Episode 3 — “Encounter, Kyouka, Rampage”
Hmm.
Mirroring is a familiar narrative device to focus an audience’s attention on a story’s particular feature, like character development or a theme. Aoba’s introduction in Chained Soldier, the sexy demon interested in Yuuki, matched the details of Kyouka and Yuuki’s operation in battle. A beautiful woman rides a hulking male figure. The mirror here puts the spotlight on the relationship between riders and mounts. Aoba rewards Unihorn, the unique Shuuki that traumatized a young Kyouka, with food collected from dead demons. This is how Kyouka repaid the Shuuki mounts she enslaved before she connected with Yuuki. I see future hints of jealousy as Aoba’s sisterly devotion devolves into sadistic emotions.
While I welcome seeing attractive female demons take away screentime from the ugly male gorilla demons, I have a minor annoyance at how they arrived. According to Kyouka and Squad 7, they’ve never seen talking Shuukis before, much less women forms. What a coincidence that they debuted when the Demon Defense Force took in its first male member. That’s more mirroring in Chained Soldier, but a lazy one.
One question I keep in the back of my mind for episodic serial stories is, “Why now?” Why did this new thing have to happen right now? A more realistic set of circumstances would have been rumors of attacks on Peach groves permeating the background reports. That would have set a foreshadowing mood for when Aoba defeated those three defense ladies last week. The timing is suspicious without enough foundation to justify it. Oh well. Let’s distract that lazy narrative structure with Shushu’s boobs!
Heh. Geh.
Man, Chained Soldier reminds me of Stargate SG-1. A demon gate opens up in a bunker with a ramp. Yuuki and Kyouka have come back to the human world. Kyouka in casual clothes? Are they on a date? Oh. They’re on a break to the “home world.” Today has significance for Kyouka: it’s the anniversary of the attack on her home. That one-horned Shuuki, “Unihorn,” killed everyone in Kyouka’s family, so she wants revenge. Bah. Chained Soldier censored gory limbs flying around. As long as the anime keeps to its policy of freeing the nipple, I’m okay with that. Kyouka later learned that the Unihorn had been the lone Shuuki to escape retaliation from the Demon Defense Forces. The hunt continues.
The grave visit is over, but Yuuki wants a “date” moment. Parfait at a café! Boys are domesticated homemakers in this world. I’m sure the artist’s field trip to eat parfaits was part of the anime’s budget. Hah! Kyouka can still act like a girl enjoying sweet treats. Yuuki remembers making his big sister smile like that with his cooking. “Boys are defined by their skills in the kitchen!” she said. Traditional role reversals courtesy of a demon invasion. Aw. Date interrupted! How weird. Kyouka’s emergency Mato broadcast system uses a conch shell sound and graphics. Time to lick the finger and gallop back to the Stargate! Er. Demon gate. No speeding tickets for Chained Soldiers, apparently.
Oops. Kyouka needs to “reward” Yuuki. What did his perverted subconscious put in Kyouka’s head? Feet-related? It’s time to invade Kyouka’s zettai ryouiki. What? Please don’t leave us hanging! Was the reward only looking, or was there big toe-sucking involved? We have to know!
Yuuki has a uniform now. He looks like a janitor. The emergency is an enormous mass of Shuuki have assembled, but the group has done nothing so far. Time to wipe them out! Kyouka says Squad 7 will take three vehicles. Fun. Shushu drives a motorcycle. Hah! Chained Soldier counts Yuuki as a “vehicle.” What are all those Shuuki waiting for? That’s a thought. Yuuki worries a random gate will open for the swarm to rampage through the human world. Ultra Shushu enters the fray! Uh oh! Something big knocked her down. It’s Unihorn! Will Kyouka have enough discipline to keep to Squad 7’s perfect teamwork?
Oh! The she-devil is riding Unihorn. Her hair formed a shield! Ack. There goes the jeep and motorcycle. I hope the Yuuki Express will still be running after this battle. A talking Shuuki is a new development for the Demon Defense Force. Ah. That purple beam came out of the demoness’s mouth. Killer bad breath. Look. Her hand markings resemble Yuuki’s. I see a mirroring device for Chained Soldier. Two beautiful Peach eaters ride hulking demonic mounts. The talking demoness calls herself the Demon Defense Force’s “archenemy.” Then she eats a Peach! Two sides of the same Peach pit. She’s looking for her little brother, the most handsome man ever! It’s supposed to be Yuuki... The eye-catchers show the demoness and Nei smiling big!
I wonder if this demoness remembers things correctly. What will Yuuki’s version sound like? Yeesh! Don’t interrupt this lady while she’s talking about her little brother! Even a Shuuki swarm giant needs to stand down. Har. That glare reminded Yuuki of his sister. Well. Whatever the swarm of Shuukis was up to is moot now. At least Unihorn got a meal out of it. More mirroring in Chained Soldier. And more bad breath. Ooh, she’s sneaky. Ah. She recognized Yuuki! Kyouka made her bleed. She can kill it! Time for a tactical retreat. For both sides. Kyouka does her best impression of Agent Aika as she maintains her discipline.
That was the action scene. Now it’s time for the “action” scene! Yuuki’s rewards come from his filthy subconscious! How subconscious is it, really? CBT (Cock Ball Torture) and upskirt peeking in anime! 2024. What a time to be alive! That suggestive rock formation should be cracking... Sure. We can totally have a mission debrief as a boot sole crushes vital male anatomy. Hoh. Yuuki’s battle session needed a big reward! What next? Hahaha! Barefoot face smooshing! Kyouka and Yuuki agree he’s not the “most handsome man ever.” Comedic misdirection from Chained Soldier here because Yuuki’s older sister was a brocon. Yuuki’s “inner psyche” is a lewd location. Come on. That’s a compliment! The view from below is NICE!
It’s back to being a minor domestic deity for Yuuki. He has all the questions I have about how a missing girl could survive in the Mato and side with the demons. Aw. Yuuki really wanted to have a younger sister growing up. Nei-senpai can give him that.
This is news. Aoba, the sexy demon riding Unihorn, has sexy colleagues. Her leader follows the condescending mean-girl model. The flat-chested imouto-type licks wounds to heal them. Her name is Coco. Such cute demon names! Aoba asks questions about Yuuki looking like a Shuuki and how “that woman’s” ability works.
Shushu missed Yuuki time, so she’ll make up for it in the bath. I see no blackmailing camera phone in evidence. Yet! Shushu plays the soapland lady role washing Yuuki’s back. Oh, really? Bamboo frond censorship? I thought Chained Soldier didn’t play those games. All right! Way to fool me! Shushu’s flotation devices are spectacular! Yuuki has extra good (or bad) luck today. Hello there, Himari. Hahaha! Chainsaw Lady chases Chained Soldier! Aw. Unexpected guests interrupt Himari’s playtime. Hi there, Tenka and Yachiho from Squad 6. Ooh, so forward, that Tenka girl.
Nei-sensei’s omake explains how her clairvoyance ability works. Next time, Himari has a dedicated episode. That overprotective, jealous, man-hating tsundere needs to calm down.
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