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As we start, Dad is on the ground holding onto Tarou. Ririsu reminds him that as long as his FLZs continue to detain Eve, things are going to get worse for him, so he must let go of his desire for Eve. However, he remains firm that he can't do it because he's about to finally receive Eve for himself.

Ririsu looks at Tarou and sees that he's in peril. She chastises his Dad, telling him that she can't believe he's so selfish without a care for what could happen to his son.

Dad says: "What could happen to my son? If he continues to bear the burden of living like he has with this being known as 'Eve,' what do you suppose will happen? The way I see it, he probably wouldn't be able to stay alive for too much longer. I simply can't let this happen to him, because it would break his mother's heart. If there is a way that I might steal his power for my own, then that's what I must do. If somehow I could take Eve unto myself and die in his place, I'd be fine with that. I'm glad that I didn't die that time when I hit my head... ugh, h-however, Tarou has become heavy..."  (if you recall from last week, his Dad is having a horrific headache and it's apparently putting him under serious duress)

Meanwhile, in the Tornado of FLZs, Eve is a bit befuddled. She is surrounded by all these happy and sexy girls, which is the stereotypical FLZ. Just then, she sees two dark hands come from behind and start to viciously twist the necks of the other zombies. It's Dark Eve, who tells Eve that all will be fine. They begin a conversation:

D. Eve: "Ah... paternal love is a force to be reckoned with."

Eve: "What... are you doing?"

D. Eve: "I'm feasting... even though the taste isn't very pleasant to me. Isn't a father's love an awkward thing?"

Eve: "Who are you? Where did you come from?"

D. Eve: "I came from inside you. It shouldn't be all that surprising."

Eve: "You say that, but it doesn't make a lick of sense to me!"

D. Eve: "Is that so? Well, it makes sense to me, even if you don't get it just yet."

Eve: "What do you know? Do you know something about me?"

D. Eve: "Yes, I do. I came to teach you all about it."

Back in the physical world, Ririsu politely asks Dad to stop. She hypothesizes that even if he goes through with this, he will die, but Eve will probably continue to remain. Ririsu, instead, requests that he leave Eve to her. Dad is skeptical. He asks if she feels the same way about Eve as Tarou does, which means she thinks Eve has a soul of her own.  Ririsu says "I don't 'think' she has a soul. I know she does... a genuine heart."

The screen splits half Ririsu/half Eve. Eve, at this time, asks Dark Eve again to tell her what she knows.

Eve: "Something is being hidden from me, isn't it?"

D. Eve: "That's right. Tarou is hiding something from you. However, if I were to tell you, you would no longer be able to remain by Tarou's side."

Eve is shocked by this revelation.

Eve: "...why?..."

D. Eve: "Because, that's what you desire."

As she says this, Dark Eve seemingly metamorphoses into half-Kyoko (Great Grandad's perma-Zombie) for a moment. Perhaps a hint or an inkling Eve might have about the truth. Dark Eve continues:

D. Eve: "So, you shouldn't go on not knowing or thinking about anything. You must learn the truth, because you want to remain in love with your beloved Tarou forever, don't you?"

Meanwhile, Ririsu says to Dad that Eve has a real sense of identity of her own, and if she were able talk to them right now, she'd say the same thing. Eve truly loves Tarou more than anything else.

Back in the Vortex, the conversation continues:

D. Eve: I can't go on. On behalf of his Dad's desire to free his son from this burden, I have consumed too much of him. Any more would be dangerous. Would I even be able to go back with one more? So, I suppose I should be returning home now. Bye-bye"

Dark Eve goes back to from whence she came... inside Eve!

Outside, Ririsu calls out to Dad as he loses consciousness. She goes over to Tarou and gently cradles his head in her lap as she weeps. Ririsu descends from above and sees Ririsu cradle Tarou's head lovingly. Seeing this, Eve has a faint flashback to what she told Ririsu before was her vision of her greatest dream come true. It was if Ibusuki-Kun had been a girl all along.

She asks about Tarou, but Ririsu deflects and tells her that she's just glad Eve was able to come home, so everything should be okay. . Just then, Eve thinks back on the words Dark Eve had told her: "You shouldn't go on not knowing or thinking about anything." She once again remembers that light closing into darkness that she saw right when Tarou kissed Ririsu.

Eve continues to look closely at Ririsu. "However, I have a feeling that the answer I seek is right before me..."

END OF CHAPTER