When you’re the grandson of the famous onmyouji Abe no Seimei, it can be hard to fulfil your family’s expectations, and for Abe no Masahiro, being reminded of that heritage is just as bad as having to live up to it. Still, when he meets the ayakashi Mokkun, it sparks off a series of events that sees Masahiro start to grow up and take on new responsibilities as he attempts to defend the country from all manner of invading demons.

Although based on a series of light novels aimed at the shoujo market, Shounen Onmyouji is pretty much as you’d guess from the title- a series about a destined young man who must go from zero to hero over the course of twenty-six episodes. Its appeal stems from its perceived similarity to the likes of Tactics and Shrine of the Morning Mist, but the fact of the matter is that where those series are good fun, this one is just plain mediocre.

Over the course of twenty-six episodes, the series only manages to cover a mere two arcs- one about invading ‘foreign demons’ that wish to infect Japan with their foul European ways, and another about an ancient evil that has some connection to Abe no Seimei’s past. As those who followed my parodies will already know, the arcs are laughably generic and clichéd, featuring ugly boss monsters and their hapless underlings, arranged in order of difficulty to enable the hero to work his way through them and level up in the process. One might wonder why Abe no Seimei- the greatest onmyouji of the age- and his well trained peers don’t tackle the problem, but for the most part they seem content to leave it all to the youthful and barely trained Masahiro, just because he holds the title of main character.

That being said, when it comes to the crunch, there’s no way Masahiro can go it alone- and that’s where Mokkun comes in. In his true form, Mokkun is actually a humanoid named Guren- one of twelve Shinshou (spirit summons) that serve Abe no Seimei. When the going gets tough, Guren and his peers invariably step in to offer god mode protection or a well-timed deus ex machina, ensuring that no enemy goes undefeated. Unfortunately, it’s a gimmick that comes at a price, with most of the Shinshou receiving barely any development, and three of them not even getting any lines until the final episode. In fact, despite its many flaws, the prospect of getting to see these little-used characters actually do something is the main reason why I would actually welcome a second season.

Of course, there are other human characters in the series, but aside from the bearable Seimei, most of them are mere cardboard cut-outs- there’s the obligatory love interest who gets kidnapped or cursed every five minutes, the rival onmyouji, the good-natured older friend and various family members who remain unmentioned until they acquire some importance to the story. Apart from offering us some entirely pointless segments about their dull and unexciting lives, these characters serve to do little more than clog up the cast still further.

When it comes to the animation, Shounen Onmyouji is as mediocre in this department as it is everywhere else- some of the basic character designs are attractive, but the tightly controlled animation budget leaves looking everything looking decidedly cheap and generic, albeit cleaned up for the DVD version. Meanwhile, the OP, ED and preview themes are solid enough, but overall the music is also nothing to write home about.

Final Thoughts

Neither good nor awful, Shounen Onymouji lies within that terrible pit of indifference that engulfs everything at this level of mediocrity. Although I would personally watch a second season just to see if the characters received any more development, I would hardly recommend it to anyone who was starting out from scratch- just stick with Tactics instead.

Tier: Wood+

“…because quite frankly, I’m too cheap to buy her anything.”

Reviewed this week: Allison and Lillia 8, Amatsuki 6, Baccano! OVA 3, Chi’s Sweet Home 33-6, Himitsu 5-6, Kaiba 6-7, Kurenai 9, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 6, Nabari no Ou 8, Persona Trinity Soul 11, Shounen Onmyouji 25-6, Soul Eater 7-9, Spice and Wolf 7, Toshokan Sensou 8, Wagaya no Oinari-sama 7-8, xxxHOLiC Kei 7-9

…and in manga: Chi’s Sweet Home 42, Minami-ke 29, Spiral Alive 17-18, Tsubasa Chronicle 191

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Kurenai (2) – if I can’t do this much…
2. Chi’s Sweet Home (1)- Chi scratches
3. Kaiba (3) – feelings and memories
4. Nabari no Ou (4) – sayonara, Frosty-san
5. xxxHOLiC Kei (5) – Kohane-chan
6. Wagaya no Oinari-sama (6) – fox trap
7. Soul Eater (8) – Bones does shounen
8. Real Drive (7) – sunglasses
9. Persona Trinity Soul (9) – catch-up, start!
10. Himitsu (12) – everything at or below this line is poor
11. Amatsuki (14) – the new Shounen Onmyouji
12. Itazura na Kiss (13) – I hate Naoki
13. Toshokan Sensou (10) – library wars
14. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki (11) – senseless
15. Allison and Lillia (15) – yawn

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Shion no Ou (1) – final match
2. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- is this ever going to be subbed?
3. Love GetChu! (3)- light entertainment
4. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (5)- licensed
5. Shounen Onmyouji (6)- done and dusted after all these months <-complete!
6. Himawari!! (4) – needs less plot

Allison and Lillia 8: if the stupidity of an episode ever had to be seen to be believed, then it was in this case, for this arc-ending instalment has truly broken the boundaries of sense- so much so that I now know I would be derelict in my duty if I didn’t parody it. Anyway, with the help of an engraved medallion and a cufflink, Fiona manages to persuade the crowd (who seem to represent the country’s entire population, or at least the only ones whose opinions actually mean anything) that she is Princess Francesca, and that Nihito is the one who killed her family. Our villain of the arc then decides to make his escape by kidnapping Fiona, pulling some knives out of nowhere (courtesy of the JML Insta-Knife) and heading for the roof, where escape is waiting nothing is waiting except a dead end. Nonetheless, the wake from Allison and Wil’s hastily launched plane is somehow enough to blow him off the roof and to his doom, enabling Fiona to become Princess Francesca even though she is actually Francesca’s previously unmentioned twin sister (the royal family only being allowed to have one child for some reason). To be honest, it would be easier and quicker to list all the valid plot points than it would be to point out all the holes.

Amatsuki 6: Given all the disappointing episodes of anime that have appeared lately, this instalment of Amatsuki actually didn’t seem too bad in comparison, even if it can’t be said to be particularly good. After some exposition scenes about how being a weak person can actually be turned into a strength, Shinshu implores Toki to break the curse on the Princess, but since he can’t use his geass at will, he calls upon Bonten instead, breaking the shrine’s barrier in the process. Since Toki hasn’t yet agreed to go out with him, Bonten isn’t about to provide unconditional help, but he does offer a clue as to what to do next, thus ensuring that the plot won’t stagnate. Given the length of the series, I’m assuming the rest of it will be about breaking the curse and then going home to modern day Japan, which shouldn’t be too painful to watch.

*COMPLETE* Baccano! OVA 3: The Baccano! OVA is over, and it has brought with it as much fun and insanity as the series that preceded it. In this episode, we see the outcome of the great domino set-up (no, really, catch up with Rachel and Rail Tracer, and get back to the people who were wondering about the main character way back in the very first episode. It finally feels like everything’s come full circle, and it’s been an enjoyable ride indeed.

Chi’s Sweet Home 33-6: In this next batch of episodes, Chi takes an interest in sitting up at the window and looking outside- hardly desirable when the Yamadas live on the first floor and cats are forbidden. Having read this part in the manga, I knew what was coming, but nonetheless it’s an entertaining segment with an inspired solution.

Himitsu 5-6: After the laughable disappointment of episode four, my hopes weren’t high for the next arc of Himitsu, although as it turned out, it was at least better than its predecessor. In this arc, the team investigate the brain of a serial killer who has just died in prison, but as they delve deeper into his past, it seems that he may not have been the culprit after all. Cue a rather unpleasant series of revelations that could have come from any episode of CSI, and you have an arc that barely scrapes ‘solid enough’.

Kaiba 6-7: Kaiba is still travelling in Chroniko’s body, and when you’re a man in the body of a woman, your biological rhythm can get a bit messed up- something that Gel, a woman in the body of a man, knows all too well. Gel is immediately drawn to Kaiba, but is there more to their connection than either of them realises? And could Kaiba really be Warp, the cruel prince of this society? Whatever the case, when Kaiba and Vanilla are named as accomplices in a terrorist act, they have no choice but to go on the run on a water planet, but in the face of relentless pursuit, sacrifices will have to be made. Not only were these two episodes highly enjoyable (and thanks for the tip on rewatching episode one, Machi, I’ll give that a go this weekend), but they really added something not only to our protagonist, but to Vanilla, transforming him into something more than a hulking, intellectually challenged law enforcer.

Kurenai 9: Kurenai has always been good, but the intensity of this episode has moved it up a notch, and even secured it a place amongst my all-time favourites. The idyllic days are over, and Shinkurou and Murasaki have no choice but to leave the apartment behind, but the first the terrible truth behind Murasaki’s place in the Kuhouin family must be revealed. For reasons that could only be plausible in anime, the Kuhouins can only breed amongst themselves, and thus the women are sequestered in the Inner Sanctuary and forced to breed their relatives’ children from the age of thirteen, whilst the men take an ‘official wife’ to disguise the truth of their actions. Not only does this cast a whole new light on Murasaki’s own parentage, but it spells a terrible future for her, and one that her brother is determined to make sure she obeys. With that in mind, the tension is high in this episode as Shinkurou unwisely risks one last night at the apartment with Tamaki and Yamie, and surely than can be no one who isn’t desperate to see how things work out in the next few episodes.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 6: I should have known better than to think KKN was going to bring us an amusingly zany brand of humour, because in the vein of Kamisama Kazoku, Disgaea and all the rest before it, it has become disappointing, dull and downright juvenile (aagh, stop this alliteration!). This episode resolves Yuuka’s capture and the monkey situation by having Kyouka win them over with fine foods, leading up to the most ridiculous deus ex machina ever in the last two minutes (was that meant to be Gekka?). In the old days, I would have dropped the series at this point, but for some reason I feel chained by completion of late.

Crossdressing aside, I want a dress like that.

Nabari no Ou 8: The time has come to confront Mr Frosty and steal the technique of delicious ice lollies assassinate him, but does Thobari really have it in him to take another’s life, and what is Oda’s motivation for wanting to bring the Frost(y) Company down anyway? Although there was something slightly unrealistic about alternating between the brief bursts of action and standing around waiting for the next turn to come around, this was a strong episode overall, as well as a reminder that everyone has their own secrets and motivations that may well put them at odds by the end of the series.

Persona Trinity Soul 11: Unbeknownst to everyone else, Kanaru has become addicted to shadow-stripping/extraction, and now all her friends can do for her is try to help her break the habit. It’s nice to see Kanaru being given something to do other than hover around as a supporting character, although the addiction storyline is dealt with a little heavy-handedly, with lines such as “we just got her clean!” coming across as amusing rather than serious.

*COMPLETE* Shounen Onmyouji 25-6: Shounen Onmyouji is finally done, and as you might expect, these last two episodes wrap up the final confrontation and conclude the Chishiki no Guuji arc with the evil man defeated, Kazane dead and Guren/Mokkun left without memories. The final battle is amazingly (even refreshingly easy), and even the last three Shinshou get a couple of lines- their first contribution to the series. With only two arcs covered, I’m sure there’ll be a second season at some point, but until then we can put this mediocrity aside.

Soul Eater 7-9: Soul Eater takes a more sinister turn in episode 7-8, as Maka and Soul stumble upon a weapon who has been fused with his master, creating a being that could become a Demon God at any time- and what no one realises is that Shibusen’s Doctor Medusa is the one responsible. Whilst the end of this arc spells trouble in the future for Soul, however, in episode nine Kid and Black Star go off on a more light-hearted adventure to find the legendary sword Excalibur- only to discover just why even Stein couldn’t master it. I’m still enjoying the series at this point, which is a good sign for the future.

*SPECIAL* Spice and Wolf 7: Since this episode had too many apples for TV, it became a DVD-only release and an annoying gap in my schedule- until now. An enjoyable return to the world of Spice and Wolf, the episode sees Horo trying to eat a hundred apples, whilst Lawrence heads out to buy her some new clothes with a little trading on the side. I can’t say I understand how selling items at a loss can also be considered a massive profit (unless it’s something to do with groundwork for future transactions, or a knock-on effect on prices?).

Toshokan Sensou 8: Whilst Kasahara is whisked off for interrogation, some other things happen, but it’s hard for me to care anymore- the only thing of note is that our heroine finally discovers the identity of her Prince Charming, something we all saw coming about five minutes into the first episode. Other than that, this series has become incredibly pedestrian, but I’ll see it through since it should be ending soon.

Wagaya no Oinari-sama 7-8: Episode seven ups the cuteness factor by having two young foxes come to stay with the family for a while, whilst a clam monster targets Tohru. The next episode picks up the threads from that episode as the god of the neighbouring region shows up in search of the Reversed Circle, an item stolen by the clam- only to become convinced that it has somehow become lodged in Tohru’s head. Although nothing special, it’s entertaining stuff, and like Shrine of the Morning Mist, it seems that we aren’t meant to take the antagonists too seriously.

xxxHOLiC Kei 7-9: Episode seven sees Watanuki asked to fetch water from a well, but with a strange woman looking out of a nearby window, his constant worry is that he’ll get caught. In the manga, the water was for the X world of Tsubasa, but in order to erase any connection with its bastard cousin, here it’s to rescue a drowned kitten. Meanwhile, episode eight jumps ahead in the manga, leaving the “Himawari brings bad luck” story as we turn our attention first to a girl who wants her house to stop being scary, and then to poor Kohane-chan, who is receiving abuse and hate mail. Oddly, unlike in the manga where this happened after she disagreed with other psychics, this time people start hating her for no reason, and only then does she start disagreeing with the others. Still, it’s a decent enough adaptation and much better than season one, so I’ll go with it.

MANGA

Chi’s Sweet Home 42: When the landlady drops by unexpectedly, it seems that the Yamadas might finally be caught- can they hide away Chi in time? Although I do wish that somehow the rules about keeping cats would be relaxed so that the Yamadas don’t have to worry anymore, this was an entertaining chapter, if all too short.

Minami-ke 29: It’s time to meet Mako-chan in the manga, and although Okawari generally made me tired of that joke, here it’s fresh and new again. Hopefully the manga can continue to heal the damage caused by the anime’s second season.

Spiral Alive 17-18: Whilst the villain behind the incident with Amane’s family nine years ago makes a move and the Blade Children fend off an assault at their apartment, the time has come to wonder- has Kiyotaka made a rare error in judgement, or is her playing a game too complex for anyone else to grasp (oh come on, it has to be the latter). With the plot thickening like this, this is no time for chapters to come slowly- the mangaka must be made to work on it day and night so that we can know the truth.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 191: It’s another flashback to Sakura-hime and Syaoran Jr’s early days in this chapter, before the Tsubasa manga takes a break so that CLAMP can ‘collect data’ (that’s hastily make up new plot twists for you and me). In the meantime, Syaoran Jr only has seven days to spend in Clow Country before he has to go back, but what happened to get things to the stage they were in chapter one? And can it possibly ever make sense again?

Guren roasts the guardian lizard.

Guren: The heroes are almost here- your role in this series just ended!

Seiryu: Not so fast! Wave of Light!

The lizard is saved as Seiryu bursts onto the scene.

Seiryu: I’m sick of you and your pathetic fashion sense- it’s time to end this!

Guren: You’re a fine one to talk about fashion! Taste my flames!

Kouchin and Masahiro arrive.

Masahiro: Leave this to me, Seiryu- I’ll beat him up with this oversized sword!

Masahiro struggles to raise the sword, which conveniently transforms into a lighter, more powerful weapon.

Masahiro: With this sword, all my stats are increased! I’m no longer the Level Seven boy you once knew! Arrows of Emptiness!

Guren: White hot dragon!

Masahiro: Defend and counter with special item- Beads!

Guren is trapped by the power of the beads.

Guren: Flaming Dragons!

Masahiro: You shouldn’t be such a one-trick pony, Guren! Counter!

Guren: Damn it, why did you have to get all these final battle bonuses?

Maahiro approaches Guren, invoking Flashback Mode of his time with Mokkun.

Masahiro: Blade Rush!

Masahiro stabs Guren and begins reciting a spell.

Masahiro: Input Spell Command- Seal Evil!

Guren’s Limiter headband reappears on his forehead. In a flash of light, the sword vanishes, leaving the body of Mokkun behind.

Masahiro: Mokkun! How will I level up now?

Masahiro performs a spell that appears to transfer his life force to Mokkun.

Masahiro: Even if I die, please let there be cute Mokkun plushies for everyone to enjoy.

As Masahiro collapses, Seimei’s party arrives on the scene.

(Seimei: Why now? It’s too late for me to become the main character!)

Meanwhile, Tenkuu visits Takaoka no Kami.

Tenkuu: I just realised it’s the last episode and no one knows anything about me- I need screen time fast!

Takao: Okay, let’s have a largely pointless conversation scene.

Meanwhile, the last two Shinshou watch over Seimei’s body.

Green-Hair: We’ve waited the whole series, and all we get is two measly lines!

White-Hair: All I can say is that there’d better be a season two.

Whilst other supporting characters quickly take the opportunity to have some screen time, Masahiro wanders a bleak and empty land.

Masahiro: Well, it looks like I’m dead- better cross the river to the underworld and end the series.

A woman appears.

Woman: I don’t often see main characters around here- there must be some sort of plot device we can use to get you out of this situation.

Masahiro: You’re right- I don’t want to give up being a main character yet!

The woman, who just happens to be Seimei’s deceased lover, sends Masahiro back to the land of the living. Mokkun also wakes up, and somehow blossoming trees appear out of nowhere. And back home, even Tenitsu is fine.

Seimei: Well, all’s well that ends well- except of course that Kazane died and now Mokkun has no memory of the series.

Masahiro: It can’t end here! Buy the novels if you want to find out what happens next!

THE END…at least for now.

Masahiro, Seimei and the others confront Chishiki no Guuji.

Chishiki no Guuji: Gwakaka, you’re too late to stop me! After all, it’s not as if there are two episodes left for you to thwart my plan to break the second seal on the underworld or anything! Now, let’s have a boss battle- Summon Demons!

Ugly demons rush forth to attack the active party.

Seiryu: It’s my time to shine! Scythe Sweep!

Byakko: Wind Tunnel!

Kouchin: Sai Smash!

Masahiro moves to change to the front row, but Seimei stops him.

Seimei: Masahiro, you must form a party with Seiryu and Kouchin and go ahead to the last seal- this sub-boss battle is not for you.

(Seimei: And besides, with your low level you might get killed, leaving the way open for me to finally take over!)

Masahiro: I don’t think I want to go, Grandfather- after all, I am still a child when all’s said and done.

Seimei: Shut up and do as you’re told, boy.

Masahiro, Kouchin and Seiryu go on ahead.

Chishiki no Guuji: I feel like I should do something to stop them, but I think I’ll stand here and watch.

Seimei: That’s right- your boss battle is against me!

Meanwhile, Guren has reached the large rock that is the second seal on the underworld.

Guren: Oh well, time to destroy this rock and let demons out into the world. Flame Dragon!

Guren’s Flame Dragon is dispelled by an ice attack from the seal’s guardian, a giant lizard.

Giant Lizard: Not so fast- I’m here to keep you occupied until the heroes arrive.

Elsewhere, Seimei, Byakko, Genbu and Taiin kill Chishiki no Guuji’s weak demons in one hit.

Chishiki no Guuji: This is getting boring now! Resurrection spell, somehow function as a teleport!

Seimei: Damn, if any of those demons leaves the map, it’s game over! Byakko, Genbu, Taiin, head back down the tunnel and kill them all as they try to leave!

The three Shinshou leave the field.

Chishiki no Guuji: Is it wise to battle alone? One wrong move and it’s game over for you.

Seimei: I may not be the main character, but I still have a few destined powers! Barrier on! Repel Evil!

Chishiki no Guuji: Blast of Evil!

Seimei: Blast of Good!

The two men begin duelling with their powers. Seimei soon gains the upper hand.

Seimei: Time to finish this!

Chishiki no Guuji: Wait! I’m actually your friend Ryuusai- I’ve just been controlled by evil all this time! Now let your guard down and enter Flashback Mode!

Seimei falls into Flashback Mode, but quickly recovers.

Seimei: That’s the oldest trick in the book- I won’t fall for it! Counterattack!

The battle resumes.

Chishiki no Guuji: Those anti-ageing spells are really taking their toll, aren’t they? You should stay old and ugly, like me!

Chishiki no Guuji summons some more demons.

Chishiki no Guuji: It’s over for you!

Rikugou: Spear ex machina! It’s never over for the heroes! Distraction attack!

Rikugou begins attacking Chishiki no Guuji.

Seimei: Input Spell Command! Breath of God!

Seimei charges up a powerful spell that obliterates the demons and rips Chishiki no Guuji’s body apart.

(Seimei: I could have used this attack right at the beginning, but then I wouldn’t have got as much screen time.)

Chishiki no Guuji is defeated. Taiin arrives and leads everyone to her discovery- the Chigaeshi no Miko sealed in ice.

Seimei: I’m on a roll here! Curse Release!

The ice melts, revealing the Miko.

Miko: Oh, I seem to have dozed off for a while…where am I?

Seimei: Well, the good news is that the man who sealed you has been defeated- the bad news is that your husband and daughter are dead. Still, we don’t have time to mourn- our last chance for screen time is to go after Masahiro!

As Guren continues to fight the giant lizard, Masahiro’s party equip themselves for the final battle.

Kouchin: Here is a giant sword I borrowed from Guts, er, I mean Suzaku, which inconveniently is the only thing that can hold the flame of Kagutsuchi needed to end this.

Masahiro: The sword is bigger than I am, but I’ll manage somehow.

To be continued…

For some reason, over the past week or so I have developed a renewed interest in Facebook, and so I must invite you all to come and social network with me, should you so desire. In the meantime, let’s get back to the important business of discussing anime.

Reviewed this week: Aria the Origination 10, SaiMono II 38-9, Shigofumi 10, Shion no Ou 18, Shounen Onmyouji 24, Spice and Wolf 10, Sisters of Wellber 13

..and in manga: Busou Renkin 38, HxH 272

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Aria the Origination (1) – Al and Aika, sitting in a well…
2. Spice and Wolf (2) – debt
3. Kaiji (3) – ざわ, ざわ…
4. SaiMono II (4) – Ryuuki <-complete!
5. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (5) – mind-altering drug
6. Shigofumi (6) – Fumi+Mika=Fumika
7. Persona Trinity Soul (7)- Mushi-Uta’s successor
8. Shion no Ou (8) – Hani Meijin’s secret videos
9. Minami-ke Okawari (9)- not quite the same
10. Clannad (10) – drop kick
11. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (11)- Marco
12. Mokke (12)- rainy season

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Tetsuko no Tabi (1)- is this ever going to be subbed?
2. Himawari!! (2) – needs less plot
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – drinking tea can be dangerous <- complete!
4. Love GetChu! (4)- light entertainment
5. Shounen Onmyouji (5)- end in sight?

Aria the Origination 10: With Alice having become a prima, her workload dramatically increases- and whilst there is no doubt that she is good at what she does, sometimes her nerves do get the better of her. What better way to relax, then, than an evening watching the stars with Aika and Akari- at least until Aika heads out to pick up Al and ends up falling down a well with him. Having heard about this manga chapter, I was wondering when it would appear in the anime, but even though it is another solid instalment in a highly worthy series, I still can’t adjust to the idea of Aika X Al- no matter what his real age is, he still looks and talks like a shota. Still, it was a bold and unexpected move to see him grasp Aika’s hand at the end, and President Maa’s antics were highly amusing.

*COMPLETE* Saiunkoku Monogatari II 38-9: Alas, SaiMono II has finished, and what a packed season it has been- often too packed for my meagre raw viewing skills (thanks again, Impz, your summaries have been invaluable). Anyway, as the series draws to a close, Ryuuki takes the first steps towards becoming the true emperor, realising he has to rule for the people, not just Shuurei- and even taking Jyuusan-hime as a wife. It’s been a period of growth for everyone, and despite the immense volume of new characters and the sheer mind-hurting web of events the series tries to present, I’ve enjoyed myself overall.

Shigofumi 10: Fumika takes a backseat in this episode, which instead focuses on thirty-two year old cancer sufferer Takehiko, a man who has quit his job and alienated his friends and family to the point where all he has left to do is look after a neighbour’s child (also named Fumika). Although it was somewhat bizarre how Takehiko randomly ended up looking after Fumika II all the time, the largely formulaic episode saved itself with a poignant and sad ending. Still, I’m not sure what to make of the series as a whole; it’s really been all over the place in terms of atmosphere and presentation.

Shion no Ou 18: As the Shion versus Satori match heads into its closing stages, the Hani brothers undergo a strange reversal; Satoru is now less a figure of hatred than one of pathos, whilst Hani-meijin is becomier creepier by the minute, stalking around watching videos of Shion’s past whilst keeping Ayumi by his side like a chained lover. Meanwhile, Satoru sees something of his brother in Shion’s shogi, and we know that she learned vital shogi lessons from the murderer- but if the Meijin is the culprit, then what was his motive? All shall be revealed within the final four episodes- at least, one assumes it will.

Shounen Onmyouji 24: The time has come to head out and confront the evil, but meanwhile, Kazane is about to realise that her creepy, cackling master is not quite as benign as she might have thought. It’s another average instalment, but then as I said last week, the goal here is mere completion.

Spice and Wolf 10: Poor Lawrence, everything was going so well- right up until the point where he learned that armour has become massively devalued and that he now has two days to pay back a massive debt- can even Horo the Wise get him out of this, and will she want to after he takes out his frustration on her? Presumably all will come right in the end, but the interesting thing will be seeing how it pans out.

*COMPLETE* Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber 13: Ah, another mediocre series can be crossed off the list, although it does mean that the second season beckons. This episode basically wraps up Gernia’s story and indeed his life, complete with a ridiculous collapsing tower sequence that makes you wonder why you should ever be worried about being trapped in a burning building. Meanwhile, Gernia’s father is still as desperate for war as ever, which is presumably what season two is all about (I’ve been too apathetic to read any plot summaries).

MANGA

Busou Renkin 38: The assault on the school continues as it did in the anime, with Kazuki’s friends banding together to support him as he fights the Futakoi Alternative reject monsters outside. As so often happens, there’s not much more to say that I didn’t say when I was covering the animated version.

Hunter X Hunter 272: With excruciating slowness, the battle between Yupi and Shoot continues, up to the point where Knuckle decides to reveal himself. Do we care anymore? Do we even remember anything other than the names of these minor characters? Bigger fans than I do, perhaps, but I cannot bring myself to care anymore.

We begin with a Flashback Mode, in which Chishiki no Guuji works on turning Kazane evil.

Kazane: Why am I all alone?

Chishiki no Guuji: You are a mere rejected main character idea, pushed aside in favour of Abe no Seimei and his family. Your mother disappeared and your father died, but because it was the wrong way round, they claimed your rightful place as lead!

Whilst Taiin uses Tornado to take Masahiro’s party to Izumo, Seimei stays at home to write.

(Seimei: I’m going to write to the director, the producer and everyone else to complain about how I never got to become the main character! If they don’t listen, I’ll refuse to sign a contract for any more seasons!)

Seiryu watches him.

Seiryu: What are you doing?

Seimei: Oh, nothing much. What about you- are you really going to kill Guren?

Seiryu: Of course! How dare he hog all the screen time when I’m so much better looking?

Masahiro’s party reaches Izumo.

Masahiro: Damn, the entrance to the dungeon isn’t here- we’re going to have to explore the map some more.

Kouchin: That would just waste our time with random encounters. Taiin, use your Wind Search ability to find where we need to go.

Taiin: I have that ability? Why did we never use it before?

Meanwhile, Kazane awakens to see her crow, Kai, is alive and well, albeit minus its evil second head.

Kai: You’re awake, Princess.

Kazane: You can talk?

Kai: Yes, they only just now cast a voice actor for me. Now, time is running out, so you must find out the truth by following me down this forbidden tunnel.

Kazane: But I’m not allowed down there, just in case I find out some disturbing secrets!

Kai: That’s the whole point- now come on.

Kazane follows Kai into a cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites.

Kazane: Oh my god! Just over there a stalactite and stalagmite have merged to become one! Oh, and my mother’s sealed inside too.

Kai: Since you haven’t figured it out yet, I should probably tell you that Chishiki no Guuji is the villain, not Seimei.

Kazane: Even though the evidence is right in front of my eyes, I just don’t know what to believe!

Chishiki no Guuji arrives and attacks the crow.

Chishiki no Guuji: I thought I told you not to come in here, my most important and completely unguarded cave!

When he sees the Chigaeshi no Miko, however, Ryuusai’s original personality struggles to break through.

Ryuusai: MIKOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Chishiki no Guuji: Shut up, Ryuusai- you’re supposed to be dead. Now, Kazane, as the series is coming to an end, shall we get down to business? I need you to break the first seal on the underworld.

Kazane: You- you’re evil, aren’t you?

Chishiki no Guuji: What gave it away? Was it the ugliness, the evil laugh, the desire to destroy the world for no good reason? Anyway, I shall now release your sealed powers!

After explaining himself in the way all villains must, Chishiki no Guuji undoes the seal he put on Kazane. She gets caught in a Flashback Mode of how zombies attacked her and her mother.

Chishiki no Guuji: Now, Seal Break!

Chishiki no Guuji uses Kazane’s powers to break the first seal on the underworld.

Chishiki no Guuji: Gwakakaka! Everything is going to plan!

Chishiki no Guuji summons Guren and they both head off to break the second seal.

Kazane: All this time…I was working for evil!

As demons from the underworld show up to eat Kazane, Kai appears.

Kai: Previously unmentioned magical powers!

Kai somehow teleports Kazane to the surface before the demons feast upon him. She starts to walk away, but a slime stabs her, and other demons move in for the kill. Fortunately, Masahiro’s party appears in time to rescue her.

Rikugou: Spear ex machina!

Masahiro: Input Spell Command! Destruction!

Taiin: Cyclone!

Genbu: Wind Slash!

The demons are defeated.

Masahiro: That’s some good EXP!

Kouchin: Rikugou will have to leave the party to care for Kazane. Let’s carry on.

Kazane: Rikugou, I’m sorry- I should have turned to the side of good earlier.

Rikugou: Actually, this has no bearing on anything, but my true name is Saiki.

Kazane: If only I were a main character, a wound like this would be nothing.

Kazane dies, or possibly just passes out. Meanwhile, Masahiro’s party reaches the cave of the second seal, where Seimei, Byakko and Seiryu join the party. They head inside for a boss battle with Chishiki no Guuji.

To be continued…

Sometimes I just can’t help being evil; telling children about the slaughterhouse whilst they’re playing Harvest Moon, persuading them that complete Iliana rings can just be mined straight out of the earth, arguing that Albel is HARD GAY for Fayt- is there nothing I won’t do? Then again, sometimes interesting things spring from my madness- for example, my sister has taken a liking to the nickname “Pink Supervisor”.

Reviewed this week: Aria the Origination 9, Clannad 19, Kaiji 21-2, Minami-ke Okawari 8-9, Mnemosyne 2, Mokke 16-18, SaiMono II 37, Shigofumi 9, Shounen Onmyouji 23, Spice and Wolf 9

…and in manga: Busou Renkin 1-37, Chokotto Sister 58, Claymore 78, Elfen Lied 83, HxH 271, Moyashimon 2, Tsubasa 184

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Aria the Origination (1) – banana peel
2. Spice and Wolf (3) – spice and lamb
3. Kaiji (2) – ざわ, ざわ…
4. SaiMono II (4) – Ran clan
5. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (6) – mind-altering drug
6. Shigofumi (5) – Fumi+Mika=Fumika
7. Persona Trinity Soul (7)- Mushi-Uta’s successor
8. Shion no Ou (8) – die, Satoru!
9. Minami-ke Okawari (9)- not quite the same
10. Clannad (11) – drop kick
11. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (10)- Marco
12. Mokke (12)- rainy season

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Tetsuko no Tabi (1)- is this ever going to be subbed?
2. Himawari!! (2) – needs less plot
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – predictable but fun
4. Love GetChu! (5)- light entertainment
5. Shounen Onmyouji (4)- end in sight?

Aria the Origination 9: Alice has just graduated from school, and so Athena suggests they go out for the day, but what our young Pair doesn’t know is that she is being tested to see if she is move onto the next level. Although it’s a shame that Alice ultimately moves beyond Akari and Aika in this episode, it nonetheless remains a powerful instalment that sees the birth of the Orange Princess. There’s also plenty of President Maa for cat lovers.

Clannad 19: The theatre club has finally got a part-time share in Koumura-sensei, but whilst Nagisa is keen to put on a play, Tomoya feels his part is done- at least until he moves in with the Furukawa family to get away from his father. Given that most of the theatre club members are just there to make up the numbers, I can’t really care much about their efforts, but Akio and Sanae are always entertaining.

Kaiji 21-2: What awesome MANLY GAR! The time for the final round of E-card is nigh, and Kaiji seems certain he can pull off another win, but will Tonegawa see through his strategy? The odd thing about this episode is that while I spent the majority of it secure in the narrative convention of Kaiji pulling off another victory no matter how much Tonegawa tried to second guess him, the moment the episode ended on a cliff-hanger, the tension skyrocketed and I became uncertain of the outcome.

Fortunately, episode 22 is quick to resolve the outcome of E-card, but when Kaiji demands that Tonegawa kneels down and apologises for all those who died, the chairman decides that the only way to get a sincere apology is to have him kneel on a roasting hot steel plate- not an easy sight to watch. It seems, however, that we will have time for the tissue box raffle arc at the end (or at least the beginning of it, I have no idea how long the arc is in the manga).

Minami-ke Okawari 8-9: Just as I thought I was building up tolerance to Okawari, watching two episodes in the same day has broken it right down again- for whilst Fuyuki was blessedly absent here, these instalments seem to typify the problems with this season. If the original series was a stream of clear water, then Okawari is a stagnant pool, running tired old jokes into the ground instead of picking up a thread and building on it. Whilst episode eight is a lacklustre pool episode, episode nine lacks much in the way of appeal, combining such randomness as Kana dreaming of the future and Makoto trying to give up being Mako-chan yet again. I actually began to manifest physical symptoms related to boredom and irritability in this episode, something that hasn’t happened since Bartender episode 2.

Mnemosyne 2: Another instalment of Mnemosyne has finally come our way, and whilst it lacks the sheer awesomeness of the first episode, it is still worth a watch. The OVA seems to be settling into a “cyberpunk for the 21^st century” role, with this episode featuring HARD YURI, the search for a rare stamp and a mysterious yet deadly angel. Meanwhile, we now know that both Rin and her friend gained immortality when time spheres entered their bodies, but this only goes for women- their effect on men is to turn them into violent, short-lived angels who immortal women are irresistibly attracted to.

Mokke 16-18: Three more episodes of Mokke have been cleared, and once again they offer rather mediocre fare. Episode sixteen is the best of the bunch, as Shizuru befriends a transfer student with a habit of skipping classes to hang out in an old music room- an unremarkable story, but one that is at least more upbeat than the usual instalment of Mokke. Meanwhile, seventeen sees Mizuki discover a strange tree whilst looking after a neighbour’s visiting grandson, whilst in eighteen both sisters and their grandfather go to stay with a family who have been plagued with strange noises ever since they picked up a particular rock.

Saiunkoku Monogatari II 37: I know I’m a week behind with SaiMono, but the situation will have to persist until next week. This time around, Ryuuki meets up with the spirit of Riou’s sister and must face up to the fact that he is still not considered the best candidate for emperor- should he step down, or can he prove himself worthy? It seems that it is finally time for Ryuuki to grow up, but that may well mean making an important decision between committing to the throne and pursuing Shuurei. Would Jyuusan-hime be a better partner for him after all?

Shigofumi 9: Shigofumi lapses back into the unremarkable with this instalment, which combines the standard holiday episode with some back story for Chika. I suppose I should care about Chika’s life being tragically cut short just as her lover was about to propose to her, but when I saw him in the first scene I thought he was her father, so thinking of him as a lolicon generally spoiled the moment.

Shounen Onmyouji 23: It’s all about getting to the end in an efficient, business-like manner with Shounen Onmyouji right now- the series has dragged on so long and been so unremarkable that I don’t really care about anything other than completion. In this episode, Masahiro must angst for a bit before deciding to accept the power that can kill Guren- who will reincarnate, but without his memories of the series. Is that truly such a bad thing, I wonder- I certainly wouldn’t be too disadvantaged without said memories.

Spice and Wolf 9: I’ve toned down my praise for Spice and Wolf over the last couple of weeks, but with this episode I’m ready to fangirl in full force once more. This week, Lawrence and Horo hire the services of a young shepherd girl to escort them to the next town, but how will Horo react to the ‘new woman’ in Lawrence’s life? Not only does this episode introduce a new character who briefly appears in the ED, but it truly exposes the awesomeness of Horo- any time when she seems to be acting predictably tsundere she’ll suddenly laugh it off and prove that there is much more to her than any stereotypical character.

MANGA

*CATCH-UP* Busou Renkin 1-37: The effort of reading some Busou Renkin manga has finally been made, with the first four of ten volumes now cleared. So far, everything is proceeding as per the anime, with these volumes covering the Papillon arc and taking us well into the LXE arc; what remains to be seen is how the latter volumes differ from the animated version.

Chokotto Sister 50: Volume six concludes with this short chapter, in which Choko goes to play at Yurika’s house for the day (complete with obligatory fanservice and a scene in which Choko finds that all of Yurika’s bras are too small), whilst Chitose passes up the opportunity to romantically pursue Haruma in order to nurse the sick Konatsu instead.

Claymore 78: Deus ex machina has arrived in the form of Clare and her allies, and it seems that their combined abilities might just be enough to combat Agatha. Naturally, the action in this chapter follows the usual “few slashes- opponent is sliced to pieces” pattern, but I’m still enjoying the series more than I once did.

Elfen Lied 83: The forces of evil have forced their way into Kohta’s home, but when they start playing rough with his harem, they risk awakening the beast that slumbers within Nyu. Although I hardly wanted our protagonists to be attacked in their own home (which somehow makes it seem worse than all the extreme violence that has come before), it’s good to see the series moving up a gear and pushing the plot ahead towards its conclusion.

Hunter X Hunter 271: Togashi has been propped up and pumped full of drugs (or whatever the situation is), and so HxH is back for another ten weeks, in which the story should advance infinitesimally. In this chapter, the mysterious narrator gives us an excruciatingly slow blow-by-blow account of the various battles that are occurring, to which one can only respond “who cares anymore”? The only interesting thing to note is the way the artwork can vary from detailed to scribble from one page to the next.

Moyashimon 2: The second chapter of Moyashimon pushes us into episode two of the anime, covering Hasegawa’s attempts to test Sawaki’s abilities to the limit, before he detects the unmistakable evidence of brewing. There’s not much more to say, since we’re just mirroring the anime.

Tsubasa Chronicle 184: Syaoran, Fai and Kurogane have made it back to Clow Country, but everything seems strangely peaceful and uneventful- at least until it becomes plain that the country is trapped in some sort of Groundhog Day-esque phenomenon. I was hoping this arc meant that the end of the series was near, but I should have known- it’s clearly going to be dragged out for as long as possible.

(Masahiro: Mokkun, why did you have to go? How am I going to level up now?)

Despite not being fully recovered, Masahiro decides to go out that night anyway. He meets up with the Demon Carriage and the minor Pokemon.

Masahiro: If I stay in bed too long, somebody will take my place as main character! Please take me to Kifune so that I can advance the plot instead.

Masahiro is taken to Kifune, where he talks with Takao.

Masahiro: Please, tell me how I can get Guren to rejoin my party.

Takao: Well, it’s not actually supposed to be possible since he’s been engulfed by evil and in danger of turning into a hideous monster, but I’m sure the power of love or some such plot contrivance will save the day.

Masahiro: Really?

Takao: Not that it matters if he dies anyway- he’ll just revive again, albeit without his memories of this series. Of course, not everyone would consider that a bad thing, but again, I’m sure you can defy the rules with special plot powers.

Masahiro: I will! I won’t let Mokkun die!

Takao: What a shame- if you clear him out of your party, there’ll be a spare slot for me and my amazing powers to join.

As Masahiro passes out, Kouchin appears to collect him.

Kouchin: He doesn’t need you in his party- he has us.

(Kouchin: The last thing we need is someone else competing for screen time!)

A few days later, Masahiro’s stamina bar has started to refill, so he decides to go to the Onmyou dorms.

Toshitsugu: Masahiro, you don’t look well- you should go home and rest up so that we supporting characters can have your screen time.

As Masahiro goes home, his brother Narichika approaches him.

Narichika: Hey brother, can you come over to my house so that my family can have some screen time?

(Masahiro: Screen time, screen time, screen time- what is their obsession?)

Later, Masahiro goes to Kifune again.

Masahiro: Look, I’ve thought it over, and I’m going to as you to join my party after all- that way I can seriously level up.

Takao: Well, since I’m Level 99 already, I’ve decided not to bother actually joining the party- I’ll just give you this special ability, Flame of Kagutsuchi.

Masahiro: What is this, Mai-HiME?

Takao: I wish- now, you’ll also need to equip Suzaku’s sword in order to use it.

Masahiro goes home to talk to Seimei.

Masahiro: Grandfather, I’ve been given special God Mode powers in order to defeat the final boss.

Seimei: I see.

(Seimei: Damn! This is the last nail in the coffin of my plan to become the main character!)

Masahiro makes preparations for the final dungeon.

Masahiro: Okay Mum, I’m going.

Mother: Okay dear.

Masahiro: Don’t you care about where I’m going, or how I got hurt last time?

Mother: Not really, no.

Masahiro equips Black Robe and Seimei’s Beads.

Seimei: Since you’re the main character, I’ll just leave this incredibly difficult and life-threatening mission to you. Good luck.

Masahiro and the Shinshou leave.

To be continued…

It’s a unique opportunity to be able to post this on February 29^th, which also happens to be the day when we girls can propose- possibly why they told me not to come to dancing on Fridays anymore.

Reviewed this week: Aria 8, Himawari!! 2, Kaiji 20, Persona 6, Shion no Ou 17, Shounen Onmyouji 21-2, Spice and Wolf 8, Sisters of Wellber 12

…and in manga: Elfen Lied 82, Erementar Gerad (Elemental Gelade) 27, Mozart Doesn’t Sing Lullabies 9, Nodame 107-8, Ten 1, Tsubasa 183, Twin Spica 8, Yostuba&! 53

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Aria the Origination (1) – banana peel
2. Kaiji (3) – ざわ, ざわ…
3. Spice and Wolf (2) – drunken wolf
4. SaiMono II (4) – Ran clan
5. Shigofumi (5) – Fumi+Mika=Fumika
6. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (6) – mind-altering drug
7. Persona Trinity Soul (7)- Mushi-Uta’s successor
8. Shion no Ou (8) – die, Satoru!
9. Minami-ke Okawari (9)- not quite the same
10. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (10)- Marco
11. Clannad (11) – drop kick
12. Mokke (12)- rainy season

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- is this ever going to be subbed?
2. Himawari!! (4) – needs less plot
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – predictable but fun
4. Shounen Onmyouji (5)- mediocre
5. Love GetChu! (6)- light entertainment

Aria the Origination 8: Yet again I am saddened by the impending conclusion to this series, because this Athena and Alice-centric episode only proves how much more there is to experience in Neo Venezia. This week, Alice becomes upset when Athena is too busy to go on a picnic with her, leading to Athena epically slipping on a banana peel and pretending to lose her memory. It’s not the best episode of the season, but is an enjoyable outing nonetheless, with plenty of Martian cat action from Presidents Maa and Aria, whilst next episode promises the emergence of the “Orange Princess”.

Himawari!! 2: It’s time for another episode and another bizarre enemy as Himawari!! presses on- this time with a weird mushroom that spells disaster for Hayato and Shikimi (when will people learn not to eat strange mushrooms?). There are starting to be hints that some of the mysteries set up by the first scene of season one might actually be addressed this time around, and while I’m not too hopeful on that count, it would at least make up for having a shadowy villain and some sort of main plot this season.

Kaiji 20: At the beginning of this episode, Kaiji is busy getting violent in the bathroom- has he finally lost it, or is it part of a plan to frustrate Tonegawa’s cheating? It’s funny to think that one round of a simple card game can be elevated to such tension-inducing heights, but that’s exactly what Kaiji excels at, and even though it isn’t hard to guess the outcome, it will take a particularly disconnected person not to get pulled along on the emotional ride. Bring on episode twenty-one.

Persona Trinity Soul 6: It’s time for an episode away from the main plot (or indeed any plot at all), as Megumi and Kanaru become ‘Chief for a Day’ at the police station to replace an idol who cannot make it, and Ryou dons a bear suit with which to anonymously fight off minor villains. It’s throwaway in the general scheme of things, but it does provide a welcome let-up from the more serious side of this series.

Shion no Ou 17: The fated rematch between Shion and Satoru is here, and it’s time to inject a bit more depth into Satoru’s character- he may be a complete and utter bastard, but he has issues. There’s also an interesting revelation when Shion starts regaining her memories, and although I’m still more interested in the shougi side of things, this twist makes the murder storyline more appealing than it has been up to now. Surely the series can’t be ending soon- my appetite for it is only increasing.

Shounen Onmyouji 21-2: Another two episodes of Shounen Onmyouji have been cleared, and now the forces of evil have managed to take control of Guren, ensuring that there will be a massive mid-boss and final boss showdown come the end. It’s as mediocre as ever, but the end is now in sight, and those evil demons will surely be vanquished.

Spice and Wolf 8: If you’re wondering what happened to episode seven, wonder no longer- for some reason it’s a DVD only episode that we won’t be seeing until the end of May (why they couldn’t just call this episode 7 and make the DVD only one episode 6.5 or move it to 13, I can’t explain). Anyway, it doesn’t make much difference to this episode, in which Horo consumes copious amounts of alcohol before helping Lawrence profit in his pepper sales. Coincidentally enough, I’m currently reading a book on ‘behavioural economics’ at the moment, which includes a chapter on relationships based on market norms and social norms; who knows, I might start analysing Lawrence and Horo’s relationship and become a full fledged member of the blogworld intelligentsia instead of an irreverent faker!

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 12: This is one of those episodes that makes you wonder what the point of everything that preceded it was, for having spent most of the season running away from Sangatras and trying to reach Greedom, Princess Rita now attempts to end things by giving herself up. Will she be able to sway Gernia, or will his ruthless father and mother-complex conspire against her? Well, we all know nothing too drastic can happen, or there wouldn’t be a second season.

MANGA

Elfen Lied 82: It’s the calm before the storm in this episode as everyone comes home for a quiet dinner together, and Nozomi awaits the results of her music college entrance exams. It’s one of those chapters where nothing really happens, but it gives readers a pleasant break right before the action steps up again.

Erementar Gerad 27: Volume seven finally begins, and it is clear that the manga is about to go head and shoulders over the anime from now on. Whilst Viro continues to be evil in quiet corners, Coud and the party trek through the woods until they reach a broken cable car- can Coud use his mechanical skills to fix it? It may not sound like much, but as it is better paced and presented than the anime, it already has my seal of approval.

Mozart Doesn’t Sing Lullabies 9: After deciphering the secret message in “Mozart’s lullaby”, Beethoven and the others are led to the statue of Prince Tomino- a character from The Magic Flute- but what about this statue could be so important that one person has already lost their life trying to uncover it? It’s been hard to maintain the flow of this series with chapters coming out so slowly, but nonetheless the mystery is still intriguing enough to keep me coming back for more.

Nodame Cantabile 107-8: Having missed her recital, Chiaki can’t help feeling guilty, and after apologising to Nodame, he invites her to come to Vienna with him- but with both their lives getting steadily busier, is it folly for Chiaki to think Nodame will always be around for him? Meanwhile, these two chapters also see the reintroduction of Kiyora Miki, who is still having problems breaking past the barrier of good playing and achieving a truly great competition-winning performance.

*NEW* Ten 1: Set twenty-three years after Akagi, Ten tells the tale of a very different mahjongg player- an easygoing man who nonetheless has the balls to cheat even yakuza. In this first chapter, Ten meets and plays a young man whose cold and logical skills make him seem more like a computer, and after losing to him time and again, Ten has to pull his cheating move in the last round. It’s not quite as exciting as Akagi’s actual skill, but you can’t help admiring the blatant cheating whilst hoping Ten has more tricks up his sleeve.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 183: The time has come to return to Clow Country (yes, that’s where it all began, and like me, you might wonder why we bothered to actually go anywhere in the first place), and in order to get our heroes back there, Yuuko and the Mokonas must expend all their energy, whilst Fei Wong waits patiently in his chair. That’s pretty much all that happens in this episode- after all, we wouldn’t want to take things too quickly now, would we?

Twin Spica 8: As volume two concludes, the evil Beruze teacher continues his plan to get Asumi to drop out of space school, calling her up for a private meeting and destroying her self-confidence with some unpleasant home truths. The evil teacher is my least favourite part of the series, so I hope that we can move on from him soon.

Yotsuba&! 53: Yotsuba and Jumbo have been left to look after the house together, but when Yanda comes round, the usual brand of randomness ensues. This isn’t among my favourite chapters, but it’s still a strong instalment- it hardly seems as if this series can do any wrong.

Seimei: Dispel!

Guren: Flaming Dragons! Now that I have left the party and become an opponent, my level has increased to 99!

Suzaku: We won’t give up! Screen Time Slash!

Taiin: Useless Wind Vortex!

Genbu: Shield!

Rikugou: Pointless Spear Waving!

Between them, the party are able to defend themselves, but only just.

Guren: This body burns with the heat of passion- nothing shall stop me!

Crow: Gwakaka, everything is going to plan! Now, Kazane, come over here!

Rikugou: Don’t do it, Kazane! You have the character design of a person who will eventually turn to the side of good.

Kazane: I’m sorry, but I have to foolishly follow the path of evil for a little while longer.

Kazane renders Nagako unconscious and heads towards Guren and the crow.

Crow: That’s it, come over here and attack Seimei, the villain who cause your father to die and your mother to disappear- or was it the other way round?

Rikugou: That’s not true!

Crow: Now, now, who’s more likely to be telling the truth- the righteous heroes, or a suspicious and evil two-headed crow?

Rikugou throws his spear, slicing the second head off the crow.

Kazane: CROW!!!!!!!!!!!

Kazane starts glowing with destined power, causing the giant spider to appear and stop Guren.

Suzaku: Good old deus ex machina- it never gets old.

The spider approaches Kazane.

Spider: In a convenient and entirely predictable plot twist, you are the daughter of the Chigaeshi no Miko- the very person needed to seal up the underworld!

Guren attacks again, burning the giant spider.

Guren: I hate spiders!

Spider: Even though I easily bested you moments before, your flames have suddenly become too strong for me! Final Attack- Curse Breaker!

The spider gives its life to dispel the cursed zone, enabling the hero party to escape. They are teleported to Kifune by Takao no Kami.

Takao no Kami: I probably could have done this anytime, but where would be the fun in that?

(Seimei: This could be my chance to score with a beautiful lady- and a god at that.)

Seimei: Taiin, use your wind to send everyone home- I’d like to talk to Takao in private.

Unfortunately, the giant centipede is still there to chaperone them.

(Seimei: Damn, I guess we’ll only be talking about plot matters after all.)

Takao: This isn’t good- our enemy has Guren and Kazane, the two keys needed to open up the underworld. Seimei, we need your help in stopping him.

Seimei: In a main character-like role? I am so there!

By the next day, Akiko and Nagako have recovered, but Masahiro has only just awakened.

Masahiro: I had a terrible dream- Mokkun left me and Grandpa became the main character!

Whilst Seimei confers with the Shinshou, Chishiki no Guuji paces around his villain’s lair.

Chishiki no Guuji: Gwakaka, everything is going to plan! Nothing can stop me now!

To be continued…