TM Chapter 26

Those Who Stood Idly By (かたわらにたたずむものたち, Katawarani Tatazumu Monotachi) is the forty-sixth chapter of the Trigun manga. It is also the twenty-sixth chapter of Trigun Maximum.

Summary
A brief flashback of a young Vash and Knives is shown. Back in the present, Meryl attentively listens to Zazie's story, but her notably cute face irks Zazie.

The fight between Vash and Hoppered continues as Vash tries to warn the residents in the surrounding area to flee. Hoppered claims they should be running away from him as he's the cause of the July incident. Vash then has an epiphany where he recognizes Hoppered from after that incident and tries to claim he wasn't the one truly responsible for it. On the other hand, Hoppered hears nothing of it as he lost everything on that day. Zazie continues his story to Meryl and reveals pivotal information that Vash and Knives aren't human, they're plants. Furthermore, Knives' hatred is something unfathomable in Zazie's perspective, which begs the question humanity hasn't been wiped out yet.

Meanwhile, a wounded Midvalley prepares himself for a counter-attack against Wolfwood, as Vash and Hoppered's fight continues. In the ensuing chaos, Milly finds Wolfwood unconscious and submerged in water. When she goes to check up on him, Wolfwood regains consciousness. Wolfwood demands Milly find Meryl and they're soon found by some residents who try and plan on rescuing them from the hole they're in.

At Meryl's holding cell, Midvalley approaches Zazie, and immediately, Zazie senses the arrival of a special someone.