Red Circus Arc

Note that the arc title and following sub-headings are fan-made and used to better organize the story.

The Red Circus Arc is the thirteenth story arc in SPY x FAMILY.

Eden's first graders go to the museum for a cultural experience, but on the way, two of the buses are hijacked by an extremist group of terrorists called the Red Circus, including the one Anya is on. Now, Anya along with her fellow classmates must figure out how to survive and get out of this life-or-death situation.

Before the Incident
At the SSS headquarters, the Boss receives a report regarding the leader of the Red Circus extremist group, Billy Squire, who is rumored to be commanding a faction in Berlint.

Anya and the rest of Eden Academy's first years are heading to the Berlint Museum for a field trip. All the classes are in four buses, and joining Cecile Hall on theirs is Wald Hall. Hoping to create progress for Operation Strix, Anya attempts the same method that Loid used on Gerald Gorey to make Damian indebted to her. However, in true Anya fashion, the plan fails. Damian is perplexed by Anya's odd behavior and wonders if it is because he has not yet repaid her for the handkerchief. He tries to take out some snacks to give her, but they are eaten by his friends instead.

The Hijacking
As the bus approaches the museum, two of the four buses, one of which Anya is on, go straight ahead and pass the building. The driver then stops and opens the door to two strangers who climb aboard, one of them being Billy Squire. Billy immobilizes the dorm tutor unconscious with a taser, and the bus continues moving. Upon noticing that two of their buses has gone off course, Mr. Green gives chase, but Billy shoots at him and crashes his car. Billy then tells the terrified students that their bus has been taken hostage by the Red Circus, telling them to do what they say if they want to live.

The report of the hijacking quickly reaches the police and Eden Academy, and Henry Henderson makes an order to ensure that neither the students nor media catch a word of this. In the bus, Anya becomes dizzy from her classmates' overwhelming thoughts of fear. Suddenly, Bill Watkins tells everyone to calm down and that help will come, but quickly quiets down when threatened by Billy. Billy explains that the students have been taken hostage due to their prestigious backgrounds, and he will wager their lives to negotiate with the government.

At the same time, WISE hears about the hijacking and Sylvia decides to get involved after hearing that Anya and Damian are among the kidnapped. Since Loid is out on a different mission, Sylvia orders her available agents to gather intel and provide support to the police behind the scenes.

The students try to figure out where they are going, and Anya gets the idea to read the minds of their hijackers. Anya pretends that she desperately needs to use the bathroom, which makes the driver think about where the bus is headed: Papier Park. Anya passes this information to Becky, and they devise to make a rescue plan. Anya and Becky write an SOS and place it in Becky's tin container. Damian notices them and throws them a note warning them not to act recklessly. The girls share the plan with him, and Damian decides to help create a distraction by telling the terrorists that he needs to use the bathroom. Anya and Becky throw the SOS message out the window, which is discovered by passing pedestrians. Billy realizes what the girls have done and puts a collar on Anya, telling the children that it is a bomb and threatens to detonate it if anyone else tries anything.

At SSS headquarters, the Lieutenant informs his superior of the situation and is ordered to suppress the suspects and cover any information about the incident from the public. Yuri finds the Lieutenant to ask about Anya, but is told to stay behind as to not risk complicating the situation. While initially compliant, Yuri cannot bear the thought of Yor's despair if Anya gets harmed and demands to be brought along, but gets restrained to a pillar. At the same time, Becky's father gets word of the SOS message and is stopped by Martha from making any rash actions.

Back on the bus, the children are terrified of the bomb and back away from Anya, who is just as frightened. However, after hearing Billy's thoughts revealing that it is a fake immediately after, Anya quickly relaxes, baffling her classmates. Anya then playfully hits the bomb, terrifying her classmates, and their thoughts once again overwhelm her. Damian believes she was acting to alleviate everyone and confronts Billy, demanding that the bomb be placed on him instead. To Damian's dismay, however, Billy responds by also putting a bomb on him. Damian begins fearing for his life, but Anya soothes him by taking his hand and telling to him that the bomb is a fake. Becky is amazed by Anya's maturity, which she immediately takes back after Anya hits her bomb again. Suddenly, the bus takes a sudden swerve and stops, and the children are overjoyed by the presence of the police, who have stopped the bus with spike strips and surrounded it.

Standstill
The students' joy is cut short when Billy fires his gun and orders them to return to their seats. As the police attempt to communicate with the hijackers, Billy forces the students to cover up the bus windows with black sheets and exits the bus with Damian in tow. Billy makes his demands to the police: release his 17 imprisoned comrades and secure the Red Circus safe passage to Nortica, promising to release five students for every freed comrade.

A squad of SSS officers arrives at the scene, and its captain orders to storm the bus. The Police Chief resists, believing that the hostages' safety is their priority and they should negotiate with the hijackers. The captain decides to comply but notes that most of the imprisoned comrades are already dead anyway. Returning inside the bus, Billy explains to his comrade, Vadim, that they will stall for time until the kids' parents pressure the government. An embarrassed Damian walks back to his seat, where he is consoled by Bill and his friends, who say that all they can do now is wait for the adults to rescue them.

Sylvia receives intel from the WISE Agent on the whereabouts of the missing second bus and leaks it to the police. The SSS report on the leaked information, which Yuri overhears, and he asks for permission to investigate. Yuri is released and quickly gets to work. After gathering intel from his informants, Yuri deduces that the second bus could be hidden somewhere in the area and scours around to find it. At the bus, the SSS captain receives a message from HQ telling his squad to go on standby until the second bus is found, which he begrudgingly agrees to.

Inside the bus, Billy notices that some of the kids need to go to the bathroom and allows them to step outside and do their business in the shrubs, although one at a time. Emile is the first to go and expresses loyalty to Damian and embarrassment at his situation, which Billy tells him to thank his parents for. Becky's father and Martha arrive at the scene, where Henry is also present, worried for the well-being of his students. At dusk, Billy asks the police for an update on the negotiations. The police commander explains that they are currently in the middle of releasing three prisoners, but in the meantime, they want to give the hostages food and water. Billy allows this, but only if someone from the school delivers it.

Henry volunteers to go, bringing the students rations from the Blackbell company. Henry is concerned about the well-being of the hostages, particularly with the dorm tutor, who he demands should be taken to a hospital. Billy refuses, but relents after Henry requests to take the tutor's place on the bus. As the children eat the rations, Billy watches with a subdued expression. Henry notices this and asks if Billy also has children, to which the man responds that he had a daughter who was also a Red Circus member, but she was murdered by the state during a protest gone violent. Seeking vengeance, Billy declares to make sure the government reaps what they have sown. Billy looks at two students sleeping, which makes him remember the day his daughter, Biddy, died. Witnessing his memories via her telepathy, Anya is surprised.

Yuri locates the second bus at a warehouse guarded by the hijackers. Joined by a squad of other SSS officers, Yuri raids the warehouse, removing the hijackers and securing the hostages, but comes out of the altercation with a wounded shoulder. The SSS captain receives the news of the second bus and is given command of the situation. He starts by announcing to the hijackers that their comrades from the other bus are dead and gives them until dawn to surrender. Vadim is frustrated, and seeing that Billy has been completely shaken, decides to use their last resort: blowing up the bus with the hostages inside, planning to do it as the strike force rushes in. Anya hears Vadim's plan and the thoughts of an SSS guard regiment preparing to storm the bus. Outside, the captain reveals they will actually be attacking at night, to the police chief's shock. Backed into a corner, Anya decides to confront Billy.

Resolution
At the Forger home, Yor is concerned about Anya's absence and calls Eden to ask about her. While they tell her that the trip ran long, Yor is uneased and calls Sharon. Sharon informs Yor that her son already came home, and the trip got canceled, worrying her even more.

As Anya approaches Billy, she realizes she should have thought of something to say to him. Anya considers mentioning the Secret Police's advance but fears they will detonate the bus immediately. Anya gets the idea to ask for more rations, as the police held back when the students received them. Everyone is shocked, and Billy threatens to detonate her collar bomb. Anya is undeterred because she knows it is fake and says she is not afraid, mirroring Biddy's speech. Billy is unnerved by this and begins to see his daughter in Anya. He remembers her words, which Anya tries to parrot while reading his mind. Billy snaps and removes the bomb from Anya, ordering her to leave. Anya knows he does not want to do his misdeeds while she is on the bus, so she refuses, to everyone's shock once again. Billy yells at her to get off, saying that the Eden students are selfish elites. Anya refuses and demands the rations, making Billy believe that the children are not eating enough at home and is astonished that Anya is willing to ask for food for her classmates' sake, embarrassing the girl.

Billy asks Anya what is motivating her, and after some thought, she repeats Loid's motivation for becoming a spy, wanting to make a world where kids don't need to cry. Billy's resolve is shaken even more, but Vadim tries to motivate him to avenge his daughter. Moved by his memory of Biddy and wanting to redeem himself, Billy leaves the bus with the group's guns and bags and surrenders, shocking everyone. An enraged Vadim tries to drive away but is quickly blocked by armored police vehicles. Vadim picks up Anya as he exits the bus, waving her around as his hostage. The SSS captain orders his soldiers to shoot, but Martha quickly leaps from above and immobilizes Vadim with a taser, making him drop Anya. After Martha catches Anya, the police move in to arrest the terrorists. After the hostages are freed and the terrorists are arrested, Billy looks back to see a smiling Anya waving to a crying Becky running over to her and Martha.

After the Incident
After the hijacking, Anya, Becky, Damian, and Bill are awarded a Stella Star for their courageous efforts during the crisis in a ceremony at Eden. As the students celebrate their achievement, Henry reflects on how no one was hurt during the crisis.

Going back to the arrest of the Red Circus members, the information blackout of the incident is lifted, and all the students' guardians are informed and instructed to pick up their children. One by one, the students get picked up by their parents until only Anya and Damian remain. Damian commends Anya for what she did and apologizes for how he treated her before. Anya also praises Damian, calling the time he asked for her bomb to be put on him a "hero move." Damian gets flustered and says that is how friends look out for each other.

Anya is stunned by Damian's statement and believes she has fulfilled the Friendship Scheme. She tries to propose going to Damian's house, claiming that is what friends do, along with introducing their parents to each other and talking about world peace, making Damian double back on calling her a friend. Damian then looks to the children with their parents, saying there is no point in trying to cozy up to him since he barely has a relationship with his parents. Anya pats him on the back in pity, and he retorts that her parents are also not here. Shortly after, Yor arrives at top speed. Yor asks Anya if she is alright, which she initially confirms, but quickly begins bawling in her mother's arms.

As Yor comforts Anya, two strike team soldiers discuss the outcome of the hijacking. Underneath their uniforms are the WISE Agent and Loid, who came racing back to Berlint once he heard about the crisis and infiltrated the strike team. Loid is exhausted but relieved that everything ended safely and decides to leave. The Agent asks if he will go to Anya, but Loid says he needs to maintain his cover and will cook Anya her favorite dinner when he gets home. Hearing his thoughts, Anya is happy to hear this. Yor notices Damian and tells him that Melinda will be arriving soon. Melinda arrives shortly after and has an emotional reunion with Damian. However, when Damian mentions Donovan, Anya is shocked to read Melinda's negative thoughts on Damian conflicting with her motherly affection.

At the Forger home, Anya celebrates her new Stella Star. While Loid and Yor are proud of her, they scold her for her recklessness during the bus hijacking. Loid drives Anya to school and apologizes for not being there to pick her up, although Anya is fine since she knows he was there. Anya asks Loid if the families that came to pick up their kids love them more, thinking about how strange Melinda was with Damian. Loid answers yes but fears that Anya resents him because he did not come to pick her up and wonders how to overcome this. Hearing his thoughts, Anya steers Loid into buying her some cake after school.

Damian gets dropped off at Eden and meets with Emile and Ewen. Emile asks if Damian had a good time with his family, and Damian thinks back to his time at the Desmond Manor. Eating alone at the dinner table, Damian asks Jeeves if his mother will be joining him. Jeeves answers that Melinda returned to her own residence but mentions that she cooked every dish herself, surprising the young master.

Because of their deeds, Damian and Becky have risen in popularity among their classmates, but most notable is Anya, who is now going by "Double Starlight Anya." No longer being looked down on by her classmates and seen as a famous hero, Anya begins making plans to make many friends that could conquer the world. Damian scoffs at Anya getting surrounded by their classmates, but Becky strikes a nerve when she suggests he is actually worried that Anya will get taken away from him. Unwilling to admit his feelings, Damian tells his classmates that Anya is a commoner. This only boosts her image as their classmates gain even more admiration for her. Intrigued, they ask about her commoner lifestyle.

Anya believes that instead of pushing to get into Damian's house, she should have done the opposite and invited him to hers. Dubbing this reverse scheme the "B Plan," Anya tries to impress Damian and her classmates with her family's strength. To get good responses, Anya begins embellishing her stories, which worries Becky. Becky mentions how she and Anya have been trained by Yor, who is strong, and the children desire to get trained by her. Anya becomes jealous of this and tries training them herself.

Damian butts in to stop them, and Anya directs her frustration toward him, calling him a jerk. Damian responds with harsh insults to Anya and her family, making her tear up. With this defeat, their classmates now believe that Damian and his family are stronger, and Anya begins to cry even more. Damian apologizes to Anya and promises to buy her candy, which gets her to stop crying. Emile and Ewen are shocked that Damian apologized, but Damian claims that properly apologizing makes him the stronger man. Anya rebukes this, and the two resume their bickering. Their classmates leave them behind and they end up arriving late to class.

The Source of the Trauma
Cecile Hall's dorm tutor, Thomas Austin, wakes up in a cold sweat after a nightmare. Following Henry's recommendation, Thomas seeks Loid's psychological help. Thomas believes that his nightmares are being caused by his experience in the hijacking, but his mannerisms make Loid (and an eavesdropping Fiona) think otherwise. After looking into Thomas' background, Loid reveals to Thomas that the source of his fears and nightmares is of his wife, whom Thomas is having severe marital problems with. Deciding to help ease this trauma, Loid has a talk therapy session with Thomas which proves to be tiresome, making him conclude that authentic marriages are difficult.

Spy and Dog Battle
Secretary Sylvia Sherwood of the Westalis Embassy in Ostania is a sloven individual. She lives in an unkempt home, barely makes it in time for work, leaves important paperwork at home, and often has an untidy appearance. However, she is also the handler for a corps of WISE agents in Ostania and a strict and capable leader. Despite this reputation, her slovenliness leaks into the office, and she gets scolded by the WISE Agent for it. Sylvia returns home to walk her dog, Aaron, to the dog park and for her meeting with Agent Twilight. At home, Sylvia reflects on her old life with her daughter and partner in a home that contrasts with the state of her current one, and laments that once a person is alone for long enough, the simple things do not seem to matter anymore.

Sylvia is surprised to see Anya and Bond at the dog park, and Loid explains that he brought them here at Anya's insistence. After Loid receives orders for a new extra mission, Anya recognizes Sylvia and walks up to her with Bond, wanting to look at Aaron. Loid and Anya recognize Aaron as the dog used in Minister Brantz's assassination attempt, which Sylvia confirms. Having completed their meeting, Sylvia begins to leave, but Anya and Bond stop her, wanting to play. Anya suggests having a competition to see who has the better dog, and Sylvia accepts, wanting to prove her leadership skills are superior. Sylvia convinces Loid to participate by promising to relieve him of the extra mission.

The first challenge involves an obstacle course: whichever dog finishes the fastest wins. Sylvia and Aaron win with an impressive thirty-nine seconds, while Loid and Bond finish at over two minutes. The second challenge is tracking and retrieving, in which the dogs must find the opposite owner's handkerchief hidden around the park first. Bond quickly gives up on the search but is drawn to the smell of pasta, which leads him to a dried pasta noodle stuck to Sylvia's jacket pocket, where she just so happens to be hiding her handkerchief. Thus, Bond wins the round. The third and final challenge is a frisbee catch, where the dog who catches the frisbee thrown the farthest wins. Bond has a future vision of the frisbees getting blown back to their owners with a gust of wind, so he remains in place when the frisbees are thrown, intending to catch his there. While Aaron fails to catch his frisbee, so does Bond, who gets hit in the face by the frisbee. Sylvia and Loid then decide to call the match a tie.

While Anya plays with the dogs on her own, Sylvia informs Loid of rumors that Project Apple is still in operation. While it is unknown if they are connected to Donovan, WISE intends to find out. Before Sylvia leaves, Anya says that she looks like she had fun. Sylvia confirms this and promises to play with Anya again sometime. As they walk back home, Sylvia promises Aaron that she will tidy up their home.

Story Impact

 * It is revealed that the Red Circus terrorist group that Yor assassinated in Extra Mission 2 had not vanished and there were still active members.
 * This marks the first arc in which Anya must resolve the main conflict on her own.
 * Anya and Damian earn their second Stella Star, while Becky and Bill earn their first Stella.
 * Anya and Damian become friends.
 * Anya starts to become popular with her classmates.

Trivia

 * This is the first arc where Loid Forger does not get directly involved in the main problem.
 * Becky Blackbell's father makes his first physical appearance, although his appearance has already been presented in Becky's imagination in one of the early arcs.
 * Martha's surname and her long-standing acquaintance with Henry Henderson are revealed for the first time.
 * The Cecile Hall Dorm Tutor's name and personal history are revealed for the first time.