Kyokai no Kanata - 04

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Although Mirai and Akihito face the Hollow Shadow in this episode of Kyokai no Kanata, it seems that there’s something far more dangerous lurking much closer to home.

But before I get into that, the Hollow Shadow definitely puts up a heck of a fight.  It attacks emotionally and psychologically more than physically, largely because its physical body is only a small portion of it.  And those attacks include pretending to be Yui Inami, creating a labyrinth out of its opponent’s memories, and attempting to possess Akihito.  And all of this while Sakura Inami tries to take Mirai out, as well.

Of course, Mirai manages to defeat the Hollow Shadow, with Akihito’s help.  In the process, it’s revealed that Akihito himself may in fact be far more dangerous than the Hollow Shadow or any other youmu.  It basically takes four Spirit World Warriors (five if you include Izumi Nase) to subdue him when he loses control in this episode, and Hiromi mentions that he’s stronger than he was before.  If this implies that he gets stronger every time his youmu side takes over, he could definitely pose a problem if he loses control in the future.

With this new information about Akihito, it’s worth mentioning that there’s still a good deal about his past that we don’t know.  Does his father’s identity matter?  (Obviously his father is a youmu, but what kind of youmu?)  Mirai’s background needs further explanation, as well.  Who are her parents?  What exactly happened to them?

Finally, this episode leaves us with plenty of questions to sustain further plot development.  Why did Izumi Nase take the Hollow Shadow’s remains away from Mirai?  What purpose does she have for keeping it?  What does it have to do with stalling the Society of Spirit World Warriors?  And stalling them from what?  We can probably assume this has to do with Akihito, based on Miroku’s statement after Akihito is finally back in control.  Assuming that, then, what plans does the Society have for Akihito?

Kyokai no Kanata Episode 5 Preview

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