Edward wakes up in a hospital bed to learn from 2nd Lt. Maria Ross and Sgt. Denny Brosh that Lab 5 was completely destroyed by the explosion, leaving no trace of evidence behind. He angrily complains that the truth Marcoh was talking about was so close and laments that there is no time for him to lie in a hospital bed, but immediately calms down when Ross slaps him and scolds him for running off alone without telling them believed. He apologizes to his bodyguards for putting them on the spot, but another problem catches his attention when he realizes that he needs to call Winry to come to Central City and fix his arm with the automatic mail. However, Winry, feeling guilty about the forgotten screw, readily complies and immediately leaves for the capital. Meanwhile, Alphonse lashes out at Barry Chopper’s claim that he himself was never a real human being.
Winry arrives at Central and is escorted to the hospital by Major Armstrong, where – seeing Edward injured – he apologizes profusely for not doing a perfect job of building his arm. But when it’s revealed that Edward knows nothing about the missing piece and assumed his own recklessness was the cause of the malfunction, he lets the cold matter be swept under the rug. After making the necessary repairs, Ed is visited by Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes, who reveals that Ed’s bodyguards will soon be relieved. Edward is happy, but when Winry wants to know what trouble the Elrics are in that they would need bodyguards, Fullmetal gets up, causing Winry to become agitated and sulkily leave to find a place to stay for the night. However, Hughes insists that she stay at his house with his family, effectively kidnapping her from the room.
At the Hughes’, Winry is shocked to find herself suddenly part of Maesa’s daughter Elicia’s third birthday party. While hanging out with little Elicia, Winry explains to Maes that she has been close to the Elrics since their early youth, but remains disappointed that they never share their troubles with her. Maes explains that men like Ed and Al are the type to hold on to their problems so as not to worry their loved ones, but assures her that when they really need her help and support, they will open up and ask out loud.
The next morning, as Winry and Maes return to the Elrics’ hospital room, Alphonse explodes in a suspicious rage and confronts Edward with the truth about his body. He recalls the incident a few days ago when Edward had mentioned that he had something to discuss with them but was too afraid to say so and angrily suggests that Edward was too scared to say that the human boy named Alphonse Elric had never did not exist. and the soul in his armor is an artificial fabrication falsely confirmed by Winry and Pinako and all who claim to have known him. Edward rushes in without answering, but Winry decides to beat Alphonse and berate him, explaining that his guilt, which Ed has hidden in his heart, is for trapping his little brother in a heartless metal body and that the fear he has, is that Alphonse hates him for what he did. He orders Al to go to Ed and apologize, and with a clear understanding of the situation, Al goes to find Edward on the roof. However, before he can properly apologize, Edward engages him in sparring and manages to win by tripping Alphonse with a hospital sheet. The two exhausted brothers reminisce about all their childhood fights, after which Edward asks Al if he still believes they’re all fake. Al apologizes and claims that his desire to regain his human body is also real. After reaching an understanding, they renew their vow to return their bodies to normal, noting that they will need much more strength for the challenges ahead. Winry, who watched the scene with Maes, notes that there are certain fears and feelings that always need to be voiced.
Far to the east, Scar dreams of Ishvalan and its devastation by a mysterious man who claims to be the state alchemist, before regaining consciousness in the Ishvalan slum outside East City. He is greeted by a young Ishvalan boy and an old man who tell him that they found him badly injured and floating in the sewers some time ago. Hard to move due to his injuries, Scar asks the boy if his right arm is still attached, to which the boy answers in the affirmative, revealing the killer’s arm and marveling at the tattoo on it – an elaborate tattoo that extends from the man’s wrist. up to his shoulder. Scar notes that the tattoo was a gift from his family.