Once more we see that Gachiakuta is playing the long game. A little at a time, plot, characters, world-building. That’s the way of big-time battle shounen but as well, I think it reflects a certain confidence on the part of the mangaka. It may (well, there’s no “may” about it) be easier for a Weekly Jump series to become a major hit. But the flipside is that now more than ever, they get less of a leash. 15, 20 chapters – if you don’t grab, you’re gone. So this is one case where not being in WSJ was probably an advantage for Urana-sensei. When you think about all the Jump kaijuu that started out kind of slowly, you wonder how many of them would have wound up cancelled if they premiered today.
Now, none of that is to say that Gachiakuta is a weak starter. Rather, that Urana has enough faith in her premise that she didn’t feel pressure to oversell it. I much prefer an on-ramp to leaving the garage at 75 MPH, and that’s what this series has provided. We start off this week at the rumored welcome party for Rudo. Except it’s pretty clearly just an excuse to have a party, and the guest of honor is too busy moping to even join the pizza line. Rudo didn’t exactly cover himself in glory on his first mission, but he did perform one very important role. It’s clear he desperately misses having Regto around to buck him up.
Fortunately for Rudo, Gris steps in to fill that role. He reminds Rudo that it was his actions that saved the life of one of his fellow Supporters – the young man named Follo (Ura Kazuki). He also thanks the boy for not looking down on Supporters, which it seems is something Givers commonly do. The party also gives us our first look at Gobu (Gotou Hiroki). He’s a specialist in tagging – and graffiti is a huge part of the Gachiakuta aesthetic, as noted earlier.
Soon enough a call comes in for a job. A merchant has reported a trash beast attacked and stole her cargo. The catch – the cargo was another sphereite, she says. As such Seimu offers Rudo the chance to tag along again, given that this could be of personal import to him. Enjin is otherwise engaged but suggests (regular or…) Zanka can handle it. Zanka is none too pleased to have to take the kid along when he’s not even officially a Cleaner yet, but that decision isn’t his to make. And despite his self-doubts, the opportunity to potentially talk to another sphereite is too much for him to pass up.
There’s something off about all this right from the beginning, and on arrival the merchant (Shida Arisa), seems all too eager to push the Cleaners into action. In short, it’s a trap, and the ones springing it are two raiders – something like bandits, Gris says, except they all have Giver abilities. The female raider has the ability to manipulate and animate mud, which is how she traps the Cleaners underground. Gris (who seems to be the one actually in charge in practical terms) assigns three of his team to find an escape route while he and Follo protect Rudo, who’s the only actual sphereite and the object of the Raiders’ interest. The Raiders he leaves to Zanka, as the one with the ability to go toe to toe with them.
Zanka claims he knew something was up all along – true or not, he doesn’t appear too concerned about this opposition, even if it does get the jump on him. The female Raider’s mention of a “boundary” they’re seeking info on is new to him – file that away. Zanka eventually susses out the opponent and proves that his confidence was justified. He may have more experience fighting trash beasts than people, but his dexterity with his jinki far exceeds the enemies’. That’s that, it seems – but a familiar face is on-hand to indicate that it most certainly is not….
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