MANGA REVIEW | "Kill Blue" - Volume Five
It’s never a dull day in the life of Juzo Ogami. On top of being a grown-ass man in a middle schooler’s body, the legendary hitman also needs to constantly protect Noren from a cabal of kidnappers. Then there are the incoming rivals, many of whom want to take Noren’s hand in marriage, a thought that makes Juzo cringe for many good reasons. However, as we continue in the fifth volume of Kill Blue, the latest “unicorn” isn’t out for Noren’s heart; she wants Juzo’s!
In the first half, Juzo and Noren deal with Mai Otohime, a “unicorn” with a split personality. Her main side is a meek girl who loves the ocean. But when the time comes, Mai transforms into “the Mermaid Queen”, a water sport champion who aims to get what she wants. And what she wants more than anything is Juzo, and she goes so far as to challenge Noren for his heart in a surfing contest.
But who is Juzo to Noren? Much of the first chapter in this volume of Kill Blue is spent wondering that. Sure, she has some feelings for the guy, but are they strong enough to be considered love? In the end, all that matters most is her friendship, and even if there may be no chance at romance (for very, very obvious reasons!), having Juzo as a buddy trumps every other feeling that rests in her gut.
Which then leads to the surfing contest at hand. It’s here where we’re reminded of how good author Tadatoshi Fujimaki is when it comes to drawing sports scenes. This is the same guy who did wonders with Kuroko’s Basketball, and he puts the same amount of love into each frame of surfing as he did with b-ball. The crashing waves, the competitors balancing on their boards, and even the look of intensity in their eyes as they take on giant waves is shown with gorgeous detail.
However, just at the brink of the competition’s end, a massive wave swoops in and grabs Noren. When Juzo goes to save her, she reacts in a way that’s rather surprising. Needless to say, it would appear that Noren is also hiding something deep within her brain. Will it be a key part to getting Juzo’s adult body back? Odds are, probably!
When one “unicorn” finds defeat, another arrives to keep the excitement going. Enter Shido Jumonji, a special member of the school’s disciplinary committee. He’s got a nose for sniffing out bad people, and his scent is going crazy over Juzo. And even after infiltrating the home ec club and finding nothing suspicious, he winds up being on the money when it comes to Juzo’s true nature.
It puts Juzo in an odd place. Knowing Shido’s connections to the law, he’d be thrown in jail if he went back to the school. But when he starts playing hooky, his classmates (Shido included) show up to his home and have an impromptu party. Watching all of his newfound friends in his place, Juzo reflects on the good and bad of his current situation. Yes, he wants his old body back, but for the first time ever, he’s getting the normal school life he never had.
Well…normal’s probably not the right word here, especially with what happens next. The next big baddie enters the picture, and they’re no “unicorn”; they’re a Goddamn devil! It sets things up nicely for what will be the second half of the Kill Blue narrative, as there are those deep in the underground syndicate who know much about Juzo’s current predicament. The question is, will Juzo get out of it alive?
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
