Sousei no Onmyouji – 16

Rokuro and Benio are stung by Seigen’s venomous negative reinforcement, but what truly stings is that they do still consider themselves as weak as he complains. Their sullen moods catch the attention of Mayura, and when she bumps into her dad, she learns the reason for them pretty quick, and decides to remedy it with a home-cooked meal.

So yeah, no Ryougo or Haruka this week…but I like how Seigen doesn’t feel he deserves to be Mayura’s dad, yet she isn’t about to stop calling him that.

Mayura succeeds in cheering Rokuro and Benio up, just as she always has in Rokuro’s case, and as he walks her home she helps him out more by assuring him he and Benio aren’t weak (without mentioning her pops).

Roku is super grateful for everything she’s done, but just as Mayura is about to quietly express her feelings for him, she suddenly falls victim to Kegare corruption.

Would the show, one week removed from killing off a character we just met, go a step further and kill off a character we’ve known and liked since the beginning (and who, practically speaking, was kinda in the way of Arima’s Miko plans for Benio and Roku)?

It certainly seemed that way…at least at first. But when Seigen showed up and said her daughter was already dead, but then proceeded to have trouble killing the cursed (yet stylish!) thing his daughter became, I started to have doubts Mayura’s time was truly up.

When Benio touched Roku and they could hear Mayura’s voice calling for help, that clinched it.

So rather than add to Benio and Roku’s emotional trauma, Kegare-Mayura provides an opportunity to try out a super purification spell only the Twin Star Exorcists can pull off together, all while showing Seigen they’re more than just talk.

At first the episode teases us when their overpowered attack is seemingly broken by the maniacally giggling KM. But Rokuro and Benio hold out their arms to catch Mayura as the Kegare armor dissolves away.

And though Mayura will be fine, Roku still bawls over the fact he could have saved his friends back in the day if only he’d had this power. That turns out to be the perfect segue for the reappearance of Ijika Yuto, whom I hope Roku realizes he cannot fight alone.

You’ve got Benio and Seigen in your party. Granted, someone has to protect Mayura, but I still like their chances.