Finally, an episode revolving around the characters and their development rather than watching some Deals that lack structure and consistency. We were fortunate enough to witness some of Mikuni’s troubled past to learn what drives him as well as dive into the mind of our tempting heroine-Asset, Msyu. Both characters allow the audience to ponder their perspectives, be it Mikuni’s drive to minimize effects in the world and Msyu’s relationship with her Entre, Kimimaro.
In Mikuni’s segment, we were somehow thrust back through time to watch the major events of his adult life that have relevant influence on his actions. Learning business practices from his father, such as behavior and conduct, have had a powerful effect on his professional career. Not only as a business leader but as an Entre, too. Caring for his chronically ill sister, Takako, further developed his humanitarian and emotional side, which at times overpowered his fiscal persona. These two, interweaving during a critical part of Mikuni’s life, help reflect his current drive and goals within the Financial District.
You can’t help but wonder if Mikuni is hoping to make up for his lost sister. It’s unashamedly evident that Q is Takako’s replacement in the Financial District (both are the same body shape, personality, seiyuu) and represents Mikuni’s future with his beloved younger sister. It makes sense, now, why Mikuni regards Q in such high admiration. The personification of the future he lost is that of his sister. At least that’s the way I see it.
Additionally, on this point, Mikuni may also be minimizing the Financial District’s influence on the real world to prevent such hardship on others. We already know he loves humanity and is trying to protect it, but you can’t help but speculate if he believes he lost his sister due to the Financial District. We remember how Ebara lost his family, more so that they faded into ambiguous memories, but only after he ended up bankrupt. Perhaps Mikuni’s father was also an Entre in the Financial District, who ended up losing a few Deals. These Deals resulted in his company’s financial catastrophe and the eventual illness of his daughter. It’s not wild to think Mikuni thinks this way and wants to do what he can to prevent any devastating events like that in the real world.
…but if you remember back to the first episode, he deliberately bankrupts that one guy. Yeah, I almost forgot about that first Deal. I think Mikuni’s true personality may become tainted with greed and power sometime soon. He’s tried to prevent collapses in the real world, such as with the pharmaceutical companies (what is Japan’s fascination with pharmaceuticals? Never is it an automotive, technology, or service company that is featured) but he eventually buys it, amassing more burden but also more wealth. He even did it with Kimimaro, investing in Msyu’s stocks during that one Deal. I really wish they’d explain the mechanics, strategies, and just what the hell is going on during a Deal but the fewer Deals per episode, the better they usually are, like this one. Anyway, going back to the point of this paragraph, Mikuni is continually increasing his wealth while trying to minimize the effects of the Financial District in the real world. It seems like everyone is losing but him.
The second half of the episode revolved around Msyu. Her segment was not told as a flashback, like Mikuni’s, but in real-time with Msyu narrating most of her thoughts and opinions on things. Aside from finally spending time with her and seeing what she thinks, we observed bonding with Kimimaro. The two have grown to understand each other as well as themselves. For Msyu, she’s come to accept Kimimaro’s unique concern of the future, which explains why he’s so fixated on her rather than just her body form and appearance, and now enjoys spending time with him. She’s also grown curious of his life and the lifestyles and behavior of humans, which shows some human-like characteristics of a supposed non-human entity.
For Kimimaro, he’s curious about the form of his Asset, or rather, his future. Why did it take on this shape when others have giant baboons, polygonal snakes, or bee ladies? And, I know I’ve already said this, but why do half of these guys have little demon girls as their Assets? Perhaps since they represent the lost future of the Entres, they represent wives, girlfriends, and sisters, lost to their petty games in the Financial District. Perhaps Msyu is the representation of Kimimaro spending time with Hanabi, like I am assuming is Q looks like Takako for Mikuni. Kimimaro never got a real answer why the Assets take the forms they do since it seems no one knows. However, the form does not matter for how Kimimaro regards his future and how he wants to treat it, which was explained why he lacks the initiative to fight and lose in Deals. Where Kimimaro goes from here will be exciting, especially since it seems like he’s willing to take action and make things happen now.
One of the best aspects of this episode was the complete lack of Deals and nonsensical economic symbolism. The Deals in C are the only thing that lack structure, clear explanations, and worthwhile substance to this brilliant anime. Having an episode completely devoid of these aspects was definitely great. The whole episode was devoted to developing the characters without having to worry about unexplained scenes and puzzling explanations. We were able to finely examine two of the most essential characters of the series with terms and ideas we can grasp with common knowledge rather than learn a new concept that auto-wins fights or whatever. It’s episodes like these that remind me that C is a noitaminA show and I can only hope that the episodes stay like this although that is unrealistic. Perhaps they can keep the amount of Deals to a minimum and focus on Kimimaro’s conflict or just cut out the Deals and show the consequences instead.
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