- Ruri: Sun-swept beaches, hot sun, and nasty ramen noodles. We tried to have fun, but in the end, we found ourselves in the middle of another military idiocy. Is it any wonder this crew is getting all stressed out? I'm beginning to wonder if a lot of them aren't so much resilient as just incredibly dense.
- Adm. Munetake: Three special demolition teams have been sent in so far, but not a single person has yet returned.
- Mr. Prospector: [calculating] What a waste of our resources.
- Yurika: But none of those teams had the Nadesico. Our gravity blast cannon should do it!
- Jun: Of course! A long range strike is perfect.
- Yurika: We'll blow them away!
- Erina: It is the safest way.
- Mr. Prospector: [calculating] And it's also very efficient, economically speaking.
- Megumi: Even better - the Aestivalis won't be vulnerable to an attack this way.
- Minato: Don't beat around the bush, Megumi - you're worried about a pilot, not a robot.
- Megumi: [blushing] Well, I suppose I might.
- Minato: And I'll bet that pleases someone else.
- Yurika: [angrily] We'll start preparing for this immediately!
- Adm. Munetake: The Walking Stick's gravity rail gun is unstoppable. As soon as it's recharged, they'll shoot us right through the mountain. That's how all the other previous teams were destroyed.
- Yurika: Okay, so why didn't you tell us this before now?
- Adm. Munetake: Oh. Didn't I mention it?
- Megumi: Um, Akito... Don't worry, I'm using a private communications channel so no one else can hear us. We really need to talk. I know that you're going up against that awful Walking Stick all by yourself...
- [a technician calls into the cockpit to clear Akito for takeoff as Megumi continues talking]
- Megumi: ... I know that this may be a little forward-sounding of me, but I've been thinking about this an awful lot, and I think I'm ready to advance our relationship to the next step!
- Akito: Uh, hold on a second, Megumi. I've got a priority message.
- Yurika: Akito? Don't worry, Akito. I'm using a private communication channel so no one can hear us. Can we talk now?
- [Akito looks around frantically, Howmei taps on the glass outside trying to get Akito's attention while Yurika continues talking]
- Yurika: ... I hope I'm not sounding too forward in saying this, Akito, but once you get back, I'm expecting that our relationship will...
- Akito: [monotone] ... Will advance a lot farther, right?
- Yurika: Oh Akito! I'm so happy to finally hear you say it!
- Akito: [frantically] Wait! That's not what I meant!
- [mutes both channels]
- Akito: This is crazy! I'm trapped.
- [pause]
- Ryoko: [shouting] Tenkawa!
- Akito: [holding hands together] I'm so sorry, God! I don't know why you're doing this to me, but I swear I'll be a good person from now on! Really!
- Ryoko: What are you babbling about? Miss Howmei's been banging on your cockpit. Didn't you notice her?
- Howmei: [waving] It's about time you noticed me!
- Ryoko: Dork.
- [Akito sits humming by a river. Ryoko clears her throat]
- Akito: Oh, uh, Ryoko, h-hey.
- Ryoko: I swear, Tenkawa, you're such a dork.
- Akito: W-what did I do this time?
- Ryoko: Don't talk. Eat.
- [holds out a large bowl]
- Akito: But... why?
- Ryoko: 'Cause you were so busy cooking for us, you didn't eat. So eat! Jeez! I don't know what it is about you that drives me so nutty!
- [faltering]
- Ryoko: I didn't mean nutty that way, so don't read anything into it, okay?
- Akito: Oh.
- Ryoko: Will you just eat?
- Akito: Oh, sure. Oh, hey! This tastes pretty good!
- Ryoko: Of course it does - you cooked it!
- Akito: Oh, right.
- [both laugh]
- Ryoko: Dork!
- Akatsuke: Hey, break it up you two. This is a daring military adventure we're trying to tell here, not a coming-of-age movie for teenagers. And I'd watch out for him anyway, Ryoko. He *is* an anime fan.
- Akito: And what does that mean?
- Akatsuke: Oh, come on. Everyone knows that in anime the guys who act uninterested are just trying to hide their own inadequacies. Don't you think Mr. Platonic Relationship here is just a little too good to be true? Are you really buying his act?
- Akito: What?
- Akatsuke: Oh, I'm not saying you're not really good at leading the ladies on. After all, you've certainly got the Captain and Megumi snowed under. You play the pitiful act well.
- Akito: And you're a jerk! Why do you keep knocking my hobby?
- Akatsuke: Because I live in the real world, while you use anime as a substitute.
- Akito: I just don't understand you at all.
- Akatsuke: That's my line exactly.