Togainu no Chi

Igura (Episode)

Igura (Episode)

"Igura" (Kyōzen, 狂争)  is the third episode of the anime series. The ending theme for the episode is Don't Stare Me.

Plot

Keisuke finally gets his tags, and while exiting the mansion is attacked by Takeru. Akira defends them and Takeru runs off. Akira picks up a cross, and is later dragged off by Takeru. Takeru is revealed to be an ex-Bl@ster and is playing the Igura because he wants to win and be rich. Takeru takes back his cross, which is a memento from his dead sister. Meanwhile, the Executioners look for Takeru to punish his tag stealing.

Synopsis

The episode begins with Takeru running and cursing. Kiriwar’s pipe is shown dragging ominously on the ground, and the sound of Gunji’s laughter accompanies the sight of his claws scraping against a wall. The Executioners appear in pursuit, and Gunji tells Takeru to wait. Kiriwar replies, “Say that all you want. There’s no one who’d wait for you, you idiot!” Gunji tells the “old man” to shut up.

Takeru breaks through some boxes and starts racing up stairs as Nano’s narration starts: “Blue. The color of danger.” Takeru pries open the door to the roof and catches his breath. “It’s… the color of your soul… as you try not to sink.” Then Takeru looks up at the sky with a pained expression. “Blue. The color of the vast sky. What we now see as colorless could be seen with color once before.”

After the opening, Akira and Keisuke are walking up the street. Keisuke glances back at Akira, who wears a serious expression. A flashback shows their conversation in episode 2 about Keisuke joining Igura. They round a corner and Keisuke’s eyes widen in surprise, because Motomi is leaning against the wall before them.

Motomi greets them and explains he was just passing by, but Akira points out the number of cigarette butts at Motomi’s feet and asks if he’s “a heavy smoker.” Motomi agrees and kicks at the butts before asking if they’re headed to the Palace. Akira asks if Motomi has business there. Motomi replies: “Yeah. Every now and then, I feel like paying a visit to that den of bad taste.” Akira looks suspicious, but Keisuke feels reassured about his visit. Motomi puts a hand on Keisuke’s shoulder. Akira walks ahead, leaving Keisuke to call after him and catch up. Motomi ruefully follows after.

Faced with the Palace doors again, Keisuke swallows. Akira glances at him from the corner of his eye. Motomi puts a hand on Keisuke’s shoulder and asks if he’s ready. Keisuke agrees, and Akira closes his eyes. The doors open, and the white mask is presented.

The art inside the entrance hall is panned over, and Motomi calls the décor deranged. He mentions Arbitro by name when Akira asks, and smiles as he tells Akira he’ll understand soon.

Motomi stops and stares at the chained up black doors to the Coliseum. A guard opens a nearby door and tells Keisuke to wait inside. Keisuke hesitates, and Motomi gives his back a push while reminding him of his decision. Keisuke smiles and looks determined as he tells them he’ll be right back. Arbitro walks up, flanked by two of his men. He sees Akira first and smirks, but shrieks after he sees Motomi standing behind him. Arbitro stomps forward and demands to know why Motomi is here.

Motomi calls it a field trip, before he says: “I just wanted to see you all flustered, really.” Arbitro turns his head and decides Motomi has no reason. Motomi looks at the sculptures in the hallway around them and says Arbitro’s strange habits haven’t changed, but after seeing them so many times, Motomi might want one. Arbitro shouts that Motomi wouldn’t understand his art and tells him to step away. Motomi apologizes. Arbitro orders Motomi to never come back and walks off with a “hmph!” sound.

Akira confirms how they know each other, and Motomi explains that they can’t get rid of each other. He warns Akira to keep his guard up, because Arbitro took an interest in Akira. When Akira questions this, Motomi points out that Akira met the Executioners, so he must have seen “the dog,” too, and explains Arbitro’s love of young boys with pretty faces. Motomi also explains the doors that lead to the arena where people fight Il-Re.