Loid Forger/Synopsis

History
Twilight has discarded everything about his past to work for the country of Westalis in opposition to the country of Ostania. Hence, he has no real name, and his current name is merely an alias. According to his falsified background as "Loid Forger," his wife passed away two years ago, and he has been raising Anya as a single father since then.

Not much is known about his previous life, not even his real name or age. It is shown that he was a war orphan when he was a child and then eventually became the spy known as Twilight. He rarely remembers his childhood, no longer being able to recall his mother's face.

An only child, Loid was raised in Luwen, Eastern Westalis. His father was strict with a pacifistic view on war, while his mother was very loving towards him and often sang him lullabies. Their conflicting views on parenting Loid resulted in the two frequently arguing with each other, much to Loid's distress.

Loid was good friends with three other boys, with who he frequently played games within an old army storage depot he found. The boys gave each other army-related nicknames such as "Major," "Corporal," and "General," while he was called "Advisor." He desired to join the army with his friends when they became older, wanting to "kill all those awful monsters from the east." However, his father deeply disapproved of his ambition and activities, hitting him and berating his ignorance of Ostanians and approach towards conflict. Feeling left out due to all his friends having soldier uniforms and toy guns, he lied to his father to get pocket money and bought the soldier set, despite his guilt. Later, he changed his mind about playing with his friends out of guilt and left their hideout. Shortly after, the Ostanian Army crossed the border and began to attack the eastern provinces of Westalis, launching a bomb at the depot his friends used as a hideout. They continued to attack the rest of Luwen, destroying the town square. He was only saved from a piece of rock by his helmet, left with a deep gash. After evacuating his hometown with his mother, they stayed with her relatives in Kielberg. They were inevitably attacked by another air raid, in which the boy lost his mother. He was then left to survive on his own amidst the chaos.

With nothing in his life left but hatred towards Ostania, he joined the Westalis army under the identity of Roland Spoofy while lying about his age. From there, he fought in the East-West conflict, using his skills as a tactician to win his battles, eventually earning the rank of sergeant after many officers died in combat. On one of his posts, he encountered an Ostanian deserter who got caught in one of his traps. The deserter begged for his life as he wanted to be with a woman before he died, so Loid spares him, surprised that the enemy soldiers can seem human. They have a conversation about the start of the war, which eventually devolved into an argument as Loid grew furious at the deserter for assumedly spreading propaganda, which exposes their location to Ostanian soldiers, forcing both Loid and the deserter to flee.

Suffering a traumatic head injury and several minor injuries in his escape, Loid is sent off the front lines to recover. While recuperating, Loid reunited with his three friends, who had survived the bombing when they chased after him and joined the military together. Realizing they were still alive after all this time, Loid started to tear up, having blamed himself for their deaths. The friends were now together again, and an excited Loid invited them out to a restaurant, but they revealed that they were being deployed for a military campaign but promised to hang out once they returned. However, Loid would later learn that the operation his friends were assigned to was ill-conceived and recklessly planned, and only their dog tags were returned to him.

Loid began to reflect on what happened to his friends and his conversation with the deserter. He realized he knew nothing about the war and had been fighting his enemies with blind rage the whole time. He concluded that "Ignorance isn't bliss. Ignorance is weakness. Ignorance is a sin." Sometime after, he was approached by a man who knew his real name and that he enlisted with a fake name and age. The man revealed himself as military intelligence and had come to recruit Loid. Telling Loid that he would be court-martialed if he refused to join, the man instructs him to pack his things and meet him at a station.

When Loid arrived at the station, the man took his belongings and threw them into a nearby fire, telling Loid that he must toss away his name and rank to become a shadow for his country. Loid responded that no one knows his real name, adding that he does not care about his country or winning the war. After being asked what his reasons were, Loid thought about his new goal: to make a world where kids don't need to cry.

After joining WISE, he met Handler, who became his new commanding officer and turned him into a first-rate intelligence operative using the harshest means necessary. In between this time and before the beginning of Operation Strix, he mentored Agent Nightfall.

Introduction Arc
Twilight disguises himself as Edgar and meets with his investigator to purchase photos and negatives, providing evidence that the foreign minister uses a toupee. After obtaining the evidence, he leaves before the actual Edgar shows up. Later, in another disguise, he breaks up with Edgar's daughter, Karen, after using her to get information on him and burns the evidence. The next day, Twilight receives a new mission. He needs to get close to Donovan Desmond and probe any seditious activities. But because Desmond only attends social gatherings at Eden Academy, the school his son attends, Twilight needs to get a wife and a child and enroll the child at the same school. As the peace between the East and West may depend on the mission, Twilight accepts.

He forges his new identity as Loid Forger, a psychiatrist, and buys an apartment. Despite his dislike for children, Loid has no other options and goes to a shady orphanage to look for a child capable of reading and writing. He is introduced to Anya, who impresses him by solving a crossword puzzle all by herself. Impressed by her intellect, he chooses to adopt her. Unbeknown to him, she is a telepath who lied about her age and intelligence to get Loid to adopt her.

While on a shopping trip, he notices that Anya may not be that smart and considers replacing her. However, she starts to cry and causes a scene. Loid panics and buys her peanuts which calms her down. On their way home, Anya gets tired and asks Loid to carry her. Rattled by her irrational behavior, he borrows books on child-rearing to try and understand her. He decides that after his mission is complete, he will send Anya back to the orphanage, saying there is no future for them.

The next day, he struggles to get Anya to study. Frustrated, he decides to head out without her, but Anya persists in her attempts to follow him until he barricades her inside their home. Meeting with Franky Franklin, his information asset, he obtains a school application, an exam appointment, and a copy of the test. Loid also receives information on Anya from Franky’s background investigation and learns that there are no records of her birth, age, or parentage and that she has gone through various foster homes in the past year under different names. Returning home, Loid notices the barricade tempered and finds an ambush inside. He takes out the men but realizes Anya has been kidnapped. He initially thinks of finding her but rationalizes that he could start over without her. While he thinks this, Nguyen, one of his attackers, swings his weapon at him.

After defeating Nguyen and swapping disguises with him, Twilight heads to Edgar’s base, where Anya is his hostage. Twilight rescues Anya, and as she bursts into tears, he remembers why he became a spy: to create a world where children won't have to cry. He takes Anya outside and instructs her to go to the police station, hoping to put her in a better orphanage, and returns to the base. Inside, Twilight sets up traps for Edgar's gang and defeats them one by one until Edgar is left. Twilight holds a gun to Edgar's head and asks to be left alone, threatening Karen.

Leaving the building, Loid is surprised to see Anya outside waiting for him. She wishes to stay with him, and he accepts. After moving homes, Loid helps her study for the exam and makes her memorize the answers using a copy of the test. Anya manages to pass the exam, which relaxes Loid for the first time in years. However, this is short-lived, as he receives a letter informing him that phase two of the enrollment will be an interview which requires both parents in attendance, and he now needs to find a wife.

Loid attempts to disguise Franky as the mother but fails. He instead has Franky collect and copy all files of unmarried women from Berlint City Hall so he can look for a mother candidate. After Franky points out Anya’s unseemly behavior, Loid takes her to a boutique to be measured for clothing, wishing to make her more presentable. There he meets Yor Briar, who is moonlighting as an assassin. Loid learns why she needs a pretend boyfriend to bring to her co-worker's party. He decides to help her, under the condition that she help him with Anya's school interview by playing her mother. Yor accepts, and the two agree to go to the upcoming party together.

However, Loid receives an urgent mission to recover stolen treasures from Westalis and take down the smuggling ring responsible, which happens to be on the same day as the party. To resolve the mission quickly, Loid brings Franky along and bribes him with one of the stolen items. However, they underestimate the size of the ring and barely escape them after retrieving the treasures. While inspecting the goods, Loid claims a diamond ring and argues with Franky over it. While they bicker, a car with some surviving smugglers drives out in front of them, and they crash. After Loid finishes his mission, he arrives late at the party and accidentally introduces himself as Yor's husband. A jealous Camilla tries humiliating Yor by bringing up her previous work of doing special "massages" for clients (which, in truth, was Yor carrying out her assassinations). To the surprise of everyone, Loid expresses his admiration for Yor's dedication to working hard to provide for her younger brother. Loid excuses themselves, and they leave the party.

In the van, Loid apologizes for mistakenly saying he is her husband. Yor tries to propose an idea but is interrupted by a car slamming into them. Inside are survivors from the smuggling ring, so Loid leads them to an old factory and defeats some during the chase. When confronted about their predicament, Loid convinces Yor that their pursuers are patients suffering from hysteria and are being treated with the latest method of "concussive therapy." Loid saves Yor from an attack, and she returns the favor by kicking a smuggler away. Loid thanks her, and they both laugh about how she sent the smuggler flying before resuming their escape.

While running, Yor proposes that they get married as an extension of his original condition, surprising Loid so much that he trips. Loid agrees and tries to find the diamond ring to propose to her but discovers it to be lost. He notices a nearby grenade and grabs it before ducking behind a generator. Loid pulls the pin and hurls the grenade at the smugglers while using the pin as a makeshift engagement ring. The smugglers blow up as Loid says his wedding vows to Yor.

Admissions Interview Arc
With their marriage cover established, Loid helps Yor move into their home and back-dates their marriage certificate by a year to avoid suspicion from Eden Academy. After Yor settles in, Loid holds a mock interview with disappointing responses from Yor and Anya. He concludes that it may have been too soon for an interview and decides to take them out on a trip, hoping to cultivate some upper-class knowledge and shared experiences. Throughout the day, Loid despairs the mission's success because of how hopeless Yor and Anya are. He tries to think of a backup plan to avoid relying on them but gets visibly upset at being unable to do so. Yor worries for him and suggests they get some fresh air, taking them to a park she frequents to relax.

When they witness a thief stealing an old woman's purse, Yor gives chase, prompting Loid to follow suit. Loid loses sight of the thief on a busy street until Anya points out a cake shop the thief is walking by. He recognizes the disguised thief and apprehends him. They return the purse to the old lady, who is grateful to the family. He thanks Yor for helping in his motivation to do his work, and after Anya says they are flirting, they deny it in embarrassment. Returning home, Loid conducts another mock interview with better results and reassures himself that if they could make the old woman think they are a family, then the mission still has a chance.

On the day of the interview, Loid prepares Yor and Anya before heading to Eden Academy. As they make their way to the school, he immediately senses that they are being watched. He concludes that their observers are the faculty evaluating them, with the selection process already underway. He tells the family to do as they practiced, and they salute the statue of the academy's founder. Upon seeing a male student stuck in a gutter, Loid recognizes this as another test. He signals to Anya, who suggests they help the boy. When Loid pulls him out, mud gets splattered over his and Anya's clothes, but they reveal a change of clothes.

When a horde of animals escape from the school farm, the applicants and their families panic and run away, while Loid assumes this is another test. Loid is hesitant to pull out his gun to stop the cow leading the stampede, but Yor quickly disables the cow while Anya gently comforts it. Pacified, the cow gets up and returns to the farm with the other animals. Afterward, Henry Henderson rushes out to compliment their abilities. He tells them that the interviews will be delayed and asks the Forgers to tidy themselves after Loid and Yor tore their clothes during the chaos. Loid proceeds to scare the housemaster by revealing another change of clothes.

As the interviews begin, Loid admits to feeling nervous about the interview in his thoughts. The Forgers are called into the interview room and come face-to-face with their interviewers. At the interview, they give satisfactory answers, but Murdoch Swan, a divorcé, deliberately tries to taunt and fail them. When asked what score she would give her parents, Anya gives them 100 points. Swan follows up by asking Anya which mother she likes best, upsetting her and Yor. Loid sits back, restraining himself as Swan mocks the family until he snaps. Loid raises his fist towards Murdoch but holds back and smashes the table instead. Loid excuses himself for his actions before turning his back on the interviewers and leaving with his family. Loid expresses his disappointment in the teachers, angering Swan, but moving Henderson to punch him in their defense.

At home, Loid believes they will be rejected from the school and berates himself for being so emotional during the mission. Yor and Anya encourage him to be optimistic, so they clink their cups to celebrate their hard work. However, a family photo falls as a bad omen.

On the day the admissions are announced, the Forgers look for Anya's application number on the board and are dismayed when it is not there. Henderson appears and reveals that he had Anya placed at the top of their waiting list. Three days later, they receive a call announcing Anya's acceptance into Eden Academy and celebrate. Franky comes over shortly to join the celebrations and suggests that Loid give Anya something as a reward. Anya wants to reenact a castle rescue scene from her favorite show, Spy Wars. Loid refuses but relents when she starts to cry, renting a castle and requesting several of his fellow agents to act as guests. Anya designates Loid as the spy who will save her and Franky as the boss of the "League of Evil," then hides behind a turned-over table. After Loid defeats Franky and a drunk "Yorticia," he rescues "Princess Anya," who hugs him. Anya tells Loid she will work hard while he congratulates her for getting in, and they go to the balcony to look at the stars.

Eden Beginnings Arc
The Forgers go to the boutique to get Anya's measurements for her uniform. The shop owner warns Loid about discrimination from Eden alumni families, friction between dorm and commuter students, and rumors of kidnapping students, which scares Anya. Later, the family decides to eat at a restaurant, where Loid receives a coded cipher in his meal, informing him to attend his next briefing in five days.

On the day of the briefing, Loid gets a call from the tailor telling him that Anya's uniform is ready, which he asks Yor to handle. Loid heads to a photo booth, which is a secret elevator that lowers him to the underground safe house. There, Handler greets him and immediately chastises him for the expense reports on the rental of the castle. Loid responds by giving more expense reports for the school, citing them as essential to the mission. Handler moves on to brief Twilight for Phase Two of Operation Strix: to develop Anya into an Imperial Scholar, a student group part of the school's honor program. She tells Twilight that to become an Imperial Scholar, the student must earn eight merits called Stella Stars but warns him of Tonitrus Bolts, which are demerits given for poor grades and behavior. Twilight becomes uneasy at Anya's capability to become an Imperial Scholar. Loid returns home and is confused to see Yor and Anya practicing physical exercises.

On Orientation Day, the Forgers listen as a faculty member gives a speech congratulating the new students. In his thoughts, Loid has mostly abandoned the plan to make Anya an Imperial Scholar and placed her in the same class as Damian Desmond, Donovan's second son. Calling his Plan B the "Friendship Scheme," Loid hopes that if Damian and Anya get along, she will be invited to his house, which will allow Loid to meet with Donovan and fulfill the mission. Loid sees that Henderson is in charge of Anya's class and thinks it odd that the housemaster got put in charge of first-year students. After Anya leaves for the school tour, Loid and Yor head to the Hall C Lounge for a meet-and-greet with the student's guardians.

At the lounge, Loid sees that Damian's parents are nowhere to be seen. Loid reminds himself that there is no need to rush because now that he has made it into Eden, he has all the time he needs. A faculty member announces that the orientation has finished, and a group photo will be taken in the courtyard. Loid notices that Anya is nowhere to be seen and is pulled aside by Henderson, who informs him that Anya punched Damian and earned one Tonitrus Bolt. Loid is despondent over Anya already endangering both Plan A and B. As the group photo is taken the Forgers are unable to hide their distressed faces.

The next day, Loid greets Yor and wonders if Anya is still asleep. He notices her peering around the corner and wonders if what happened yesterday is still bothering her. Loid tells Anya that he is not mad and to have her breakfast. At breakfast, Anya and Yor apologize for yesterday. Loid brushes it off but hopes Anya will learn to be more careful about fights. Loid and Yor send Anya off on the school bus, and he reminds her to apologize to Damian. Loid follows Anya to school and sees it imperative that she makes up with Damian by the end of the day. Throughout the day, Loid reminds her to apologize by altering her textbook, leaving notes, and writing on her food. When Becky continues to interfere, Loid goes to the PA system to call her to the student hall, leaving Anya alone to apologize to Damian. Loid is satisfied as he watches Anya make a tearful apology to the boy but is shocked when Damian completely rejects her apology. Seeing that Plan B has failed, he drops to the floor in despair.

At home, Loid decides to proceed with the original plan to improve Anya's academics. When he starts pressuring her to study, Anya runs off to her room. Yor intervenes, saying that Loid should not force the studies on her. Loid contends that if she does not study, she will never become an honors student. Yor asks if that is what Anya wants and tells him that she wants Anya to enjoy school while studying enough to keep her from flunking out. Loid agrees, remembering that Anya is still young and probably does not worry about grades. They decide to take a break for some tea and make Anya some hot cocoa.

Loid and Yor try coaxing Anya out with the cocoa, but she stays in her room. Yor says the situation reminds her of her brother, prompting the two to talk about Yuri and his education. Loid realizes that Yuri's motivation was likely earning Yor's praise, and she wonders if they can do the same for Anya. Loid does not believe he has been acting as the ideal father, but Yor reminds him that Anya thinks otherwise, bringing up her 100-point score. Loid reminds himself to keep things slow and steady for the mission. He checks on Anya and finds her fast asleep after studying by herself. Loid smiles to himself and carries Anya to bed while she mutters in her sleep. As he leaves her room, Loid wonders how he would feel if they were a real family.

Secret Police Arc
Outside a café, Twilight and Handler have met up, and she asks if they can expect Anya's grades to improve since HQ is planning around eight Stella in four months. A visibly tired Twilight says it will not be a problem, and Handler sees how bad he has become at lying recently. She then tells Twilight that their informant in City Hall has been taken by State Security Service and warns him to be careful as they now have less knowledge of where the enemy could be watching them.

At home, Loid observes Anya as she watches Spy Wars, wishing she could pay that much attention when they study. He is surprised when Anya correctly says that Bondman's gun has two-eighths of ammunition and notes that she learns better with the cartoon. Yor bursts in, announcing that her brother is coming over to visit tonight. She asks Loid what they should do, and he replies that this is what he prepared the "Lovey-Dovey Marriage Kit" set for, decorating the house with stereotypical objects a couple would have. While waiting for Yuri, Loid and Anya pass the time by reading comics together until she falls asleep. While Loid and Yor prepare for their guest, Loid thinks about how the closer Yuri is, the more likely he will see through the deception, and he will not let the family he has worked so hard to build come apart in one night. Yuri arrives, and the couple welcomes him while Loid hides his dark glare.

As Loid and Yuri greet each other, Loid intends to find out if Yuri will be a threat to the family. He heads to the kitchen to make some food while the siblings catch up. When Yuri demands an explanation for their marriage, Loid recalls an earlier discussion with Yor, where she claimed to have the perfect excuse for Yuri. With Loid counting on her, Yor tells her brother that she forgot to tell him. Loid is dumbfounded when Yuri accepts her response and wonders if this is normal in the Briar family. Loid returns with some food, and Yuri reveals a bottle of wine, offering Loid to drink with him. Yuri asks the couple how they first met, and they retell their meeting at the boutique. When Yuri asks specific questions about their relationship, Loid starts to feel that this has turned into an interrogation. Loid gets asked what he calls Yor, and he replies with "Just Yor." Yuri then asks her what she calls Loid, suggesting nicknames like "Loidy" or "Loi-Loi." Yor is too embarrassed to speak, and assuming it to be correct, Yuri drinks away in anger.

Loid changes the topic to Yuri's career, and they chat about his trip to Hugaria. Loid realizes that Yuri is using a conversation template by Ostanian Intelligence and deduces that he is a member of the SSS. Despite the danger, Loid thinks there are benefits in being on friendly terms with an SSS agent: As long as he is not suspected as Twilight and can keep outmaneuvering Yuri, it could serve as a valuable intel source about the SSS. When Yor asks if Yuri is happy to have such a wonderful brother-in-law, he reiterates that he does not recognize their marriage or Loid as a brother-in-law, explaining how important Yor is to him. Yuri says he always wanted her to settle down with someone who could protect her more than him and asks "Loi-Loi" if he can do that.

Loid uses his skills as a master liar to tell Yuri that he loves Yor as much as he does and whether from knives, bullets, or even a nuclear bomb, he will stop at nothing to shield her from harm. A drunk Yuri starts accusing Loid of being a liar and spills some water on the table. Yor and Loid reach out to clean up the spill and accidentally touch hands. The two awkwardly back away, much to Yuri's suspicion, and he questions their relationship. Yuri tells them to prove their love by kissing each other, or he will have their marriage annulled. Twilight panics at how the situation has gone out of control but calms down in 0.1 seconds, reminding himself that he is Westalis's greatest spy and has faked many relationships with women before, so a kiss or two should be nothing for the sake of the mission. He agrees to kiss, telling Yor that it will be just like what they do every day, and closes in on a blushing Yor.

Unable to kiss Loid while sober, Yor downs the wine bottle and gets drunk. She pushes Loid down onto the couch and moves in to kiss him. Loid quickly dodges an embarrassed Yor's slap which hits Yuri, who flies across the room. Yuri misinterprets the slap as Yor being mad that he tried to stop their kiss and concedes defeat for now. When the siblings start staggering while trying to help each other up, Loid catches them. He says he admires the sibling’s bond and assures Yuri that he will do everything he can to support Yor. Yuri pushes Loid away and announces his departure. Yuri says he will be back to find proof that Loid duped Yor into marrying him and warns Loid that if he makes Yor cry, he will have him executed, but cuts himself off before finishing, leaving Loid to think about the threat as Yuri runs away.

After Yuri leaves, Loid and Yor clean up the house. Loid checks for any listening devices Yuri may have planted and is relieved to find none. Yor thanks Loid for tonight and how he was willing to accept Yuri as family. Loid says that as someone with no other family apart from Anya, he envies the siblings. More importantly, he is glad Yuri did not find out about their sham marriage. Yor agrees and suggests that they go to bed. They remember the shared bed, and Loid says they will sleep separately. While Yor and Anya are asleep, Loid sits down to read an issue of Spy Wars. He thinks about the Briar siblings and wonders when was the last time he felt envious of others before deciding to head to sleep.

The next day, Loid is surprised when Anya gets upset about not seeing Yuri. Because Yuri is a SSS member, Loid suspects that Yor is aware of his identity as a spy and used a pretext to get close to him. Despite his hesitation, Loid plants a listening device under Yor's collar. After dropping off Anya at the school bus, Loid shadows Yor to her work, eavesdropping on her conversations while on the City Hall roof. He listens to Yor asking her coworkers for advice on how to be a better wife, to no avail. Loid concludes that he will not get a decisive answer unless he questions her directly.

Loid disguises himself as a SSS lieutenant and brings a disguised Franky to assist him. They confront Yor under a script that the letter she sent has a coded message for Westalis. They claim that a woman taken in for questioning had a family member in the SSS and was released. Loid aims to corner Yor to see if she knows Yuri is in the SSS. Yor resists arrest and defends Loid and Yuri's innocence. Seeing that Yor is being genuine, Loid and Franky tell her that they incorrectly decoded the letter and apologize for the misunderstanding, excusing her. After she leaves, Franky asks Loid if he feels guilty for doubting her and reminds him that they need to hide their emotions and cannot trust anyone. Loid says he will not get lectured by that face and tears off Franky's mask. Franky complains as he was hoping to get some girls with it, and Loid ironically tells him that pursuing women with deception is wrong.

Loid meets Yor on her way home from work and retrieves the listening device. Yor apologizes to Loid for being an incompetent wife, and he tells her to be herself without worrying about their cover. A relieved Yor expresses her gratitude for marrying Loid, which stirs him. He destroys the listening device and buys a cake with Yor to celebrate their fake anniversary. Loid and Yor welcome Anya home from school, who is happy to see them getting along.

Stella Star Arc
Three days before Anya's dodgeball match, Loid is told by Anya of a rumor from Becky Blackbell that there is a chance to earn a Stella Star by being the MVP of an interclass dodgeball match in P.E. class. After hearing that it was a rumor, Loid is skeptical.

After seeing Anya's failing grades, Loid gets her to study. After seeing her sour mood, he wonders if he is pushing Anya too hard. Loid knows that variety is vital for motivation, and there are plenty of ways to earn Stella. He lets Anya do a variety of extracurricular activities to no avail. Twilight reminds himself to calm down, remembering that he should not rush Anya so early and should pay attention to find out what she naturally excels in. He knows that Donovan will not make a move immediately but recalls his goal to achieve eight Stella Stars in four months and wonders if he has time to spare.

Anya, who has been attempting to use a jumping rope, gets tangled in it and falls to the floor but tells her father that she will work hard with a determined look. The next day, Loid brings Anya to the city hospital, revealing that community service is another way to earn Stella. Loid mentions that Stella has been awarded for long-term volunteer activities, saving lives, and even assisting law enforcement. While volunteering will not pay off anytime soon, Loid can still foster a social conscience in Anya. Loid and Anya receive several assignments, but Anya underperforms in all of them. When Anya tries to run off on her own, the staff excuses her and Loid from service. Anya apologizes to Loid, but he tells her that everyone makes mistakes and decides to go home.

Anya suddenly runs off to the rehabilitation pool, saying she will practice swimming to get a Stella. Loid is confused, unaware that Anya heard Ken drowning in the pool with her telepathy and had run off to rescue him. Anya almost drowns in her rescue attempt, but Loid jumps in and brings the children back to the surface. Despite her recklessness, the adults thank Anya for her deed and bravery. After Anya receives her first Stella Star, Loid thinks about how he never expected Anya to earn a Stella Star that way, but it was an ideal outcome for the mission. Loid thinks it strange that he cannot help but feel so proud of Anya and congratulates her.

A disguised Handler and Twilight meet in a subway car and discuss Anya's recently earned Stella Star. Handler mentions that several businesses linked to Donovan have made suspicious financial transactions recently and tells Twilight to quickly find a way to get close to Desmond, as the signs do not look good. Back home, Anya tells Loid and Yor that she wants a dog as her reward. He tells Anya that he will give it some thought and thinks about how a well-trained dog could improve the home security while envisioning a big, muscular dog. Loid decides to go as a family to a pet shop over the weekend to see what is available. Somewhere else, a large, fluffy white dog's ears perk up as it gets a vision of the Forgers happily smiling at it.

Doggy Crisis Arc
The Forgers go on an outing to the pet shop to find Anya a dog. The shop, affiliated with WISE, deals in military dogs, and the family sees big and intimidating dogs. Loid, who wants a guard dog, asks Anya if she likes the dogs but is shocked when she rejects them. The family hears of a nearby adoption fair, so they decide to check it out. Before they can leave, Loid receives new orders from WISE. He tells Yor he has bowel problems and needs to find a restroom, saying that they can go on ahead. Anya backs up his play, albeit to his embarrassment.

Twilight learns of an assassination plot against Foreign Minister Brantz. WISE suspects the plotters, a group of isolationist college students from Berlint University, are planning to strike during the summit tonight. The WISE Agent explains that they caught one of the members loitering around the embassy but cannot extract any information from him, which is why they called Twilight in. Twilight impersonates the terrorist leader, Keith, to trick the student into revealing their plans to Handler. They learn of the terrorists’ plan to strap bombs on several dogs and send them after the minister. While discussing their next move, Twilight asks Handler if they can cancel the summit. Handler explains that canceling would play right into Ostania's ruling party’s hands. She says that if the public ever found out about this, it could break the peace between the East and West, which is why they must stop the plan at whatever cost.

Twilight is sent to investigate one of the hideouts mentioned by their captive and finds two vans under the name "Kevin Knowles." He reports his findings to Handler, who has found a solid lead on the source of the dogs: Project Apple. They predict that the former test subjects ended up on the black market, which is how the terrorists got them. Handler tells Twilight to be careful as the dogs could still be highly trained or possess enhanced intelligence.

Anya reads the white dog's mind to see his future vision of her family, but the vision changes with Loid missing and the family distraught by it. The vision changes to show a bomb going off in the city and Anya witnessing Loid's death in the aftermath. Two hours before the conference begins, Twilight is with Handler interrogating the terrorist members captured by WISE. After learning the potential locations of all four bombs, Handler orders Twilight and other agents to locate them. Twilight sympathizes with Handler's viewpoint on war, stating that he is done with it.

Twilight and two other agents arrive at an old building, one of the bomb's locations. Inside, the agents are confused to see a message drawn in ketchup on the door across them, unable to understand what it means. Twilight sees there is no one else around and suggests taking it slow. The WISE Agent says they have no time and rushes to open the door, but Twilight stops him. Outside the building, Anya reads the dog's mind to see that the future vision with Loid has reverted. Back inside, Twilight peers through a nearby window and uses a glass shard to find a wired bomb on the other side of the door, set to explode when opened. Twilight looks outside to see SSS agents approaching the building and opts to let them handle the bomb, but not before leaving a written message.

Twilight decides to go to where Minister Brantz is, predicting that, with his plans failed, Keith might try attacking the minister directly. Twilight approaches Brantz in his hotel room and takes his clothes, which he uses to disguise himself as the minister. As he exits the building, Yuri offers to escort him to the conference. Twilight refuses the offer, taking the car and leaving. Keith follows him, using a dog to sniff the minister's scent from his clothes. Twilight drives around to lure Keith to the agents as they attempt to intercept him. After they fail, Twilight abandons the car to escape on foot, and Keith sends the dog after him. Their chase stops at an alley where Twilight pulls out his silencer and removes his disguise. He says it is time to end this before firing.

Twilight fires at the dog, breaking off the strap holding the bomb. The dog pounces on Twilight, biting his arm and pushing him to the ground. Keith sees this and detonates the bomb. However, Twilight had already thrown the bomb into the river behind him, so he was unharmed by the explosion. Twilight pulls the dog up and throws it into a nearby dumpster. Keith, believing he was following Minister Brantz the entire time, is surprised by all this but realizes that the intimidating man in the smoke is not Brantz. Keith realizes his plan is in trouble and drives away, only to be stopped by Yor afterward.

Twilight reconvenes with the agents at the pet shop as they reflect on the recent events. Twilight leaves, telling the agents that he has to return to his family. Outside the shop, he runs into Yor, Anya, and the dog with her. After asking what they are doing here, Yor explains what happened while Loid left. Loid realizes they got caught up in the crisis and apologizes for his absence. He reprimands Anya for running off but asks for her safety. Anya says she was protected by the dog, who he recognizes as one of Project Apple's test subjects, and looks to Handler, knowing they cannot let him run free. Despite this, Loid thanks the dog for protecting Anya.

Handler approaches the family disguised as an SSS agent and says they must take in the dog. Anya refuses the idea, telling them that she wants the dog. Loid attempts to convince her otherwise, but Anya says if she cannot have him, she will never go to school again. Handler relents and orders Loid to keep the dog under control under his supervision. On their way home, while Yor and Anya proudly think about how they saved the day, Loid painfully sighs. The next day, the dog arrives at the Forger home, and Loid stands with Yor and Anya as they welcome him to their home.

The next day, Loid tells Anya that she cannot get a Stella Star for helping stop the terrorist attack, saying that she must keep it secret for East-West relations. After Anya returns from school, Loid suggests taking their new dog for a walk, so the family goes to the dog park. Loid explains to Anya that she is responsible for caring for the dog for his whole life. While watching Anya play, Loid thinks back to his lecture and realizes he is not one to talk about such things, as once he completes his mission, he will abandon the family and let WISE handle them. He reminds himself that the "peace" between East and West is thin, using the recent crisis as an example. He tells himself that he needs to end this cold war, believing it to be the best possible future for everyone.

After returning home, Anya introduces her parents to Bond Forger, named after Spy Wars protagonist Bondman. When Anya watches cartoons with Bond, Loid tells her they will be studying after he is out of the bath. After his bath, Yor eagerly beckons him to look around the corner, to which he sees Anya and Bond curled against each other on the floor while fast asleep. Charmed at the sight of it, Loid and Yor agree to give Anya a pass from studying for the night.

Midterm Exams Arc
In the evening, Loid notes how Yor has been coming home late the past few days. He is concerned for her but decides not to pry due to the nature of their relationship. When Yor arrives, Loid notices her grim expression and hands covered in cuts and bandages. Loid asks if she would like dinner, but she declines and tells him and Anya to eat without her as she is not hungry. As she walks away, Loid wonders what is going on with her.

The next night, Loid is training Bond and thinks about how bright he is and should get security-dog training. Yor arrives with groceries and proclaims that she will be making dinner tonight, which shocks Loid and Anya. As she cooks up a stew, she explains that she has been taking cooking lessons with Camilla and apologizes for hiding it from them. She serves Loid and Anya the food, and to their surprise, the food is good, which they express to Yor. In response, Yor starts crying out of happiness. Loid tells Yor that he cannot wait to see what she makes next, so she presents him and Anya her "Yor Forger original" dish. They both excitedly eat it before collapsing to the ground.

As Anya's midterms draw closer, Loid opts to help his daughter with her studies. Knowing that she could get all eight Tonitrus Bolts if she fails her midterms and final exams, Loid must keep her from getting expelled to continue his mission. As Anya struggles, Yor decides to call Yuri over to help tutor her. After trying to prod some information out of Yuri, Loid leaves to run some errands, an excuse to work on his other missions.

After Yuri leaves, Loid returns with groceries, and Yor tells him how hard Anya has been studying. After picking up a workbook Anya was working on, he discovers that it is on foreign languages, a subject that is not one of her midterm subjects. Dumbfounded, Loid chuckles to himself and thinks that Operation Strix may very well be doomed.

After the exams, Twilight goes to Eden Academy, worried that Anya has failed her exams. Tonight, his goal is to alter Anya's answers before they start grading the tests to prevent her from getting Tonitruses. Twilight disguises himself as Mr. Viehmann, an Eden Academy professor. On his way to the school vault storing the tests, he spots a strange man heading in the same direction. Twilight is baffled by the man's indiscreet and unorthodox methods as he makes his way to the vault and ends up having to cover up the sloppy tracks to avoid suspicion. The man makes his way to the door to the vault, being watched by a security guard. After failing to show an I.D., Twilight steps in to give the man a fake I.D. While doing so, Twilight is bewildered, seeing that the man wrote down his mission details on his hand. The orders are to change the Desmond brothers’ test answers, and Twilight concludes that this man is also a spy, suspecting that Donovan hired him for the same goal.

After showing their I.D.s, they gain access to the vault. The spy attempts to enter the passcode to the vault but fails. He pretends to leave and lets Twilight do it in his stead. After opening the vault, Twilight is clumsily knocked to the ground and dragged inside the vault, where the spy proceeds to alter Damian and Demetrius Desmond's test scores. He then decides to gain exposure by signing his name on the tests. A shocked Twilight jumps up, shouting that spies are not supposed to leave a trace. Realizing that he blew his cover, he quickly tries to cover up for his mistake. However, the spy reveals himself as Daybreak and tells "Viehmann" to tell everyone about him without mentioning what he did. After Daybreak rolls away, Twilight checks the tests and discovers that Daybreak changed the answers to give the brothers failing scores. Needing their success for his mission to continue, Twilight reverts the changes. Afterward, he checks Anya's tests and is surprised by what he sees.

When the midterm results are released, Loid asks Anya how she can be so proud of herself when she nearly failed every subject, revealing that he did not change her scores after all. He decides to be stricter with her in advance of her finals but is nevertheless surprised she did not fail a single test, considering it impressive by her standards. After thinking that Anya barely managed to keep Operation Strix alive, she gives him a smug grin. In response, he tells her to think about her grades and asks if she will still be smirking after their study session, to her shock.

After returning home, Anya tells her parents about George Glooman's story and what happened at school. While Yor is touched by it, Loid does not understand how Glooman Pharmaceuticals being acquired by the Desmond Group means bankruptcy.

Campbelldon Tennis Arc
Loid helps Anya with her job investigation project, taking her to the Berlint General Hospital, where he does his work as a psychiatrist. After touring her around the place, Loid takes Anya to a consultation room. When Anya starts fiddling with the bookcase in boredom, Loid stops her, revealing an emergency escape route in the bookcase through his thoughts. After a WISE colleague knocks on the door, Loid provides Anya with a sand table to play with and warns her not to touch anything else before leaving.

Outside, Loid's work associate, Fiona Frost, hands him some documents, and they talk about Anya and how unpredictable she is. Loid returns to the room and analyzes the sand tray used to observe the subconscious mind. He is shocked to see the sand tray in utter chaos. Loid believes Anya is subconsciously stressed by her recent adoption, blaming himself for failing as a parent and a spy, and concludes that she needs immediate care. Offering to help with the report, he picks up her notebook, only to find it completely unintelligible. They return home to Yor, who talks about Loid’s “concussive therapy.” On the day of Anya's report, Loid is summoned to the school after Anya gives a grim description of him and his job, but he manages to talk his way out of trouble.

Loid returns home with Anya after taking Bond out for a walk and is surprised to see Fiona, fellow agent Nightfall, inside talking with Yor. Yor explains that Fiona came to return Anya's magnifying glass left behind at the hospital. Loid thinks something urgent must have happened for Nightfall to arrive at his home. As Loid and Fiona talk, they communicate secretly, and Fiona says she is here to assess the state of Operation Strix.

After Anya clings to Yor after she wipes up her spilled cocoa, an emotional Yor tells Loid that she will try harder for the family. He smiles and assures Yor that she already works hard enough. Fiona then excuses herself and leaves. Loid sees that she forgot her umbrella and decides to walk her to the station. Twilight runs after Nightfall, who informs him that she is assigned to partner with him on their next mission. Twilight asks how she could forget that and is surprised when she turns to him with a sad expression. As she walks away, Nightfall tells Twilight that playing house has made him soft and not to drag her down in their mission.

At the hospital, Fiona details their new mission to Loid. They must acquire a painting called Lady In The Sun, worth roughly one million dalc. It once belonged to the late Colonel Erik Zacharis, who is said to have possessed secrets that could reignite the flames of war in a collection of documents known as the Zacharis Dossier, which supposedly contains information about inhumane actions from both the East and the West. According to a reliable source, the painting holds a clue to finding the dossier. The painting's new owner is Cavi Campbell, a world-renowned art collector. As the painting is beneath Campbell's mansion under tight security, Loid asks if Fiona has a plan, and she confirms this.

Twilight and Nightfall show up at an underground tennis court in disguises with tennis rackets in hand. Cavi and his underground tennis club run this competition, known as "Campbelldon." Here, the winner is allowed an item of their choice from Cavi's collection. With this, it rids any risks of trying to steal the painting. The agents are announced as married couple Twain and Nafalia Foney, the identities Nightfall registered them as. Their opponents are Walson and Bobble, a famous tennis duo that dominated the Grand Slam Circuit a decade ago. The bets are against them as men say they have worked hard towards perfection and will win this match.

The game begins with Twilight serving, and he effortlessly beats the duo in the first round. Walson and Bobble are shocked at their loss but decide to aim for Nightfall next since they have not seen her play yet. Like Twilight, she destroys them and wins the game without letting up any points. Afterward, their next opponents are the Bolic Brothers, who use the new steroid "Oso-R" to transform from thin, scrawny men to large, muscular ones. Twilight questions if this was risk-free, and Nightfall says they just need to do their best.

Nightfall tells Twilight that anything from modified rackets, special gear, drugs, and unsportsmanlike conduct is allowed in this tournament. After the brothers mock Twilight, Nightfall ruthlessly beats them in a 2-0 match while hitting them with each smash. As they continue, Team Foney steadily makes their way to the finals. Twilight and Nightfall are escorted to a waiting room, where they discuss the threat of their next opponents: Carrol and Kim Campbell, Cavi's son and daughter. Nightfall is confident in their victory and says they have no time to waste, but Twilight reminds her to control herself. Nightfall gives him a fiery glare, making him believe that she looks down on his methods. Suddenly, they realize that a non-lethal chemical agent is spreading around the room. They continue their discussion in Morse Code and conclude that their opponents are trying to impair their abilities before the match. Twilight tries opening the door, only to find it locked from the outside. Aware they are posing as civilians, the agents pretend to be caught in the trap.

As the championship match begins, Twilight and Nightfall are still feeling the effects of the gas. As the first set begins, the Campbell siblings use their modified rackets to help them win. In the second, the Foneys tie the score with three consecutive wins. As Nightfall makes a return, one of the panels on the floor drops, causing her return to go out of bounds. The spies notice this and realize that there are more tricks. However, Twilight is determined not to lose to such gimmicks and asks Nightfall to watch his back.

The Campbell siblings utilize other gimmicks against the agents, which only amount to being slight annoyances. At the start of the final set, Twilight notices Carrol making a signal with his tongue and spots a sniper hiding in the ducts behind them. Realizing that they are aiming for Nightfall, he quickly grabs her and is shot in the shoulder by a rubber bullet. Twilight explains the situation to Nightfall and reveals that he wore a bulletproof vest in case this happened. They decide to work around their shooter and focus on winning the game. As the game resumes, the spies are undeterred by their opposition and several more tricks, beating the Campbells and winning the championship match.

Carrol approaches Twilight, realizing that despite being aware of their tricks, the Foneys still won. Carrol expresses his frustration at himself for losing, and Twilight encourages him to become better. Afterward, the agents go to collect their prizes from Cavi's collection. When they request Lady in the Sun, Cavi tells them they cannot select it. Twilight deduces that Cavi received a call from the SSS, who are probably on their way to retrieve the painting as they speak. Nightfall requests to view the collection in person, while Twilight leaves "to sleep off his hangover." The SSS agents arrive and leave after taking the painting, and Cavi's butler escorts Nightfall away. The butler is Twilight in disguise, having brought a forgery and swapped it with the original painting. Seeing the secret code, the agents agree to deliver it to HQ for analysis and high-five each other, having completed the mission.

Nearing the Forger residence, Nightfall offers to drive Twilight all the way home. Twilight reminds her he is Loid Forger, a happily married man, and wants to avoid any suspicions of infidelity. Nightfall drops him off at the park, where Yor, Anya, and Bond are playing tennis. Loud is then surprised to see Nightfall exit her car and challenge Yor to a game of tennis. Yor accepts,  and Loid and Anya watch as her serve breaks through Fiona's racket, utterly beating her. Fiona concedes defeat but will one day challenge Yor to a revenge match before driving off. Loid hopes that 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, Loid starts feeling exhausted.

Afterward, Twilight meets with Handler, who briefs him on their findings. She hands Twilight the "Zacharis Dossier," in the form of Zacharis' diary. Reading it, Twilight learns that the great threat Zacharis hid was his collection of starlet photos. Zacharis liked theater and bought postcards to support the actresses, but his wife told him to get rid of them. Unable to part with them, he had his collection locked away, lest it reignited the flames of strife between him and his wife. Astounded, Twilight asks how the dossier rumors started. The 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 was embellished into the current rumor.

Realizing that he went through all that trouble for some postcards, Twilight tries to find a greater mystery behind it, but Handler assures him that there was no bombshell to reignite the war and considers it a victory. Twilight 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 with Yor and Anya in mind.

Loid returns home to overhear the neighbors gossiping about him being a cheater that should be reported to the Secret Police. Loid worries about this, fearing Yor might tell Yuri about the recent events with Fiona, which could lead to his capture by the SSS. Seeking to resolve the situation with Yor, Loid invites her out after work and has Franky come over to watch over Anya and Bond. 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 Nightfall and cannot discuss it in front of Anya. Loid decides to pay Franky for his help, and Franky quickly changes his tune.

Loid takes Yor out for some drinks, where they toast for her hard work. When Fiona gets mentioned, Yor tries to tell him something but cannot bring herself to say it, so she downs her and Loid's drinks. A drunken Yor asks Loid if he is in love with Fiona. Loid explains his and Fiona’s relationship, but Yor does not listen and instead talks about how she is a bad wife, is not pretty like Fiona, and that Loid must be bored with her now. Upon realizing Yor’s feelings for him, Loid enters "Twilight Mode" and immediately attempts a honey trap on her. Loid asks her to be his real wife, but an embarrassed Yor kicks him in the chin. Twilight reads this as a rejection rather than bashfulness and concludes that Yor does not have romantic feelings for him. As he tries to make sense of the situation, Twilight wonders if being with Yor has thrown him off balance as he loses consciousness.

While asleep, Twilight hears a lullaby his mother sang to him when he was younger. He wakes up and finds himself resting his head on Yor's lap, who is singing the song. She explains that they got kicked out of the bar for causing a commotion, so she brought Loid to a nearby park, where he slept for about five minutes. Yor apologizes for her incompetence as his wife and assumes he is ready to move on. Twilight confides about his mother to Yor, how despite being unable to remember her face, he remembers feeling safe around her because she was strong. He relates this to how Anya feels safe around Yor, saying she is also strong. Loid tells Yor that he does not intend to replace her with Fiona as Anya's guardian, and Yor should have more faith in herself, which is why he hopes she will continue being Anya's mother and his wife.

The two return home with Loid having swelled his chin, and Anya and Franky tease him. The following day, Loid is shocked that Yor has forgotten everything that happened the night before, and they end up having the same conversation all over again.

Imperial Scholars Mixer Arc
Before Becky arrived at the Forger home to pick up Anya for shopping, Loid left for work, but not before giving Anya spending money, believing that forging a positive relationship with the Blackbells could have serious benefits. After Anya returned home, she showed a stunned Loid the sheep keychain she bought that cost 300 dalc (about $950) apiece.

On the day of the Imperial Scholars Mixer, Twilight is at Eden Academy disguised as a professor to observe Donovan Desmond. The mixer is at the “Tower of Wisdom,” which not only has a few possible entrances but tight security. Twilight’s options are thin, so his best bet is to encounter Donovan as Loid Forger. He concludes that opportunities to make contact with him outside the tower are virtually nonexistent, but he should try to explore those possibilities. Looking for Damian, Twilight sees him and Anya not getting along and is frustrated that Plan B is failing. He decides to follow after him if he tries to meet with Donovan outside the mixer. Twilight sees Damian having second thoughts about meeting with his father and Anya convincing him otherwise. After Anya falls asleep, Becky takes her home while greeting the disguised Twilight, who takes out a handmade replica of Anya’s sheep keychain.

Twilight continues to observe the mixer from the outside until it finishes. He watches Desmond leave and decides to make his move. At the courtyard where Damian’s group is waiting, Loid appears and asks the boys if they have seen a sheep keychain. Damian recognizes the description and gives Loid the replica. The boys connect the dots and realize he is Anya’s father. Making a similar realization, Loid kneels before Damian and apologizes for Anya’s behavior at the orientation. He tells Damian that he would also like to apologize to his parents, and at that moment, Donovan arrives. In his thoughts, Twilight apologizes to Damian for needing to crash his family reunion. As Loid comes face-to-face with Donovan, he tries to talk to him, but the bodyguards tell him to leave. However, Donovan lets him speak, prompting Loid to apologize for Anya’s behavior toward Damian and introduce himself with a smile.

As Loid introduces himself to Donovan, he thinks about his investigations of any media regarding the man. In it, he could not learn much about Donovan since his disappearance from the public eye. With this conversation, he must learn more about Donovan, his behavior, how to get him interested in “Loid Forger,” and extract the plans for the war he is plotting. Donovan recalls the incident at the orientation and apologizes for being too busy to respond personally. Loid offers to bring a token of regret to his manor, but Donovan brushes it off with an uncharacteristically bright smile, startling Loid. Donovan states it is just a spat among kids, but Loid insists on making amends. Donovan smiles again and says it is fine, although he appreciates the sentiment. Loid realizes he is being blown off and withdraws, but not before thanking Donovan for his generosity.

After watching Damian fail to express his humiliation to an uninterested Donovan, Loid speaks up, saying Damian’s anger is justified. He then talks about Anya and her bizarre behavior, the challenges of raising children, and how uncontrollable they can be. Donovan concurs, saying that despite sharing your blood, your children are essentially strangers, people impossible to understand. He says that, in the end, people will never truly be sympathetic to each other. While Loid agrees with the idea, he tells Donovan that what is important is meeting the other person in the middle. Loid admits that while he cannot understand Anya’s actions, he acknowledges her and creates opportunities for dialogue, even if it does not work out. Loid thinks about how, as a spy, he will never stop seeking to understand others.

Loid steps forward to pat a dejected Damian’s shoulder and says that it may have been why Donovan took the time out of his schedule to meet with his son. He then talks about Damian’s respect for his father, bringing up his school report on Donovan’s work, which he had secretly snuck a peek at in the school. He tells Donovan that he was touched by Damian’s respect and knowledge for his work as Party Chairman, praising the boy. Loid mentions his initial concerns about the National Unity Party’s platform but changed views after hearing about the passion with which Donovan looks out for Ostania’s interests. He wonders if he should attend one of the party’s seminars, again praising Damian’s report and embarrassing him.

Donovan decides to wrap up their conversation, but not before remembering Loid’s name and telling him that he enjoyed their conversation. Loid thanks Donovan for sharing his time with him. Before he leaves, Loid asks Damian not to tell Anya that they talked, telling the boy that she is at an awkward stage and suspects that she does not hate him and hopes they can get along. Damian says that he does not hate her but gets embarrassed and tells Loid to go away. Loid laughs him off and says his goodbye, leaving the Desmonds to talk. He heads inside the school to watch Damian with his father and senses how distant Donovan is to his children. He concludes that the closer he and Damian are, the better the odds of success for Plan B. Focusing on Donovan, he decides that his next step is to lay the careful groundwork, and will take his intel to HQ for analysis. Loid returns home to see Anya fast asleep. Yor explains that she has been sleeping since she came home, and Loid thinks about how carefree she is.

Having foreseen his death at the hand of Yor’s cooking in a vision, Bond runs away from home, hoping to find Loid and help him with his work so he can come home early and make his dinner. Loid is at Born Industries, tasked with stealing a sample of “Gerrulimus,” a new truth serum developed by the company. He is surprised when Bond shows up and tells him to go home. Bond refuses and instead guides him to a route free of people. Loid wonders how Bond knows this and recalls that Born Industries was presumably involved with Project Apple. Assuming Bond knows this and wants payback against the scientists who abused him and his friends as test subjects, Loid lets him tag along.

The two infiltrate the facility and make their way to the laboratory, which is full of specimen lockers, one of them containing the serum. While Loid works to find it, Bond envisions the staff returning to the lab, so Loid holds them off and orders Bond to run home. Bond becomes distressed by this and warns Loid to hide. Before hiding, he leaves a note saying the Gerrulimus has been stolen for the staff to see, leading them to open and check the locker with the serum. Loid and a masked Bond jump down on the men and knock them out. Loid thanks Bond as he retrieves the sample, saying that he can go home early now, and as a result, Bond foresees Loid making his dinner.

While reviewing Anya’s tests, Loid thinks about how her academic abilities have slightly improved. He notices her classical language test and how she would have done well on it if not for her spelling mistakes. He ponders on this as her class has barely studied classical language and wonders if she is well acquainted with it due to her upbringing. However, he points out that no countries are speaking that way in the present. He ends up brushing those thoughts aside, saying that there would not be any point to that, and cheers up Anya by telling her that he made her favorite hamburger steak.

Great Cruise Adventure Arc
At Franky's Tobacco Store, Franky gives Twilight a fake I.D. for Department Two of Doust Industries and the engine test results for a new fighter jet they are developing. Twilight asks about the pictures he requested, and Franky informs him that it will take a little longer as his contact specialized in that intel has been eliminated. Twilight is shocked and questions if the SSS got him. Franky explains that the Garden did and explains that they are more than just an urban legend. Despite this, Twilight asks Franky to get the photos. In exchange for the extra trouble, Franky asks Twilight to help him with finding Kopi, a lost cat. Franky explains that Kopi belongs to Kacey, a girl Franky is aiming for. Uninterested, Twilight walks away while Franky tries to convince him.

Later that day, Loid and Anya go to Central Mall and notice a department store hosting a raffle whose grand prize is a three-day cruise trip. Anya participates in the raffle and wins the grand prize. When Yor comes home, Anya shows her the prize, and Loid suggests that the girls go together. Yor reveals that she will also be traveling on the same ship for work on the same weekend. After Anya demands to go on the trip, Loid decides to request some time off. To his surprise, Handler allows him to go, but tells Twilight to consider the trip part of the mission. On the day of the trip, the Forgers take the train to the port and see the ship: Princess Lorelei. Loid and Anya part ways with Yor as they board.

On the ship, Loid tells an excited Anya that Princess Lorelei was built to exemplify Ostania’s prestige, hence its vast array of entertainment and leisure activities it offers. They head to their room and find it small and cramped. A disappointed Anya tries to leave, but Loid reminds her not to complain as she won the trip for free. After stowing their bags, the duo walks through the atrium. Loid observes his surroundings, seeing the ship is a potential target for terrorism and should stay vigilant. When Anya notes that he is not having any fun, Loid decides to refocus his efforts on attaining optimal recreation. With a new determination, he tells Anya that they should watch a show.

In the evening, Loid and Anya have dinner together. Anya mentions how strange it is to have dinner without Yor, and Loid agrees. Anya calls him sappy, and he gets embarrassed. Heading to their room, they pass through the ship’s shopping promenade, where Anya sees a keychain and wants it, but Loid refuses. While Anya throws a tantrum, Loid spots several listening devices on the ship, undercover SSS agents, and suspicious groups; and concludes that they must be on their best behavior to avoid attention. Realizing their conversation is most likely being heard, Loid stresses over buying the keychain, overthinking the risks of his choices. He decides to buy the keychain for Anya but is shocked when she shouts at him to stay back.

Loid cannot figure out what is going on with Anya and suspects she is at an emotionally unstable age. Anya convinces Loid that he must become fun to let her have fun. Persuaded by her words, Loid decides to transform himself inside and out to become the quintessential fun and upbeat father. Loid tells the shop employee that he would like to try on every article of clothing they are selling and heads into the fitting room, where he tries to figure out his new look. After a while, Loid emerges from the fitting room, dressed in an outlandish combination of clothes and accessories, believing to have achieved his goal. However, Anya expresses her distaste and calls him uncool. Deciding not to buy anything, Loid and Anya walk back to their room. After Anya falls asleep in the hallway, Loid picks her up and heads to their room, but not before thinking about how they have not heard from Yor and assuming she is busy.

The next day, Twilight is out on the deck and reflects on how he failed to understand Anya’s behavior the night before. Twilight accepts that he is not the perfect spy he thought he was, realizing there are still things unknown to him. Although he is a spy, he fears the unknown but overcomes it. And as the second day of the trip begins, he plans to overcome the challenge of understanding Anya. Walking around the ship together, Loid tries to observe, analyze, and adapt to Anya’s actions. As for Anya, she plans to ditch him so she can help Yor with her job. Throughout the rest of the day, Anya tries distracting Loid with activities, but she gets too absorbed in every one of them. While this happens, Loid continues observing Anya.

By dinnertime, Loid wonders why Anya now looks upset after having fun all day. Loid worries that Anya hates him and is in a rebellious phase, asking if she is okay. Anya says she is enjoying herself but wishes Yor could be with them, as she likes it better when they are all together. Loid agrees and tells Anya that he can ask if Yor has time to meet tomorrow by sending a message through the concierge. He then says there will be fireworks after dinner and asks Anya if she wants to see them, adding that they might find Yor’s group there. The duo go outside as the fireworks begin, and Loid is unfazed by the spectacle. Throughout the show, Loid wonders how Anya can get excited over the same thing repeatedly.

Returning to the ship, Twilight notices that the undercover SSS agents look troubled and learn of a bomb in the bilge. Deciding to intervene, he first wonders what to do with Anya, but she shows him a drop-in daycare she wants to play in. After dropping her off, he leaves to gather intel. Impersonating one of the crew members, he locates the bomb and approaches the men trying to disarm it, claiming to have been a bomb-disposal technician in the Marines. Twilight is informed that the bomb will detonate if removed and sees it as a model favored by Western extremists. Knowing that WISE would be aware of any operations like this, he suspects it was arranged to look like a Western operation. Twilight then proceeds to disarm the bomb. While the men around him celebrate, he suspects more bombs are hidden on the ship.

Twilight shares his suspicions to the crew and SSS agents, explaining that if the enemy’s goal is to sink the ship, the bomb he disarmed would not be enough. He suggests evacuating the passengers as a precaution, but the SSS agents refuse, saying they cannot afford to cause a panic. Twilight leads the covert operation in defusing the bombs and is told that a bomb was discovered in the upper deck. After seeing the bomb hidden inside a lamp-post clock, Twilight wonders if the true goal of the enemy is to sink the ship. He realizes there will not be enough time to disarm it and instead unscrews the clock from its post, resolving to throw it into the sea. After throwing it, it goes off midair, which the passengers overhear.

Twilight tells a crew member to announce something over the intercom to calm everyone down. He also orders the crew to search the ship and to ask the SSS agents to stay on high alert for the rest of the trip. After ensuring everything is secure, Twilight returns to the daycare as Loid to pick up Anya, who has fallen asleep. Picking her up, he thinks about how he had to abandon his family again. Realizing what he just said, he reminds himself that his "family" is part of his mission and starts to overthink things again.

The cruise ship arrives at the resort island, and Loid sees that the SSS agents are now watching for further incidents. Sensing his seriousness, Anya tells him that a normal father would be jumping and hopping alongside her at a time like this. Listening to her, Loid starts to jump around but quickly gets embarrassed when he spots Yor, who got their message and was able to get the day off. With the family together again, they decide to spend their day having all sorts of fun at the resort. At a petting zoo, Loid and Yor watch Anya play with the sheep, and Yor says she feels at peace. Loid agrees while thinking about how the trip has been anything but peaceful for him. Yor wishes this peace could go on forever, and Loid quietly stares.

Afterward, the family goes to the ocean to go snorkeling and surfing. Yor gives Anya a strong push on her surfboard that sends her speeding across the water and flings her off the waves. Loid surfs to Anya and catches her. While Yor frantically apologizes, Anya asks to go again, but Loid refuses. On their way back to the ship, Yor falls asleep on Loid's shoulder, tired from fighting for so long without rest. Anya falls asleep shortly after, forcing Loid to carry them both, to his embarrassment. He thinks that Yor must have had a rough few days of work but went with them so she could make Anya's day. He smiles and tells Yor to rest up.

The family returns home and is welcome by Bond and Franky. The family then sits together while having some drinks and snacks. Meeting with Handler, Twilight reports on the bomb incident on the ship, which has not been made public. She tells him of several missing passengers who all had fake passports and believes those people may have wanted to instigate a conflict between the East and the West. Twilight is ordered to keep an eye out on the extremist movements in Ostania, as it could affect Operation Strix. Handler asks about the vacation, and Twilight tells her that it was a grueling ordeal and was way more work than any other mission as he walks away.

At the Forger Residence, Yuri makes his visit and shouts for joy over reuniting with his sister, and Loid wonders if he must be so loud. After Anya returns home dejected and sits in the living room with everyone, she tells them how she lied about her trip to her classmates. Loid asks her why she felt the need to lie in the first place, and she tells him that she wanted attention. In his thoughts, Loid lectures Anya on casually lying and how to lie. However, he half-heartedly tells her that lying is wrong. After Yuri and Yor agree, the room falls silent, and Anya says that she will try to stop lying, as being a liar seems pretty rough.

WISE Arc
At the park, Loid is training Bond in protection and suppression training, with Franky forced to participate while wearing a bite sleeve. Franky yells at Bond, who lets him go, but Loid lectures Bond never to let go of a suspect after biting down on them. Loid wonders if Bond is too nice, and that barking and biting does not come naturally to him. He tries moving forward with the training, but when Bond becomes glum, he wonders what is wrong. Franky reminds him that Project Apple was developing superior military dogs, so their training might bring back bad memories for Bond. Franky tells Loid to walk Bond before leaving, and the two decide to do just that.

While walking through the city, Bond causes trouble for Loid by attempting to change the results of future visions he sees. Loid is confused and annoyed by this, reprimanding Bond for his actions. Suddenly, Bond stops in his tracks, frantically sniffs and looks around, and tries to run off. Loid holds Bond back with the leash, only to relent after being barked at. The two head to a burning apartment, and Loid wonders if Bond reacted to the smell of the fire. When Bond runs off into the building, Loid goes after him and discovers that Bond went ahead to rescue Daisy, a puppy that was left behind. They run to the exit, but more burning debris falls and blocks their way out. With no other choice, Loid and Bond’s only option is to cut through the smoke to break their way out. Noticing a plastic bag that Bond is stepping on, Loid has the idea to scoop up breathable air from the ground to make Bond a crude oxygen tank. After carrying Daisy in a nearby backpack, Loid and Bond crash their way out of the building and land safely on the street.

After seeing that Bond has caught on fire a little, an onlooker gets a bucket of water, pours it on Bond, and reveals his skinny figure. As Yor is the one who bathes Bond, this is the first time Loid has seen Bond like this, and he is stifling his laughter. Bond runs off again to bite down on a suspicious man peering from across the block. As the man digs through his bag, he reveals fire accelerants and incendiary devices, inadvertently outing himself as the arsonist of the building, along with other recent arsons. Before the man strikes Bond with a knife, Loid knocks him out. After tying up the criminal, Loid decides to call in a tip for the police. Loid and Bond watch Daisy reunite with her owner Miss Bennett.

Loid says they should leave, as being in the papers will not end well for them. Loid then pats Bond, praising him but also warns him to be careful as Anya would be sad if something happened to him. He then apologizes for Bond's training, saying his dog duties should come second to him being a member of the Forger Family. While walking home, Bond affectionately rubs on Loid, who denies his intentions in embarrassment. Loid tells Bond that because he has no other extra missions tomorrow, he suggests taking the whole family to the dog park after Bond was left out of the family vacation.

Becky Blackbell swiftly arrives at the Forger home to confess to Loid, having been inspired by a scene from one of her television dramas. Anya calls over Loid, announcing Becky's visit. Loid greets Becky, with Martha apologizing for their unannounced visit with a gift. He welcomes Becky to their home with a bright smile and thanks her for being a good friend to Anya, causing Becky to fall backward with a lovestruck expression. Loid sits in the living room while Anya shows Becky around their home. Anya then asks Loid to play with them. Loid chats with Becky, trying to gain more intel on the activities of Becky's father, leading Becky to wonder if Loid is romantically interested in her.

Becky arrives at the Forger home to confess to Loid, inspired by a seduction scene from one of her television dramas. After welcoming Becky to their home, Loid sits in the living room while Anya shows her around. Loid chats with Becky, trying to gain more intel on her father’s activities, making Becky believe he is romantically interested in her. When Yor arrives home, Becky tries seduction techniques from her show on Loid to no success. After Yor serves them tea, Becky leans on Loid's arm, pretending to be tipsy after drinking. Yor is distraught, thinking she somehow poured alcohol into Becky's tea. Despite Loid’s reasoning, Yor carries Becky to the hospital.

Loid and Anya catch up with Yor and Becky, finding them at a nearby park. Seeing a strongman game, Becky tries to prove her strength to Loid but falls under the hammer's weight. Yor mistakenly assumes that Becky wants to win the grand prize for Loid and single-handedly wrecks the game with her strength, rendering everyone speechless. Defeated, Becky asks Yor to train her, and they return home, where Yor teaches Becky how to punch. Martha arrives to pick up Becky and is confused at the sight of Yor training Becky. Watching from the back with Anya, Loid gets a feeling of déjà vu.

At Berlint General Hospital, Nightfall asks Twilight for help, looking for someone who can forge a state seal for her mission. He recommends her to Franky, who may have the connections to help her.

Anya returns home from school and tells Loid that Damian will be giving her cake one day. Loid is happy to hear they are becoming friends but faints when he sees the Tonitrus Bolt on Anya. While unconscious, Twilight dreams of his past, from his childhood to his recruitment to WISE. Twilight wakes up in a cold sweat and is comforted by Anya, who also reminds him of her Tonitrus. While stressed by this, he tells Anya that friends are important and to cherish them. Bond’s stomach starts grumbling, so Loid prepares the family some hot soup as they eat together. Twilight takes a break to recover, prompting Handler to take matters into her own hands when the peace between East and West gets threatened.

Friendship Schemes Arc
After his break, Handler wastes no time assigning Twilight an extra mission, which he finds brutal. When Anya arrives home, Loid and Yor wobble to the kitchen to prepare dinner, both worn out from their secret jobs. Anya asks Loid to study with her, but he jumps to the conclusion she got another Tonitrus and starts to fall over, with Yor catching him.

When Yor returns home from shopping, she tells Loid that she met Melinda Desmond, wife of Donovan, at the department store. After she tells him about their encounter, Twilight thinks how Melinda, like Donovan, has her circle small and exclusive. However, because she has not involved herself in politics since their party lost power, WISE has not found much about her worth reporting while monitoring her. Also, because Melinda seems somewhat estranged from her husband and sons, she has been deemed a high-risk, low-reward target in terms of information value. Twilight suspects Yor's encounter with Melinda could have been a setup from Melinda’s side. While he thinks for reasons why, his thoughts are interrupted by Yor, who asks if it would be okay if she attended another one of their get-togethers.

Twilight wonders what to do, considering the risks of denying her request or blindly agreeing without understanding who has the upper hand. Ultimately, he decides to let Yor join Melinda’s friend group. Twilight thinks that if Melinda has no ulterior motive, this could help lower Yor’s risk of being reported, and she might even bring back useful pieces of gossip from their outings. And if Melinda does have a motive, he will be watching and be ready to protect Yor. More importantly, a friendship between the two could be the key to learning more about the Desmond family and developing a new approach. With this, Twilight conceives Plan C: The Mommy-Friends Scheme. Depending on Melinda’s standing within the Desmond family, this plan could provide an even more direct route to Donovan than Plan B. Having read Loid’s mind, a determined Anya runs off to study, and Loid takes note of her new motivation..

At Berlint General Hospital, Loid gets swarmed by affection from the staff and patients. Loid calls Fiona to his office to discuss his next plan: interact with any patients connected to Melinda. He explains that Yor managed to join Melinda’s social circle and how he wants to extract any information from them. Fiona says there may be patients connected to Melinda but notes that Gerald Gorey, the hospital director, will not assign him any patients out of personal spite. Loid is frustrated, as he has worked hard to get on his good side. Loid soon becomes aware of Gerald’s schemes to turn him into a pariah in the hospital. Loid decides to play along, and to Gerald’s dismay, the staff treats Loid kindly.

Gerald then attempts to report Loid to the SSS, accusing him as a spy. Loid calls for the assistance of Franky, having him intercept Gerald’s report and partake in his ruse. Loid provides Franky and Fiona with undercover SSS agent disguises, and they pretend to arrest him. They look through Gerald's alleged evidence proving Loid is a spy, an obvious forgery. Gerald’s accusation is exposed, along with other dirt on him, so the faux agents decide to arrest Gerald instead. As part of the ruse, Loid passionately defends Gerald’s innocence and praises him. Franky and Fiona let Gerald go, leaving him indebted to Loid, who offers to have access to the VIP exams. After returning home, Loid thinks about moving on to Plan C after having dealt with Gerald.

On a morning at the Forger home, Yor wakes up with swollen hands. She says if she rests them all day, they might get better. Suddenly, Yuri bursts in to have fun with Yor on his free day. He sees her injured wrists and immediately blames Loid. Yuri then tells Loid to do the cooking in Yor’s stead. The couple head to the kitchen to start cooking, where Yor says Loid always takes such good care of her, and she cannot thank him enough for his kindness. Wanting Yor’s praise as well, Yuri decides to take over the cooking. Because Yor cannot hold a fork, Yuri feeds her his dish. After eating, a nervous look on her face grows, shocking Yuri. He tells Loid to feed Yor, who says she can manage to feed herself, but he insists, saying it will prove Loid’s love for her. When Loid tries feeding a blushing Yor, Yuri yells at him not to feed her in front of him and tells Anya to do it. After being fed, Anya asks Yor if the food is good, and she says it is delicious.

A defeated Yuri slams at the floor, and he pushes for another battle: cleaning the dishes. Upon finishing, the adults look at the results and see that Loid cleaned the most, whereas Yuri has broken several of them. Yuri challenges Loid to several more chore battles, who beat him at each one, wanting Yuri to go home already. Yor says they have used up all their detergent and garbage bags, so Yuri declares a final bout with Loid to see who can buy the best stuff the fastest and for the least money. After obtaining the list from Yor, Yuri dashes off. As Loid steps out, he thinks about all the stores he should stop by to get the items, including replacements for the dishes Yuri broke.

Loid returns before Yuri and greets him when he returns. When Yuri falls to the floor in defeat, he spills his bag, and Yor sees that he bought whistle candy, one of their favorite childhood snacks. Yor cannot believe Yuri found the candies after all these years, and she thanks him. Loid props up Yuri, saying that Yuri knows Yor better than he does. Yuri eats up the compliment and declares victory before rushing out the door. Yor and Loid stare silently for a moment, and Yor apologizes for Yuri’s antics.

Red Circus Arc
Two of the Eden school buses were hijacked and WISE quickly intercepted the police radio to continue obtaining information. A WISE agent asks Sylvia if they should call Twilight for help, but she denies it because he is currently on a cover mission and wouldn't be able to return right away.