Characters / Second Contact

Squad 00

Ruth

Ruth: Rank 004

HATM: Sinesis
FRANXX: Strelizia (with Yuji)

The leader of Squad 00. She was orphaned at a young age and raised by Naomi. She originally piloted Sinesis before becoming the co-pilot for Strelizia with Yuji.

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• The Captain: She was chosen to lead Squad 00, likely because of her skill and intellect.
• Composite Character: She is the caring human partner to Yuji like Hiro was to Zero Two, and she gives him the nickname "Yuji" like he nicknamed his squadmates. This care for Yuji and status as squad captain also bares similarity to Ichigo.
• Genius Bruiser: She's incredibly intelligent, scoring the highest in the written portion of the Pilot Academy entrance exam. While she isn't as great a pilot as Akio or Airi, she is a skilled martial artist and was able to perform a counter-maneuver on Akio when he tried to push her in the water when they were at the beach.
• Meaningful Name: She is named after the titular character of the Book of Ruth who was the daughter-in-law to Naomi, mirroring her status as adopted daughter to the character of the same name.

Yuji

Subject 1 / "Yuji": Rank ?

HATM: Gypsofilia
FRANXX: Strelizia (with Ruth)

A mysterious klaxo sapien working with Weapons Development who joins the squad after a mission where they find Strelizia, piloting it with Ruth. He was originally known merely as Subject 1 by Weapons Development before Ruth gives him the name "Yuji."

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• Big Eater: He is constantly shown snacking, which Akio likes to joke about.
• Composite Character: He initially appears similar to Zero Two as a seemingly intimidating klaxo sapien. He also shares Zero Two's penchant for sweets. However, as Naomi points out, he also has a lot of Hiro in him, showing genuine care for Ruth and the rest of his squadmates.
• In-Series Nickname: When Akio presses to know his name, he merely responds "I'm just a friend." That prompts Ruth to give him the name "Yuji," which is similar-sounding to the Japanese word for "Yujin" ("friend").
• Only Known by Their Nickname: After Ruth gives him the nickname, pretty much everyone begins exclusively calling him that, even Katsuro from Weapons Development.
• Meaningful Name: Aside from being similar-sounding to the Japanese word for "friend," "Yuji" also stands for "gentle second child," being the more gentler successor to Zero Two.
• Mysterious Past: At some point, he was mysteriously separated from a Subject 2 (later revealed to be Hotaru). After he founds out about there being a Subject 2, he becomes obsessed with trying to figure out what happened to her.
• Sweet Tooth: One thing he appears to have gotten from Zero Two. He likes soda and desserts and is shown with a lollipop he got from Naomi's office when he first arrives in the Squad 00 barracks.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: He is annoyed by Akio when he first meets him, but they gradually warm up to each other and, while they still annoy each other, they become almost as inseparable as he is with Ruth.

Akio

Akio: Rank 009

HATM: Alstroemeria

The hot-headed somewhat annoying Ace Pilot of the squad as the pilot of Alstroemeria, scoring the highest out of all the candidates in the piloting section Pilot Academy entrance exam. Despite annoying most of his squadmates, they consider him a valued member of the team.

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• Ace Pilot: He is skilled with a HATM, ending up getting the highest score on the piloting portion of the entrance exam. He, a human, is able to go toe-to-toe with the klaxo sapien Hotaru. This makes up for his merely-average scores on the written portion and narrowly gets him into not only Class 00, but the prestigious Squad 00.
• Brains and Brawn: Nori pairs him up with the Genius Bruiser Ruth in the intial scrimmage for this reason, as he can complement her intellectual skill with his piloting prowess.
• Composite Character: His hot-blooded and often annoying personality is reminiscent of Zorome, but his eventual close friendship with Yuji resembles Goro.
• A Day in the Limelight: The focus shifts to him as he is captured by the terrorist organization PAL, is rescued by Paragon, and teams up with them to defeat a VIRM ambush.
• Dumb Muscle: Subverted. He may act carelessly several times, but he makes a good enough score on the written portion to barely make his way into the top class while also relying mostly on his piloting skills. And, while some students think he constantly flunks tests, he apparently can ace an exam if he puts his mind to it. He also acts as the emotional center when Satomi breaks down over her loneliness and Parental Neglect.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: While he constantly annoys Yuji and Satomi, they eventually learn to get along with him and become close friends, even if Yuji rejects the nickname "bestie."

Satomi

Satomi: Rank 006

HATM: Satvium

The squad's Sniper who pilots Satvium. She has a quite bitter personality, particularly to Akio.

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• Hidden Depths: Her abrasive personality begins to crumble apart as she breaks down when the loneliness over her Parental Neglect is revealed and she is more open to Akio's words of support.
• Parental Neglect: According to her, her parents were distant towards her and not only did they not contact her during her time at the Pilot Academy, but they did not even show up to her graduation. She eventually breaks down shortly before the final battle with Paragon about how lonely she feels before Akio speaks up, ensuring she has a family with her squadmates.
• Tsundere: She is explicitly described in her brief character description as "Tsundere for Akio," often calling him an "idiot" for his hot-headed and childish behavior. However, she genuinely cares for him as a friend and prefers him to the snobbish Airi.

Paragon

Hayato

Hayato: Rank 019

HATM: Centrifolia
FRANXX: Rosoideae (with Mayu)

A former police lieutenant who, after witnessing his superior accept a bribe from an black market arms dealer, defects and agrees to help form Paragon.

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• Ace Pilot: While not ranked as high as Squad 00, he is able to go toe-to-to with them in battle [[spoiler: and he and Mayu eventually get their own FRANXX in the form of Rosoideae.
• Defector from Decadence: After his superiors refuse to act on the bribery going on in the police force, he is approached by Takeshi and accepts his offer to lead Paragon to put those corrupt leaders out of power.
• Never Hurt an Innocent: He believes that his rebellion's purpose is not to kill if necessary. He warns Takeshi, when he tells him his intention to put Satvium's pilot "in the grave" for critically damaging Myrtillus that he will become his enemy if he goes through with it.
• Nominal Villain: Other than leading an antagonistic resistance group, he is otherwise noble in his intentions and does not want to involve innocent people if necessary.

Mayu

Mayu: Rank 33

HATM: Plumerius
FRANXX: Rosoideae (with Hayato)

A fellow lieutenant who joined Hayato in defecting from the police force.

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• A Friend in Need: When she hears about his encounter with the PAL arms dealer and what occurred, she comes to Hayato's apartment later that night and vows to support him in spite of the potential repercussions.
• Nominal Villain: She joins Paragon primarily in support of Hayato and his ambition to stop corruption.
• Undying Loyalty: She promises to support Hayato even when all others will not.