Code 011 | Darling in the Franxx

Her Match

Akio POV

Today is the day when we're gonna be dispatched to protect the plantation. Me and Emica decided it would be best if we suited up earlier than the others, that way we would be able to meet up with Squad 26 before they left. 

The operation was going smoothly so far. "Hey, Akio." My concentration was interrupted when I saw Krytonia's face appear. "What's with that big blocky one? What are we supposed to do?" We finished off another one of the smaller Klaxosauars before I replied. "I'm not sure Emica. We'll have to worry about that later. Focus on the task at hand." 

Squad 13 was barely hanging on and I could tell Emica was considering helping them, but we chose to fight on the front lines. After a few moments, Sterlitiza appeared. "Zero Two...it hasn't even been 30 minutes..." I heard her laugh at the remark, I knew she would break protocol but still. She killed a few more Klaxosaurs before I saw Sterlitiza on the screen next to me. "Hey brother, do you think that my darling will stay with me after this?" I looked ahead to make sure nothing was coming at us.

"That depends on how stubborn the kid is."

After what felt like forever we were able to kill all of the smaller Klaxosaurs, which leaves the main problem.

"Krytonia." My thought was interrupted when Hachi connected to our voice channel. "Rejoin your squad, let squad 26 take it from here."Once the connection cut off, me and Emica went back to the others. Though I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I joined the others as we watched squad 26 immobilize target Beta...but that victory was short-lived. A few seconds after there was an ear-piercing shriek. 

"What is that noise!?"

"It's coming from that, thing."

"I feel like my ears are gonna burst."

"Guys look!"

Ichigo had shifted our attention from the noise to its source, after a few moments it completely changed its form. I felt my grip on the controls tighten

"You have to be kidding..."

"A humanoid form!?"

"This can't be happening."

The other squad tried to continue their assault only to be taken out in seconds. 'How are we supposed to take out something this big!? Strelitzia has the only weapon that can reach its core.'

"All squad 26 units fall back. Let squad 13 handle the Gutenberg Class."

"Easier said than done." 

"How are we supposed to stop something so massive?"

"Don't think of stopping it, think of killing it. If it reaches the wall, then it's all over for us."

'Since when is Mitsuru so positive.' I couldn't help but chuckle at my remark.

"Yeah, besides, Krytinoa is back with our squad. We can win if we team up with Strelitzia." 

Everyone seemed to be pretty on board with the idea, or at least I thought everyone was. Ichigo didn't seem to like the idea. And I have a pretty good idea why. 

After they managed to come up with an excuse I connected to their voice channel, and I made sure only Goro could hear me. "Is now really the time for this?" He didn't even bother looking at me, he already knew what I was getting at. "Akio, not everyone is like you. You know what could happen to Hiro, that's why-"

"He already connected with Strelitzia Goro. All this is doing is stalling the inevitable." After that, he remained quiet for a few moments, before he cut off the connection.

I sighed and refocused on our main goal. We were able to knock it down, by the time we did that Strelitzia was already above us ready to strike. Once Strelitzia's spear drove into it, we felt it jolt. However, it didn't burst.

'Don't tell me...Hiro's out of time...'

By this time we were all on the ground, and Strelitzia was knocked off from there it was on the Klaxosaur. Everyone was surprised by how easily Strelitzia allowed it's self to be knocked down, however, my attention shifted when the Klaxosaur changed forms. It looked like some kind of battering ram. Krytonia's face appeared on a screen next to me. "Akio is Hiro...?" I heard Emica's voice slightly crack as she spoke.

"Run Away! Hiro!"

All we could do was watch as Strelitzia was being better into the wall that we were supposed to protect. "Damn it. Strelitzia can you hear me? Hiro? Zero Two?" It wasn't long after that when Strelitzia went into stampede mode, meaning that Zero Two was on her own. I was surprised when Krytonia had suddenly disconnected. Emica sat up and I could tell she was upset.

I kneeled next to her and rubbed her back, she always had a habit of getting attached to people she barely knew. 

"Emica, I know you're upset but right now we have to worry about our own lives. Not to mention the rest of squad 13." She sniffled and nodded before we both reconnected. I noticed that Delphinium was on her knees next to me. "Goro, Ichigo are you two ok?" There was silence for a moment before Delphinium stood up again.

"We're fine, do you have any ideas on how to stop this thing? You're more experienced than us." Even though Ichigo's voice sounded calm I knew that she was upset, I knew how close she was to Hiro. 

Though before I could say anything the Klaxosaur was suddenly flipped over, Strelitzia was in front of it. "Were you worried about me brother?" I looked to my right and saw Sralitzia's face on the screen, I snickered before I burst out laughing. "Danm it Zero Two, was it necessary to scare the others like that?" She laughed for a bit before we realized that the Klaxosaur was getting up again. 

"It's changing forms again!"

"We can't let it!"

"Don't just stand there Ichigo! Come on!"

We all went full speed to try to keep it from completing its transformation. 

"It's our turn!"

"Let's give them a hand!"

"Create another opening for Strelitzia!"

"Right!"

We all placed ourselves in between the moving parts and kept them from rejoining, Strelitzia was now underneath the Klaxosaur.

"Hiro! Zero Two!"

Ichigo's voice rang through the air, followed by Strelitzia giving the final strike. This time the Klaxosaur burst like we expected it to. I hadn't realized it until now but it was already daybreak. We all gathered and exerted our FRANXX, but we were yet to be joined by Srelitzia's pistil and stamen.

"Akio." Goro had stood beside me as we all waited to see if the other two were ok. I expected Hiro to be leaning on Zero Two but it was the exact opposite. I felt myself smile at the sight. 

The others spoke with the members of squad 26 for a while, I was with Zero Two.

"You ok? You took quite the beating." She looked at me and smiled before she turned to her FRANXX. 

"There's still so many Klaxosaurs I have to kill."

"At least you finally found your match." She smiled at me, her gaze never left the FRANXX that stood before us.

'But how long will the peace last...?'