Campbelldon Tennis Arc

The Campbelldon Tennis Arc is the eighth story arc in SPY x FAMILY.

Along with his agent coworker, Fiona Frost, Twilight must enter an underground tennis tournament in an attempt to recover the Zacharis Dossier, rumored to "reignite the flames of war," before the government of Ostania does. Meanwhile, Yor struggles with her insecurities and worries about Loid's "lover."

Summary
Henry Henderson instructs the children to investigate an occupation that interests them for their next social studies project. He suggests various methods, such as interviewing their parents about their jobs, making inquiries at a local business, getting their parents to arrange an interview with a prominent figure in their field, or even asking himself about educators. He adds that they will each prepare a report about their chosen profession and present it to the class on Friday.

Anya Forger returns home to choose Yor Forger for her "job investigation" and explains how it works to her, which includes watching them at work. As Yor is briefly confused about what to say and which job she should talk about, she imagines bringing Anya to her secret job as an assassin, with Anya dressed in a similar assassin outfit as Yor's. In this scenario, Yor helps Anya with her assignment by explaining and thoroughly demonstrating her work conduct and killing methods to Anya. After Yor kills her imaginary target, a blank-faced Anya is splashed in blood. Yor asks if she is alright, then says they will tell Loid that they were at a tomato festival. Back in reality, the two agree that Anya should make her report on Loid's job. When Loid returns, Anya asks him to bring her to his work for her project, and he agrees.

Two days later, Loid brings Anya to the Berlint General Hospital, where he works as a psychiatrist. Anya dresses up as a detective, stating that is how investigators dress. While showing Anya around the hospital, Loid answers her interview questions, but she listens to and records his thoughts relating to his work as a spy instead. They then run into the staff, who start doting on Anya and give her candy, much to her pleasure. When she asks what Loid is like at work, they say he is a polite and humble man that is very popular around the hospital, so much so that he was invited to play golf with the hospital's director. Loid tries to emphasize the importance of building relationships to Anya, but she gets distracted while eating the candy given by the staff, and they continue to indulge her, causing an irritated Loid to finish the interview.

As the staff leave, Anya tells Loid she wants to see him work, but he explains that he cannot. Loid instead shows Anya one of the empty consultation rooms, where she begins to fiddle with the bookshelf in boredom. Loid quickly stops Anya, revealing an emergency escape route for when he goes on missions in the bookshelf through his thoughts. After a WISE colleague knocks on the door, Loid tells Anya that something urgent has come up and asks Anya if she wants Loid to have Yor pick her up. Anya says she will wait for him, so he provides her with a sand table to play with while she waits. Loid warns her not to touch anything else and leaves. Anya quickly gets a scheming look after he leaves.

Outside the consultation room, Fiona Frost gives Loid some documents, disguising another mission for Loid. Loid explains that WISE has placed a number of assets in the hospital to support his cover story. Fiona asks if the little girl is Anya Forger and comments that they seem close. Loid sighs, saying Anya's unpredictability annoys him and Fiona is surprised that someone can get the better of him. Anya pulls a lever hidden in the bookshelf, revealing a ladder leading below the room. An excited Anya investigates the escape route, squeezing past a tight passage before she hears a voice from a vent. Down below, several men are having a meeting about the neuroscience behind paranormal perception. Anya is excited about ghosts and lies down to listen, accidentally hitting a metal pipe. The men are confused about the sudden noise but nervously dismiss it. Anya remembers she needs to return before Loid does. However, she realizes her leg is stuck under a pipe and struggles to get free. Her sounds are mistaken for a ghost and the men are spooked. She eventually escapes, then hurries back.

Anya returns in time when she hears Loid's thoughts as he returns. She quickly makes something on the sand table before he comes in. Loid analyzes her sand table to observe her subconscious mind but is shocked by her sand table being utter chaos. Loid starts believing Anya is subconsciously stressed by her recent adoption, blaming himself for failing as a parent and a spy and decides she needs immediate care. Anya tries explaining that she mixed it all up but flushes in embarrassment at Loid's thoughts. Loid suggests they buy the new Spy Wars on their way home and offers to work on the report together. He picks up her notebook to read, causing Anya to panic as notes of his spy work is written there. However, Anya's writing is unreadable to Loid, so Anya says she will work on the report herself. When they return home, Yor asks if Anya managed to see Loid perform his concussive therapy, describing the way he punches and kicks and leg sweeps his patients. Loid tries to explain to Yor that it is only for extreme circumstances.

On Friday, Anya reads out her report to the class. While initially presenting Loid's job as a psychiatrist, Anya starts mentioning how Loid is determined to make connections, plays golf at his job and uses a secret escape route. Anya adds that he sometimes punches and kicks his patients, shocking Henry. While on a briefing with Sylvia Sherwood, Loid gets a shiver and is later summoned to the school, where he manages to talk his way out with his equivocation skills.

At WISE Safe House G, Sylvia briefs Fiona Frost, agent Nightfall on Twilight's upcoming mission next week. Sylvia is assigning Fiona to the mission as well, as per Fiona's proposal to make it a joint operation. Sylvia instructs Fiona to inform Loid of this development and to work out the plan together, warning Fiona to ensure it does not get in the way of Operation Strix. This prompts Fiona to ask about the progress of Operation Strix. Sylvia replies that it is proceeding slowly, but Operation Strix was intended to be a long-term operation. Fiona apologizes that she could have done more for the operation in the wife role if she had been available earlier, she wonders if she could stand in as the wife if it is not too late. Sylvia rejects her, saying that changing wives now would draw scrutiny from Eden Academy and that the Forgers are in good standing with their neighbors so they are keeping the family as-is. Fiona then mutters that there would be no choice if the wife were to abandon the role. Sylvia warns Fiona not to be plotting something as Fiona leaves. As Fiona walks through the hallway, other WISE agents draw away from her, thinking Fiona is trying to steal Twilight's operation to make a name for herself. Fiona is referred to as "ruthless", "arrogant," and "icy" due to her single-minded focus and stone face. At the Forgers' apartment, Yor Forger reflects on the terrible breakfast she made in the morning. The doorbell rings, and Yor opens the door to see Fiona, who introduces herself as Loid's co-worker. Yor apologizes and explains that Loid and Anya Forger took Bond Forger for a walk. Fiona's thoughts reveal that she is aware of Loid's absence and was waiting for Yor to be alone. Fiona claims she came to return a magnifying glass Anya left at the hospital. Yor thanks Fiona and invites her in.

Both Fiona and Yor sit on the couch, and Fiona sips a hot drink. Yor admires Fiona's beauty in amazement. Fiona assumes Yor thinks she is Loid's lover while complimenting their home. Fiona is determined to remove Yor from Operation Strix and usurp her wife role. Fiona tries to look for an opening, but Yor is nervous as they have never had guests besides Franky Franklin and Yuri Briar. Fiona decides to make Yor leave of her own will as it would be risky to remove her directly. Fiona brings up Anya, asking if Yor does not tire of having to raise a child in an attempt to pressure her into giving up her role of wife. However, Yor does not think so and says she and Anya have a lot of fun together. Yor wishes she was good at more things to make it easier for Loid. Fiona agrees and begins to claim that Loid frequently complains about Yor at work but is interrupted by the return of Loid, Anya and Bond.

Anya loudly announces their arrival home as she, Loid and Bond return. Loid is surprised to see Fiona and asks what she is doing there. Fiona greets Loid as Yor explains that Fiona came by to return the magnifying glass. Loid assumes something urgent must have come up and explains that they returned early, as it looked like it was about to rain. As Loid and Fiona hold a conversation, they mouth different words to communicate secretly. Fiona states that she is here to assess the state of Operation Strix, and Anya is shocked to discover that Fiona is also a spy.

Fiona explains that she come to assess the state of Operation Strix, asking Loid if walking Bond is an essential part of this operation and why it was not Yor running those errands instead. Seeing his talents being wasted on playing house, she suggests they review his operational tactics, but Loid tells her it is not her place to do so. Sensing their tension, Anya wonders if she is a bad person. However, Anya reads her mind and learns that Fiona is deeply in love with Loid. Fiona believes she would provide far superior domestic and operational support, imagining Loid praising her abilities and deciding to marry her instead while Yor runs away crying. As Loid and Fiona stare each other down and Anya is left stunned, Yor decides to make drinks for everyone.

As it begins to rain outside, Yor prepares the hot drinks and recalls Fiona's previous words about Loid's complaints, imagining Loid deciding to report her to the authorities and marrying Fiona afterward. Yor feels she cannot blame him if he feels that way. She serves cocoa to Anya and coffee to Loid, giving him a jar of milk. Fiona thinks Yor must be incompetent as Loid takes his coffee black, but Loid pours the milk into his coffee to reduce the damage to his stomach. Fiona bites her thumbnail at the thought of Loid showing a side she does not know to Yor, then assumes it is part of his character as "Loid Forger", while Loid hopes the milk will lessen the damage to his stomach.

Amused by Fiona's thoughts, Anya accidentally drops her cup of cocoa on the table. Yor quickly wipes off any hot cocoa on Anya in concern. Fiona thinks Yor should have scolded and trained her in place of Twilight to raise a strong daughter. Fiona then imagines training Anya by a strict minute-by-minute schedule to maximize her knowledge and strength and transform her into a Stella Star procurement machine. Anya is scared by this and decides she cannot let Fiona become her mother. As Fiona is about to ask Loid to consider replacing Yor, Anya begins clinging to Yor and calls her the best mother in the whole world for wiping up her cocoa. Fiona tries to appeal to Anya by offering imported cocoa, but Anya hisses at her angrily. Yor is moved by Anya's words and tells Loid that she is going to try harder for the family. Loid smiles and tells Yor that she works hard enough as Anya cares a lot about Yor. Yor tears up and says she will be a better wife. Fiona has a flashback of when Loid was training her as a spy, telling her to never show her true feelings. Having observed his many disguises, she detects that his smile is at least genuine and clenches her fists. Fiona says she forgot to buy potatoes and prepares to leave. Loid remarks that Fiona did not bring an umbrella and decides to walk her to the station. Loid runs after Fiona, who tells him that they have been assigned to partner up on the next mission. As she turns towards Loid with a sad expression, she is grateful for the rain for hiding her emotions. Fiona informs Loid that she will contact him with details at the hospital. She resolves to show how capable she is in the hopes that Loid will realize she is the only one fit to be his wife and walks away in the rain.

At Berlint General Hospital, Fiona reflects on how Twilight being with his family has led him to develop inappropriate emotions and become a worse spy. Seeing Twilight become like a knife with a chipped blade makes her heart ache. Still, she finds this new version of him adorable and endearing and still yearns for him. Because of this, she is determined to usurp the wife position from Yor.

Fiona details their new mission to Loid. She tells him of a man by the name of Cavi Campbell who, after earning a fortune in the energy sector, became a world-renowned art collector. For the mission, they seek to acquire the painting Lady In The Sun, worth roughly one million Dalc. The painting was previously owned by the late Colonel Erik Zacharis, who worked in the East's military intelligence division during the war and played a major part in ending it. They believe he was in possession of secrets which could reignite the flames of war in documents known as the Zacharis Dossier. It is rumored to contain information about human experimentation by the East on prisoners of war and massacres committed by the West. It is believed that the painting they are hoping to get holds the key to finding this dossier. They hope to retrieve the dossier before the Eastern government learns of its existence and gets it for themselves. The painting is being kept beneath Campbell's mansion with tight security. Loid asks if Fiona has a plan, and she confirms this.

In an underground tennis court, a doubles match is finishing up, with many in the crowd complaining about losing the money they wagered. Loid and Fiona show up in disguises with tennis rackets in hand. Loid asks Fiona if this was the best option, and Fiona says she believes it to be the most promising one. While the competitors are usually very skilled, the winner of the tournament gets to take an item of their choice from Campbell's collection. It also gets rid of any risks of having to try and steal the painting.

Loid and Fiona get called to play as “Twain and Nafalia Foney,” the names Fiona registered them under, as well as getting introduced as a married couple. Their opponents are Walson and Bobble, a famous duo that dominated the Grand Slam Circuit a decade ago. Loid tells Fiona that he has not played much tennis, but had practiced with his family beforehand, so Fiona tells him to stay in the corner and out of her way. She believes by showing off her tennis skills she can prove how much of an asset she would be to Operation Strix. They announce the betting odds at 40 to 1.3, with Walson and Bobble being the clear favorite to win. Walson and Bobble announce to Loid and Fiona that they have been working hard towards perfection and will win this match. Loid wishes them a good game, to which they respond that it will be a slaughter. The game begins with Loid serving, who immediately slams the ball down onto the far edge of their opponent's court, leaving a burn mark on the ground and slamming into the fence. They earn their first set of points, and Loid continues to earn more points without letting the other team get any until they win the game. Walson and Bobble are shocked at their loss but decide in the next game to aim for Fiona since they have not seen her play yet. Similar to Loid, she shocks them with a powerful backhand slice. After Loid compliments her, Fiona decides to keep showing off how amazing she is as they beat their competition and retrieve the painting, imagining Loid picking her up into his arms and asking her to be his doubles partner for life. Fiona then proceeds to win the rest of the match by herself, bringing Walson and Bobble to their knees in defeat.

Watching from their balcony seats, Campbell and his associates discuss how Loid and Fiona have shaken things up. One of them says that, unlike ordinary opponents, the pair will have trouble against his Bolic Brothers. Another associate dismisses them, saying they are just drug addicts, but the man tells them that their new drug "Oso-R" is being given a trial run in the next match. This drug leads the Bolic Brothers to transform from skinny, non-muscular men to hulking men with lots of muscle. Loid, after seeing them, questions whether this was really risk-free, and Fiona simply responds by telling him they just need to do their best.

Elsewhere, Anya and Bond play tennis at the park with Yor. Anya calls out to her mother to get the tennis ball as it bounces toward her. Yor, lost in thought, takes a second to react before grabbing the ball. Anya questions whether Yor was daydreaming or not, which she denies. As she stares at the tennis ball, Yor thinks about the tennis competition Loid is at and wonders if Fiona is with him in the competition. While Yor contemplates their relationship and what it might mean for her, she considers getting rid of Fiona and her grip tightens on the ball. Yor shakes these thoughts off and tells herself that something horrible could happen. Anya, reading her mind, tells her she does not have anything to worry about. Yor asks what Anya meant by that and wonders if she knew what she was thinking. Anya, realizing her mistake, quickly covers it up by telling her not to worry because Loid will win and "bring home the trophy." Yor smiles and agrees that Loid can accomplish anything and will give any opponent a beatdown, cheering him on.

At the tennis tournament, the announcer says the next match will be between Team Foney and the Bolic Brothers. Loid points out the drastic difference in their appearance since the first round. Fiona informs Loid that anything goes in the tournament, from modified rackets to drugs. She tells Loid that she believes steroids are involved, which he says is an understatement. A member of the crowd yells at the Bolic Brothers, telling them he bet his life savings on them so they better not lose or he will kill them. In response, Catan Bolic grabs the wire fence between them and rips open a hole. Anan Bolic tells the man to shut up and watch as the announcer relays in disbelief at the brothers’ strength. Seeing this, many audience members scramble to place bets on the brothers believing no one could beat them, while the announcer announces that the time for placing bets is almost up. Loid looks at the brothers wondering how they can beat them, while Anan crushes a tennis ball with his bare hands. The announcer yells about Anan’s actions and asks him to show some respect for the gear. Anan approaches Loid and says he smells like pee and should get Fiona to change his diaper. Loid simply stares at them as they ask why he is not responding and call him an idiot with no verbal skills. Fiona snaps at their insults, leading her to completely dominate their match and not allow them to score any points. The Bolic Brothers lie on the ground with tennis ball marks all over their body as the announcer announces their victory. Loid questions if hitting them with every smash hit was necessary, and Fiona simply tells him her hand slipped. The manager of the brothers cries about his secret weapons being ruined, and Cavi tells him he might need to send the drug back to R&D. The others comment that even Cavi must be sweating after seeing how good Loid and Fiona were, which he denies.

Afterward, they continue to make their way through the tournament and to the finals, with Fiona making lots of flashy plays to try and impress Loid. A butler takes them to a waiting room, informing them that the finals will begin in 20 minutes and to wait there. The agents discuss their next opponents, Cavi's son and daughter. Despite being high schoolers, they have been training with the best since early childhood, but they will need to watch out for any sabotage attempts from them since their father runs the tournament. Fiona, confident after making it this far, believes it will be easy to beat them. Loid grabs Fiona's wrist, making her heart flutter as she wonders if he is making his move on her. However, he tells her to stop pushing herself, noting her hand covered in bruises. Loid tells her that even if she thinks it will be easy, she needs to keep herself under control.

Fiona jerks her arm free and says it will be easy, and they do not have time to waste. Loid replies that he has heard the same thing from many dead comrades, saying that losing your cool can mean losing your life. Fiona gives in and thinks to herself how great it is to have Loid fret over her. Once again declaring her love for him in her thoughts, Fiona stares at Loid with an intense glare, which he interprets as her doubting his methods. She then looks at the arm she jerked free and thinks about his lingering warmth and the tingling in her fingers. She then questions the tingling and then looks to the vent. Having also noticed this, Loid tells Fiona to hold her breath and close her eyes since a colorless and odorless gas is filling the room. Loid realizes this must be why Campbell sibling's past opponents appeared to be off their game. He tries to open the door, but finds it locked. He contemplates picking the lock but thinks there may be a guard outside, and it would look suspicious for normal people to be able to do that. Continuing their discussion in Morse code, they decide to pretend they got caught in the trap and try to prevent themselves from taking in as much gas as possible.

The announcer announces the final match between the Foney couple and the Campbell siblings and questions whether the Foneys can stop the Campbells from getting their third consecutive win. The crowd cheers in favor of the Foneys, which Cavi is pleased about since he will get more money if they lose. The other managers, except Cavi, place their bets on the Foneys, Cavi betting ten million on his children. He laughs to himself about Loid and Fiona having to suck up gas for ten minutes, and is confident that his children will beat them. Loid asks Fiona how she is feeling, and she says her heart rate and breathing are a little off. Carrol Campbell tells Kim Campbell that he got word from their father that they do not need to make the game look close this time which pleases Kim. She is eager to get the match over and get the new yacht that Cavi promised them. Carrol pulls out his jet-powered tennis racket, and Kim pulls out her whip racket. Loid serves the ball to them, which Carrol returns with tons of force from the rockets. Fiona attempts to return it but ends up hitting it out of bounds. Carrol tells them not to think of it as cheating as he had to practice a lot to learn how to use it.

In the next game, Loid hits the ball toward them, and it appears to the announcer that neither of the siblings could hit it. However, Kim releases a latch on her racket, allowing it to extend far enough to hit the ball, and drives it down onto the other side of the court, scoring them a point. Using these special rackets, the siblings continue to win the first two games and the first set of the match. The crowd yells at Loid and Fiona to get their act together. One of the men sitting next to Cavi curses the loss as Cavi laughs and apologizes. Loid clenches his fist as his strength returns to him and looks at Fiona, who also acknowledges this.

The second set begins with a powerful serve from Carrol, followed up by a return from Loid. Kim tries to hit it back with some spin, but Fiona is ready and returns it, scoring a point. Carrol chalks up the win to luck, believing they will continue to beat the couple. As they continue playing, Loid and Fiona win three more games. Carrol wears a nasty look as a man in a suit on the sidelines gives him a nod before fiddling with a control panel. In the next game, the siblings serve, and Fiona attempts to return it. However, before she can hit it, the floor tile under her foot sinks into the ground, causing her to hit it out of bounds, and Carrol looks at them with a smug grin and laughs. Loid comments on how he noticed the court separates into 36 panels, and now they know why. Fiona responds that they will have to watch for more tricks like this. He tells her it will not be a problem since he will not lose to some dumb gimmicks. Fiona stares in admiration as she thinks how this is the Twilight whom she fell in love with. Fiona walks to Loid's side and tells him the two of them will crush their opponents together.

A floor tile sinks to the ground next to Loid, but he jumps over it and returns the ball, scoring a point. Carrol then tries hitting the ball in another sunken tile and bouncing it back in his direction. Fiona intercepts the ball and slams it to the ground, scoring another point. Carrol decides to change plans: manipulating the net's height. He signals to the staff, and they comply. Loid and Fiona notice the changes and opt to work around them. When the Campbells realize their tricks are not working, they try using more against the Foneys, from gusts of wind to coating the ball with stink spray. However, all their schemes only amounted to little more than slight annoyances to the Foneys, who win the set and tie the scores.

Loid praises Fiona and her abilities, which she likes. As the final set begins, Fiona thinks about how she wants the match to last forever. She wonders if she could do it by extending it with an indefinite series of tiebreakers but backs down, realizing she might lose Loid’s respect and that he has finally found his groove again. Loid sees how focused Fiona looks and is glad she is finally under control. Meanwhile, the Campbell siblings decide to “call in the big guns.” The game begins, and Loid sees no tricks used and wonders if the siblings have given up on them. As Fiona is about to make her return, Loid sees Carrol signaling with his tongue, then spots a glint at the ducts behind him. Inside, a sniper prepares to make his shot, aiming for Fiona. Loid moves quickly, grabbing Fiona as he takes the bullet and tumbles to the ground, surprising everyone, including Fiona. As the commentators relay the events, Fiona asks if Loid is alright. Loid confirms this, then picks up the bullet and shows it to Fiona, telling her that it is rubber and the location of their sniper. Fiona apologizes for letting this happen, but Loid reveals he anticipated this, which is why he wore a bulletproof vest under his shirt, and Fiona is amazed. Carrol is also amazed after he sees Loid get up and walk off over getting shot. Fiona says this is going too far, even for Campbelldon, and suggests penalizing the staff for interference. Loid doubts this, pointing out that most of the tournament staff seem to be in Campbell’s pocket and how any disruption to their match could risk their chances of getting the painting. However, the bullets are low-velocity, and the agents can try throwing off the sniper’s aim by baiting shots as long as they can spot the signals. The line judge asks if Loid is alright, and Loid says he is suffering from a hangover. Carrol is shocked, saying it can not be true.

The game resumes, and Loid makes his serve. He sees Carrol make another signal and realizes they will target him mid-serve. Loid staggers to the side and finishes his serve, surprising everyone. The sniper radios to the “court interference squad” for assistance, telling them to do whatever it takes to ensure the siblings’ win. Their tricks do not work on the agents, who predict their moves and move around them. The sniper calls in the ball boys to make their move. As Team Foney prepares to return a serve, Loid spots one of the ball boys pointing their wrist in his direction. The ball boy shoots a hidden bullet at Loid, who parries the shot, and the commentator sees Loid swinging at nothing. Fiona notes that they now have two more things to worry about, but Loid says that, unlike the sniper, the ball boys are much easier to read and will not do much harm. Loid resolves to finish the match, and the crowd is shocked by the team's bizarre movements while they play.

A frustrated Cavi yells at his children to get it together and beat their opponents, as he has a lot riding on this match. The ball and a bullet go to Loid, who returns them with a wide swing. The parried bullet hits Carrol in the stomach, staggering him. The line judge asks if Carrol is okay, and Carrol tells him that he had too much milk in the morning, resulting in stomach cramps. Seeing that both teams appear impaired in the final stretch, the commentator calls the match a battle of sheer will as the audience cheers. While they play, Carrol thinks about how he does not want to lose and be beaten by Loid, but sees that he is no match for him. Loid jumps up in front of Carrol, intimidating him with his aura as he slams the ball under the boy’s legs. With that, the Foneys win the championship match, and the men betting on them stand up and cheer while Cavi sinks into his seat.

Carrol approaches Loid, realizing that despite being aware of the tricks, the Foneys still won. Carrol tears up and confesses that this is the first time he is disappointed in himself. Loid encourages Carrol, who is young and talented, and by working hard to hone his skills, can become a great player one day. Carrol swears to Loid that he will train hard, and Loid cheers him on. Fiona thinks to herself that Loid does not only strive to complete his missions but also reform his enemies, which is why she loves him. Kim sees this and thinks about how lame this is and is done with tennis. Cavi tears up, saying that despite losing the tournament, he gained something after seeing how much his son has grown, while a member points out how much money he just lost. One of Cavi’s men interrupts him and whispers a message to him, which Loid notices.

After the game, the Foneys go through a catalogue filled with all the art from Cavi’s collection. Fiona picks Lady in the Sun, but Cavi appears to tell them he cannot give it to them. When Fiona asks why not, Cavi states it is due to circumstances beyond his control, but promises any other item and will even give them an extra item as an apology. Fiona and Loid whisper to each other, realizing that Cavi received a call from the SSS, who must have gotten the same intel and are probably on their way to pick it up as they speak. Cavi speaks up, asking if they will take his offer, and Fiona asks to see the collection in person. Granting her request, Fiona goes to a private room full of Cavi’s art. Cavi asks where Loid is, and Fiona says he left to sleep off his hangover and not to worry about him. She glances at Lady in the Sun and sees it in the room. Fiona then asks Cavi for a recommendation for her choice and if she can leave her bag on a nearby counter, which he allows.

Cavi's butler approaches Cavi about Lady in the Sun, and Cavi tells him that the SSS will arrive in 10 minutes and to prepare it for them in the lobby. As the butler prepares the painting at the counter, one of the men tells him to hurry it up. When the SSS arrives, they retrieve the painting and thank Cavi for cooperating before leaving. Cavi has his butler see Fiona out, who asks the butler if WISE will let them moonlight as tennis pros. The butler removes his face mask, revealing himself to be Loid and says he has had enough of tennis for a while. As they leave, Loud asks Fiona what she picked for their prize, and she shows him a weird pot Cavi recommended, along with some garish rings he threw in. The agents then agree to gift them to Handler as a souvenir.

On the drive home, Loid admits to panicking a little when Cavi refused to give them Lady in the Sun but reveals that they successfully obtained it. Having planned, Loid brought a forgery of the painting and swapped it with the original while disguised as the butler, sneaking the original inside Fiona's bag. With this, the SSS will have to scour the forgery for a secret code that does not exist. Seeing the secret code on the painting, Loid and Fiona decide to bring it to HQ for analysis and high-five each other over completing the mission.

Nearing the Forger's neighborhood, Fiona offers to drive Loid all the way to his home, wanting to spend more time with him. Loid removes his disguise and reminds her that he is a happily married man that does not want anyone getting the wrong idea if they see him leaving a young lady's car; he adds that people get reported to the SSS all the time for infidelity. Fiona’s heart beats, and in her thoughts, she asks if Loid acknowledges her skills, which would make her a more suitable wife and partner. Loid gets dropped off at a park, and before he can say goodbye to Fiona, he is interrupted by Yor calling for Anya and Bond to go home.

Loid sees his family still playing at the park and takes note of it. Fiona glares at them, then steps out of her car and walks towards Yor. Fiona greets Yor, who is surprised by her presence. Loid also walks over to greet them and says Fiona gave him a ride home while she thought to stop by and say hello. Fiona looks at Yor’s racket and asks if Yor plays tennis. Yor explains that she and Anya practiced with Loid the other day, and Anya proudly states that she hit many home runs. Loid thanks them for their help, and Fiona scoffs in her thoughts. Fiona believes Yor to be presumptuous for believing Loid, saying that she herself would have helped Loid achieve further greatness. Fiona proceeds to challenge Yor to a game.

Loid asks what Fiona is doing, and she explains in code that she wants to make sure Yor is prepared for the physical rigors of Operation Strix. In her thoughts, Fiona plans to crush Yor and have her relinquish her role as the mother. Loid tells Yor that she does not have to accept, but Yor believes if she declines or loses, Loid will report her to the SSS for being a weak tennis player and replace her with Fiona, thus she accepts the challenge. Reading both of their minds, Anya can feel the tension between the women and flashes back to Becky excitedly telling her about the latest episode from Berlint in Love, where the main character’s fiancé encounters his childhood friend, but Anya could not sympathize as she prefers cartoons. Relating this to the current situation, Anya claims to understand what Becky was talking about, saying she likes action battles too. Before starting their game, Fiona tells Yor to come at her with everything she has. Loid tries warning Fiona but gets told to step back. Yor agrees with Fiona’s statement and decides to go all out, making a powerful swing as she serves. However, Yor appears to have missed her shot, and the ball drops to the ground.

Fiona scoffs at this but sees the ball immediately dice into small pieces. Yor thinks about how she always cuts through the ball when she swings too hard and decides to hold back a little if she actually wants to hit it. Yor calls Anya for another ball, and Anya gets Bond to bring one for her. Yor then tells a stunned Fiona that she is going to try again. While Fiona tries to process what just happened, Yor swings the ball, which moves faster than sound and in a perfectly straight line. Fiona tries her best to return the ball but struggles to push it forward. She thinks about how her love for Twilight cannot lose to Yor, who stands in the way of her ambition. Fiona ultimately fails, and the ball breaks through her racket. Fiona falls to the ground, shocked by her defeat. Yor rushes to Fiona, asking if she is okay, while Loid thinks about how he warned Fiona. Fiona declares Yor the victor for now but will one day challenge her to a revenge match. Fiona tells Yor to enjoy her life until then before driving off and, in tears, declares that she will never give up. Yor wonders if she upset Fiona somehow, but Loid says Fiona is very passionate about tennis, and Anya thinks about how energetic she is. Loid hopes Fiona did not give Yor the wrong idea, but because of their sham marriage, cannot imagine Yor being affected by her. His thoughts are interrupted by Yor, who enthusiastically exclaims her victory. After Yor struts away in a huff, Loid starts feeling exhausted. Anya says she is hungry, and Loid decides to get something delivered. A week later, Loid meets with Sylvia Sherwood, who briefs their findings from the secret code and hands Loid the "Zacharis Dossier," in the form of Erik Zacharis' diary. Reading it, Loid learns that the threat Zacharis hid was his collection of starlet photos. Zacharis liked theater and bought postcards to support the actresses, but his wife disapproved of them and told him to get rid of them. Unable to part with them, he locked away his collection lest it reignited the flames of strife between him and his wife. Astounded at the revelation, Loid asks how the dossier rumors started. A WISE Agent tells him that before the war's end, Zacharis hosted Western diplomats at a musical performance and made them swear to secrecy so his wife would not find out. Over the years, the story got embellished into the current rumor.

Realizing that he went through all that trouble for some postcards, Loid tries to find a greater mystery behind it, but Sylvia assures him that there was no bombshell to reignite the war and considers it a victory. Loid agrees, then sees a picture of Zacharis smiling with his wife and daughter and contemplates the notion that any lie is justified in the name of peace. On his way home, Loid goes to a bakery and orders an apple tart and a slice of caramel nutcake for Yor and Anya, respectively. Back at home, Anya plays with Bond in the living room while Yor sits on the couch looking dazed.

Meanwhile, Fiona trains in the mountains with a large rock tied to a stick, roaring while the wildlife watches from the side in fear.

Yor trudges home from work with a dazed expression. The neighbors greet Yor and ask if she is alright, and she mutters that she is getting tossed aside and was a fool to think that a game of tennis would change anything. The neighbors assume that Loid is cheating on Yor and hope she reports him to the SSS. Also returning home from work, Loid overhears their gossip and wonders if Yor has become suspicious of Fiona. He realizes this is not only bad for appearances, but if Yor ever tells Yuri about the recent events with Fiona, Loid getting caught by the SSS seems all too possible.

Later at night, in the Forger home, Anya and Bond play with Franky Franklin, who appears to be enjoying himself while taking care of them. Before Loid can step out, he gets interrupted by a frisbee to the head, and Franky expresses his irritation at having to babysit every time Loid goes out. Loid explains that he has to clear up the misunderstanding about his relationship with Fiona to Yor. Franky tells him to do it at home, but Loid says there are certain things he cannot discuss in front of Anya. Loid decides to pay Franky for his help, and Franky quickly changes his tune, taking Anya and Bond to the park.

Loid meets up with Yor and takes her to a bar. After getting their drinks, the two toast to Yor's hard work with Anya and housekeeping. Yor wonders what this is all about, sensing that Loid has something he wants to say, but she concludes that he will be replacing her with Fiona. Loid tries bringing up the incident with Fiona the other day, and Yor suddenly shouts, believing her thoughts are true. Yor wonders what she will do if she is no longer a part of the Forger family. She then remembers that she and Loid married out of self-interest, so she does not have the right to pry into his personal life. Assuming that Fiona is someone he legitimately cares for, Yor decides to withdraw from their fake marriage so he can be happy.

She tries to inform Loid of her decision but cannot bring herself to say anything. Seeking strength through liquid courage, Yor downs her and Loid's drinks. However, a now-drunk Yor asks Loid if he is in love with Fiona, demanding an answer. Loid tries to explain that he and Fiona have a strictly professional relationship, but Yor does not listen to him and talks about how she is a bad wife and is not pretty like Fiona. She sulks, remembering Loid saying she was pretty and believes he must be bored with her now. Loid realizes that Yor has been jealous and believes she has romantic feelings for him. Although initially surprised by the revelation, Loid enters "Twilight Mode" in 0.1 seconds and immediately takes advantage of the situation, attempting a honey trap on Yor. He clasps her hands, telling her to trust him, and asks if she hates him. Yor is surprised by Loid's sudden advances, and her heart starts racing. Loid tries asking her to be his real wife but is cut off by an embarrassed Yor kicking him in the chin, and he goes up in the air. Loid gracefully lands on his feet, seemingly unaffected, and the onlookers applaud. However, he starts to wobble and interprets Yor's powerful kick as a rejection rather than bashfulness, concluding that she did not have romantic feelings for him after all. While Yor frantically apologizes to Loid, he tries to make sense of the situation. Believing he botched the emotional analysis that badly, Loid wonders if being with Yor has thrown him off balance as he loses consciousness.

While asleep, Loid hears a lullaby his mother sang to him when he was young. He wakes up and finds himself resting his head on Yor's lap, who is singing the lullaby. A flustered Loid gets up and asks what happened. Yor explains they got kicked out of the bar for causing a commotion, so she brought him to a nearby park while Loid was asleep for about five minutes. Loid realizes that he has not been knocked unconscious since his training days and has gotten sloppy. Yor apologizes to Loid, saying all she has is brute strength, and assumes that is why he is ready to move on. Loid confides to Yor about his mother, who always had him feeling safe around her, even during the war, because she was strong. Loid then relates this to how Anya would not be her smiling, energetic self if Yor did not give her that sense of security, telling Yor she is strong. Loid thinks about how the agents of the state have been working hard to rebuild the world with their blood, sweat, and tears, but that strength is what will finish the job.Loid assures Yor she is an incredible mother and has no intention to replace her as Anya’s guardian. Yor says she is not an expert, as all she knows is what she learned from looking after Yuri. Loid says she is right: because Yor has been parenting since she was a child, she is second to none. He tells her to have more faith in herself, which is why he hopes she will continue being Anya’s mother and his wife. Yor tears up, and she accepts Loid’s proposal. They decide to head home, and Yor says she will make them some hot tea when they return.

Back home, Anya waits for Loid and Yor to return and notes how late they are, suggesting they are “shacking up together,” a phrase she learned from Becky. Franky asks if Anya likes her parents, to which she replies that she loves them. Loid and Yor return shortly after, and Anya and Bond rush to greet them. Anya asks if they were smooching but stops when she sees Loid with a swelled-up chin and an embarrassed Yor behind him. Franky bursts into laughter, and Anya calls Loid a chin monster. Yor laughs to herself as Franky tries to help Anya touch Loid’s chin. While serving everyone tea, Yor thinks about how she was just as surprised as everyone else when she married. As Yuri was the only attachment she ever had, she never imagined finding a place with the Forgers that she was so unwilling to leave behind.

The next day, Yor wakes up and is surprised by Loid’s swelled chin. Loid is shocked that she forgot everything that happened yesterday, and they end up having the same conversation all over again.

Anime Segments

 * This includes Short Mission 3 an exclusive side-story featuring Anya.

DECIPHER THE PERPLEXING CODE
Inspired by a scene from Spy Wars, Anya decides to make a top-secret code for a rendezvous. However, Loid points out that because of Anya's terrible handwriting, the code will be unreadable, let alone solved. After Loid leaves for work, Anya gets Yor to help write down several copies of her secret code. Anya first hands her first pages to Bond, the neighbors, then Franky, refusing to reveal its contents. On the next day at school, Anya gives Becky her code, but Becky gets upset when Anya refuses to say anything. She then gives a copy to Damian, who quickly crumples it up and throws it away in irritation. Later that night, Anya sets her alarm clock to one hour before the rendezvous and has a dream about someone showing up after cracking the code.

Meanwhile, Franky returns home and remembers the code Anya gave him. Upon noticing the nice handwriting and smell of the paper, Franky assumes that this is a love letter from a beautiful woman. The next day, Franky arrives early at the rendezvous, dressed in a suit and tie while carrying a bouquet of roses. While Franky had successfully cracked the code, he ended up staying up all night out of excitement, and as he waits, he starts wondering who the mystery woman might be. At the Forger home, Anya sleeps through her ringing alarm clock, which Bond promptly shuts off.

FIRST FIT OF JEALOUSY
Anya and Bond are watching the cartoon Bear Squad when Loid calls her for bedtime. Anya continues to watch, and right when the penguin character gets killed, Loid grabs Anya and takes her to bed. She requests to sleep with her penguin plush tonight and goes to sleep while hugging it. Outside of the door, Bond glares at the penguin. Anya wakes up the next morning to find her penguin ripped apart. Loid points out that the damages are bite and claw marks, so Anya looks at Bond. Bond looks away, but she reads his mind and hears jealous thoughts directed at her penguin. She yells at Bond that she hates him, which puts him in despair.

Yor says she will fix up Anya's penguin, but she ends up ripping it up more, to Anya's dismay. Loid tells Anya that he will buy her a new one, but she exclaims that she wants to keep the one she has as the penguin was gifted by him, causing him to blush slightly. He concedes and tells her to finish her breakfast and then study while he fixes up the penguin. While he fixes up the penguin, Bond looks for something in the kitchen, and Anya cries as she studies. Loid finishes his work and presents the mended penguin, which looks like Frankenstein's monster to Anya. Bond walks into the room holding a bag of peanuts in his mouth as an apology. Anya decides to forgive Bond, so he and the penguin shake on a peace treaty. Watching from the side, Loid wishes that East-West relations could be mended as easily as this.

Story Impact

 * Fiona Frost, an agent from WISE, is introduced.
 * A small part of Loid’s backstory is revealed, specifically about his mother.