Episode 23

"It’s not that they didn't think about the risks. They’re already facing a huge risk every time they get on stage. But, more importantly… it’s about conveying their feelings, huh?"

- Arata Ookoba to himself, about Franchouchou.

All It Takes is For You to Be There SAGA (たとえば君がいるだけで SAGA, Tatoeba Kimi ga Iru Dake de SAGA) is the eleventh episode of the second season of Zombie Land Saga and is the twenty-third episode overall.

Synopsis (Kotaro’s Diary)
"How long has it been since I ran so hard that I was out of breath? I was also in a sorry state then, like a zombie. As long as the other side keeps coming relentlessly to destroy, I'll keep pushing relentlessly back. The future of Saga is endless. Franchouchou will be the one to show you that future. The time to fight back begins now."

- Kotaro Tatsumi,

Plot
Franchouchou's mansion drifts out to the shore of Hamasaki before collapsing, destroying their supplies and makeup. The girls are found by a coworker from Ai's part-time job, who takes them to a makeshift shelter for those who lost their homes and power in the storm. They are found by Ookoba, who secretly observes them as they perform for the local children, slowly realizing that the girls are acting of their own volition.

After several days, the last of the girls' makeup wears off, and they fail to disguise themselves when they make clay masks that shatter in front of their audience. However, the children do not believe they are really zombies and accept them anyway, moving the girls while allowing Ookoba to understand Franchouchou's courage to perform with the constant risk of exposure.

Meanwhile, Kotaro and the bartender are rescued from the flooded bar; while the bartender is hospitalized, Kotaro reunites with the girls and reapplies their makeup, telling them that their revenge concert is still on schedule to restore Saga's morale. Afterward, Sakura thanks Kotaro for helping her achieve her dream, and Kotaro promises to continue supporting Franchouchou until they become world-famous.

Characters

 * Kotaro Tatsumi
 * Romero
 * Franchouchou
 * Sakura Minamoto
 * Saki Nikaido
 * Ai Mizuno
 * Junko Konno
 * Yugiri
 * Lily Hoshikawa
 * Tae Yamada
 * Journalists
 * Arata Ookoba
 * Inubashiri
 * Jofuku
 * Machiko
 * Policeman A
 * Misa Higashitsuru (non-speaking cameo)
 * Maimai Yuzuriha (mentioned)

Locations

 * Saga Prefecture
 * Franchouchou Mansion
 * Ekimae Real Estate Stadium (flashback)
 * New Bar Jofuku
 * Journalists’ Office
 * Hamasaki Beach
 * Kojima Food Factory (indirectly mentioned)
 * Kation Mall

Songs

 * “Little Bodda Bope”
 * “Mezame RETURNER”
 * “Never Ending SAGA”

Instrumentals

 * “Never Ending SAGA”

Trivia

 * This episode takes place on February 18, 2020, to February 21st, 2020.
 * The girls are finally revealed as zombies to the public.
 * Kotaro’s diary entry for the episode is written sometime after he runs off to look for the girls.
 * It is revealed during the cast commentary of the episode that it was written in the script that Sakura was drawn “30% cuter” during the kabedon scene because it was “seen through Kotaro’s perspective.”
 * This is Kotaro's first song in the series, though, it is more of his character theme that plays in the background sung performed by his voice actor rather than portrayed as having the character himself do so.

Dub Differences

 * TBA

Cultural References

 * TBA

Continuity

 * This episode takes place immediately where the previous episode had left off.
 * The brief flashback from the beginning of the episode included the following scenes: Tae chasing Junko during their bedtime from “Episode 2”, the girls huddling up around Sakura from “Episode 12”, the girls eating squid for dinner from “Episode 13”, the girls practicing their choreography from “Episode 10”, and the girls reading a magazine.
 * Lily sings her improvised scat version of the song “Life” which she performed in Japan Got Performance from “Episode 17” to calm the children down.
 * Additionally, the group performs “Mezame RETURNER” not long after to help pacify the audience.
 * Ookoba has a flashback of him threatening Kotaro to out the girls as zombies from the previous episode.
 * Policeman A comment on how he’s “soaked to his underwear” similar to when he said something similar from “Episode 1.”
 * Kotaro recalls him saying how he “has what it takes” from “Episode 11” and lying about not “having what it takes” from “Episode 13” when he promises Sakura he’ll never rest until they reach their goal.

Errors

 * The masks the girls end up wearing are drastically different from when they were in the process of making them.