C.C. issues an order to the Black Knights to fall back. Lelouch is in no position to give orders at the time, for he is gravely troubled: his handgun is missing. That means not only has someone taken it, but they also saw his face while he was unconscious. He suspects two people know his identity: As there was a large puddle of blood on the ground, this indicates that two people investigated his crashed Knightmare, and that one of them took Zero's gun and shot the other.
As Shirley tries to write a letter to Lelouch, a conspicuous handgun now in her possession; and Nina tries to ask Suzaku to get her an audience with Princess Euphemia, having fallen in love with her during the Lake Kawaguchi incident, Lelouch calls Suzaku at the student council, confirming that Suzaku does not know his secret identity. Lelouch recalls seeing Shirley at the port the previous night, causing him and C.C. to suspect her...
General Darlton discusses with Cornelia and Euphemia the fact that the Black Knights were targeting her specifically. Rather than simply targeting an enemy commander, Darlton believes Zero may be going after members of the royal family specifically. Euphemia recalls the Lake Kawaguchi incident, when Zero spared her life, mentioning her willingness to put herself in harm's way to protect innocent Elevens. Gilbert suggests Euphemia appoint a personal knight to protect her.
While Cecile voices her concerns with Lloyd about Suzaku's mental status and his seeming obsession with putting himself in harm's way for others, Lelouch and C.C. search through Shirley's dormitory for evidence that she may know his identity. Lelouch comes across a schedule book with the rail line to Narita circled.
Shirley had traveled to the Narita memorial. While her mind is still reeling from the revelation that Lelouch is Zero, she is approached by a strange man with white hair, who seems to know who she is...
Lelouch and C.C. travel to Narita to ascertain if Shirley knows his secret. C.C. asks if Lelouch intends to kill her if she had, and warns him that he should keep his loved ones at arm's length if he doesn't wish them to come to harm.
The strange man reveals to Shirley that he knows everything about her and Lelouch, including the fact that Lelouch is Zero, that she had kissed Lelouch, that Lelouch was responsible for her father's death, and the fact that when she and Villetta discovered Lelouch was Zero the previous night, Shirley shot Villetta when she stated her intention to have him brought before Cornelia and executed. As she breaks down, the man offers to help her to bury the feelings that hurt her so.
As Lelouch looks for Shirley, he receives a phone call from her, only to be greeted by the man Shirley had met. He is holding Shirley hostage, and he challenges Lelouch to a game of chess. While C.C. asks around for Shirley, she catches sight of Lelouch in a railcar, along with the white-haired man, whom, to her horror, she recognizes as "Mao".
On the railcar, Mao, who claims to have never played chess before, has Lelouch backed in a corner. Mao mentions Geass, and reveals that he has a Geass power as well, one that lets him read minds. Shirley then appears, and draws a gun on Lelouch. Shirley offers to die alongside Lelouch, so they can atone for their sins. In agony, Shirley fires her gun, barely missing Lelouch and causing him to fall back, spilling the photographs that Lelouch found in her dorm of him and her together. When Mao tries to convince her to shoot Lelouch, she panics and fires again. In a huff, Mao goes back into the railcar to get a shotgun, but the railcar suddenly starts moving due to C.C., whom Mao recognizes, much to his excitement.
With the crisis resolved, Lelouch resolves to ease Shirley's pain. He casts his Geass on her, compelling her to forget everything about him. The two meet again at the Narita memorial, but this time, with Shirley seeing him as a complete stranger. Lelouch claims he had lost a loved one, as well, but he didn't realize he loved her until after she was gone. Shirley offers Lelouch words of encouragement, telling him that his "morning still comes". Lelouch thanks her before leaving.
