As the closing of last episode hinted, this episode is narrated more from the point of view of Mao. And I guess what she did can be described in a single line that she said to Saya: “No matter how sleepy you are, i’ll carry you home, back to okinawa”. And it was nice to see Saya smiling and laughing again

The episode starts off with Mao buying a first class air ticket back to Okinawa. Back at their apartment, Okamura is wondering where Mao is, especially since it’s her turn to cook. Carrying cup noodles back to their room, he gets a call from Mao to pick her up. Leaving the cup nooldes outside their apartment, he goes to fetch her. But when he exits the building, their apartment explodes.

Anyway, they find out where the gang is staying. At David’s apartment, everybody is soaking their feet in ice water, with the air condition broken. Mao explains how there was an explosion from a gas leak. They are mostly out of leaks, only knowing that Diva will be giving a performance soon. Mao enquires about Saya, and according to Kai, Saya hasn’t been feeling well recently. Mao comments that the reason must be due to the fact that there are only guys around. Mao goes to Saya’s room, to find Saya awake with Hagi beside her. Mao opens up the drapes and the window, and tries to cheer Saya up.

Back in the living room, Okamura reveals that the reason their apartment blew up was because he has been posting photos of amshel’s assasination on the web.
I’m guessing the father told Mao to go back, and somehow watching her try to act strong was a little painful. To tear up the ticket and stay is more like what I would expect her to do, and not be there bluffing people. It can’t be Amshel, since he can just laugh the whole thing off, being alive and kicking. So it has to be the ones who ordered the assasination. David says he’ll try to dig up more information about that.

Meanwhile, Van is celebrating his promotion with Collins. Julia enters the room to seek Collin’s approval on some stuff, but Collins leaves everything to her. Just than, Amshel enters as well and comments that he needs somebody to check on Diva’s health. To Collins surprise, he chooses Julia. Collins protested, since he has previously look after Diva’s health. But amshel reminds him that his original tasks is with regards to the corpse corps.

Back at the apartment, Mao had cooked a rather burnt breakfast for Saya. Thankfully, Saya says that the breakfast is nice. Saya later comments that Mao is actually not as scary as the impression she had previously. Mao rebuted saying that she doesn’t want to be considered scary by someone who wields a sword going around killing monsters, causing saya to chuckle. Mao shows Saya a photo of her new born sisters, and they talk about going back to Okiwana together. Saya reluctantly agrees.

Later at the stairwell, Mao is seen staring at her plane ticket. Lewis and Kai walk by, and the way to meet lewis’ friend, but Lewis walks on ahead, leaving them alone. Mao reflects on how she has been unable to help at all, and admires all that the rest has done. Mao asks if Kai could stay a little while more with her, which Kai agrees.

Later, Lewis and Kai meet up with an old CIA friend. The friend reveals about a newly established special forces, with the Goldsmith pulling strings, and the secretary of defence involved. Kai is suspicious of the information, but Lewis explains that the CIA and the military don’t always see eye to eye. At the same time, Joel is meeting up with a retired General friend. The general comments that Joel wouldn’t want to know more about the special forces. However, he believes that Joel would be interested in opera. A singer named Diva will be giving a performance at a North Carolina base.

BIG REVELATION

After checking through Diva, Julia is surprised to find that Diva is pregnant. With twins! From Riku! Amshel quotes from a paper that Julia wrote about how it’s puzzling that a queen will give birth to two queens, just as Diva/Saya’s mom did, and now Diva herself, especially since the blood of the 2 are poisonous to one another. Amshel reveals that they have been trying to mate Diva with Humans and Cheveliars before, but it never succeeded. Until Diva finally mated with the cheveliar of the opposing queen, Riku.

Amshel takes delight in how they will know populate the earth with Chiroptereans. At the same time, Julia catches Amshel transforming into Elizabeth for a split second, revealing him to be a Cheveliar. Julia questions if Amshel isn’t worried that she’ll kill Diva. But Amshel believes Julia won’t, because they are all seekers of the truth.

Meanwhile, the rest are discussing the news of Diva singing in an army base. It’s obviously a trap, but it’s a trap that they have to go into. Mao brings them coffee… but the only comment that David can make of it is that it’s a very… unique coffee.

Meanwhile, Mao brings Saya coffee, but catches Saya discussing with Hagi about how her slumber period will be near soon. Mao asks why Saya won’t tell the rest, but Saya can only apologise for it. Mao asks if the talk about returning to Okinawa was a lie, and ends up slapping Saya. Mao scolds her for trying to solve everything on her own, even while everyone is trying to help her. But to Saya, she does not want to burden the rest, because they are already doing so much. Hearing this, Mao agrees not to tell anyone, and also dedcides nto to return to Okinawa. Instead, she makes a promise with Saya to return to Okinawa, she’ll drag Saya even if she’s sleeping.

Going outside, Hagi bows in thanks for the words she has spoken. Returning to her kitchen, she drinks her own coffee… only to spit it back out in disgust.

Thoughts

I guess it was Mao’s father who asked her to return, and watching her try to be strong in front of others was a little painful. I suppose it’s because she comes across more as those who would tear up the ticket and do her own thing.

I’ve seen people comment against the mentioning of Okinwana over and over again. But i think it’s the last remaining hope that everybody holds fast to. Without it, they’ll probably never have come thus far. And the harder things are, the more they have to repeat it to remind themselves of it.

I don’t really understand why the queens got to sleep, but I doubt it’ll affect the story line much, since the series is coming to an end. I wonder what the role of chiroptereans are, since they are of no help to the queen per se, as compared to other similar society structures.

Next episode… looks like Diva is going to tempting Kai. That should be interesting.