DARLING in the FRANXX (ダーリン・イン・ザ・フランキス)

The Jyan, also known as "the bird that shares wings,"

only possesses one wing.

Unless a male and female pair lean on each other

and act as one, they're incapable of flight.

They're imperfect, incomplete creatures.

But, for some reason...

...their way of life... struck me as...

...profoundly beautiful.

It was beautiful, I felt.

I wanna take a bath.

Not again. Show some self-restraint.

Hey, how do I smell?

Let the man rest.

That last battle took a lot out of him.

My goodness, why must she always be such high maintenance?

Does Plantation Thirteen have an ocean?

Why do you ask?

I wanna swim in some clear ocean water.

I'm sorry to tell you there's no ocean down there.

Can't you just take a shower?

I'm in the mood for a swim.

We'll be starting our descent soon.

Please take your seats and buckle up.

You got it. Save that thought.

Ugh, I really hate how I taste.

The Jian is also known as "the bird that shares wings."

I read a book about them a long time ago that said they can't

even fly unless a male and a female support each other.

They're pitiful creatures.

Until one finds a partner,

it must hide amongst tree leaves.

Waiting with baited breath.

Dreaming of the day when it can finally take flight

into the skies above.

Blood.

Hey, wait.

So then where does a bird that ends up never flying go?

I know the answer to that all too well.

The answer is...

Found one.

"Partner Killer"?

That's right.

Apparently, the girl has horns and fangs.

They say that after the third time any parasite rides

with her, he has his blood sucked out and winds up dead,

without fail.

I don't wanna ride with her.

Oh, come on. That's just a rumor, isn't it?

It's 100 percent true!

I know somebody who actually overheard security

talking about it.

Ichigo. Any word from Hiro?

No, not yet.

Speaking of...

Is he really gonna stick around here after all?

Well he didn't show up at today's briefing,

for whatever that's worth.

It could mean he's turning down the offer.

Hiro's leaving? But that'll be so sad.

If he does quit, where does that leave Naomi,

who was also caught up in his issues?

I say he's showing some real integrity.

Besides, it's gotta be hard for him to face us all

after what happened.

Try putting yourselves in his shoes for a change.

Gimme a break.

You all right, Ichigo?

He's such an idiot!

Good grief. These transport planes' seats

are too rugged for an old man like me.

Can't we find some other means of travel?

You'll just have to deal with it.

We don't have many options when it comes to

transporting cargo of this size.

I haven't seen you in ages,

but it seems you're still as stiff as ever.

Wish the seats, and your personality,

could be this soft and yielding.

Knock it off, Doctor!

How's Hachi doing?

He's been asked to speed up the children's training.

After all, this will be our first trial run

for the unit we're using this time.

I see.

Doctor, may I ask you something?

Why run the test case here of all places?

And with such a makeshift team, no less?

Something's been bothering me.

The geezers in APE might not understand it,

but it troubles me nonetheless.

So you do have some sort of idea in mind.

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it,

please do attend the startup ritual, Doctor.

Yes, I know. By the way,

I see that our little problem child has already gone missing.

She was here just a second ago.

Look there.

Damn! Always running off.

It's still alive!

I never knew there was a place like this here.

A parasite?

But that uniform doesn't look like ours at all.

Oh, no! She's drowning!

I've gotta help her!

It was like I'd been put under a spell.

Between those two alluring horns,

and my first-ever glimpse of a naked girl's body,

I was transfixed, unable to take my eyes off her.

You're... You're... You're naked! I'm sorry!

Wow. And here I thought you were dead.

Hey, are you a parasite?

And what were you doing bathing out here?

It's weird.

I thought ocean water was supposed to be salty.

Uh, this isn't an ocean.

Yeah, I'm aware of that.

But this puddle's the closest thing I could find to an ocean

around these parts, so here we are.

Well, aren't you gonna swim?

Uh? Me? No, I'm good.

Really? But it feels so nice.

And the way you were staring,

I thought you wanted to take a dip, too.

I wasn't staring.

I was worried that you were drowning out there, okay?

I jumped in to save you and--

Uh, would you mind, y'know, putting clothes on?

Hm. I get it! You're some kind of pervert!

What, why?

It's not what it looks like!

You should see your face!

But, hey.

You really jumped in to save me, didn't you?

I appreciate it. So thank you.

That uniform. Are you a parasite, too?

No.

So you don't pilot?

I can't pilot. I no longer have the ability.

Worse, I dragged my partner down with me.

I don't have a place here anymore.

Huh. So you're just like me.

I'm always alone, too, thanks to these horns.

If you don't belong here, build a place where you do.

If you don't have a partner, find one.

And if you can't, take one!

Mm, your taste makes my heart race.

It has a bite and lingers on the tongue.

The taste of danger.

What are you?

Sorry, would you have preferred a kiss?

A kiss?

Oh, you guys don't know about those, huh?

It's a special thing.

Y'know, I think I've taken a liking to you.

How would you feel about being my darling?

Your "darling"? Is that like a partner or something?

Your ability's probably still there, just lying dormant.

But I can awaken it for you.

Also, it's nice that you weren't frightened by my horns at all.

When she held out that hand, I...

Too bad. Our time's up.

We've been looking for you.

Why do you keep running off on your own?

It's not like we have anything to do

till the welcome ceremony tomorrow.

Well, as your partner,

I'm the one who suffers for it.

Her partner?

Are you a parasite cadet?

Your ceremony's tomorrow, right?

Sorry for any trouble she may have caused you.

It's fine.

When you say "partner," do you mean?

Let me give you some advice.

Stay far away from this one, all right?

She's not the kind of pistil that just anyone can handle.

Hold on! What's your name?

My name? Do we parasites even have names?

Well, my code is Zero-Zero-Two.

But everyone calls me "Zero Two" for short.

[HIRO "So you're just like me."

That's what she said.

Getting mocked for my lack of a partner would be one thing.

But the fact that there was still some part of me

that wanted one...

...made me feel pathetic and ashamed of myself.

I'm all too aware,

that a flightless bird has nowhere to go.

Psst, look at all those grown-ups.

Yeah, they're all here to see us. Crazy, huh?

"You're the chosen ones," Papa said.

As far back as any of us kids can remember,