The back-and-forth between Yoshino, Samon, Mahiro and Hakaze continues. After determining the method by which Hakaze can be transported to the present without causing a paradox, Samon admits he left a suitible offering on the island to do just that in an emergency, but then proceeds to stall for time by trying to convince Mahiro that the Tree of Genesis is to blame for Aika’s death. Tetsuma reports to Samon that the killer was not of the Kusaribe clan after all. Hakaze surmises that just as she is the princess of the Tree of Genesis, a princess of the Tree of Exodus may have emerged; a mage of destruction.
With three characters standing in the same place for more than two episodes, we’re officially in Naruto Boss Battle territory now. Fortunately, the dialogue is a lot more engaging, and once we’d come to terms with the fact that very little would get done action-wise this week, again, we spent the episode listening carefully, rather than gnashing our teeth. And there were a fair share of revelations this week: most intriguing being that Hakaze can come back, but only if she uses magic that transports everything but her bones from the past to her present-day skeleton.
Samon also loses the only bargaining chip he had in his contract with Mahiro: Aika’s killer. His men can’t find him, and they’ve determined he’s not a Kusaribe. This happens late in the episode, after Samon had already stalled for time about as much as he could. The whole idea how how Aika’s death is related to the actions of the Tree of Genesis – which only acts in Hakaze’s best interests – is also fascinating. Did Aika in fact die so that Hakaze could live, through the intervention of the two guys who loved her? Should Hakaze really blame herself for things the tree did independently, for her sake?
Rating: 7 (Very Good)
RABUJOI - An Anime Blog 