Age
16
Hiro (ヒロ, Hiro) was the main protagonist of DARLING in the FRANXX. He was a Parasite with the codename "016" and was once known as a prodigy among the Children. However, he failed to synchronize with his partner Naomi and was considered nothing but a failure as a pilot. As a result, he did not know where he belonged and struggled to find his place in the world. However, upon being partnered and piloting with Zero Two, he became an official Parasite and found a new reason to live. Hiro and Zero Two were the newest members of the 13th Plantation, piloting a FRANXX called Strelizia. Over the time spent together he began to reproduce feelings of romance with Zero Two, and when their relationship as partners began to take a turn and slowly crumble, he reawakened his previous feelings during childhood with her, along with his current feelings of love. The two eventually began a relationship together before their demise. Although motivated to fulfil his duty as a parasite, he later makes it his purpose in life to free all the parasites from APE’s control and he selflessly sacrifices his own life to protect his friends and the planet.
Darling in the FranXX
In the distant future, humanity has been driven to near-extinction by giant beasts known as Klaxosaurs, forcing the surviving humans to take refuge in massive fortress cities called Plantations. Children raised here are trained to pilot giant mechas known as FranXX—the only weapons known to be effective against the Klaxosaurs—in boy-girl pairs. Bred for the sole purpose of piloting these machines, these children know nothing of the outside world and are only able to prove their existence by defending their race. Hiro, an aspiring FranXX pilot, has lost his motivation and self-confidence after failing an aptitude test. Skipping out on his class' graduation ceremony, Hiro retreats to a forest lake, where he encounters a mysterious girl with two horns growing out of her head. She introduces herself by her codename Zero Two, which is known to belong to an infamous FranXX pilot known as the "Partner Killer." Before Hiro can digest the encounter, the Plantation is rocked by a sudden Klaxosaur attack. Zero Two engages the creature in her FranXX, but it is heavily damaged in the skirmish and crashes near Hiro. Finding her partner dead, Zero Two invites Hiro to pilot the mecha with her, and the duo easily defeats the Klaxosaur in the ensuing fight. With a new partner by his side, Hiro has been given a chance at redemption for his past failures, but at what cost? [Written by MAL Rewrite]
