls is unnecessary, then why do they as children have them. The mayor replied that doesn’t concern him. Hiro remembers when Zero Two said she would find the book on her own and when Mitsuru said Hiro was that kind of human. He also remembers when Ichigo kissed him on the beach and he is troubled.

In their bedroom, Goro finds Hiro and startles Hiro by noting he seems preoccupied, and asked if he feels like he’s recovered. Hiro says yes. Goro asks if something happened between him and Ichigo. Hiro becomes nervous and asks if Goro saw the kiss, which Goro confirms. Goro says those are Ichigo’s feelings and Hiro should accept them but, when he sees how she looks at Hiro, Goro feels pain like it hurts him. Hiro realizes how it feels when the feeling of ‘wanting’ is not returned and they are all imperfect.

At HQ, Nana and Hachi detect an unknown object that appeared north of the plantation and now stopped. She wonders if this means they should no approach Gran Crevasse. Hachi orders the FRANXX to get prepared.