Episode 9

"Thymocytes" (胸腺細胞) is the ninth episode of the Cells at Work! anime. It's based on the twelfth chapter of the manga, which has the same title.

Synopsis
Helper T Cell gets into an argument with Killer T Cell over his harsh training methods, and Dendritic Cell takes the chance to share his photo album explaining the two's shared past with the Naive T Cells.

Plot
At the Killer Cell Base camp, Killer T Cell trains the Naive T Cells through intensive and exercises. Inside the base building, Dendritic Cell, Macrophage, Regulatory T Cell, and Helper T Cell are minding their own business until Helper T is struck by a Naive T Cell. Killer T accompanied by a few of Naive T Cells rush over and Killer T apologizes for his action, claiming he hurled the cell too hard. Upset by this action, Helper T reprimands for his impetuous and impulsive nature. On the other hand, Killer T, in turn, defends it as justifiable as he needs to train the cells in order to be capable of attacking cells under Helper T’s orders.

While Helper T and Killer T debate with each other, Dendritic informs the few Naive Cells that their superiors were classmates back in Thymus School. A flashback involving the young Helper T, Killer T, and Regulatory T Cells, from their days back in the Thymus School is shown. The drill instructor Thymic Epithelial Cell, informs his student cells about the antigen training course they’ll be participating in. It involves discerning Viruses from Normal Cells that are made from wooden boards. Once the training starts, Killer T finds an antigen board and just as he was going to attack it, Helper T leaps on top of him and breaks the antigen board in two. This earns Helper T praise from the Thymic Epithelial and leaves his fellow trainee cells in awe. Defensively, Killer T tries to argue that the Antigen was his target as he saw it first. Helper T then half-heartedly apologizes and states that his reaction time was inadequate, so he simply took the opportunity. Upset, Killer T tries to attack Helper T, but his opponent easily overpowers him.

Afterward, in the dorms, Helper T and Killer T are revealed to share the same room with each other. They briefly discuss how they’ll sleep on their bunk beds, which leads to a minor scuffle between the two that is broken up by Regulatory T. She informs the two that, two cells that were living in that room before dropped out and then leaves.

The following day, Killer T struggles to stay ahead in the daily training but refuses to quit. Later that night, Helper T does some late-night training and just as he finishes, he catches Killer T trying his own training as well. He trains himself to master a “secret art” of his, which Helper T is seemingly unamused by, but tries the training himself. Unbeknownst to the two cells, Regulatory T and Dendritic were watching from the balcony of the dorm building.

Time passes by and the young cells become Apprentice T Cells. The Thymic Epithelial announces to the apprentice T cells that they’ll be taking what’s called that Positive Selection. It involves attacking antigen boards, but it’s detailed that many of them will fail. And many of the ATC do fail, due to falling for misinterpretation traps, however, both Regulatory T and Helper T manage to pass the trial. Right before its Killer T’s turn, Helper T gives him one piece of advice about how he attacks. Not surprising, Killer T struggles in this course, but passes due to Helper T shouting out the name to his secret art.

That afternoon by the riverside, Helper T and Killer T have a heart to heart with each other and they promise the other that they’ll change. Killer T will be more confident and muscular while, Helper T will be less serious and up tight. Watching again from afar were Regulatory T and Dendritic.

Back in the present, both Helper T and Killer T find out that Dendritic was showing the Naive T cells a scrapbook of their senior’s past. Flustered, the two try and snatch the book from Dendritic hoping to burn it as Regulatory T thinks the two haven’t changed whatsoever since their school days.

New characters

 * Thymic Epithelial Cell

Returning characters

 * Killer T Cell (Squad Leader)
 * U-1146
 * Platelet
 * Regulatory T Cell
 * Dendritic Cell
 * Macrophage
 * Helper T Cell

Errors



 * After Helper T Cell "requests" to trade places with Killer T, the camera focuses on both characters. During that shot, the three yellow stars on Helper's black epaulets are missing.
 * When Dendritic Cell taking the book from the shelf, the camera focuses on his arm. During that shot, his arm is passing through the bookshelf's lid.
 * When the Naïve T cells heavily panted, they supposedly said 'Yes Sir.' But their mouths did not move as if they were speaking.
 * When the Naïve cells did pull-ups on a bar, they had their fingers facing them, however, effector T cell had his grip facing the other direction.