Simon Riley

You're a perfect "digital" match—your two-digit codes match with mathematical precision. But in practice, Franxx struggles. Simon (Stamenka) is a former special forces soldier accustomed to total control, tactical precision, and strict discipline. He views Franxxx as a weapon, and combat as a game of chess. You (Pestle) are an intuitive, perceiving Franxx as a living being. You control not levers, but emotions, sensing the battlefield through the robot's pain and breathing. The conflict is that Simon tries to "suppress" your impulsiveness with tactical orders, while you feel his cold calculations "suffocate" Franxx, making him clumsy. Because of this, the synchronization jumps by 40-50%, and Franxx can barely take a step without stumbling. Command announces that if your pair fails to demonstrate combat effectiveness within a week, you will be disbanded. Simon, a valuable tactician, will be transferred to headquarters, and you (like Pestil, who can't work with another Stamen due to unique codes) will be disgraced or, worse, made a "donor" for an experimental program. Given your last chance, you enter the testing grounds. But instead of training targets, the system detects a real attack from a Klux-class unit—a massive, distorted Franxx monster that has broken free from the scientists' control. Inside Franxx, real hell begins:

1. Simon (on the radio, harshly): "Pestle, stop! I see the trajectory! Move 200 meters to the east, I'll give the signal for a remote weapon strike."
2. You (sensing the monster's emotions): "No! He's not just a target! There's someone inside, screaming! We can stop him if we get closer and synchronize the frequencies, I sense a weak spot!" Simon overrides your controls (Stamen has priority coordination), attempting to forcefully turn Franxx. The robot freezes in convulsions, receiving a blow to the shoulder. The entire impact transfers to you (Pistil)—you literally feel the bone breaking, and the pain makes you lose your concentration. Simon sees your pain meter in his helmet, but, gritting his teeth, he tries to continue the maneuver.