「優しく愚かな嘘」 (Yasashiku Orokana Uso)
“Gentle Foolish Lies”

Goddamn, just when you think you have a handle on what’s coming next, boom table flip. And not the bad sort of table flip either; tack on some tragic victimhood, requirements in reverse, and you boy have yourself one mighty fine bit of pulp entertainment. I might no longer know exactly everything Engage Kiss intends on offering, but I know I’m liking where it’s heading.

While Shuu’s sister being a human-demon hybrid and this show’s actual end-boss is enlightening enough this week (still holding out hope for that Asmodeus showdown though), the big thing here is honestly Kisara in all her tragic glory. The details of Shuu’s contract with Kisara and the state of Shuu’s paid memories are reason enough why: who knew Kisara could return what she had taken simply by nullifying their contract and that Shuu actually forced Kisara into their contract (rather than it, as thought, being a mutual affair). This is honestly a twist I can get behind because it fully justifies all the distaste regarding Shuu at the moment. Sure, womanizing and all that for some, but it takes a special breed to tie someone to your goals and give little thought to their own wants and desires (as one such scene shows off). Don’t even need mention Kisara technically being a distant relative of Shuu’s either I think – that speaks loud enough on its own.

What’s especially damning at the moment though is that Kisara isn’t really even herself. Her personality, her spunk, selfishness, and jealousy, all could be considered byproducts of the memories taken from Shuu since we now know she’s a veritable empty vessel without them. I’m kicking myself for never considering this possibility, yet it does allude to what may happen regarding Shuu’s sister. After all, if Kisara isn’t her own being without a contract to fill in the gaps, can little sister be successfully rescued without something similar? And if not, just who will put her down without a memory-powered Kisara to do the damage? All of this once again leads back to Shuu being forced into making a permanent and irrevocable choice regarding his past and present – i.e. which demon girl winds up on top – except this time the choice is here and amnesia is no longer a block (or catalyst) into driving him in a particular direction.

It’s anyone’s guess just what Shuu will decide in the remaining couple of episodes, but you can bet the choice is going to leave a mark.

 

Preview

9 Comments

  1. Heh, this was a wild ride episode. Not only did Kisara cancel the contract and forcibly restored all Shu’s memories, we did get to see those memories as well, shining a lot of light on Shu and girls in his life. Womaniser doesnt even begin to describe him…
    Shu and Kisara drama aside, there is sleeping sister down beneath the waves being Damocles sword the show, and steady increase in demonic activity inside city itself.
    It is interesting how mercenaries who basically went to Bayron only to make money now often feel emotional attachment to the place.
    And then there is looming shadow of the worlds superpowers going full Ripley doctrine where Mikhail could afford only surgical strike….
    Last but not least: gotta love Dear Sister going full One Winged Angel on Kisara.
    Expecting the Memes.

    ewok40k
  2. Of all the times Kisara could have returned Shuu’s Memories, why now? The entire crew is at the end game. It’s like showing up for the finals and telling the team you wanna sit this one out because you’re not feeling it. In fact this is the worst time to abandon Shuu. If this scenario was reality Kisara’s choice would have given Asmodeus the win.

    Renasayers
    1. Actually, not doing this was handing out the win. Shu was so devoid of memories by now he was willing to flee the island and live out rest of his time with Kisara in some wilderness away from all people. Leaving sismodeus to execute whatever her final move is.

      Ewok40k
    2. Regret has a way of evoking these sorts of decisions and Kisara has definitely been suffering under the results of her forced contract for a while now. Part of her choice could also be considered payback for what Shuu put her through – i.e. hitting him with everything he sacrificed right at the moment it was needed to get what he was after.

      It’ll be very interesting seeing how this plays out next week.

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