「禍野の音」 (Magano no Oto BOTHERSOME TWOSOME)
“The Sound of Magano Bothersome Twosome”

Ah, brotherly love. No, not that way you perverts.

Brotherly Love

Ryogo is the secondary character I never expected to like. Not because there was anything unlikable about him in the first couple of episodes, but because I didn’t even think he was going to be a secondary character—I had him pegged as tertiary at best. I figured he’d be more like the other two friends or Jissama. Turns out he’s a more important character, to Rokuro at least.

It just feels good, ya know? To see familial bonds, between orphans no less, that push Rokuro to admit his fear and act. Even the old lady’s talk about them as kids pepped him up a bit. Sure, it does feel like the author was searching for a way to push Rokuro back into being an exorcist, because of course he was. The plot’s gotta move. But they foreshadowed the increase in kegare activity/power, and I ended the episode with a wistful smile after watching these two interact. I’ll take that, happily.

Mutual Respect

Undoubtedly the best moments of the episode came out of the shifting relationship between Rokuro and Benio. In multiple scenes, those where they’re acting like exorcists instead of middle schoolers, there seems to be a sense of mutual respect between them. Or perhaps that’s not right. Maturity? I think that’s it. They display maturity beyond their years—when Rokuro begs for Benio’s help, and admitted his fear; when Benio gives her help freely, and when she compliments him at the end. Of course she had to puncture the good mood, she doesn’t like him all that much at the moment, but perhaps that’s where the respect comes in. She respect his struggle, even if she still thinks he’s useless the rest of the time. Shipping furiously!

tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – Ryogo nearly bites the dust, but Rokuro (& Benio) ride to the rescue #sousei 04

My first novel, Wage Slave Rebellion, is available now. (More info—now in paperback!) Sign up for my email list for a FREE sequel novella. Over at stephenwgee.com, the last four posts: Dying idols, Frictionless routines, Even if you see it coming, it can still work, and Batman does not kill. Superman does not kill.

 

Preview

9 Comments

  1. Rokuro and Benio both complement each other in battle quite well. He has raw power, and able to take down the big Kegare which Benio has difficulty with, while she has precision and speed, and can dispatch a Kegare horde which would overwhelm Rokuro with sheer numbers.

    Also, what’s with the lopsided balance? Every exorcist we’ve seen so far other than the main duo is hopelessly and hilariously outmatched by every Kegare encounter they meet. Either they need to update their standard operating procedures or the Seika Dorm residents are just plain incompetent…

    kageKun
    1. I believe (though correct me if I’m wrong here) that it’s been noted that the kegare in the area have been a lot more powerful than usual lately, probably because of the twin stars (that last part is my supposition). It’s not that they’re incompetent so much that the area leveled up over their heads.

      1. The thing is they could train I mean ryogo keeps bringing up how he doesn’t want to bother rokuro and benio and depend on them. However it looks like they’ll have to if they don’t train.

        Saul
      2. They’re already training, remember the first episode mentioned that Rokuro is the one who always skipping their training while the other three guys do it? It’s just they have average talent so their growth are rather on the slow side. Their growth speed can’t be compared with Rokuro and Benio who have blessed with the sousei fate and talent.

        cryarc
      3. Well from the looks of things the other exorcists can easily handle the smaller kagare and can take on your run of the mill giant one as a team. So I don’t think it’s really like they are patheticly weak but as Stilts pointed out. There has been mention of the Kagre being stronger and unnaturally a lot in number even if they are the generic ones.

        Juan
  2. I like this adaptation. Things have been well thought out and properly foreshadowed, however I don’t recall see the dude in the preview this early, please don’t mess things up when it’s on just a good ride ^..^

    BlazingFreeze

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