Episode 14

"She puts a curse to drain the life out of stamen, the one who's not human. I can't consider her as one of us anymore. Even if she's considered as the key to save the world, even if as a result of that I'm hated by the person that I consider the most important."

- Ichigo Punishment and Confession is the fourteenth episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.

Plot
Hiro had just awoken from his trauma. His vicarious journey through Zero Two's mind had made them realize that they knew each other as children... A brief moment of silence followed as tears welled down both their faces. Hiro asks:

-You were the girl with the picture book back then, weren't you?

An overwhelmed Zero Two replied:

-You saw?

She sobs. This was a reunion.

-Sorry. I forgot. But even then... you were waiting under that tree... for me.

A smile followed on Hiro's face, but fatigue almost had him fall to the floor. Zero Two catches Hiro before he collapses. Cherishing Hiro in her arms, she inquired:

-You were my darling from back then, weren't you? ...Then all this time...

Zero Two stops, terrified to think of what she had done to Hiro and Squad 13 as a whole. The room then let out a long sigh, interrupting the moment as Ichigo throws Zero Two off Hiro and tumbling towards Goro. He asks if she's alright as Ichigo yelled, trying to revive Hiro. The other FRANXX wait.

When they returned to the docking facility, Hiro was taken for treatment. Zero Two realizes what Hiro meant when he said he wanted to understand her better.

At an APE hospital room, Nana notes that his yellow blood cell count has gone far beyond what the human body can handle and his saurification could begin at any moment.

Meanwhile, Zero Two hastily treaded along the dreaded hallways of the treatment facility, anxious to talk to Hiro but was stopped by Ichigo.

-Out of my way. I need to see my darling.

-You can't be serious! Do you realize who put Hiro in that bed? You're never getting anywhere near Hiro again.

Goro expressed worry as she tried to calm Ichigo down.

-She must be worried about Hiro, too, you know.

Miku added:

-That's right. Why are you getting so worked up?

Furious, Ichigo exclaimed:

-All this time, you've deceived Hiro and exploited him. And you just tried to make him lose his humanity.

Zero Two clenched her teeth, nearly shattering a fingernail. Upon hearing such news, the rest of the parasites were startled and asked Zero Two. Annoyed, she tells them to shut up and mind their own business.

-Satisfied? Now let me see my darling.

Ichigo blocks Zero Two again.

-[...] I thought we had finally become teammates.

-...Teammates? I couldn't care less.

As she tried to push Ichigo aside, Ichigo grabs her arm. Ichigo then followed with a barrage of insults. Tension builds when she finally decides that Zero Two no longer has a place in Squad 13...

Hiro wakes up to find himself surrounded by his teammates. His strangulation marks clearly shown. He quietly observes his surroundings. As other teammates cheered to see Hiro recover, he asked:

-Hey. Where's Zero Two?

Other members of Squad 13 nervously glanced at each other when Ichigo reveals that she didn't let her come. The tense air was then cut short as Ichigo assured Hiro not to worry as they'll keep Hiro safe, so he should get some rest. They all leave, wishing Hiro well but Hiro stops Mitsuru.

Hiro says that he made a promise to him before he got an Elixer Injection. Mitsuru is surprised, but never mind that as it was a long time ago. He says he'd forgotten about it. Just as Mitsuru was about to leave, he remarked:

-Any other stamen would've died long ago. I see you've got devil's luck. Listen to Ichigo. learn your lesson and stay away from Zero Two.

Hiro smiled:

-But... I've still got something to ask her.

After Mitsuru had left, he pondered that after that day, his aptitude kept decreasing. Though he felt like he died, she gave him a new life. He thinks it must be because he drank her blood. Zero Two sits in her room getting more and more anxious, biting her nails.

Hachi announced they must neutralize every klaxosaur inhabiting Gran Crevasse. Nana says that it is a joint operation with the 9's and FRANXX squad from each plantation. He says that Squad 13 is schedules to be part of the sixth wave. Nana says it will be their most difficult mission and Ichigo raises her hand. She asks that Zero Two is removed from Squad 13 as of that mission and, if not, Squad 13 will not participate in the operation. Nana says that she was set to return to the 9's as of the mission anyway. Zero Two protests, but the parasites stop her from seeing him.

When Hiro gets up, he is stopped by Miku. Zero Two is also guarded and prevented from leaving her room. Ichigo comes in to see Hiro and they chat. She gives him an apple. She tells him that Zero Two is returning to the 9's the next night. She asks if he hates her and says that, even if he does, not to go anywhere.

Hiro apologizes and Ichigo cuts her thumb, so Hiro bandages it for her. Zero Two remembers what Ichigo said and thinks that she knew she could never be a human. Ichigo leaves the knife and apple. Zero Two breaks out of her room as Ichigo returns. She roughly throws Goro against a window. Ichigo yells at Zero Two but she said they (Squad 13, Hiro excluded) were all wrong and almost broke into tears.

Goro tells Ichigo to let her see him and Kokoro agrees, stating that it's sad to see them apart. Goro says that she can meet him, but they're all going to be there (Hiro's treatment room). When they enter the room, it's empty. Hiro had used the knife to make a rope out the curtains. He then tied the knife to it and climbed upstairs, escaping containment. Zero Two becomes enraged and says that they tricked her. Hiro unknowingly goes to Zero Two's room.

He asks through the door if she knew about their past. He opens the door to find the room destroyed. He returns to the hospital to find all his teammates unconcious and her attacking Ichigo. Zero Two, with a devious grin, invites Hiro to "talk lots and lots". Hiro scolds her for being such a monster. causing Zero Two not to despise him, but to understand the damage she's made and how unfair she's been to the one she holds dearest. Feeling like she needs to be punished for her misdeeds, a depressed Zero Two consents to leave Cerasus and meet the Nines for the battle of Grand Crevasse, this time by the side of disposable stamens, leaving as Hiro cries. Ichigo grabs him and kisses him so he won't leave. 9'α greets Zero Two and shows all the stamen she can choose from. Ichigo tells Hiro that she doesn't regret their kiss and that she wants to be with him forever, which Goro overhears. She says that she's always loved him as Zero Two's ship flies overhead.

Appearances

 * Zero Two
 * Hiro
 * Ichigo
 * Goro
 * Nana
 * Hachi
 * Zorome
 * Futoshi
 * Miku
 * Kokoro
 * Mitsuru
 * Ikuno
 * 9'α

Links

 * Official Website

Episodio 14