Ume was knocked off her composure. She spoke with much concern, saying, "But you girls aren't even ready! And besides, you're all tired! You all have school tomorrow, don't you?" Hiro spoke reassuringly, saying, "When we return, it will only be five minutes after the present moment. And besides, Aihara-san," he continued, "this matter is one of great importance, more than that of even the most signifiant day of school. It's saving the last remnants of mankind with whatever means necessary to defeat the underground monsters." "Not until I know everything," said a voice from the entrance hall. Everyone gasped in surprise as a tall, young lady entered the room. "I declare, Harumi, you have no sense of safety. You left the apartment door open, little sis, and besides, you have no place here at 8:35 in the evening." Harumin's face turned pale as she realized her big sister had been following her around. She stammered, "But, Mitsuko, you don't understand--" "You don't understand. You do know you all have a test to study for, and what are you doing the night before but lollygagging here? I know I'm no longer the Student Council President, but it's my duty to keep you all in line-" "Mitsuko, be silent," spoke Hiro. His countenance remained set in stone as if he were on a mission (as he was), and his glance of quiet authority sealed Mitsuko's lips. "This matter concerns nothing about relaxing, although I judge that was the original intent. This concerns the future of our planet." "Well, that's certainly frivolous," scoffed Mitsuko, shrugging off his motive. "There are enough environmental regulations in the world today. You gotta be one of those flipping solicitors who say nothing but bullcrap mantras, like 'Save the Trees!' or things like that. I'm sorry, senpai, but on behalf of the Aihara family, I'm going to have to ask you to step out." With that, Hiro judged it would be courteous to comply and turned toward the door, but here Yuzu stopped him, grabbing him by the arm. "Wait," she said. "I believe first of all, Mitsuko-senpai--" here she turned to the haughty ex-president-- "that you're misjudging poor Hiro. His objective isn't something the geezers in powers of environmental position have. (Here Hiro shuddered at the thought that she was unwittingly dissing APE.) Second, I think you're hiding a secret desire to join us. After all, I thought I heard some rustling in the hall not long after dinner..." "And," said Matsuri, "senpai's from the future, and his people need help. He came here to summon us, and I think we should answer to their call for help." "When we get back," added Nene, "it will only be five minutes after we leave here! So we can get back to studying our tests. I want to help Hiro-kun, too!" Mitsuko hadn't expected things to turn out this way. It was as if her authority had been leveled in that one instance. "Well, I won't deny that I am quite interested," she said with a raised eyebrow, "but I will only go if your student council representatives allow you." Here she turned to Mei. "Well, Aihara Mei, what is your final answer?" "Yes, we may," she said. Mitsuko was secretly glad, however. She had been listening in to Hiro's conversation with them, and had grown fascinated herself about looking into the future. "Very well, then. But how are you going to take us back, senpai?" she asked Hiro. Hiro took a deep breath. This was the moment of truth. "Aihara-san," he said to Ume, "this is farewell. Thank you for being a gracious host. But we are all leaving now, and while your daughters and their friends will return, I must bade adieu." With that, he now spoke to the soon-to-be pistils. "Ladies," he said, "gather around me. This time-warp receptacle will move anyone and anything within a two-meter radius back to my time. You will all become pistils for the sake of ghe planet! Are you all ready?" When all of them had replied in the affirmative, he activated the device, sending yet another plasma beam emanating from the receptacle, and with that, they were gone. Ume said to herself, "Well, I'll be interested to see what they will look like when they come back." Hiro and the girls were all in the warp realm, when they all beheld the bright light of the Novikov tunnel. When the luminescence faded, they were all standing in the warp chamber of Plantation 13, and Dr. Franxx was waiting to meet them...