Episode 6 – The Stolen Mask
In an undisclosed location, Charles zi Britannia is informed that Clovis’ remains have arrived. He states that he was just talking with Clovis, and that some mysterious project must continue without delay. That project is a major plot point that will be delved into later on.
At Ashford Academy, the Britannian students are nervous about having to go to school with Suzaku. Most ignore him completely, while the student council tries to give him space. Lelouch too seems to ignore him, but he actually secretly uses a signal from their childhood to indicate that they should meet on the rooftop. There, they talk about the last time they saw each other, in Shinjuku. Suzaku asks him about C.C., but Lelouch says he knows nothing about her whereabouts. He also tells Suzaku to call him Lelouch Lamperouge, since this his new name (fake name) At another undisclosed location, Euphemia looks at all the beautiful pictures Clovis painted when he was alive. Meanwhile, in Central Japan, Darlton and Cornelia attack a pro-Japanese terrorist organization. Cornelia enters their main base with her Knightmare Frame and, upon realizing that Zero is not there, kills everyone in sight. I find this behavior rather odd, since she seems so much nicer later on. Maybe future events soften her.
Suzaku and Nunnally
Back at Ashford, Lelouch brings Suzaku to see Nunnally, who cries tears of joy to see her old friend again. They have tea together, and Lelouch and Suzaku tell Nunnally about him attending Ashford and his military duties. In another room C.C. talks with Lelouch about Suzaku, but Lelouch tells her that he is a friend and can be trusted. Elsewhere, Guilford lets Jeremiah out of prison and informs him that he has been demoted three ranks as a result of the “orange” affair. I would think Jeremiah would develop a distinct aversion to orange and oranges from this. When Suzaku leaves for the night, he tells Lelouch that they should not be seen together around the school, so that Lelouch’s secret does not come out. Lelouch is mad, but he cannot convince Suzaku.
The next day, everyone at the school is still cold towards Suzaku. Ougi calls Lelouch to tell him about Cornelia’s attack in Central Japan, but Lelouch tells him not to worry. Nina talks to Nunnally about her aversion towards elevens and her fear of Suzaku. Meanwhile, C.C. orders pizza again and accidentally lets Arthur in while she gets it. Lelouch tries to put his helmet away but has to leave shortly later. While C.C. starts eating, Arthur accidentally gets the helmet stuck on his head and goes out of the building, though C.C. does not notice. While having tea with Nunnally, Lelouch sees Arthur and chases after him.
The well-meaning Nunnally asks Rivalz, Nina, and Milly to help Lelouch catch Arthur, because Arthur seemed to have something that was really important to Lelouch. Not knowing that something is the mask, they think it might be a love letter or something similar and promise to help, even if just for the chance to get some dirt on Lelouch. While chasing Arthur, Lelouch has to use his Geass on two students to keep them from talking. Then, Milly gets on the school intercom and tells everyone to look for the cat. She informs them that the clubs who help try and catch it will get bigger budgets, and the one who catches the cat will get a kiss from one of the members of the student council. Kallen gets ambushed by the film and agricultural clubs, both of which want a chance to kiss her and quickly rush after Arthur. The whole campus goes around searching for Arthur, and Kallen and Shirley team up, because they do not want to kiss anyone. Milly asks Nunnally to give more information on the cat, and Nunnally mentions that the cat was injured.
Just outside, Lloyd and Cecile lament being unable to work at the local university because their test pilot (Suzaku) is an eleven, and they wonder what in the world is going on at Ashford. Eventually, Suzaku and Lelouch corner the cat in the clock tower, and Lelouch rushes to catch the cat before Suzaku does. However, Lelouch is famous for being very unfit, and Suzaku easily passes him. Poor Lelouch. His brain is far better off than his body. They chase Arthur onto the roof, and the whole school watches as Suzaku reaches for him. However, Lelouch starts to fall, so Suzaku catches him. While Arthur is directly under the tower’s bell, the mask is knocked off his head. Suzaku brings Arthur down to everyone, and people start gossiping if he and Lelouch know each other. Shirley and the council congratulate him, and Lelouch comes down, having successfully retrieved his mask. Lelouch then insists that they tell the truth and says to everyone that the two of them are friends. Nunnally gives them both kisses, since the person who catches the cat was promised a kiss from a member of the student council, and she basically is a member. Later, the school watches the live feed from Clovis’ funeral. Charles comes out and spouts Social Darwinism as an explanation for competition and hatred between human beings. Because people are not equal, they compete in order to get what others have. The reason Britannia is better off than the E.U. and the Chinese Federation is because it encourages this competition. Lelouch quietly curses his father, and C.C. thinks to herself about this man, Lelouch’s sworn enemy.
