Ayato easily finishes off a Dolem and Haruka comments on how good he’s gotten. She says all his doubts are gone and Jin says there’s not a person alive who doesn’t have doubts. Later, in Jin’s office, Quon plays the violin for him. The next day Souichi reports to Jin and says the Mulians have been rather quiet and he hopes the peaceful days will last. Jin sees a letter in his mail and takes it. Souichi assumes he’s talking the rest of the day off and Jin leaves him in charge. Souichi asks him why he doesn’t get a mate for his pet bird. Jin runs into Shirow who says he’s on his way to a memorial service planning meeting. Shirow tells Jin to take it easy because it’s a special day. Ayato and Megumi run into Quon and Ayato asks where she’s going. She says she forgot something at Jin’s and Ayato asks Megumi if she knows a Jin. She asks why Quon calls him Ollin, but he doesn’t know either. A TERRA member wonders if women like tangible or intangible gifts. Megumi says flowers are good and that she’ll except them. The guy says she has Ayato and she says he’s weird. They argue and Makoto walks in and comments on how laid back they are. Souichi enters and says he’ll be in charge and Makoto leaves, trusting that he won’t mess up too badly. Megumi says it’s a day for odd things because they saw Quon. Two crew members flip out and Ayato says she forgot something at some one named Jin’s. They wonder who Jin is and Kim says it’s the commander’s name. The two crew members start flipping out and Ayato gets a call from Itsuki. Souichi tells the others to calm down because Quon often goes to Jin’s at night. They continue to flip out and Kim wonders why men are such idiots. Ayato says he has to go to Itsuki’s and Souichi asks Megumi to escort him there. Kim wonders why Quon is always coming and going since she isn’t a member of TERRA and Souichi says she’s in the same situation as Ayato. At his home, Jin watches a video message from his daughter. At Itsuki’s, Ayato listens to a violin piece Quon keeps playing. Itsuki tells Megumi that it causes flowers to grow differently than they should and that Quon is probably not aware of it. Ayato says there’s something wrong, that listening to the piece makes him sadder and sadder. He says it’s beautiful piece, but there’s a sort of discord. Quon plays the piece in her room as Jin walks around town.
Jin buys a watch and Johji appears, saying he’s gift shopping too. He looks at the watch and is shocked at how expensive it is. Jin leaves and Johji runs after him. Itsuki finds Quon bent over scattered sheet music and she says that it’s not connecting. Itsuki says Ayato said the same thing and Quon says it’s because they’re similar. Johji thanks Jin for helping him pick out a present for his niece. Jin goes to leave but Johji says the ship won’t leave for a while. Johji says how Shirow is at the memorial planning session. He says public memorials are good, but some things need to be cleared up, like how it was American troops that fired the first shots. He goes on to say the person responsible for it dumped the blame on a subordinate and vanished. He says the subordinate had a promising career, but he used a fusion bomb on the Mu without even knowing it because they weren’t supposed to have one. Jin remembers arguing with his superior until he was told to follow orders or be court marshaled. Johji mentioned that Jin used to be in the defense force and wonders why he became the commander of TERRA. Johji asks if there’s any good work and Jin says he could introduce him to something where he works, the Federation. Johji laughs and says he’s been caught. Jin asks if he can leave him alone now, and Johji apologizes for taking up his time. Jin leaves and Johji comments on the kind of soldier he is. Ayato and Megumi walk down the street, Megumi carrying flowers Itsuki gave her. They run into Haruka and Elvy, who wonder if they’re on a date. They deny it and Megumi says Ayato’s her pack mule for the vase she wants to buy. She sniffs Haruka and asks if they’re drinking again. She says it’s ok because Elvy seems pretty sober. Elvy grabs Ayato and pulls him into an arcade. Megumi tells Haruka she found out Jin’s name and Haruka says she already knew. Megumi says everyone thought it was weird he took the day off and Haruka tells her it’s a special day for him. Ayato and Elvy play in a flight simulator and Elvy comments on how good he is. He says they have games like it in Tokyo and she says over the past four months the RahXephon’s movements have improved. She adds that he’s not a fighter pilot yet and shoots him down. Ayato and Megumi head back, but Megumi remembers she didn’t buy a vase. Ayato asks if she wants to go back but she says to forget it. Megumi says they should go look at the ships so they head to the docks. Megumi tells Ayato how the boat is a restaurant and a great date spot. Johji appears and ask if they’re on a date, but they deny it. Ayato asks why Johji’s there, but he points Jin out to them. They’re surprised that he’d take the day off for a date, but Johji says it’s with his daughter because it’s her birthday and Megumi gets an idea. Jin meets with his ex-wife, Mariko, who says he hasn’t changed. She says she’s already eaten and asks if Jin’s surprised she accepted his invitation and if he watched the video. She says their child had a promising future and Jin says it’s his fault. She says he used his work to avoid her, and he agrees. She tells him she’s leaving Japan and gives him a piece of sheet music. She says she finally found the resolve to give it to him, because their daughter wrote it for him. A waiter brings Jin flowers and a stuffed squirrel with a note from Ayato, Megumi and Johji saying he should always give a lady flowers. Mariko hands Jin a photo and excuses herself. Jin thanks her for coming before she leaves. Megumi wonders how the date went and Ayato says they probably shouldn’t have butted in. Megumi tells him not to worry so much and they head home. Jin meets Quon in a graveyard and gives her the sheet music. Quon plays while Jin looks over his daughter’s grave. He says she won’t be lonely much longer but he still has things to do and he won’t hesitate.
This episode is almost entirely focused on Jin. Before he just seemed like the tough commander type that did his duty, but we get to see the human side of him. He blames himself for his daughter’s death and is trying to atone. It’s not entirely his fault, as his commanding officer forced him to do what he did, but in the end he decided to follow the order. His comments by his daughter’s grave might perhaps be foreshadowing his fate, but that remains to be seen.
Director:
Yutaka Izubuchi
Writer(s):
Hiroshi Ohnogi
Ichiro Okouchi
Fumihiko Takayama
Chiaki J. Konaka
Yutaka Izubuchi
Yoji Enokido
Shou Aikawa
Mitsuo Iso
Yukari Kiryu
Mechanical Designer(s):
Yoshinori Sayama
Michiaki Sato
Character Designer:
Akihiro Yamada
Musical Composer:
Ichiko Hashimoto
Format:
26 episodes; 1 compilation movie
Airdates:
Japan 01.21.2002 – 09.10.2002
U.S. 09.03.2005 – 11.26.2005
Theatrical Release:
Japan 04.19.2003
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