Zetsuen no Tempest – 06

Junichiro tells Mahiro and Yoshino how Samon had Hakaze killed by stranding her on an island, showing him her bones as proof. The paradox irks Hakaze, still alive on the island, but before they can investigate, a fruit is raised in Junichiro’s town. Natsumura tries and fails to get him to break his neutrality, while Mahiro and Yoshino escape on a bus with the special talisman in the form of a chained gun.

While in the forest, they are ambushed by soldiers of the Black Iron Syndrome Countermeasures Force. Mahiro is knocked out, while Yoshino willingly goes with Evangeline, as they’ve worked out a deal where he cooperates with her in gathering info on the Kusaribe clan, who the force aims to defeat, along with their Tree of Exodus plans. Mahiro intercepts the convoy Yoshino is on, and Yoshino must bail to avoid appearances of collusion.

The richness and excellence of this series is such that it can introduce a big and seemingly significant revelation one week, only to be almost immediately placed on the back burner in lieu of more pressing matters the next.We also had a little chuckle at the prominent mention of bones in a Bones series. But the new big revelation is that Yoshino is collaborating with Evangeline Yamamoto (long time no see) behind Mahiro’s (and Hakaze’s) back. It comes as an initial shock, but, also makes sense. Yoshino can’t entirely trust them, but nor can he entirely trust Mahiro or Hakaze. (Evangeline seems more concerned with her and Genesis than Samon and Exodus).

Yoshino is no stranger to lying to Mahiro’s face; he did it the entire time he was with Aika. But he starts to feel guilty hanging out with him and getting rescued by someone he’s lied to on so many matters. That guilt makes him feel vulnerable and expectant of some kind of retribution, but none seems forthcoming, which could either be Mahiro being dense or unobservant, or not wanting to confront Yoshino on his “treachery.” Then there’s the nugget about Aika not being Mahiro’s sister by blood, and that his feelings toward her might’ve been a bit more complicated than brotherly love. Regardless, Yoshino can’t fully trust Mahiro to save a world that, in a way, already ended when he lost her.

Rating: 8 (Great)