Mins later the guards arrive at Sidonia and relief fills hoshijiro's heart when she sees her home while for nagate only feels depressed. Tsuruuchi- Three weeks how does it feel to be back in Sidonia? Nagate-Well its very moving, I guess. Tsuruuchi-I bet you two would have rather drifted out there in your ship a little longer, right? Nagate-No, I don't think we would have survived out there if you guys hadn't come. Whose idea was it anyhow to come after us? Tsuruuchi- Our squad leader samari she's the one who came up with the rescue plan. Nagate- I guess I oh her one. Tsuruuchi-Ha you got that right. While their talking hoshijiro blushes a bit after what Tsuruuchi says then hears the one of the bridge crew speak over the radio. Crew-after the two survivors receive a quick check up in the shower have them report to medical for a thorough exam. Samari-You got that. Hoshijiro-Yes mam, Samari- All units break formation, Pilots- Affirmative. The guards separate and go into separate hangers while the ones carrying nagates ship bring it to a different hanger. Once there nagate and hoshijiro proceed towards the showers then she says Thank you nagate.
I'm glad I wasn't alone out there. Nagate-Me to. While they are being examined news has already spread through Sidonia of their return even Kunato hears about it. News-The two surviving pilots Nagate Tankikaze and Shizuka Hoshijiro have safely return safely after being stranded for three weeks but luckily the ship that was excavated from the ice asteroid came to their aid and many where move about cadet nagate Tankikaze heroic rescue of Shizuka hoshijiro. Even though it is said that Tankikaze it not the same person from the 4th gauna war he used the same guard that defended mankind from the fourth gauna assault cadet Tankikaze single handedly defeated the gauna perhaps he could be the new hero of Sidonia.
Kunato shocked at what the reporter says then hears his phone ring and picks it up. Mako- I take it you've seen the news. Kunato- I have. Tell me again about this proposal you have. Mako makes a smile and replies with very well. Back with nagate he finishes his medical checks and heads back to his dorm to change, he is surprised to find new clothing on his bed and a note, it reads welcome back nagate these new cloths are just for you - Hiyama.
He smiles then puts on a new pair of cloths grabs his sweater and heads out, he walks through hallway getting complements from the other cadet's saying good job and welcome back, nagate replies with a smile and says thank you then goes to his locker to open it and finds five bags of rice to his surprise then hears a familiar voice. Izana- NAGATE, Nagate- Hey izana. With a smile Izana says Welcome back, nagate replies with thanks then she grabs his hand and says You were amazing nagate seriously where did you learn to fly like that? Nagate with a smile says I'm not really shore it just happened on instinct, I guess. Izana- I see shouldn't you be getting some rest though?
Nagate-Well there's nothing to do in the dorms and there's some place I want to go. He then walks to the elevator with izana right behind and while going down he sees the residence areas. Nagate-Wow its nearly back to normal. Izana- Yeah well, it's been three weeks now. Although the smell didn't go away until a few days ago. The organic converter reactors were working around the clock, but they couldn't keep up with all the bodies coming in. Nagate- I see. He clutches his fist and says in his head will the deaths ever end. Once the elevator stops, he heads to the memorial site of Akai squad and when arrives he sees the pictures of the pilots with dozens of flowers under neath. He bows his head and replies with Akai even though I only knew you for a short time thank you for everything you've done. When he lifts his head, he sees the picture he took when they invited him to the Laputa and smiles. They then begin to leave when izana sees someone walking by.
Izana- Oh isn't that yuhata? Nagate-It is. After walking by yuhata says quietly thank you so much then nagate stops and turns around to see her by the podium in tears. While crying she feels a hand on her shoulder see that its nagate with a smile and hugs her. She hugs him back ask what's this for? Nagate-Felt like you could use one. She smiles and hugs him tighter and laughs a bit. While that's going on the captain is on the bridge talking to the immortal council on the current events that happened. Man- Its seems that the defense squad has return Kobayashi. The hero returns. Nagate Tankikaze Hiroki Saitou successor. Women- Do you understand Kobayashi? If nagate Is the same person as Hiroki Saitou, then it's only a matter of time before he turns his back on you. Kobayashi- As of right now it's likely that Sidonia is deep into gauna territory. As long as nagate still believe that I'm his mother he will listen nagates piloting skills are too important. Man-You were the one who decided to take on what could have easily been avoided. Kobayashi- It's not like you care as long as you can keep living on forever.
Man-You dare insult us Kobayashi? Older man- We are simply trying to discuss what is the best course to ensure Sidonia and humanities survival. If nagate can be used to that end, then so be it. But if he becomes a problem, you will be the one to cut nagate Tankikaze lose. Person- I wouldn't be so shore about that. Kobayashi turns around to see mako walking in. Kobayashi- What are you doing here mako this area is off limits to civilians and cadets. Man- We summoned him here Kobayashi because he has something to present that you'll find interesting. Kobayashi- Very well. Mako forms a smile then begins to explain his proposition. Back with nagate he heads for the dining area to eat and is happy to see Mrs. Hiyama there. Nagate- Mrs. Hiyama.
With a smile she says they delivered some wonderful chicken today it deliciously prepared. Nagate- Really maybe all have that then. Hiyama- I've been so bored not having everyone come in to eat everyday I'm glad you made it back. Nagate replies with thanks then a door opens up and he sees that its hoshijiro. Hoshijiro- I thought you be here. Nagate- Your done with your reexamination. Hoshijiro-Yup everything checked out. Nagate- That's good.
She forms a smile then Hiyama says wait right here all have your food made right away. Nagate- Thank you Mrs. Hiyama, While she goes to makes their food nagate and hoshijiro talk among themselves for a bit. Hoshijiro with a blushed look begins to say nagate about what happened on your ship can we but then nagate cuts her off saying it will be our secret and hoshijiro smiles mins later Hiyama return with their food steaming hot. Hiyama-Ok here you go. Nagate with a smile says WOW this looks great then halts down 2 pieces of chicken with hoshijiro laughing a bit and then notices. Hoshijiro-You just look like you're really enjoying it. Nagate- Yeah, it's my first real meal in a long time.
With a smile she says ok you two enjoy your meal. Nagate-Thanks, Hoshijiro-Its good I didn't feel like we were back until now. Yeah, you got that right. While eating she notices a finger glove on his right hand and asks What's with the finger glove on your hand? Nagate-It's to hide the map from people I don't trust. Hoshijiro-I See, do you trust me?, Nagate-Of course I do why did you think I let you into the bath with me. Hoshijiro face turns bright red then says You haven't told that to anybody have you? Nagate says only when you're around then playfully nudges her which makes her smile a bit.
Back with the captain, Kobayashi Is watching the news on what going on. Women- While Sidonia was thrilled to the safe return of the stranded cadet's anti-military activists filled the urban district mounting protests while police officers attempted to keep things under control. 3 policemen sustained injuries, but none were considered what would happen after four people were arrested. Ochiai- We managed to spend a violation of protocol into a human-interest story. The public is celebrating the safe return of Nagate Tankikaze the new gauna slayer. Kobayashi-That's because the people are always looking for a hero. Ochiai-However the damage was quite significant and its spreading anti-war sentiments to levels under the water line it's like a powdered keg ready to go. Kobayashi-If worse comes to worse will have to seperate them. Ochiai-Understood. I heard the immortal ship counsel summoned mako what did they need him for. Kobayashi-They given him permission to restart project black guard. Ochiai- Project blackguard but how that project was shut down ages ago because we didn't have the technology to finish it and the right people to pilot them. Kobayashi-We do now, and preparations have already been made.
Ochiai stands there confused at her response then realizes what she meant and says How long will it be before he realizes? Kobayashi with a sad face says long enough for us to complete it. Back with nagate Izana is pulling him to an announcement bord to show him something. Izana- Hurry up nagate Look look.
He sees a list of cadets that have been promoted to official guard pilots and his name is among them, he smiles then starts to hear compliments from the other cadets. Guy-Hey you did it nice going nagate, other cadet- Did you know they added your combat data to the virtual training counsels, Girl- Wow that's really amazing. He then turns around and says You guys aren't upset that I'm not that hero from that war so long ago. Cadets- Some of us are but we all know who you are and were glad that you are here. Nagate-Thank you means a lot. All the cadets smile and some of the girl's giggle then nagate asks izana so what happens now. Izana-There's a ceremony that is held for the promoted cadets and are given a black uniform for it then the captain will say a speech and present the promoted pilots then we celebrate with food and drinks.
Nagate- Sounds like it's going to be blast. Izana- It will be. Nagate-Well I better go get ready all see tonight. Izana- Ok see you tonight. He then backs to his dorm and sees his black uniform on his desk before he goes to it, he grabs his journal and begins to look through the drawings he drew from his dreams then says it time to change pace, he turns to a fresh page and begins drawing. Hours later he changes into his ceremonial uniform grabs his bag then heads for the ceremony. Once there he's sees dozens of cadets lining up front and the ones that got promoted on a stage, he puts his back down near the stage and joins them at attention then the captain comes in and begins her speech. Captain-We have declared war on the gauna, we can't turn back now.
The Kabizashi retrieval teams' success gives us an advantage in the upcoming battles. There for Norio Kunato, Shizuka hoshijiro, En honoka and Nagate Tankikaze have been promoted as our four newest guard pilots. The cadets clap and cheer at their newest graduates then Mins later they all surround the tables looking down at the delicious food and drinks then begins to eat. Nagate has already filled up his plate with different kinds of food and chowing it down fast while izana enjoys herself then a min later nagate is approached by ren. She greets him with congratulation nagate with a mouth full he replies oh thanks then ren says we can tell each other apart you know because the eleven of us are sisters, but I don't suppose you can nagate do you know who is who? Nagate-No I don't think so I can I'm sorry.
Ren-Its ok anyways En here thought you were cute when she saw you in the vid. En-What ren shut about that. Hou-Come on En don't deny it they said most of th including you were blushing at what they saw even hoshijiro. Nagate-Sorry but what are you talking about? Before she could answer Kunato approaches him. Kunato-Nagate Tankikaze I never properly thanked you for rescuing me.
Nagate-It's no problem Kunato-We've been through a lot but for now on the four of us will be a team. Let's put all that stuff in the past. Nagata-ok Hoshijiro-Great then lets practice are formation now. Nagate-yeah, En-That sounds good let's do it. Hoshijiro-Come on you two. They then come forward joining hands and while they do some of the cadet's cheer for them and saying were so proud of you. After they let go nagate presses a button on his arm to bring out his camera with some cadets surprised at it. En-What is that? Nagate-It's my camera if we're going to be a team, I thought we could get a picture together. Hoshijiro-Sounds good, En-Let's do it. The four of them stand together forming a smile then the camera takes the shot. The camera then prints four of them out and nagate gives it to his new team. Hoshijiro-Thanks nagate, En-Yeah Thank you, Nagate-Your welcome. Eventually they all separate enjoying their food celebrating their promotion mins later nagate is approached by yuhata while eating. Yuhata-Nagate there you are. Izana-Your midorikawa sister. Yuhata-Wow you actually remembered me I'm flattered thank you. Izana-
Aren't you in the class right below us? Yuhata-No today I was transferred to the 6028th class were classmates now Mister Izana shinatose, Izana-Ah Mister? Yuhata-I came here for a reason because I really wanted to thank you for avenging my brother's death, Nagate-Well I was just doing what was right. Yuhata bows and says thank you very much then bumps izana out of the way asking him if she wanted to bring him anything to drink and ask what he's drinking. He replies with I'm just drinking water then sees the captain going by with two guards with masks on.
Nagate-Izana hold this for me. Izana-Where are you going nagate? Nagate-All be right back I need to speak to the captain. While walking hoshijiro sees him going by and makes a curios face, nagate manages to catch up to her and is about to say mom but quickly changes to saying captain. Guard-Who are you? Kobayashi-Its ok let him through., Guard-Yes mam, Kobayashi-Get on, Nagate-Right. After getting on Kobayashi says it seems things are going well for you. Nagate- It is but why am I getting this special treatment mom?, Kobayashi-Dos it bother you?, Nagate-It just doesn't make sense you only show me your face when I'm around you or if there's some big secret. And what was the reason I was put into stasis and my memories altered was it to protect me or was it something else. Kobayashi looks at him then takes her mask off and says it's because the man you saw dead took pity on you and tried to use you for his own personal needs. But it wasn't me who promoted you to guard pilot it was your own abilities. Nagate-But I just, these abilities I have aren't even mine. Kobayashi- Listen once upon time this ship had a hero defending it. Nagate-I know I keep hearing about that from the other cadets that I look exactly like him. Kobayashi- He may have looked like you, but you are different.
Once the elevator stops at her floor, she put hands on his shoulder and says All explain everything I promise but you must not let anybody now we are family., Nagate-Why can't the people know mom? Kobayashi-Because if the people knew we were family they could hurt and try to use you as leverage to remove me from my position. Nagate-I understand mom. Kobayashi- For the future battles of Sidonia I liked you to become a knight of Sidonia. Nagate-Ah knight? Kobayashi-Think it over for a bit.
She then leaves putting her mask back on but before she could go nagate asks her about his ship. She tells him that he will have full access to his ship then the door closes while he thinks over about what she said. Once the elevator reaches his floor, he's surprised to see hoshijiro there waiting for him. Hoshijiro-Are you ok nagate it looked you ran after the captain. Nagate-It was nothing I just wanted to ask the captain about my ship she said I can go to it now. Hoshijiro-Oh I see I thought you were in trouble or something. With a concerned face Nagate says no it was nothing like that. Hoshijiro-Is something the matter? Nagate- No its just something I need to figure out on my own. Hoshijiro- I understand. Secs later izana opens the door looking for him but is disappointed to see he's with hoshijiro and is then bumped by yuhata. She rushes to him grabs nagate arm and says To celebrate your promotion I was thinking maybe we could go to the sea. Nagate-The sea? Yuhata-Only official pilots can go, and I thought it would be nice to go since your now one. Nagate-Ok then what do you say izana. Izana-ok all come.
Yuhata-You're coming with us izana? Izana-Of course I am. Yuhata-Well then you can take hoshijiro with you then. Izana huffs at what she says then yuhata says you know since each official pilot is only allowed to bring one guest. Hoshijiro-That's fine but the submarine pods can carry four people. Let's all get into one. Yuhata says shore but then makes an upset face afterwards. Mins later arrive at the upper level where the pods are and yuhata is still holding on nagate arm and saying nagate have you ever had monk fish stew before? Nagate-I don't think so, but it sounds tasty.
Yuhata-Its very good all make some for you sometime. Nagate-Ok. They then put in all their ids to clear themselves for the ride until yuhata steps and says all take care of the submarine pod rental. She inputs the time around and the passengers as two then as soon as the door opens yuhata pushes him in and tries to close the door but izana stops her from doing that. Izana-what is your problem? Yuhata says I want to ride with him alone, then press's the button to close the door but in doing so it closes on them then hoshijiro goes over squeezing through trying to help and ask nagate to open the doors. He quickly gets up and presses the button but hoshijiro loses her balance and crashes into nagate.
The submarine system confirms two passengers then it closes the door with disappointment on yuhata's face, the pod then launches wabbling around making nagate and hoshijiro lose their footing until nagate grabs hoshijiro hand. Realizing what happened they blush at each other then let go and look out the view port nagate sees so many kinds of sea creatures and is amazed at them. Hoshijiro looks at their route and says it looks like we're getting the full tour and were going twice we should probably get off at the closest exit. Before she could press the button nagate reaches for her hand and says no let's just stay on a bit longer. Hoshijiro surprised at what he says blushes a bit then is about to say something but then stops and let's go of his hand and says I'm sorry we can't.
Nagate-What's going on hoshijiro you've been acting strange ever since the incident in the locker room and what was the sister talking about, I want the truth. Hoshijiro trembles a bit been then says ok all tell you. The truth is I saw you with someone from your holodisk. Nagate-Wait you mean the disk artifact I have how did you get it to work?
Hoshijiro-I didn't when it rolled out of my pants it activated on its own. Nagate-I see, who did you see with me? Hoshijiro hesitates at first but then with enough courage says izana it was izana. Shocked at what she said nagate walks over to the other side of the pod to take in what she said. Hoshijiro approaches him and says you have feelings for izana don't you? Nagate-To tell you the truth I think I already had them before I woke up from pod. Hoshijiro- What do you mean? He turns around to her and says I keeps seeing visions of izana one in particular. Hoshijiro-what did you see? Nagate pulls out his journal from his bag and goes to the page of the vision he saw of izana in the white dress.
Hoshijiro- This is what you keep seeing of izana?, Nagate-Every now and then yeah. I'd see a hallucination of her in that dress just dancing and laughing. Hoshijiro-But why though? Nagate- It's because I think Izana, and I were together in my universe, but I can only remember bits and pieces. Hoshijiro-I understand. She then flips through his journal looking at his other drawings and asks is this ship that destroyed your earth. Nagate- It is I still have nightmares about it sometimes. Hoshijiro continues flipping through his journal then she sees a crystal-like object and asks what's this?
Nagate-It's just something I saw in my dream. I don't know what it means but my map seems to point to it when I go near it. Hoshijiro looks at it a bit more then recognizes what it is and starts to say nagate I know what this but is interrupted by a ring from their watches. Nagate-Looks like we're getting deployed. Hoshijiro-Its looks like it. On the bridge the crew is alerted to the presence and has discovered that the gaunas have linked into one massive pod. The pilots that were selected quickly change into their suits and get to their mechs including nagate and hoshijiro, while floating hoshijiro says to nagate after this mission nagate something I need tell you I know what the crystal structure is from your dream. Nagate- Wait what do you mean? Before she could say anymore, she floats to the hanger with a smile, and all goes dark.
Hours later nagate awakens to find himself in a hospital bed with bandages on him, he slowly gets up wabbling a bit then steady's himself and opens the door. Once out he sees the honoka sisters in the hall and when they see him they all get upset then ren yells NAGATE THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT. Nagate looks at them then says Ren is that you how did you survive after the earth was destroyed by the dredge. Ren-Wait how did you know my name? Before he could answer izana walks in saying nagate your awake but how can you walk? Nagate answer with I ah with the sisters still watching with an angry face then izana says let's get you back to your room. Izana guides him back to his bed then nagate says my fault what was ren talking about? Izana-How do you know her name you didn't before. Nagate-I don't know it's like parts of my memories came back to me when wait the gauna what happened to it.
Izana-Calm down relax. Nagate-Izana what is it you don't look so well. Izana-Ah you should get some sleep. Nagate-I'm ok what is it you're not telling me. Izana-I ah. Nagate then grabs the remote and turns on the tv to watch the news and sees Kunato on there. Reporter-We have pilot Kunato here with us now to answer some questions. Welcome back. Kunato-Good afternoon.
Reporter-While the official outcome of the battle with the gauna pod was a huge success unfortunately one of the twenty-nine gaunas did manage to escape. Meanwhile one could say it was a great victory and your performance which ended up netting four confirmed kills would be to say the least impressive. Kunato-But I'm not satisfied. Reporter-I understand many are criticizing pilot nagates performance had he separated the tail more quickly you might have had a complete victory. Kunato-That's wrong separating the gaunas tail was everyone responsibility not just nagates. I am equally responsible for not being able to manage my squad properly I tried to do everything I could, but it still resulted in losing a member of my team. Nagate then sees hoshijiro name appear among the casualty list and it shocks him badly making him drop the remote