Chapter 8

Mission 8 (: 8) is the eight chapter of the SPY x FAMILY manga, written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo. It was released on July 1, 2019.

Summary
The Forgers, along with the families of the 208 students that passed and alumni of the school are at the first assembly at Eden Academy. The man presenting it congratulates and welcomes everyone to the Academy.

Loid recaps his plan. He was able to get into the Academy, but the challenges have only just begun. Looking around, Anya points out that the kids are wearing the same clothes as her, Loid explaining that is how uniforms work. He remembers Handler's plan about having her obtain enough Stella Stars to become an Imperial Scholar, but he concludes that he has abandoned that plan, thinking that rising to the top of the school is a fool's errand. Due to her telepathy, Anya looks in shock after hearing Loid.

The school then starts calling each of the students to join their respective classes. Loid has made a change for the sake of the mission, and that was to put Anya in the class of Damian Desmond, the second son of Donovan Desmond. The boy proudly walks forward, thinking that they should have called his family name first due to his importance. Loid has been keeping an eye on him since he saw his name on the list of students taking the entrance exam.

In case the original plan by Handler is too difficult, then they can move into Plan B, the "Friendship Scheme." If Damian and Anya get along well in class, Damian will invite her to play at his home which allows Loid to make contact with Donovan and fulfill the mission. It is now time for Anya to walk up to join her class, and she does it in quite a robotic manner. Since she has grown up with many kids in the orphanage, Loid believes her communication skills are quite advanced.

Anya sees Damian and notes that he is the son of the "bad guy." Damian sees him looking at her and wonders what her deal is, but he answers the question himself, believing that she is another person to fall for his charms. She hears his thoughts and is greatly annoyed. Though she does not act on it, she turns away in dismissal, which Damian interprets as shyness. The next girl called up is Becky Blackbell, and Loid recognizes her as the daughter of the CEO of a major military contractor. He begins to notice more of the relations of the children to high-class families and sees the class as a treasure trove of intel. He tells Anya to make lots of friends, and Yor giggles at his intensity when he looks out for his daughter, misinterpreting it as his protectiveness. Becky introduces herself and thinks that Anya is a baby and that she should show her how things work, making an annoyed Anya turn away from her.

The students in Cecile Hall will be taken care of by Mr. Henderson, who Loid notes has not been fired after the dilemma at the family interview. He thinks that it is odd that the housemaster was put in charge of first-year students, but supposes that being demoted was the best he could hope for. Henderson thinks how he has not forgotten how to discipline the students, Anya perks up, hearing his thoughts.

They will now be taken away, and Loid passes on the torch to Anya, who salutes at him and gets told to stay in line by Henderson. When they go, Loid says he feels queasy, and Yor reassures him that it can be hard to send them off into the world.

Later, they are shown around the school and stop at the dining hall. Henderson shows the students the private dining hall, which is only for Imperial Scholars, which Henderson says they will be able to enter when they obtain eight Stella Stars with elegance. Those who fall behind will receive Tonitrus Bolts and be punished or even expelled, and he glares at a confused Anya. The class tour continues, and Damian's friends begin to brag as they bet Damian will be an Imperial Scholar in no time. He is confident he will and brags that his father is the Chairman of the National Unity Party. The students all gather around him and want to be friends due to his position, flattering him. Becky angrily thinks they are all suck-ups and Anya just stares.

Then, she is approached by Damian, who asks her what her dad does, stating that depending on her answer, she could be friends with him too. Anya says he is a "feelings doctor," and Damian concludes that he must be a nobody so they cannot be friends. Anya says he wants to play at his house, but his friends insult her and say that she needs to learn her place, Anya immediately remembers her training but another lesson from Yor interrupts, Yor warning Anya that being emotional and flaunting power will not be truly strong.

Yor told her that someone who lets emotion guide their fist does not understand what true strength is, when someone is being mean, a cool girl laughs it off. A smile is the strongest weapon, and it stops a fight before it even starts. Becky tells her to say something back, but Anya does not care and gives an indifferent smile, not realizing her smile appears smug. This enrages Damian, thinking she is making fun of him, while Becky thinks she misjudged her. She calls Anya grown-up, and Anya is touched by her compliment and looks back to Damian with the same smile, setting him off. He insults her but shows an extremely limited vocabulary. Henderson calls the two out and tells them not to make him warn them again, or else they will receive a Tonitrus. Damian says she will pay for embarrassing him, Anya thinks Yor was lying as smiling did not help her at all.

The tour continues with Damian's group harassing Anya. Damian throws a crumpled ball of paper at her head and pretends that he did not do it. Anya shrugs it off with a smile, but Becky threatens to tell them off. Damian simply asks if they have proof, elbowing Becky out of the way and he declares that he is going to bully Anya out of the school, and by then, she will never smile again. Emile tells her to cry to her father to make it all better. She smiles again, but she has decided she has had enough. She looks around her before punching Damian in the face, sending him flying into a rubbish bin.

Henderson rushes towards them, wondering what the noise was, and Emile says Anya punched Damian. Anya lies, claiming she was stretching out her hand and he walked into it. Emile and Ewen do not think anyone would believe that as she checked that Henry was not watching before she did it. Like Damian earlier, Anya asks if they have proof, but Ewen says Anya punched Damian so hard that a mark was left on his face. Henry asks Anya if she is willing to lie right to his face, causing Anya to sweat. Becky tries to stand up for Anya, saying that Damian and his friends started it first, but Henry insists that Anya answer him herself. Anya begins to panic and recalls Yor's words that violence is only appropriate when saving a friend in trouble. Anya makes up an excuse that Damian stepped on Becky's foot earlier and apologizes for getting angry, moving Becky deeply as she thanks Anya profusely. Henry sees Anya's action of standing up to the boys for the sake of her friend as elegant.

At Lounge C, Loid observes that Desmond did not make an appearance but assures himself that he will get his chance as long as they remain a part of the school as he chats with another parent, having made a few connections there. An Eden Academy staff announces to the parents that the students have completed the orientation and requests they move to the courtyard for a commemorative photo as the other parents reunite with their children. However, Loid notices Anya is not among them and wonders where she is. Henry appears, asking Loid to come with him, and explains that Anya punched Damian, with Anya appearing guilty. As Yor consoles Anya, Henry continues to explain that violence would normally earn her 3 Tonitrus Bolts, but he was able to reduce it to one at his discretion and that he will inform Damian's parents as well. Loid is distressed as both his plans are wrecked, with Anya getting a Tonitrus Bolt on her first day and Damian likely hating Anya. As the commemorative photo is taken with all the students' families, the Forgers are unable to hide their distressed faces.

Trivia

 * This is the first appearance of Damian Desmond, Becky Blackbell, Emile Elman, and Ewen Egeburg.