Episode 8

THE COUNTER-SECRET POLICE COVER OPERATION (MISSION: 8　対秘密警察偽装作戦) is the eighth episode of the SPY x FAMILY TV anime series.

Synopsis
Ostania's counterintelligence agency and national security bureau conducts spy hunts and keeps surveillance on its citizens to maintain peace within the country. They are also called the Secret Police and are feared. Yor's younger brother Yuri actually belongs to the Secret Police and is hunting down spies while keeping this a secret from Yor and others around him. One day, he suddenly shows up at the Forger residence. The Forgers, who are full of secrets, and Yuri, who has a secret identity, come face to face!

Summary
Anya is in math class and her teacher has called on her to answer the question he's written on the blackboard. She confidently announces that it's three-thirds, to the amazement of Becky and irritation of Damian, but the math teacher then tells her that her answer was completely wrong.

In the city, Loid and Handler have met up and the latter is asking the former if they can expect his daughter's grades to improve since HQ is planning around eight Stella Stars in four months. A visibly tired Loid smirks and says that that won't be a problem, and Handler comments on how bad he's become at lying recently. Moving on, Handler tells Loid that one of their informants at city hall was arrested and warns Loid that the enemy has been cracking down hard so he should be careful, especially since Eden is in the middle of the city. At Berlint City Hall, Millie explains to Yor and Sharon that Jim Hayward was arrested today by the SSS for espionage. Sharon says that she heard he was from the financial department and had been selling official documents on the black market. A sleepy Camilla then walks in and greets the three, then turns to Yor and tells her that after hearing from Dominic, questions if she's told her brother about her marriage yet. A shocked Yor exclaims that she knew she was forgetting something and asks what she should do, Camilla just saying that Yuri said he'd be calling the office later as Yor remembers that she never gave him her new house's phone number. Yor frets as she forgot about him after being relieved that her marriage went through. Millie asks if Yor's brother is hot and Yor shows her a picture of her and Yuri and they both comment on how cute he is, Yor then going on to tell them how he would always call her "Sis" and refused to leave her side. Millie then rebounds, saying she'd give him a hard pass if he was one of those types and another commenting that if he loves Yor that much it's even more awful that she forgot to tell him.

A Lieutenant is interrogating Jim at the SSS Headquarters, asking him information on the documents and who he gave them to. Jim asks to be released and the SSS lieutenant stubs his cigarette in Jim's hand in response. Yuri then enters, saluting as the Lieutenant greets him and saying he'll do his best as he walks into the interrogation room to swap places The SSS Lieutenant pats Yuri's shoulder as he exits the room, sitting down on a bench next to another member who promptly asks him why the boss let someone as young as Yuri on the team, despite his talent. The lieutenant tells him that it's because the boss said Yuri was cute like a puppy. The lieutenant says that every organization needs a member like him, and that Yuri can get the job done indiscriminately.

In the interrogation room, Yuri takes his hat off and greets Jim, the latter quickly stealing himself and saying that he has nothing to say to the SSS. Yuri just ignores him, beginning to excitedly tell him about Yor and that he's going to visit and congratulate her on her marriage after he's done with work for the day. Yuri tells Jim that he'd appreciate it if they could finish up quickly, asking him to spill everything he knows. Jim feigns innocence, and Yuri produces three photos of Jim dealing the documents to another man which greatly shocks him, then tells Jim that he'd be better off being honest. Jim admits that he gave his clients the papers for cash and that he doesn't know anything about his client aside from him being from the West. Yuri asks for more details, but Jim doesn't remember. Yuri's face turns cold as he asks the man if he's heard of "Twilight". When Jim says that he doesn't know who that is, Yuri explains that he's a dangerous spy from the West who is the natural enemy of the SSS. Jim asks if he'll be let off the hook if he can help catch "Twilight", and Yuri asks him again if he remembers anything about the man, reminding him that if he feeds the SSS nonsense it will only be added to his crimes. Jim says that he just wanted cash to fool around with girls, saying that Yuri should relate as a man when he reminds Jim that he has a wife. Yuri puts on his gloves and starts telling Jim that he keeps his job a secret from his sister because he doesn't want her to know about his dirty work, later slams Jim's face into the ashtray on the table. He says that what he's done is treason and that, unlike Jim, Yuri loves his family and will do anything to protect the country his sister lives in.

Anya is watching Spy Wars at home, Loid sitting behind her and wishing she could pay that much attention when they're studying. Anya turns to Loid and asks how many shots Bondman's pistol has on the show, and Loid replies that it should have eight, then looking at Anya in surprise as she calls out "two-eighths" when referring to the number of bullets he has left. Loid exclaims that she got it right and notes to himself that she learns better with the cartoon. Yor then comes home, worriedly announcing that Yuri is coming over to visit that night to congratulate her on her marriage, much to Loid's surprise. She asks Loid what they should do, and he replies that it's exactly the occasion they prepared the "lovey-dovey marriage" set for, decorating the house with stereotypical things a loving married couple would have. After Loid and Yor share glances when in front of an over-the-top bed, Anya says that they're flirting, and her now flustered parents say that they're not. While waiting for Yuri to arrive, Anya asks Loid when Yor's brother will be coming, Loid corrects her saying that he's her uncle and tells her to go to bed since it's getting late. Anya protests that she wants to meet her uncle as Yor comments that he must be working late, then falls asleep on Loid's lap.

Yuri is skipping down the street to the Forger abode with a large bouquet of roses in one arm, abruptly stopping when a rib Yor broke through a hug during their childhood begins to ache. He thinks about how overwhelmed he must be by her love, then wonders why she never told him about her marriage for a whole year and concludes that she married such a terrible man that she can't possibly have told him. As he makes his way to their apartment, Yuri thinks how he will eliminate anyone that poses a threat to Yor, even if it's her husband, then stopping and reminding himself to calm down as she mustn't find out about his job. As Loid and Yor prepare for their guest, he thinks about the fact that the closer Yuri is, the easier it is for them to let their secret slip and must not lose the family he worked so hard to create for his mission. Yuri arrives and the couple welcomes him, Loid and Yuri both hiding their dark looks.

The television plays footage of ministers from Ostania and Westalis talking over normalizing relations between their countries as Loid greets Yuri as he enters the Forger household as he wonders if Yuri will be a threat to his fake family or not. At the same time Yuri wonders if Loid is truly worthy of being his sister's husband. Loid tells them that he'll go and make a quick meal while Yuri and Yor catch up. Yuri thinks to himself that he wouldn't want to eat something Loid made as Yor remarks that his face is scary, commenting that he must be nervous. Yuri worries that he accidentally let his hostility show since he hasn't calmed down since the interrogation, pledging to act as a diligent civil servant in front of Yor as she herself pledges to act as a loving wife in front of Yuri, not wanting to tell him that she got married so she could continue with her assassin work.

Yor thanks Yuri for the flowers which prompts him to say that he hasn't accepted Yor's marriage yet, asking her why she kept it a secret from him for a whole year. Loid, watching from the kitchen, thinks to himself that that's a natural question as he replays his and his wife's earlier conversation in his head. The flashback begins with Loid asking her if it would be okay just to tell Yuri the truth: that she married to avoid the stigma and suspicion of being single at her age. Yor says that it wouldn't work since Yuri is sensitive and would probably lose it if he heard that she married someone she wasn't in love with. She knows she's making things difficult, but she doesn't want her brother to worry and says that she has the perfect excuse to tell him.

In the present, Loid is counting on Yor to handle the situation. When Yuri asks for an answer, Yor looks him straight in the eyes and confidently says that she just forgot to tell him. Loid is dumbfounded and Yuri, confused, brings up the phone call the other day during which a partner was mentioned, asking why she didn't just tell him then. Yor says, again with confidence, that she forgot that she forgot to tell him. Yuri says that it must be true then, losing all reason when dealing with his sister, as he laughs and apologizes to his sister, says that she can be such a klutz sometimes. Loid is shocked that Yuri is satisfied with that answer, wondering if this is normal in the Briar family. Loid returns as he brings a plate of lemon marinade over, Yuri takes a bite and is shocked at how good it is, taking a few more as Yor comments on how good Loid's cooking is. Yuri thinks that he won't be won over with his food as he produces a bottle of wine that he brought, deciding to get Loid drunk in order to expose him. Loid whispers to Yor that she shouldn't drink if they don't want a repeat of last time at the castle.

Yuri asks the two how they met, and they explain their first meeting at the boutique. Yor says that Loid was staring at her, with him saying that he could not help but look at how beautiful she was. Realizing that this topic is dangerous territory, Loid decides that he needs to change the topic, so he tells Yuri that after a few dinners together, they eventually hit it off. Yuri starts asking specific questions about their relationship and Loid feels that this has turned into an interrogation. Loid is asked what he calls Yor, and he simply replies with just "Yor". Knowing that he himself hesitates to call her by her given name, a panicked Yuri asks Yor what she calls her husband, suggesting nicknames like "Loidy" or "Loi-Loi". Yor is too embarrassed to speak, and Yuri assumes it is true, picking up the wine as he starts to drink away. Yor vehemently denies this, saying she just calls him "Loid".

Loid asks Yuri if he's okay and brings him water. Yuri takes the glass while wondering what his sister likes about him. He thinks to himself that Loid is a good cook, tall and handsome, seems considerate, and is even a doctor. Realizing that he just brought up Loid's good points he drinks away in anger, Yor telling him to calm down and Loid wonders if all Briars are bad drunks. Loid changes the topic, asking Yuri about his career and tells him how much Yor boasts about him. Yor tells her brother that she heard from Dominic that he went to Hugaria. Yuri explains that it was for work, and tells her about how nice the city is, wishing that he could have shown her. He mentions a café said to be the Empress's favorite back in the day, which catches Loid's attention, and he asks Yuri if the café was in the capital city of Obda, saying he went there when he was a medical student. They talk about a restaurant called Kalpatia which is run by an old man, and Loid asks if the wine was also from Hugaria. Yuri tells him that he found it in a shop on Hedger Street. Loid hopes that it wasn't too expensive, and Yuri says that it cost around 200 dalc.

Loid, who had predicted Yuri's replies, reveals that the responses are from a manual used by Ostanian intelligence agents. He explains that they are a template used to fabricate details of non-existent travels abroad, meaning that Yuri's trip was a lie. He also reveals that the information in the manual is outdated, pointing out holes in his story. He has been wary of Yuri ever since he heard that he worked at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, saying that foreign service is one step away from espionage. Asking Franky to look into his records, Loid found that he was working at the Ministry until about a year ago, which he predicts is when Yuri was recruited by an intelligence agency. He deduced that Yuri is involved in domestic counterintelligence, which is none other than the SSS, WISE's greatest enemy. Despite this, Loid thinks that as long as his true identity isn't discovered, maintaining a relationship with Yuri is not a bad idea, as he could serve as a valuable intel source on his enemies. Loid also notices that Yuri is hiding his real job from Yor and thinks that he might be easier to manipulate. When Yor asks Yuri if he is happy to have such a nice brother-in-law, Yuri reiterates that he doesn't recognize both the marriage and Loid as his brother-in-law. He tells Loid that the reason he has an important job and can buy expensive bottles of wine is all because of Yor.

Yuri flashes back to his past when he and Yor were orphaned and living poor. Yuri waited for his sister to come home and Yor, soaked in blood, announces her arrival which shocks him as he asks what happened. Yor brushes it aside and gifts Yuri an encyclopedia that he wanted, saying that her payday was big at work, so she bought it for him. Yor continued to come home covered in blood while she brought Yuri things, leading him to believe that she was working herself to death for him, unaware of her assassin job. Yuri then resolved to become a successful man so that he could protect his only blood relative. He asks Loid if he can understand how it feels to have the most important person in your world be taken away by some stranger. He says that he always wanted Yor to marry someone and be happy, as long as that someone is more capable of protecting her than him, asking "Loidy" if he can do that. Loid states that he loves Yor as much as Yuri does, if not more, and that Anya loves her as well, saying that Yor is already a part of the family. He lies in an utterly shameless fashion, declaring that whether it's from spears or meteors from the sky, he would risk his life to protect her. Yuri is stunned to hear this, and wonders if Loid is that powerful. In denial, he accuses Loid of being a liar, and spills some water on the table. Yor and Loid both reach out to clean the mess and their hands end up touching, and they pull back awkwardly. Yuri sees this and asks if that really is their reaction after living together for a year, and questions their marriage.

The couple try to dissuade his suspicions and tell him that they really are in love. Yuri doesn't buy it and demands that the two prove their love, ordering the two to kiss. Yor is not sure about kissing in front of her brother, but Yuri tells them to do it just once and he will believe them, or he will go to city hall to have their marriage annulled. Loid thinks about how the situation has escalated, but in 0.1 seconds, reminds himself that he is Twilight, Westalis's greatest spy, who has faked relationships with countless of women before, so a kiss or two is nothing for the sake of the mission. Loid agrees to Yuri's demands and tells Yor that they will just do what they always do. On the other hand, Yor is unprepared for her first kiss, blushing furiously as Loid moves in closer.

Anime Notes

 * In the anime, Mille is much more clearly present during Jim Hayward's detention than in the manga.
 * The emblem of the State Security Service does not feature the organization's name or initials on it.
 * The anime does not mention that the photos in the "lovey-dovey marriage kit" are doctored.
 * Yuri brought orchids in the manga, while in the anime he brings roses. The key visual for this episode does show him with orchids.
 * Loid states he would protect Yor against bullets and nukes in the manga, while in the anime he says he would do it against spears and meteors instead.
 * In the manga, when Yuri questions their marriage, Loid and Yor show him one of the fake photos of them as a couple. In the anime, they instead join hands together to form a heart (so as not to disrupt the flow of the scene).

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