Squad 13 is sitting in their main room except Mitsuru. Nana walks in.

Nana: Okay. All of you have been doing well. Unfortunately. Mitsuru has come down with a fever. Therefore we will be down one FRANXX. This presents this group with an opportunity to partner shift.

Everyone except Zero gasps.

Nana: You have a couple of days to decide whether you want to a partner shift. You are dismissed.

Nana leaves. Zero stands up from his chair and starts to leave the room.

Hiro: Where are you going, Zero?

Zero: I'm not going to be a part of what is coming next.

Hiro: What is coming?

Zero leaves the room. The boys look at the girls and they get a little scared. The aura around each girl has escalated.

Zero Two: I think that it is time for me to join my darling.

Ikuno: Excuse me? I'm the one missing a partner. I should ride with Zero.

Zero Two: You can ride with my darling over my dead body.

Ichigo: Zero Two, chill. We all want to be Zero's partner but be realistic here. Ikuno is the one down a partner. So it makes sense that she gets first choice.

Zero Two: Sorry. I cannot let that happen.

Miku: What is wrong with you? He's our darling too now or did you forget that?

Zero Two takes a breath.

Zero Two: You are correct. I'm sorry.

Ichigo: So it is confirmed that we want to participate in the partner shift?

All of the girls nod.

Ichigo: Good. Then I'll go look for Zero.

Zero Two: I'll do it. Thank you.

Ichigo: Then I'll come with you.

Zero Two: Doesn't require two people. It will only be a minute.

Zero Two walks away to find Zero.

Ichigo: Is everything okay with Zero Two, Hiro?

Hiro: I don't know. She seems to have become a little distant towards me. I know that something is bothering her but she won't talk to me.

Ichigo: I hope it isn't something big.

Zero Two finds Zero by himself outside.

Zero Two: The girls are interested in the partner switch.

Zero: Let me guess. You don't like that.

Zero Two: No one should ride with you. You're my darling.

Zero: Then why did you agree to share if you were going to get like this.

Zero Two: I don't mind sharing. I'm just a little jealous. I won't have the same amount of time that I had before. Maybe sharing you was a bad idea.

Zero: Is that all?

Zero Two: Yes.

Zero: No it isn't.

Zero Two: Huh?

Zero: You've been skipping your checkups haven't you?

Silence

Zero Two: I don't understand why I should go to them. It's only a matter of time that I turn back into what I once was. My horns are growing. My fangs are coming back. I'm turning back into a klaxosaur.

Zero: And you think that riding with me will solve everything?

Zero Two: It will. You're my darling. You can fix everything. Why won't you ride with me?

Zero: You know why we can't. It's dangerous. I'm dangerous. It's why I tried to leave as well.

Zero Two: You're reverting?

Zero: I am. My animal instincts are kicking in again. That is why I had to leave. It gets harder and harder to restrain myself.

Zero Two: Why fight it?

Zero: The same reason that you fight yours. We won't be accepted anymore.

Zero Two: We don't need them. We can run away.

Zero: To where? That's why I need the plan to work. Strength in numbers.

Silence

Zero Two: Will you join us for the partner shift?

Zero: No. We'll just have to be down one FRANXX. I will not ride with anyone. All of you girls are too important to me to lose.

Zero Two: You still don't know that will happen.

Zero: It's not a gamble that I'm willing to make.

Zero Two starts to walk away.

Zero Two: I will get my chance to ride with you. Either willingly or by force. I have stuff on the line too you know.

Zero grabs her. This shocks Zero Two.

Zero Two: Darling?

Zero smashes his lips onto Zero Two's which quickly turns into a make out session. He picks her up and heads straight to his room. The two were not seen for the rest of the day. A couple of days later, Squad 13 or ready for the partner switch trials.

Nana: Okay. Who is the first group to step up?

Ikuno: I would like to ride with Zero.

Zero Two: I don't think so.

Ikuno: Huh?

Zero Two: My darling rides with no one.

Ichigo: What is wrong, Zero Two? Weren't you on board with this a couple days ago?

Zero Two: I changed my mind. No one rides with my darling. In fact, never call my darling your darling again. He's mine.

Hiro: Zero Two, what is going on?

Zero Two: Don't worry about it, Hiro.

Nana: I guess you don't want to do the partner switch.

Ichigo: No! We...

Zero Two: That is correct. We do not.

Nana: Very well.

Nana leaves.

Ichigo: What the hell, Zero Two? What has gotten into you? Why are you so possessive of Zero?

Zero Two: Don't say my darling's name with that foul mouth of yours. Zero is mine. You hear me?

Kokoro: But...what about sharing?

Ichigo: Was everything you said a lie then?

Zero Two: If you come near my darling, you'll regret it.

Zero: Enough, darling. You can't be with me if you get violent.

Zero Two starts to walk away but pulls Zero into a forced kiss.

Zero Two: You're mine.

Zero Two walks away. Ichigo walks over to Zero.

Ichigo: What's up with her?

Zero: Don't worry about it. I'll talk to her.

Ichigo: You're still all of our darlings right?

Zero: Of course.

Zero pulls Ichigo into a passionate kiss which surprises her. The heat picks up too quickly for her liking and she struggles to pull away. Zero then stops and pulls away.

Zero: I'm sorry. I kind of lost control there. I'm going to talk to her.

Zero walks away and goes to find Zero Two.

Zero: Have you accepted the fact that you'll just turn back?

Zero Two: Have you?

Zero: Yes.

Zero Two: Very well. What's our next move?

Zero: I'll have to fix some things. Talk to you later.

Zero Two: Talk to you later, darling.

Zero walks away and heads back into his room where he meditates again.

001: You're getting restless. I like it when you embrace your animal side. I don't like what you did my replacement though.

Zero: Spur of the moment.

001: You better find a way to get here quickly before things get out of hand. I know you know what I'm talking about. She's a ticking time bomb. You better be aware. She will force that ride.

Zero: She'll have to beat me first. She never has.

001: She will come at you with everything that she's got. I should know since she's a lot like me.

Zero: I won't lose.

001: I hope you don't, darling.