Darling In The Franxx (Story Recap)

When The Sakura Blooms

Sypnosis:
Instructions come from the caretakers who avoided contact with the children for the first time in a month. When the next supply ship comes, Squad 13 is to abandon Mistilteinnand move to the APE Parasite facility called the "Bird Nest". Hiro suggests opening a wedding ceremony for Mitsuru and Kokoro as the last memories to be made while staying in Mistilteinn. The ceremony, the dress, the rings... Everything is handmade and they prepare to the extent that they can. That day, the cherry blossoms in Mistilteinn were in full bloom when the children's wedding ceremony began.

Plot:

Mitsuru wakes up after spending the night with Kokoro again. They look out the window together where Sakura trees have fully bloomed and the petals float in the wind. He says it's beautiful and she agrees.

In the control room, Hachi tells Ichigo that they will abandon Mistilteinn shortly and tells her to be ready. She asks why and he replies that the situation has changed, so they will take the next supply ship to the parasite camp. Ichigo realizes that, even though they weren't in contact for a long time, they were still being monitored. Goro holds his head and Hiro asks how his fever is. He smiles and says fine. Hiro says that Miku had her fever recently as well. Ichigo comes out and Goro asks what's wrong. In the elevator, Ichigo tells Hiroand Goro the adults' plans to abandon Mistilteinn. Though she wants to stay, Gorosays that they have enough rations for only a few more days and Mistilteinn won't last very long in itself. As they walk back, Goro says that their life there wasn't all bad. Ichigo says it's sad that they have to leave. Hiro says there's something he'd like them to do while they're still there.

Hiro explains to the parasites that he wants to have a wedding. As they don't know what it is, Hiro explains that it was a ceremony where two people make a vow to be true to each in sickness and health until parted by death. Miku asks who will get married. Hiro says Kokoro and Mitsuru. Kokoro says that Hirotold them about it and it sounded wonderful. Mitsuru says they decided to do it before leaving. Goro, Miku, and Zorome voice their support. Though they stop to check on Futoshi, he exclaims that he wants to play the priest so he can be right beside Kokoro and Mitsuru and be the first to congratulate them. Kokoro thanks him. Zero Two shows Kokoro a drawing of a wedding dress. Kokoro asks what material they can use to make it. Miku and Ichigo collect curtains to do so. Ichigo and Miku gather the curtains in the abandoned room that Kokoro and Mitsuru have been sleeping in and Miku finds fresh flowers in the vase and Kokoro’s doll on the bed. Ichigo looks around and notices a camera left behind by the former Squad 13. Meanwhile, while Mitsuru and Goro are in the greenhouse as Mitsuru makes rings for the wedding, Mitsuruexplains what the rings are for. When Gorosays that Kokoro will love it, Mitsuru blushes and says he hopes so too. Zorome kicks a ball around as Futoshi and Hiro set up chairs. The sakura petals are blown in the wind. Zoromekicks the ball to Hiro and the three pass it back and forth. Miku comes out and scolds them for slacking off.

Ikuno lies on her bed when Ichigo enters the room. Ichigo asks her if she's feeling under the weather. Ikuno replies that she's fine. Ichigo asks if something happened with the 9's since she never saw Ikuno get so angry before. Ikuno replies that nothing happened with the 9's and Ichigo apologizes for prying, thanking her for standing up for Kokoro and Mitsuru. Ikuno responded that she didn't do it for them. Ikuno sits up and asks if Ichigo is interested in her. Ikuno takes off her butterfly clip and pins Ichigo down on the bed. Ikunoreveals she also hates the boy-girl system of the FRANXX, like the 9's, and she slapped 9'αto hide it. She continued, saying she realized she wouldn't be herself if she refused to acknowledge it and neither would Ichigo. Ikuno hugs Ichigo and says that her feelings are a mess and she confesses to loving her. Ikuno admits she did ever since Ichigo named her. In a childhood flashback, a boy says Ikunoshould be named "Ikuro," and a girl laughs at her name. Ikuno asks if Ichigo remembers everyone started copying Hiro and naming each other. Ichigo adjusts the 6 and makes it look like の, giving Ikuno the name "Ikuno." Ikuno says that Ichigo probably thinks her reason is stupid, but she loved her since then. Ikuno also revealed that she notices small, insignificant things about Ichigo, like Ichigowearing a new hair clip. Ikuno asks if she's creepy and says she gets jealous of boys who get to stand by Ichigo just because they're boys and she wants to keep Ichigo to herself. Ikuno begins crying and asks why she's such a pain. Ichigo realises that Ikuno is just like how she used to be and sits up to hug and comfort her. As Ichigo pets Ikuno's hair, she says that there's nothing wrong with being a pain and that they all are. Ikuno thanks her. Squad 13 paints the side of the house for the wedding. Ichigo brings Ikuno out and they all pose for a picture, using the camera found in the abandoned room Kokoro and Mitsuruwere secretly meeting in.