Kakegurui×× – 02

「百喰一族の女たち」 (Momobami Ichizoku no Onna-tachi)
“The Women of Momobami Clan”

Well that sure didn’t take long to get going did it? Kakegurui’s new season may have jumped out the gate last episode with barely a moment to explain the crazy, but as expected we got answers and more this week as battle lines were drawn, enemies established, and the next big prize laid out for all to see. Sure it may still be troublesome seeing just what the real truth is here, but when it comes to Kakegurui the journey always trumps the destination.

Much like last season Kakegurui won’t be pulling too many stunts when it comes to story. Rather than Yumeko running rampant through the student council ranks we now have the Momobami clan doing so, determined to stop an apparent consolidation of power on the part of Kirari before she grows too strong. Just who the Momobami clan is of course remains unanswered (barring some foreshadowing here or there), but the key point is that both Kirari and Yumeko are part of the clan and identified as threats to, well, whatever the clan wants (which we will naturally learn about over time). While explaining the crazy was never really in Kakegurui’s interest, it’s certainly an interesting point to start delving into this given how many hints have been dropped on it before. Yumeko’s past for example has been heavily shrouded in secrecy, and even Kirari’s reasons for her actions have been left a little vague. Getting some answers on these points would help ground the chaos a little more, especially with those remarks all but insinuating how our little gambling girl happens to be the black sheep of an even larger family. Who knew, guess Yumeko has a reason for her mental state beyond simple fun and games after all.

Getting to the answers however will be the fun bit, and Kakegurui won’t be disappointing in this regard. As the recent gamble with Erimi shows we’re going to get the best of all worlds in these new games as both student council and Yumeko (and friends) both must contend with the same threat—and the same tantalizing reward. I expect a few more unconventional gambling pairings like Yumeko and Midari these past couple of weeks, although whether any of them can top the utter hilarity for this gamble I honestly don’t know. Seriously, it’s going to take some hard work topping these death wishes and faces of disgust, especially when you know Midari isn’t going to give up that easy after her second rejection—true love demands it. The early results do prove though that the Momobami have likely underestimated the degree of resistance they’re going to get, especially from those outside of the usual suspects. Yumeko’s presence and involvement has had a significant impact on the denizens of Hyakkaou, and that experience will see to them collectively doing more gambling-wise than initially thought possible. This fight may ultimately become a three way battle between the Morobami, Kirari, and Yumeko, but don’t expect the likes of Meari to take their supposed fate lying down.

There’s a whirlwind of crazy set to descend upon Kakegurui, and if there’s one thing you can bet on, it’s that the last bit of friendly competition won’t hold a candle to what’s coming next. Get ready boys and girls, it’s election time.

Preview