"Uh, so... will we continue?" Mayu decides to ask the dreaded question.
"I don't see why not." Yuka says. 'Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?'
"Yes! I can see more of papa then!" Nana exclaims. Lucy doesn't have it in her to say she doesn't want to see anymore. Everything would be laid bare with her presence, or without it. Yuka would see to that.
"Very well then." Kouta says before hesitantly starting the next episode.
Cold open on a downpour in a rundown looking section of the beach. It cuts to show a shed also in the rain. It then shows Mayu cuddled up in the shed with Wanta.
"Why are you out in the cold rain and not inside?" Nana asks her friend.
"Oh. I never told you this Nana, but before I was taken in by Kouta and Yuka to live here, I didn't live anywhere." Mayu explains.
"Oh." Nana says in understanding. She hadn't even thought to notice the absence of her best friend in the previous episode because she had her mind elsewhere.
Mayu: I guess we're both hungry, huh.
Wanta whimpers in response.
Lucy was brought back to the time in her life when she was a run away. She often killed for food, but lots of times she decided not to risk it for fear of getting caught, so she'd go on hungry for awhile. She found herself relating to Mayu's situation, but had to wonder why Mayu was homeless in the first place.
The sound of a helicopter off in the distance got the two's attention. Cut to show the helicopter before cutting to view the inside.
SAT Commander: Listen up, our target has an unidentified weapon with a two meter effective lethal range.
Bando: Unidentified. Meaning what?
SAT Commander: The specifics are unknown.
Bando: Right.
Bando gets into laid back position while the commander can only glare.
SAT Commander: The police have already scrambled. They're searching the city now.
Bando yawns.
SAT Commander: Once we receive her location, we'll immediately head to the site.
Bando abruptly stands up and walks through the other soldiers.
SAT Commander: Bando!
Bando: Later chief.
Once Bando gets to the end, he lifts a lever that opens the rear door.
SAT Commander: What are you doing!
"I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Why do they have this lunatic working for them!" Yuka exclaims.
"Its a miracle he hasn't gotten fired." Kouta adds. "Then you remember who he works for."
Bando: If this target is so dangerous we can shoot without warning? Well then, looks like its hunt or be hunted. I know how it goes. Drop me off already.
"Uh, I don't see any parachutes." Mayu says.
"Don't bother. I don't think we can find a logic to this mans way of thinking." Yuka spat.
Cut to show a hand digging in the sand, occasionally interrupted with the tides coming in. Nyu is on her hands and knees when she gets splashed by said tides. She is drenched in rain and seawater.
Lucy had to hand it to her other personality, she was dedicated when she had her mind set on something.
"What do you think Nyu is doing out there?" Nana whispers to Mayu.
"I'm not sure." Mayu responds.
Back at the Maple Inn, Kouta sat, starring at the broken seashell. Eventually, he gets up to look at the clock in the hallway.
Kouta: Oh, thats right.
Yuka: (Flashback) I think she understood. She knew the seashell made you sad.
Kouta exhales before hearing a knock on the door. He rushes over to answer it.
Kouta: Quit fooling around. C'mon, you know its not loc-
He is interrupted when he opens it to sees two men on the other side.
Nana recoils at the sight of the men. They were among the people she knocked out at that barricade when she left to face Mariko, meaning they were apart of the institute.
"That first man was there when they recruited Bando to hunt Lucy down. He's no police detective!" Mayu exclaims.
"Maybe he is, and just has a little side job he doesn't talk much about." Kouta grumbles.
Institute op 1: For some reason, I always thought this place was vacant.
The second op peaks his head inside, making Kouta uncomfortable.
Kouta: Yeah, I, uh, moved in here today. Can I help you?
Institute op 2: We're the police.
Institute op 1: If you'll cooperate for a minute, we need your help with an investigation.
Kouta: Why's that? Did something happen?
Institute op 1: You seen a girl around? She looks like this.
The man shows Kouta a picture of Lucy in a simple white shirt.
Kouta: Why do you ask? Did she do something wrong?
Institute op 2: Hey, why don't you leave the questioning to us! So have you seen her, or haven't you?
Institute op 1: Its alright, she's just a missing person after all.
Kouta: Missing... person...
Kouta takes a moment to consider his answer.
Kouta: I don't know her.
"Not that I'm ungrateful for you lying for me, but why didn't you tell them?" Lucy asks.
"I had a feeling something was off with those men, and the second ones behaviour only furthered those thoughts." Kouta explained. "I didn't know anything of the situation, so I thought it best to keep quiet. Good thing, right."
"Right." Lucy agrees.
"Oh Kouta, you're so good at figuring people out." Nana compliments him.
"Thanks Nana. I always had this sixth sense pertaining to people and determining their intentions." Kouta says.
Institute op 1: I see. If you happen to run into her, please contact the police. Thanks for your help. Let go.
Institute op 2: Right.
The two then turn around to leave. Kouta waits until they're gone before grabbing an umbrella. He rushes putside and closers the door.
Kouta: Oh, should I lock the door?
Deciding against it, Kouta rushes out of the yard. Cut back to the beach with Bando another soldier.
Sato: This is Sato from Bando team ,we've arrived at Yuigahama. We're continuing the search. We've only been authorized to search the coastlines. We're supposed to stay away from populated area's.
Bando: Huh. Thats up to our enemy.
Sato: They said that she uses some kind of special weapon, but what do you think it is? How am I supposed to defend myself if its a weapon we don't know anything about?
"Hard to believe we're listening to someone sensible for once." Yuka comments.
"They know that they torture those like me for no other reason than being born. Is he really so sensible?" Lucy insinuates.
"I don't know. They locked you up because of your powers, right?" Kouta asks. "Yet they themselves don't know what said powers are. And when they talked to Bando about you, they only described you as a murderer with a special weapon. Nothing about said weapon, even though they should know some basic things about it. I think the soldiers are on some kind of need to know basis, and the people up top don't think they need to know about the inhuman detainment going on."
"Wow. I never thought of that." Mayu says.
"Yeah. From their point of view, they're doing nothing wrong." Kouta says. Lucy was uncomfortable with the revelation, making it harder to justify the deaths of those soldiers she killed. 'At least theres no excuse for the security officers and scientists. They were there. They knew what was going on and deserved death for doing nothing.'
Bando rounds on his teammate.
Bando: Shut up! Would it kill you to shut your damn mouth! If you don't stop whining, you'll be the first casualty.
Bando raises his gun to Sato.
Sato: Uh, Bando.
The soldier points behind Bando who turns around and grins while chuckling to himself. He licks his lips.
Bando: Bingo.
The audience shutters in disgust.
Back with Nyu digging in the sand, she seems to find something and smiles to herself.
Nyu: Nyu?
She looks behind herself.
Cut to the middle of town where Yuka walks until she finds the two men from earlier.
Yuka: Excuse me.
The second man takes notice of her.
'Crap. Yuka doesn't know the situation and tell them everything. Though how did we get away with keeping Lucy then? Was something lost in translation or something that prevented them from connecting Lucy to us?' Kouta thought.
Yuka: Can you help me? I'm looking for a friend of mine thats lost.
The two men share a look.
Cut back to Nyu as she seems to stare at something off screen in distress. It is then revealed it's Kouta who walks over to Nyu to cover her with the umbrella.
"I thought it was going to be those bad men." Nana breathes in relief.
"Yeah. This is something TV shows do to create suspense." Mayu informs her.
"That only makes this all the more disturbing. Like someone's watching us like a TV show." Lucy says.
Kouta: What are you doing out here? Its pouring rain. Oh man.
Nyu lifts her closed hand up which Kouta takes in his hand.
Kouta: Oh, you're shivering.
Nyu can only whimper.
Kouta: Well, we can't fix things here. Lets go.
Nyu: Nyu.
Kouta: Come on, get up.
Just as Kouta rises, he is struck in the back of the head by soldiers, causing him to drop.
Nyu: Nyu! Nyu!
Lucy has to resist the urge to run back down to the beach and slaughter that man where she left him. 'No. I can't keep looking to killing as the solution to my problems.'
The two soldiers approach.
Bando: Woah, horns. Just like they said, she's got em growing out of her skull.
Sato: You probably shouldn't get to close.
Bando: I told you already to shut up.
Kouta: What? Hey, who are you guys?
Bando points his rifle right to Kouta's head.
The urge to rip off Bando's legs this time gets stronger, but she abstains from heading toward the beach.
Bando only laughs.
Bando: Lets see, they gave us the green light to kill any witnesses, right Sato?
Sato: Uh, no. Those weren't the orders. We'd have to call HQ.
Kouta: What? Kill? What do you mean kill?
Bando: Isn't it obvious, dumbass? The word kill, means I pull the trigger, the gun goes off and you're brains splatter all over the sand. The beach gets bloody and you get dead.
'The beach is gonna get bloody alright. Just not his blood.' Lucy thinks darkly. She doubted anyone would hold killing these soldiers against her after seeing them threaten Kouta with death.
Kouta quickly bats the gun away.
Kouta: Nyu! Run!
He and Nyu take off running. Bando aims and fires his gun.
Yuka flinches. 'Did Lucy protect them? Wouldn't Kouta have seen then?'
Sato: Huh?
It shows Bando had shot warning shots to the left of them.
Bando: I'm on a hunt, and your girlfriend's my prey.
Kouta turns back to watch Bando approach, chuckling as he does so.
Bando: Now get out of my way.
Bando kicks Kouta who collapses to the ground.
Nyu: Nyu! Nyu!
Nana's face contorts in anger. To think she was once going to team up with this man to kill Lucy.
Bando aims his gun at Nyu.
Bando: Well well, this has been a little too easy. Lets make it fun. How bout it?
Cut back to Yuka.
Police officer: Missing? How old is she?
Yuka: Um... well...
Institute OP 2: Yes, right, understood.
Flashback to when Nyu smiled after breaking the shell.
Yuka: Huh. Oh yeah. Never mind, I think I just figured out where she is. Sorry for bothering you.
With that, Yuka leaves the men.
'Good thing she remembered that detail before she told them anything.' Lucy thought. 'Almost like some deity wanted me to remain with them.'
Yuka breathes her own sigh of relief. If only she knew what those men were involved with, she'd stay well away.
The second institute Op hangs up the phone he was on.
Police officer: Sorry, you were telling me something before I stepped out?
Institute OP 1: Oh, thats alright. We're just having a little trouble with a missing person.
The second Op whispers into the first's ear.
Institute OP 2: The special assault teams are searching the coastlines without our approval. Those SAT jerks, what in the hell could they be thinking.
'The police aren't even fully in on it!' Then again, Kouta wasn't too surprised. The less the people know, the less likely it would leak or a kind hearted person try to stop the madness.
Institute OP 1: I hope they're at least keeping a low profile.
"They want low profile, and they bring that Bando along?" Yuka questions.
Institute Op 1: Well then, we're counting on you.
Police officer: Yes sir.
The first Op opens an umbrella and he along with the second leave. The camera focuses on a picture of Lucy on the desk. The police officer looks back to it.
Police officer: A vicious murderer... And she looks like that.
Cuts to show Yuka searching through the rain. She walks by the beach area where she spots something and gasps. She runs down to an unconscious Kouta.
Yuka: Kouta! Kouta! Are you alright?
Kouta opens his eyes a little and groans.
Yuka: Kouta, what happened?
Yuka gets up.
Yuka: I'll go call an ambulance.
Kouta: Nyu. Where's Nyu?
Lucy feels her mood elevate slightly at the thought of Kouta concerned for her, even if its her alternate personality.
With that, Kouta falls unconscious again.
Yuka: Kouta! You'll be okay. Kouta!
Cuts to show the ambulance leaving along with Yuka's umbrella being forgotten in the rain. Cut to show the beach storage area where Bando drags a helpless Nyu, who,s still clutching Kouta's umbrella and something else.
'Maybe that man did deserve to have his arm cut off for attacking Kouta and Nyu unprompted.' Nana thought. 'But I didn't deserve what I got. I'm a good girl.' She looks to her prosthetics.
Sato: Is this the right girl? She's not acting like any killer I know. Bando!
"I imagine if some of those soldiers actually met one of you, they might rethink the notion that you're all killers." Kouta says.
"Yeah. This Sato guys is decent enough, maybe there are some actually good people in SAT?" Yuka questions.
Lucy's mood drops remembering the fate of the man, and the fact they would also see it. Along with the fact if any SAT soldier talked with her, it would likely have their suspicions reaffirmed that they were all killers. If they talked with Nana, then maybe what Kouta said would be true, but not her.
Bando: Yeah, and how many other girls do you know that have horns sticking out of their head?
Sato:But...
Sato gets on his radio.
Sato: This is Sato from Bando team. Over. We've apprehended a female matching the suspects description. We're located at Yuigahama.
Bando knocks the man out with his gun a d then destroys the radio.
Bando: Don't try to undermine me. I'm just having a little fun here.
"Please put that son of a bitch out of his misery." Yuka surprisingly growled.
"If he does make it out, I'd hope they fire him, though thats probably asking for too much." Kouta says. Mayu doesn't know how to feel for helping that man, and Nana for almost teaming up with him.
'He probably would have done the same to me as he did that man if he could.' Nana thinks.
Bando holds up Nyu by her hair.
Bando: I hear you're a big time badass, right? Show me what you got! Lets rock and roll!
Nyu attempts to get away, but is thrown onto the sand, the umbrella floating away. Bando hits Nyu again.
Everyone clenches their fists in anger, a fact that doesn't go unnoticed by Lucy.
'Maybe they'll forgive me for this one.' She allows herself to hope.
Bando: What the hell is wrong with you?
Bando lifts his face shield.
Bando: So are you a killer, or not? Put up a fight, come on!
Nyu hides her clenched fist behind her back.
Bando: Hey, wait a second... what are you trying to hide? Show it to me!
Sato: Hold on! What if its her secret weapon?
Bando: You really are completely stupid. If you have a secret weapon you better use it! Now!
Nyu attempts to climb over the boats she's up against to escape. Bando can only scoff. He then hits Nyu hard in the head with his rifle. She grips a net fence to try to stay upright but only drags it down with her.
Bando: Man, what a let down.
Bando walks away.
Sato: What? Bando?
Bando: Sato, go ahead and shoot her.
Sato: What?
Bando: I said kill her. Thats the mission, right?
Bando throws off his helmet
Sato: But sir!
Bando: Shoot her already. Its an order.
Bando pulls off his ski mask and takes out cigarette.
Sato: *sighs* Yes sir.
"Just when we thought he was a good man, he shoots a seemingly innocent person." Kouta sighs.
"To be fair, he would get in trouble for disobeying orders, so why do it for some girl he doesn't even know." Yuka brings up. They give her a pointed look. "Not that I'm agreeing with his actions, just trying to look at it from his perspective.
Sato approaches the unconscious girl as Bando attempts to light his cigarette.
"I thought fire doesn't work in water. Why is he trying to make one in the rain?" Nana asks.
Sato: I'm sorry miss but I'm just carrying out my orders.
Sato takes aim as Bando gets frustrated with his lighter.
Bando: Damnit.
Sato's figure rests on the trigger, and just as the lighter lights, blood splatters on one of the posts.
Cut to show Wanta hearing the noise. The dog looks to his asleep owner.
"You saw what happened?" Lucy asks the smaller girl.
"No. I only saw you running away from the scene." Mayu says. "I'm sure we'll see it here."
Cut back to show Sato has a large hole gore through him. Bando looks back to his partner.
Bando: Huh? What!
Sato: Bando!
Sato's arm is chopped off and his head shortly after, spraying blood everywhere. Bando can only look on surprised.
"Yeah! Now that man can get what he deserves!" Nana exclaims.
"Bet he won't act so tough once he finds out what he's up against." Yuka smirks. Lucy meanwhile, doesn't know how to take the... praise?
Once Sato's finished bleeding and falls over, Lucy slowly rises to look a dumbstruck Bando in the eye. Bando quickly fires his rifle, however his bullets seemingly bounce off Lucy. The boat in front of her is then smashed in half. Bando gasps as Lucy slowly comes towards him.
Bando: What the hell are you!
He keeps firing his weapon which still has no effect.
Bando: There's no way!
Yuka and Nana seem satisfied at the turnabout while Kouta and Mayu look more conflicted. Lucy looks more at her family's reactions more than the TV now, wishing she could know exactly what they're thinking.
Four clear arms sprout from Lucy's back.
"Woah! Thats what they look like!" Kouta exclaims.
"Wait, you can see them?" Lucy questions.
"Yeah. Why are they visible now?" Kouta asks.
"Maybe however this was recorded had a feature to make them visible to those that can't see." Mayu suggests.
"Maybe. You and Nana can each see each others invisible arms, right?" Yuka questions. The two nod. "Hmm..."
"But how did a person record this?" Nana asks. No one has an answer.
Bando: Huh?
Bando moves from his position as a cloud of dust springs up from where he once was. His helmet is shown being crushed by an invisible hand.
"Now they're invisible again. Why?" Kouta mutters.
Bando: A hand?
Lucy again deploys her vectors. Bando runs as more dust clouds spring up behind him followed by destruction. He then rolls away before taking cover behind a barrel. Multiple objects levitate around Lucy before being thrown in Bando's direction.
Bando: Haha! You,re just throwing blind until you hit me.
Flashback
SAT Commander: Listen up; our target has an unidentified weapon with a two meter effective lethal range.
Present
Bando peaks over the barrel to see Lucy throw more junk in his direction. He quickly shrinks back to cover.
Bando: So thats it. Two meter long invisible hands. Quite a weapon.
'One thankfully, he can never have.' Kouta thinks. 'Can he? I hope not.'
Sato's body is thrown toward Bando before he looks up to see a boat drop on him causing the barrels to explode, however, Bando rolls away. Lucy meanwhile lifts another boat behind herself.
The three humans sit in awe of her power.
Lucy meanwhile, fidgets uncomfortably in her seat, wishing they could be doing anything else. Even if she is forgiven for all her crimes by her family, theres no taking back the incredible and terrifying things they've seen her do. They would forever look at her differently now. Why did that man have to barge into their lives and show them this.
Bando: You know, this is kind of fun!
Bando fires his grenade launcher at the boat and it explodes directly above Lucy.
Wanta meanwhile keeps barking, eventually waking Mayu.
Mayu: Whats that?
Cut back to Bando still behind cover watching Lucy. His eyes trail to his fallen comrade and onto the grenades on his belt. Bando smirks.
Bando: Wow. This is just too cool.
Lucy slowly approaches. Bando listens. When he hears her step in a pool of blood he jumps out of cover.
Bando: Okay you freak of nature time to die! Huh!
Lucy aims Sato's gun.
"How did you know he was going to use the grenades against you?" Mayu asks.
"I didn't. I thought he would foolishly keep firing. I wasn't interested in a prolonged battle so I figured I'd surprise him.
Bando: Hey, thats not fair. You're cheating.
"How can he say something like that! Its not fair to beat on defenceless civilians either!" Kouta exclaims.
"He's getting his just deserts now." Yuka affirms.
Lucy fires, knocking Bando down.
"Um, if you don't mind me asking, I've heard the recoil of guns is difficult to handle even with two arms. How did you handle it with just one?" Kouta asks.
"Its okay Kouta, you can ask me anything. And to answer your question, I was using my vectors to steady it, so I technically wasn't using one hand." Lucy answers.
Mayu begins to take notice of the noises. When it cuts back to Lucy and Bando, the diclonius is standing over the soldier gazing at him with the eyes of cold apathy.
Lucy: Do you enjoy this?
A pang of fear is felt inside Yuka. She's never heard Lucy talk like that before, in such a cold, dead, tone. It certainly was frightening.
'She sounds so different now than she did then.' Kouta thinks. 'Here she sounds almost dead inside, while now she sounds like shes had a bit of life put back into her, though with an underlying sadness. I wonder her voice would sound like without the sadness or the pain or regret.'
Bando: Bitch.
Lucy cuts off Bando's gun arm causing the man to scream.
Bando: You bitch! You bitch! How dare you... cut my arm off!
Lucy bends his other arm at an unnatural angel causing him to scream again.
Bando: Just wait... wait and see. See what happens. I won't forget you. I'll come find you.
Lucy extends a vector aimed at his eyes to which she uses to gauge them out causing a new level of screams.
The others can't take it and look away. Lucy watches them with despair. She finally looks away to be left with her own negative thoughts.
Just as she looks away, Kouta chances a look at her and can feel the aura of regret all around her. 'She's not like this anymore.' he thinks to himself. 'She probably thinks we're all judging her, and while that may be true, she's not that person anymore. I will never hold it against her. Maybe after this episode, we can all take a small break. That way I can talk to her and at least try to dispel some of her worry.'
Bando thrashes around as Lucy stares, unbothered.
Bando: I'll kill you! I'll kill you!
Lucy: Funs over.
With that, Lucy extends her vectors and begins choking the life out of the poor soldier. His thrashing around causes him to bump Lucy's closed fist. She brings it up and opens it. Her eyes widen at whatever's inside. She begins clutching her head, clearly in pain.
'What was that in her hand? Why is it causing her to go back to Nyu?' Both Nana and Mayu think.
"Y-you felt pain when you reverted to Nyu?" Kouta questions with worry.
"Sometimes. It was, a real killer headache, but nothing more." Lucy tries to dispel some of his concern.
Lucy's vectors dissipate as she cries out in agony. Before long, she remover her hands from her face to reveal innocent eyes. Nyu's eyes.
Nyu: Nyu?
Bando: Why don't you finish me if you're so tough! Why don't you finish what you started!
Bando continues screaming as Nyu looks on, terrified.
'Poor girl. To have to wake up to something like that.' Lucy thinks. In truth, she cared for her alternate personality, almost like that of a sister. 'What other disaster scenes did she wake up to? Disasters that I was responsible for.'
Cut back to show Mayu slowly walking around the storage area when Nyu runs by. Wanta whimpers with concern. Mayu then notices Nyu's discarded umbrella.
"What happened to Yuka's umbrella?" Nana questions.
"What?" Kouta asks.
"That umbrella was the one Nyu dropped when she was knocked out, but Yuka also dropped hers and left it when she saw Kouta knocked out." Nana explains.
"Oh, I forgot about it." Yuka says. "We never got it back. I don't know what happened to it."
Mayu walks up and picks up the umbrella. 'Kaede house' is written on the handle. She uses it to shield herself from the rain when she hears pained grunting. She see's Bando flailing on the ground.
Bando: Hey! Where the hell are you! Where'd the hell you go!
Mayu: Excuse me, what happened to you? Sir? Stop moving around!
Bando ceases and is completely still.
Bando: Who are you?
Mayu ties his severed arm and stands up.
Mayu: Alright, I'm going to get an ambulance. Please don't move if you don't have to.
"Mayu, why are you helping that bad man?" Nana says in an accusing tone.
"I didn't know about all the things he was a part of, even so, I can't just leave someone to die like that." Mayu explains.
Mayu leaves followed by Wanta. The sound of a helicopters rooter blades can be heard.
Bando: Shit.
Cut to an outside shot of the hospital. Inside, Kouta lays unconscious with Yuka beside him. Kouta grunts as he regains consciousness.
Yuka: Kouta!
Kouta groans some more before opening his eyes.
Yuka: Kouta.
Kouta. Uh, Yuka. What is this? Where am I?
Yuka: Whats going on? What happened? Are you okay?!
The sound of a door opening and closing is heard followed by footsteps. The two institute OPs come into view.
Institute OP 1: Please excuse us.
"He just woke up from getting knocked out. Can't you give him some more time in peace." Lucy silently growls.
Institute OP 1: Well well, looks like we meet again.
Institute OP 2: We'll need a moment alone.
"Looking back on it, It was strange that they questioned Kouta so early after waking up." Yuka mutters.
Cut to show Yuka silently sitting outside. Cut back to Kouta's room, both men on opposite sides of him.
Institute OP 1: A soldier with a machine gun you say? Seems more likely you had a run in with some bikers carrying Saturday night specials don't you think?
Kouta: No, I don't! They were soldiers!
Institute OP 1: The girl who was with you earlier said she didn't see any soldiers, if only we had another witness.
Kouta: Witness. Nyu.
'Its almost like they know he's seen Lucy and they're being really passive aggressive about it.' Mayu thinks. 'Except they don't know he knows anything about her. It's really weird.'
Kouta: There was a girl! There was a girl with me at the beach! Is she safe?
The two operatives gain surprised expressions.
Institute OP 2: This girl witness, who was she?
Kouta: Yeah... I don't know. I just happened to see her.
Institute OP 2: Notice anything strange about her?
Kouta: I can't think of anything strange.
Institute OP 2: Hairstyle, clothing, strange behaviour! Did you see or notice anything unusual on her head.
Kouta gains a surprised expression.
"Thats when I knew for sure they were affiliated with the soldiers." Kouta explains. "I remembered Bando talking about Lucy's horns and made the connection."
"Thats amazing!" Nana exclaims.
"Not really. It was just a guess. Either way, They were giving off dangerous vibes." Kouta says.
Institute OP 1: Its alright. Just think and tell us what ever it is you remember.
Kouta: I know I said girl but, she must have been collage age. And she had short hair, she was a little overweight.
"Huh? But Kouta never saw a girl like that?" Nana questions.
"He was lying to protect Lucy." Yuka explains.
"Huh." Nana mutters. Last time she lied, Bando could see right through her. Kouta must be good at that too.
Institute OP 1: Great. Thats plenty. Sorry to have bothered you when you were injured.
The second operative leaves.
Institute OP 1: I would have left you alone but, the doctor said you were healthy. I'd still take it easy for a day or two.
Kouta: Hold on! I swear one guy had a machine gun!
Institute OP 1: Yeah well, there are a bunch of biker gangs around here. We'll make sure that your incident gets reported. But it'd be smart to forget all about it.
"That was the final nail that confirmed they were working together." Kouta explains.
The institute operative leaves. Cut back to Mayu who has returned to the spot to find Bando absent. Mayu can only stare on confused. Cut to show Kouta and Yuka riding in a taxi, looking grim.
Kouta: God, I really hope she hasn't been killed.
Lucy manages a small smile at his words of concern. 'He's worried for a girl that he's hasn't even known for a whole day. One that broke a precious memento right in front of him on purpose. He is the kindest person on this planet... that why I love him.'
Yuka: What?
Yuka looks at him concerned, but Kouta turns away.
Kouta: Nothing.
Cut to the steps leading to Maple Inn. Kouta stands outside the taxi with his umbrella.
Yuka: Well I'll stop by again tomorrow. Are you sure you're okay?
Kouta: I'm fine, I'm fine. I'll see you later.
The taxi then pulls away. Yuka can only stare at Kouta with concern.
'Whats with that expression?' Kouta wonders.
Kouta approaches the Maple Inn to find Nyu sitting by the door. Nyu notices him and slowly lifts and opens her fist, revealing a seashell.
Both Mayu and Nana gasp in surprise.
"Nyu wanted to make it up to you." Mayu smiles.
"Yeah. She's so kind." Nana agrees, remembering how she offered to share her food when Nana was angry.
Kouta gasps, also surprised.
Nyu: Nyu.
Her eyes water. Kouta drips his umbrella and slowly hugs her.
Yuka gains a pouty expression on her face at the action but otherwise says nothing.
Kouta: I'm sorry.
Nyu: Nyu?
Kouta accepts the shell.
Kouta: Thank you.
Nyu: Nyu!
Cut back to Yuka, staring out the window.
Young Yuka: Kouta, come back next year!
Flashes back to the train station eight years ago
Yuka: Don't forget about me.
For a brief second, Lucy is frozen in terror. They can't be showing that! Luckily, her fears are quickly dashed realizing it probably wouldn't. 'But that doesn't mean we won't get to it.'
Kouta: Yeah, of coarse I'll come back next year. After all, I like you.
Lucy ruthlessly suppresses her jealousy. 'As if I have any right to be with him.' She thinks. If Kouta wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with Yuka... she would accept it, thought it wouldn't be painless for her if that was the case.
Flash back to Yuka in the taxi who only sighs.
Yuka: That was eight years ago, wasn't it.
Taxi driver: Sorry?
Yuka: Oh! No! Nothing.
'The murder must have happened then.' Mayu thinks. She then looks to Kouta. 'He doesn't ,know, maybe it will show who did it.' The girl can't decide if that would be best or not.
A clinking sound gets Yuka's attention. She looks down.
Yuka: Huh, they key. Ah please go back.
Cut back inside the Maple Inn where Nyu sneezes.
Kouta: Okay, who are you anyway? Those two guys, those two soldiers, the police, you've got everybody acting strange.
Nyu: Nyu?
Kouta's face turns red. 'Please don't show this.'
Kouta: Not like you know what I'm asking. But anyway, I've made up my mind and I'm not going to let them take you no matter what happens. Alright, change into this.
Kouta holds up a yellow shirt.
Nyu: Nyu?
Lucy's face mimics the shade of Kouta's. 'Please tell me what I think is happening is not happening.'
Kouta: Hmm. Okay. Alright. I guess I'm going to have to change your clothes myself.
Mayu's face follows the previous two. "Bu- but thats indecent!"
"I really didn't have much a choice." Kouta explains. "I couldn't leave her in those wet clothes."
'Huh. I should have known Kouta wouldn't have been so indecent.' Yuka thinks about what was soon about to happen from her point of view.
Nyu's shirt is transparent, showing her nipples. Kouta's face turns red at the sight. Cut to show Nyu's wet shirt on the table. Kouta feels around the floor with his eyes closed.
The only man in the room turns away at the sight of a topless Nyu.
Kouta: Ah shirt... shirt... shirt.
He finally grabs it.
Kouta: Here we go. Okay Nyu, arms in the air. Like this.
Kouta lifts his arms which Nyu mimics.
Nyu: Nyu!
Kouta: Don't worry. I'm keeping my eyes closed.
Kouta slides the shirt down the dicloniuses arms.
Kouta: Let me see...
Kouta accidentally touches Nyu's breast causing him to jump away.
Nyu: Nyu!
Kouta: Ah! Sorry! Sorry!
The girl pokes at her breasts with a smile on her face.
Both Kouta and Lucy accidentally catch a glance at each other and quickly look away, their faces becoming a whole new shade of red.
Kouta: Okay... underwear's next. This is the big on. Um... so... listen... try no to move, okay?
He grabs onto her shorts and gulps.
Kouta: There.
He pulls off her shorts at the same time Yuka opens the door to the room.
Mayu summons all her self control to not burst out laughing. The timing was so inconvenient.
Cut back to the Institute. Kurama and Shirakawa walk through the white halls.
Kurama: We failed.
Nana mentally cheers for the appearance of her papa.
Shirakawa: Yes, from the SAT debriefing, the team had some difficulties and we can confirm that Lucy made it ashore, but we haven't tracked her down.
Cut to show a red door with a big number 7 on it.
Kurama: As gifted as she is killing I image she'll find it difficult to keep a low profile for long.
'Really? They still underestimated me after four years of evading the authority's after the night of the festival?' Lucy thought.
Shirakawa: Regardless, I hope we won't have to use number seven.
The doors open revealing a dark room with the only source of light coming from a window to another room. Another scientists stands inside.
Kurama: Whats her condition?
It shows several shots of a familiar diclonius bound in chains, naked, and covered in blood.
The humans jaws drop and skin pales at sight of sweet little Nana in this condition.
'What the hell! How can anyone do this to a little girl!' Yuka thinks with outrage. "What are those dents on the wall behind her! Dear God Nana, what did they do to you there!'
'Theres no limit to the kinds of inhumane torture these people do.' Kouta pales even more at realizing they likely would have done similar things to Lucy.
'Nana...' Mayu can only look to her friend with worry.
Nana's joy for seeing herself on the TV is overtake by confusion as to why her family looks so distraught. Did she do something wrong? Maybe it was the sight of her blood?
Nana slowly lifts her head, revealing that she was crying.
Nana: Papa?
The episode ends.
"Papa!?" Everyone but Lucy and Nana question aloud.
"Huh? What about him?" Nana asks nonchalantly.
"Nana..." Yuka starts but can't finish. What does someone even say to this?!
"I think we should take a small five minute break." Kouta says. Everyone silently agrees.