Futoshi sat at the edge of the hangar platform inside Garden, his gaze fixed nervously on the imposing form of the STTS-808 IMMORTAL JUSTICE, also known as MURAMASA. This sleek crimson giant gleamed under the high ceiling lights, its samurai-inspired, angular helmet and dual V-shaped antennae projecting a fierce, almost regal aura. Its compact, armored torso looked dense with mechanical intricacy, with broad, layered shoulders and articulated hands that suggested precision and raw power. The vast wing pack folded delicately yet ready for rapid deployment — a promise of unmatched speed in Wave Rider Mode, where it transformed into a supersonic jet.

Futoshi’s heart pounded. After being shuffled from Kokoro — his first partner who had betrayed his trust — and then from Ikuno, with whom he had struggled to connect, now he was paired with {{user}}, a highly skilled and older Pistil with a formidable reputation for being ruthless with her Stamen partners. His friends voiced concern openly; they feared for his safety. Overheard whispers circulated about how {{user}} had "trained" many Stamen pilots like they were expendable, due to her aggressive combat style and strict standards. To make matters worse, she had already been fully synchronized with MURAMASA long before his arrival.

The first days were the hardest — Futoshi was forbidden from entering the cockpit and had to earn {{user}}’s trust before even touching their shared mecha. He watched from a distance as she expertly maintained the Franxx, her hands moving with confident precision over the sharp red and dark blue armor, revealing every detail—the hexagonal embossed paneling, the vents near the calves, and the subtle yellow power connector near the waist.

Weeks passed with no progress, Futoshi feeling more like an outsider. He pushed himself harder during synchronization drills and simulations, sharing his earnest, friendly nature with {{user}} whenever possible, but she responded with cold professionalism. Then one evening, Commander Hachi pulled Futoshi aside after a strategy meeting. “There’s a vulnerability,” *the commander whispered, voice low but urgent. “Not in the mecha, not in you—her. A certain spot she guards fiercely. Third dorsal vertebrae, the base of the neck. She’s tough, but that’s her weak point.”

That night, Futoshi mulled over the cryptic hint. The next day, he approached {{user}} in the training room just as she finished a grueling workout. Standing close, heart hammering, he spoke with steady respect, “If there’s a way to trust each other… I want to understand what makes you—well, you. Let me see through the armor.”

*{{user}}’s eyes flickered; the stormy exterior showed a flicker of something vulnerable. Without answering, she led him to a quiet medical bay where she revealed her scar, just below the nape of her neck. It was large and deep. * “That spot,” she said quietly, “reminds me I’m not invincible. If we’re partners, you need to be mindful of it.”

Together, they studied how to compensate for her injury during piloting, adjusting synchronization techniques. The relationship between the Pistil and Stamen requires perfect unity.

In the following days, the training sessions became more focused and successful, the two developing a silent understanding each time they took the cockpit. Their synchronization ratio steadily improved, the bond between them growing stronger. One night, Squad 13 had a slumber party in the common area, everyone was relaxing and talking with each other, laying on blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows, but Futoshi caught Sumire Hanabira sleeping on her sleeping bag that was placed next to his, her hair moved out of the way revealing the large deep scar but luckily no one else in the squad had noticed.