Childhood Friends — Part 2

 is the fiftieth chapter of Natsumi Mukai's +Anima manga.

Synopsis
In the past, Cooro flies away from Lyra and some other children. They complain about Cooro not playing fair.

In the present day, Cooro is eating more than his fill at the first checkpoint of the 1st Yellow Valley Race. After ensuring that a rescue team has been sent to the +Anima injured by Jesso, Cooro carries on with the race. Meanwhile, Jesso is following Lyra; she notices him and decides to give him the slip.

Back in town, Nana Alba tries to start a conversation with Husky, but he immediately takes off. Soon after he spots a woman he recognizes, Marca Brighton, and watches her from a distance. Marca talks to Fly Greena Aight, and Husky overhears them mentioning Cooro and becomes suspicious of them. Nana approaches Husky and loudly proclaims that she found an accessory shop; Husky drags her away so to not be seen by Marca and Fly.

Jesso closes in on Lyra. She swerves about making it difficult, but he is determined to eliminate the competition and earn the grand prize. Lyra heads straight for a wall with Jesso close behind, but she makes a sharp turn upwards while Jesso is unable to manoeuvre so well and crashes into the wall. Jesso falls to the ground, defeated.

Cooro finds Lyra and and checks to make sure she is okay. Lyra is annoyed by his presence, and quickly turns to fly away, however soon after she finds herself unable to fly, her feathers start to fall out and she falls from the sky. Cooro goes after her and is able to cushion her landing. Senri sees the two fall from the sky and heads over in time to witness Lyra's Anima leave her. Senri takes Lyra back to town while Cooro continues the race.

Cooro is the last competitor to finish. Nana immediately grabs him and takes him to Lyra. Cooro is relieved to learn that Lyra only has a few scratches and a sprained leg, however she is worried about what Fly will think. Lyra explains that she had always been envious of Cooro, so when Fly told her she could too become a +Anima, she took him up on his offer of an Anima implant. Husky realizes the connection to the man he saw with Marca and insists they leave town immediately, but Cooro is already running away to collect his prize. After doing so, Fly approaches him; Cooro turns around and walks away, but Fly calls after him saying he should visit the church in Kilter.