"We detected klaxosaurs about 50 kilometers to the West," Hachi explained in the briefing room to Squads 13 and 26. "We estimate a minimum of 100 of them and a maximum of 150."

"150?!" Futoshi was shocked.

"That number is expected to climb," Hachi continued as the animations on the presentation screen showed the mass of klaxosaurs' predicted path. "The ETA of this mass is around 33 hours from now. No matter what we do, the Plantation Kissing process will not be complete when they do arrive. Because of this, we'll establish a defensive line. Squad 26 will be the primary line of defense, and Squad 13 will be backup."

Then, Kyouko interrupted the briefing by raising her hand. "Hachi, if we may, can me and my partner be attached to Squad 26, and maybe one of their pairs can go to the backup?" She then turned to 090. "After all, you did tell me that you guys were involved in heavy fighting not too long before the plantations kissed. Perhaps one of your pairs could catch a break and go with Squad 13, and we can go to the front."

Yasuto looked over at the annoyed faces of Squad 13 and assured them, "We're not trying to insult you guys, trust me!"

"It sounds like a good idea," Hachi noted. "Code 090, do you have any objections?"

"None I can think of," the leader of Squad 26 replied. "Codes 222 and 169 from my squad did take the most punishment from our last battle."

Code 222, who had a bandage around his head, noted to 090, "I was actually going to suggest a similar idea. You have my full permission."

"Same here," Code 169 replied from further away.

"Then it's settled," Hachi concluded as he looked over at Yasuto and Kyouko. "Codes 085 and 099 will pilot Heliconia with Squad 26, and Codes 222 and 169 will pilot Lymania with Squad 13." As Zorome and Miku shot Yasuto and Kyouko annoyed looks, Hachi moved on. "Anyways, defending the pipe that makes Plantation Kissing possible is our highest priority. As a result, there will be a Franxx unit capable of solo combat present as well."

Code 090 asked, "And what is that unit?"

"You may not like the answer," Hachi replied. "But that unit is Strelitzia."

The door to the briefing room then opened, and Nana, Zero Two, and Hiro stepped in. The brunette adult said to Hachi, "My apologies for being late. We are all set to go from Papa."

"Excellent," Hachi replied as he turned to the two squads. "If you do not know already, Hiro, or Code 016, will pilot as Code 002, or Zero Two's, partner. This is our best course of action at this time."

"You were right," 090 replied as he stood up from his seat and approached Hachi. "I don't like that answer at all. My squad cannot fight alongside Strelitzia."

"I understand your concerns completely," Hachi noted, knowing Code 090 would have complaints to make. "But this was already decided."

"I know that," Code 090 replied. "But... First off, I'd like to apologize in advance for being vulgar. Second, that girl doesn't give a shit about her team mates. How the hell can we trust her to have our backs?!" He then turned to Zero Two herself. "Code 002, you should know exactly why I have complaints to make."

"Is this about the joint operation two years ago?" Zero Two seemed to not care at all.

"Exactly," 090 angrily replied.

Kyouko noted to Kokoro, "I know what they're talking about."

Kokoro whispered back, "What happened?"

"I got lost on the battlefield because of your reckless behavior," 090 told her. "And I lost my partner as a result of being ambushed! Not only that, but we lost half of our squad at the time in the same battle!"

Zero Two looked down at herself. "Listen, 090. Pilots die. It's a risk that's part of being one. It happens."

090 angrily tried to approach her, but Hiro stepped in his way. "Listen to me, Code 090. I will keep her under control. She won't place you or your squad in danger with me. As her stamen, it is my responsibility."

Kokoro, her eyes widened with shock, whispered back to Kyouko, "So that's what happened?" The older brunette nodded.

As Squad 13 walked back to Mistilteinn, they discussed the meeting among themselves. "How can they just dismiss us as being a burden?" Zorome was still raging on about Code 090's remarks. "That pisses me off."

"To be fair," Futoshi added. "We are a new team."

"Still," Zorome replied. "He didn't have to phrase it like that."

"Maybe 090 is right," Goro suddenly chimed in, stopping the whole group. "Maybe Strelitzia shouldn't be part of the missio-"

"It was already decided," Hiro interrupted him. "Besides, I got this. Let's show them what we're made of. We can't just take their insults lying down, right?"

"Exactly," Zorome added, agreeing with Hiro for once. "Goro, don't chicken out on us now."

Goro, defeated, turned to his partner. "Ichigo, what do you think?"

"I agree," she replied, surprising Goro. He had thought that she would care too much about Hiro to let Strelitzia participate, but apparently he was wrong. "We need Strelitzia."

Kyouko then chimed in as she walked up to him to calmly reassure him. "Listen, Goro, I understand your concerns. However, I have full confidence that Hiro knows what he's doing." She then turned to Zero Two. "Hey, Zero Two, it feels odd just talking about you in the third-person while you're here. Do you have anything you'd like to add?"

"Not really," she replied, not really paying attention to the conversation. "I'll do whatever makes my Darling happy."

Kyouko smiled. "See? As long as Hiro is in the cockpit, you have little to worry about. Besides, if anything does happen to Strelitzia, you also have Heliconia to back you up."

Later that night, Yasuto and Kyouko walked out in their pajamas towards the garden from the main house. As they took in the sight of the dark forest around them and the raindrops as they fell, they both whispered and giggled to each other. Then, as they came to the garden, they noticed Zero Two standing by herself, her hair band on the ground and looking depressed. Yasuto said to his partner, "Is she alright?"

"I don't know," Kyouko replied back to him quietly. She called out to her, "Zero Two! Hey! Are you alright?"

The girl turned to them, her eyes bright red with fury. "What do you two want?"

Yasuto was taken aback by her anger. "Woah, Zero Two, are you alright?"

"It's nothing," she assured them harshly. "It doesn't concern either of you."

"It's about Hiro, isn't it?" Yasuto sighed as he began to infer that it was about the blue mass on Hiro's body. "Do you know about the mass on his body?"

"I did," Zero Two replied as her expression changed to that of sadness. "It happens."

Yasuto approached her and sternly told her, "Zero Two, you kept that secret from all of us. That could be a cancerous tumor for all we know."

"It isn't," she assured them calmly. "It's caused by a spike in yellow blood cells. As you may know by now, none of my partners before Hiro..." She then stopped herself as she looked down at her hands. "I mean... Before my Darling have survived the third ride. But... It feels like something is different this time. I don't know why, but I feel something deeper than all my other partners in the past."

Kyouko sighed and spoke to her, addressing her concerns. "Look, Zero Two, we've known you for much longer than anyone in Squad 13 has. We stick up for you a lot because we know deep down that you aren't just an important asset to Papa. You're so much more than just a pilot, and as a certain young boy in the Garden once taught his fellow parasites and even us, there's more to life than piloting a Franxx unit."

Zero Two did not reply as she turned away and began to walk towards the creek bed. Yasuto said to her as she walked away, "Where are you going, Zero Two?!"

"To the creek to get some sleep," she replied back. "No, that's not a metaphor for suicide." As she disappeared from view, the two older parasites looked at each other, not knowing what to think.

Kyouko asked him, "Do you still wanna have sex after all that?"

Yasuto chuckled. "I'm not gonna let that get in the way." He then playfully pushed Kyouko towards the ground as the two began to laugh, their pajamas getting muddied in the dirt. As the two playfully fought, he told her, "Sex in the outdoors is so much fun."

"Come on," Kyouko replied back to him as she suddenly turned him over and landed on top of him, pressing her body against his. "Don't let me be the one on the bottom the whole damn time." The two then began to kiss as they slowly undid their pajamas.

The whole time, Zero Two was peering at them from afar in the forest. She had stopped silently crying to herself from what Kyouko had said when she saw the two pilots begin foreplay. She knew what sex was due to being given access to "forbidden ideas" like Kyouko and Yasuto had been, but had never had it before. She said to herself as she smiled, "Maybe me and my Darling can do that one day. It looks like so much fun." She then turned around and continued her walk to the creek, wiping away the last of her tears.

Author's Words:

Hey guys, thisissparta789789 here! I want to wish all the readers a Happy New Year! 2018 was a good year for me, and I hope 2019 is even better!

As for where this story will go, it will follow canon mostly up until the ending of the show, of course with some differences as seen to be fit. Expect more updates soon!