Darling In The Franxx (Story Recap)

Alone and Lonesome

Sypnosis:
In the distant future, human beings built moving fortress cities called "Plantations" 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 the final test and was disappointed. Hiro goes into the forest, without going to the briefing session of the enlistment ceremony, to a lake and witnessed a strange girl swimming. Her name was Code 002 "Zero Two", and from her head, two glossy 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. In a flashback, a child Zero Two, donning red skin and long red horns, walks through the snow and stands in front of a tree. She looks at her bleeding finger oozing with blue blood and hears wings fluttering. She turns to find a horde of Klaxosaurs behind her and a bird flies into the sky. A fast forward reveals her teenaged self walking with a boy through a path of cherry blossom trees, wearing the standard parasite uniform, and spinning with a happy smile on her face.

In the present, Zero Two is riding an aircraft and says she wants to take a bath, much to Dr. FRANXX’s dismay and he tells her to show some restraint. She turns to her partner and asks him how she smells but the doctor tells her to leave him alone because he is still recovering from the last battle and he complains how she is high maintenance. Zero Two asks Nana if Plantation 13 has an ocean because she wants to take a swim in ocean water. Nana says there is no such thing down there and suggests she just take a shower, but Zero Two is in the mood for a swim. They are told to fasten in for descent and Zero Two licks her wrist and complains how she hates her taste.

At Cerasus, 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 refers to the Jian as pitiful creatures. 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 and reminds him that he been allowed to stay despite what happened with Naomi. He hears a noise and finds a bird is injured after hitting the glass of the Birdcage. He then looks up to see the aircraft carrying Zero Two, who says she found one.

At the squad's boarding house, Mistilteinn, the squad discusses rumors of the infamous Partner Killer with horns, fangs, and partners who are destined to die after riding three times with her. Zorome tells them these rumors after hearing them from someone in the security force. Futoshi says he wouldn’t ride with her but Miku questions the authenticity of the rumors but Zorome insists the rumors are 100% true. Ikuno doesn’t speak as she reads but she looks at Ichigo, who is still trying to contact Hiro. Goro asks her if she has heard from Hiro and she says no. Zorome thinks he will not come to the graduation ceremony after what happened. Futoshi believes Hiro’s absence during the day’s briefing means Hiro is declining to stay. Kokorosays it will be sad if he doesn’t become a parasite and has to leave. Ikuno wonders what will happen to Naomi. Mitsuru tells them to put themselves in Hiro’s shoes after what happened but Miku retorts he said that out of compassion. Ichigo mutters Hiro is an idiot.

As the plane lands, Dr. FRANXX complains how ruggedly the seats are and Nana tells him to deal with it. He replies they haven’t seen each other in a long time but she is as stiffy as ever and he wishes her personality changed more soft. He gropes her and she gets disgusted, and tells him to knock it off. While on the escalator, Nana tells the doctor that Hachi has been asked to speed up the children’s training, as this will be the first trial run for the current unit. She questions his motives of running tests on a makeshift team at this facility of all places. He replies something had been bothering him but the ‘geezers’ at APE wouldn’t understand. After agreeing to attend the startup ceremony for the new parasites as reminded by Nana, he notices that Zero Two is missing, much to the annoyance of her partner.