Episode 01

"Our sole reason to exist is to become FRANXX and fight. We were born only for that purpose, raised only for that purpose. But to me, the failure of the group, that's something I can't forgive. With nowhere I can feel like I belong... that's when I met you."

- Hiro

Alone and Lonesome is the first episode of DARLING in the FRANXX.

Synopsis
In the distant future, human beings built a moving fortress city "Plantation" on the devastated earth and enjoyed civilization. In one such plantation, "Cerasus," the day before a ceremony for parasites. Code 016 "Hiro", one of the parasite candidates, failed in advance tests and was in disappointment. Hiro who came into the forest without going to the briefing session of the enlistment ceremony is a fountain in the back, and witnessed that a strange girl is swimming. From the girl's name, code 002 "Zero Two", glossy two horns were growing.

Plot
Zero Two narrates about the Jian, or "the bird that shares wings," and how it only possesses one wing. Unless a male and female pair lean on each other and act as one, they're incapable of flight. Despite this, she found their way of life beautiful. Zero Two walks through the snow and looks at her bleeding finger oozing with blue blood. She hears wings fluttering and turns to find Klaxosaurs behind her. She imagines herself walking with a boy and wearing standard parasite uniform.

''Hiro, a dropout pilot cadet, narrates that he read about the Jian in a book he read a long time ago. He notes that it has to hide among tree leaves until it finds a partner and dream of the day it can take flight into the skies. He wonders what a bird that cannot fly goes, but says he knows well. ''Hiro sits up and finds that Ichigo, Hiro's childhood friend and leader of his squad, messages him asking him to show up for the welcoming ceremony the next day.

Back at the squad's home center, the squad discuss rumors of the infamous Partner Killer with horns, fangs, and partners who are destined to die after riding three times with her. The group then wonder the fate of Hiro after his failure in the Parasite program.

As the plane lands, scientist, Dr. FRANXX, meets with Nana, a parasite manager for APE, where she questions his motives of running tests on a makeshift team. After agreeing to attend the startup ceremony for the new parasites, he notices that Zero Two is missing, much to the annoyance of her partner.

Hiro follows a trail of blood and hears chirping, noting that the bird he saw earlier was still alive. He comes to a lake he is unfamiliar with. He notices clothes on a tree and notices its difference from his acquaintances uniforms. He shifts his view to the lake and notices a naked girl in the lake. She dissapears under the water causing Hiro to believe she has drowned and attempts to save her.

Zero Two suddenly comes out the water and leans in and sniffs Hiro. As Hiro questions her presence at the lake and her naked status, Zero Two takes curiosity in Hiro's position as a failed parasite after failing to sync with his partner. She reassures him that he is not alone as she too lacks a partner to sync with.

She goes on lick him and enjoy his taste that made her heart race. She offers to be Hiro's partner only to be interrupted by 081 who says they were looking for her. As security escorts Zero Two away, 081 advises Hiro to stay away from her, as she's not the kind of partner that anyone can handle.

Before they leave, Hiro asks for her name to which she responds that her code is 002, but everyone calls her "Zero Two."

At Cerasus, the parasites attend their welcoming meeting where they are praised by their leader, Papa.

At Mistiltein, Hachi gives Hiro the official instructions for his return to the orphanage. He tells him that HQ had given him special permission to remain there and asks him to reconsider. As Hiro leaves the meeting, he finds his former partner, Naomi, crying. Hiro recollects his time with Naomi during their parasite test where their positive pulse and P-Factor drop causing them to fail.

As they wait for their ride, Naomi tells him he should stay and asks if he refused for her. He says that he wouldn't be of any use if he stayed. She scolds him running away from his partner and himself. She tells him that he's lucky to have a chance to stay at all. Crying, she says she'd do anything to stay and asks why he had to be her partner. After Naomi crosses the bridge, she turns and smiles; telling Hiro to take care since she doesn't think they'll ever meet again. As he runs towards her, she tosses her luggage at him saying she didn't need it anymore and tells him to share it. She smiles and thanks him for her name and hopes that he finds a good partner as her door closes.

As the parasites' FRANXX begin the startup ritual, a fog rolls in causing the ritual to be stalled. Hiro refuses to leave when Naomi's ship is hit by giant monsters called klaxosaurs. The plantation begins firing at the klaxosaur with a FRANXX called Strelizia in its stampede mode. Dr. FRANXX notes it's a maho class and Nana orders everyone to evacuate.

As Strelizia attacks the klaxosaurs, it is thrown onto the plantation where it breaks down. Zero Two exits the Strelizia wounded and throws a dead 081 out of her FRANXX. As Zero Two returns to her FRANXX ready to pilot solo, Hiro tries to stop her and offers to pilot with her. She asks if he's prepared to die in which he responds by saying that he is already dead inside. She smiles and says they're similar and pulls him into her FRANXX and into a kiss, calling him her darling.

Dr. FRANXX says that when the negative and positive - male and female factors combine and their hearts become one, the iron maiden will reveal her true form as shown by the Strelizia.

Strelizia easily destroys the klaxosaurs' core and defeats it. They are shocked when it's revealed that Hiro was piloting it. Nana introduces her as a pistil with the special forces unit APE directly controls. Zero Two looks down and smiles to him, saying she found her darling.

Appearances

 * Zero Two
 * Dr. FRANXX
 * Nana
 * Hiro
 * Miku
 * Kokoro
 * Ikuno
 * Zorome
 * Futoshi
 * Mitsuru
 * Ichigo
 * Goro
 * Papa
 * Hachi
 * Naomi

Gallery
Episodio 1 Один и одна Odcinek 1  Folge 1