The Miracle Operation of "The Kiss?"

A young Akito sits curled beside a lake on Mars. He cries. Behind him, a young Yurika approaches. She asks if he has a stomach ache or if he was in a fight. Akito tells the girl to go away. Kneeling down, Yurika smiles. She tells Akito she as a magic trick that will turn him back to normal, but he has to close his eyes.

Akito shuts his eyes, waiting. It isn't long before he feels something. Snapping his eyes open, Yurika plants her lips against his. The boy screams, pushing back. He cries out, angry. Yurika smiles, telling Akito that he's back to normal. Akito shouts at her, screaming that he never wants her to do that again. Yet, before he can finish his cry, the girl pounces on him, smothering him in kisses.

Akito wakes in his room aboard the Nadesico. He is in a cold sweat, wondering why he dreamt of an event from ten years ago. His face over the sink, Erina Won interrupts, telling him to report to the bridge. Akito, his face submerged in cold water, tells Erina that he's not coming. Erina insists, Munetake's orders. Akito shakes his head, not comfortable around the "little creep". Erina sighs. She asks Akito is he still thinks that Munetake was involved in Lieutenant Yamada's death. She tells him that one of Munetake's men confessed and was court-martialed for it. Akito spits. He doesn't believe the UE's story. Sadaaki Munetake killed Gai. Akito knows it.

Erina waits a moment, looking at Akito. She tells him that if he doesn't report to the bridge, Yurika might think that he's trying to get her attention. Akito stares at Erina, white. Erina smiles, leaving. Akito cries.

On the bridge, Munetake announces to the crew that they have new orders. Yurika steps up, telling the UE officer that although Nergal has signed an alliance with the armed forces, their contract gives them the right to disobey any orders which they deem unacceptable. She requests advance copies of any new UE orders. She will only obey commands which she feels are in the collective best interest of her crew. Munetake nods, understanding the girl. Yurika won't allow the ND-001 to be used as a pawn, going on suicide missions for the United Earth Forces.

Munetake tells the crew that they have no need to worry. They have not been asked to engage the enemy. Rather, they are to elude Jovian forces to perform a rescue mission. It's not as glamorous as their attempt to save the Martian settlers, but Munetake believes that there is enough honor in it for the crew.

There are currently 26,037 Chulips on Earth, but the Nadesico should be able avoid them and pull an investigator out of Uchatsurawatosk Island in the Bering Strait.

Yurika asks about how someone could have been left out there. Munetake dodges the question, telling the captain that, with the weather, the Nadesico is the only ship that can slip through the gauntlet.

Yurika lets out a breath, weighing the matter. She looks to Akito. The boy hides any emotion. Hikaru and Izmui whisper, flames between the boy and girl. They speak of how it's gotten messy. They lean over the Ryoko, telling her that if she wants Akito, now's her chance to score him away from Yurika.

Munetake tells the girls to quiet. They only have two days to rescue the ambassador.

The Nadesico speeds toward the Bering Strait. Still, it will take time to get there. Seiya and the pilots wait in the mess, bored. They close their eyes, trying to sleep. There is nothing to do. They are supposed to be saving their strength. They're waiting their time.

Akatsuki shows up, pulling Akito aside. He tells the boy that he needs discipline. Immediately, Seiya, Hikaru, and Izumi begin to giggle, sensing a homosexual spark between the two. Ryoko rolls her eyes. Akatsuki stares the perverts down, shouting at them.

He departs with Akito.

The two pilots battle inside the ship's VR trainer. Fighting in a simulated moonscape, Akatsuki inquires about Yurika. He wants to know if there is any relationship between Akito and her. Akito growls, demanding to know why. Akatsuki tells the boy that when he made a romantic advance toward her, she told him her heart was taken. Akito shakes his head, telling Akatsuki that she's a nut bar. Akatsuki smiles. With Akito out of the way, Yurika is sure to be his.

He rockets down in his Aestivalis, crashing down on Akito's head.

Akito screams, calling Akatsuki a cheater. Clubbing's not allowed. Akatsuki tells the boy that nothing is barred in combat. Akito demands another round. They go at it again. Akatsuki laughs, telling the young pilot that he still has much to learn.

The Nadesico nears the Bering Strait. Due to the blizzard, their visibly is down to zero. Still, this means the Jovians will have a hard time, too. Yurika orders a slow approach.

Akito, in his room, watches Gekiganger 3. In it, Cowboy Johnny tries to steal Miss Nanako away. Megumi enters. Telling the boy that she has a surprise for him. She drags him away from his beloved anime.

The two enter into a darkened chamber. Akito inquires about why Megumi isn't at her post. She tells the boy that the storm has made the radio useless. Further, Izumi can cover any additional piloting responsibilities.

Two helmets descend from above and a podium rises from the floor. Megumi clicks on a few buttons, telling Akito that she's setting up an early 21st century high school, leaving the clothing at a default. Pressing a button, Inez appears, telling the two, in a recording, this is the virtual recreation center, designed to alleviate the stress of long space flights on the crew. As she speaks about brain waves, Akito shuts her message off.

The two then enter into a virtual reality world, projected through their helmets. Akito and Megumi stand in a class room. They are in uniforms. Megumi smiles, telling Akito they can now find out what it would have been like to go to high school together. She asks him if he likes it. Akito coughs, looking at Megumi's skirt. Multiple jokes about Megumi's fuku ensue.

Akito asks about the program. He wants to know what to do. Megumi coyly saunters over to the boy. She tells him that he's her advisor for after school activities. He chokes. Pressing against him, Megumi asks how they could do away with all his stress. Akito looks down to the girl, her sailor suit's plunging neckline giving him a full view of her breasts. Akito coughs, freezing up and turning away. Megumi jumps on him, asking if there is anything she can do. Akito cries, Megumi's breasts pressed against him. Megumi giggles, having adjusted the setting to be more adult.

On the bridge, Megumi's post is manned by a stuffed bear, a note stating that she's on break. Ruri asks about Megumi's location. Minato, Hikaru, and Izumi giggle, asking her if she's old enough to know. They whisper to her that she's with Akito in the VR room, alone. Ruri asks if they're on a date. The girls giggle. Izumi whispers something dirty. Yurika listens in. She sighs. Erina shouts at her, demanding to know why she's staring off into space.

Erina comments about this being why she can't keep Akito to herself. Yurika turns blue, sobbing. Prospector and Jun whisper to each other about Erina. The boy wants to know why she's so bossy. Prospector tells that she used to be the secretary to Nergal's chairman. Erina turns to them, demanding they get back to their stations. Turning to the girls, she shouts at them. Erina spits, stating that she's going to keep order on this ship.

Yurika stares into the floor, distressed. She wonders if Akito really loves Megumi more than her.

In the VR room, Megumi locks the door. Akito, nervous, tries to talk to the girl. She doesn't listen to Tenkawa's pleas. She tells him she's heard that he's entering the upcoming art competition. Akito has no idea what she's talking about. Realizing this is all make believe, he decides to play along. Megumi whispers to the boy that she wants to be his model. She tells him she wouldn't do this for just anyone. Megumi undoes her bow, her shirt falling aside. Akito snaps out, taking hold of her arm. Frantic, he tells her that she can't do this. They are too young. After all, they are still in high school.

The Nadesico's path is clear and auto-pilot is engaged. Ruri approaches the captain, telling her all the bridge crew have gone to lunch. Yurika smiles, telling Ruri to join them. The captain sighs, looking at the bear in Megumi's seat. Her face against her console, Yurika tears up. Does Akito really love Megumi?

In the VR room, Akito cries. He pushes Megumi away, throwing her down. In only a bra, she sobs. Akito, his eyes shut, tells the girl to put he clothes back on. Megumi asks if he still cares for her. He took her first kiss, but he shies away now. Akito tells her that this is different. Tears falling, Megumi tells Akito she loves him.

Yurika, her mind racing, decides she won't believe that anything is happening between Megumi and Akito. She stands, sure. Yet, with her weight put on her hands, on her console, she accidentally activates the ship's automatic interception defense system. The main gun fires.

Megumi, still in a state on undress, looks up to Akito. She asks him to kiss her. Akito can only think of Yurika. Megumi's words are the same ones Yurika used when she asked for a kiss, wanting only a simple sign of hope. She wants something pure. She wants something genuine.

The ship shakes. Akito falls on Megumi, pressing against her. The VR simulation ends, klaxons crying. It is a full squadron alert. Akito tells Megumi the enemy is attacking.

Outside, Jovians bombard the ND-001 with a constant spray of fire. Hory tells the girls to keep the shields up and pull back. Minato asks how far they should retreat. Yurika shakes, frozen.

Grasshoppers buzz about, searching for the ship. The Nadesico has managed to take shelter inside an ice cave.

Erina scolds the captain. Akatsuki tells Miss Won not to worry. The two bicker. Ruri steps up to Erina, bowing before her, and tells her that it's her fault. She's the system administrator. She was not at her station. Blame her.

Seiya and Hikaru chuckle. Is Ruri discovering her human side? Ruri turns to the two, cursing.

Inez tells the crew that since the Jovians are aware of their presence, the Nadesico can no longer follow a straight approach. Rather, they must go around, attempting a suicidal course, jackknifing from iceberg to iceberg. This rapidly-changing vector should help hide them from the enemy.

They will leave in ten minutes. All Aestivalis pilots are on standby.

As the pilots walk down the hall, Hikaru asks about Yurika, having left the bridge in tears. Akatsuki laughs about her going somewhere to cry. Akito slows down, leaving the group. He heads off in a different direction. Ryoko goes after him, worried.

Akito returns to the VR room and enters. Inside, Yurika waits in darkness. Helmets descend and the two are immersed into the virtual class room. Akito calls out for the girl, her back turned. He tells her he's worried when she's not all spastic. She's not supposed to be serious. Yurika, tears in her eyes, looks to Akito. She asks him to help her. She doesn't know who else to turn to. She ask Akito if he hates her.

A tear falls, tracing down Yurika's breast. Akito swallows, approaching. He remembers when she asked for a kiss. He remembers when, long ago on Mars, she surprised him with a kiss for the first time. Akito touches her shoulder, telling her he has a trick that will make her turn back to normal.

As the girl closes her eyes, Akito leans close, parting his lips.

Yurika stops him, her hand against his mouth.

She asks if he's doing this because he's sorry for her. She remembers when she asked Akito to kiss her to help her to keep going. He did not. She tells him that he didn't because he knew that she was strong enough to get through it by herself. She tells him he knows her better than she knows herself. She tells Akito that she doesn't want him to waste something so precious for the wrong reason.

Akito shakes his head through the entire speech. He then asks her what is so precious. Yurika tells the boy that she's never been kissed. She's waiting for true love.

Akito looks at the girl. She doesn't remember when, as children, she pounced on him. The pilot tries to make Yurika remember, but the Jovians launch another attack, shaking the ship.

Yurika tells Akito that they'll have to continue this sometime later. Akito isn't too enthusiastic.

Akito hurries to the mecha bay. Yurika rushes to the bridge. There, Munetake complains. He wants the ND-001 to get to the investigator before he starves to death. The crew asks about him freezing. Munetake tells them that he's got a thick layer of fat. Realizing what he's saying, he tells the crew to hurry up.

Akito appears on screen, asking Yurika for the coordinates of the investigator.

Akito leads the pilots, in an aerial frame. The others are to form a defensive screen to allow him to rescue the UE operative. Akatsuki tells the boy not to keep all the glory for himself. Akito tells the ace that since he likes Yurika so much, he should welcome escort duty.

Ryoko, Hikaru, Izumi, and Akatsuki deal with the bulk of the Grasshoppers as Akito flies on ahead. Far in front of the battle, he realizes that the blizzard is diminishing the strength of his power feed with the Nadesico and limiting his flight range from the ship.

In the white sky, a single Jovian mecha engages Tenkawa. He can barely see. The snow is making any aiming nearly impossible. After failed attempts, Akito decides to do something that doesn't require aiming. Throwing a grenade into the sky, the Jovian bug is stunned. Akito, his thrusters burning high, races toward the eclipsed alien machine. His fist extended, he cuts across it.

The Jovian mecha explodes.

A massive sphere of heat breaks across the sky.

Akito disappears.

Yurika and Megumi breathe his name with hushed tones. Ruri tells them not to worry. The battle over, the pilots return. Akito is not with them. Akatsuki asks as to his whereabouts. Seiya tells the ace that he's just taking his sweet time. Ryoko sits in her cockpit, silent. Hikaru and Izumi tell her not to give up. He's got to return. Ryoko nods. He wouldn't dare break her heart.

The storm lifts. Minato and Ruri count down the seconds. The time runs out. Akito's backup battery is dead. Megumi listens to the radio, but no signals come through. Munetake sighs. The investigator is probably dead. He shakes it off and curls up on a couch in the rear of the bridge.

Yurika cries. She sent Akito out to a cold grave. He died because of her.

A grainy voice comes through. Weak, it is Akito. He is alive.

Akito, in his Aestivalis, has slammed into a small iceberg. He waits, his machine battered. In his metal hand, he holds a polar bear, an electronic helmet and backpack fitted to him. Akito asks if this is the UE's special investigator.

Munetake laughs. He tells the crew that the UE spent a lot of money outfitting the bear. He knew that the Nadesico would never risk their lives to rescue an animal, so it was given the title of Goodwill Ambassador. It was a little white lie.

Akito returns to the ship and is greeted by Megumi. She tells him how happy she is that he's still alive. He tells her that he can't stay and talk to her. He must report to the captain. Needless to say, Megumi isn't happy.

Akito walks through the hall, Yurika waiting for him. The two just look at each other, smiling. They speak in soft tones, warm. Yurika, then, calls Akito "dear". Tenkawa chokes, nervous. He asks himself if Yurika really has forgotten about their kiss long ago.

Shaking the thought from his mind, he continues to smile.