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akinoameSoaked, The Past, Scorching Hot Combo (Kobayashi/Shibasaki): It's Halloween at Cous Coussier, and the staff has dressed up: Chiyoko and Hina as witches and Eiji as a vampire. The new routine is settling in, with Hina using the same familiar "Eiji-kun" term and being more assertive with Ankh. He's set himself up in the attic too, where he stacked some trunks and what looks like the couch from the first few episodes, draping his red sheet over it like a blanket. He likes the new "nest" and the constant supply of ice pops, but when Hina finds him eating another one, she throws it away and argues he needs to eat real food, or her brother's going to get worse. So she drags him downstairs by the ear and puts a roasted chicken in front of him, saying it's one of her brother's favorite foods. Being a bird, Ankh twitches.
Eiji teases him for basically being completely whipped, but Ankh reveals his hand, threatening to attack. But when Chiyoko sees it, she compliments him on his "costume" and invites him down to the restaurant more often, insisting everything's going to be okay. Ankh asks Eiji why she suddenly started treating him like that, and he explains that he told her Ankh was an abandoned child from overseas, who'd grown up on the streets and in a war zone—apparently raised by three evil ghosts, based on the illustration. Because of his difficult upbringing, he's a shut-in who doesn't understand appropriate social behavior and can only say rude things because of poor language development. Ankh, naturally, is really offended. To add to the humiliation, Satonaka comes to collect on Eiji's debt, apparently not realizing or not caring that it was supposed to be paid by Eiji alone. Satonaka's acting, by now, has improved to make her personality more along the lines of "does not give a shit," so it and her cat costume just add to the fun of the bit. Every day builds up 10% interest, and since Ankh doesn't want to have to pay the interest, he just repays the ten Medals right away. But the effect is kind of like donating too much blood at once—he's uncoordinated, exhausted, and in pain, so he goes upstairs to rest.
Then the story takes a turn for the serious when a sudden boom shakes the restaurant. In the background, you can see Eiji instinctively grabbing Hina and moving in front of her while everyone else stands around in confusion. Chiyoko wonders if it's an earthquake, but an extremely tense Eiji is looking around, breathing heavily and looking like he's having a panic attack. Hina asks him what's wrong, but without a word, he bolts out the door. She catches up to him at a nearby alley, where onlookers are gathered around two parked cars, one of them destroyed. She says it looks like an accident, but he looks at the car next to them and starts up again, desperately shouting at everyone to get away and shoving them back before the car explodes with water. There's an expression of pure terror on his face before he realizes he's soaked, and after checking on Hina, he shakily explains that they all just survived a bomb. He immediately starts scanning the crowd and notices a strange man with a ball-jointed doll on his arm, holding a Cell Medal. Before he can do anything, however, Ankh's candroid distracts him, warning him of a Yummy.
Eiji follows the hawks to the bridge, finding a Shark Yummy that can swim through the ground and spit water bombs—and Eiji immediately recognizes them as the same type of explosion he just went through. But the Shark escapes, dropping only five Medals. Ankh absorbs them immediately and explains that it's another Mezool Yummy, so there's a nest of them somewhere. Eiji mentions the similarities to the bombs, and Ankh agrees that the desire to destroy something is also a desire the Greeed can exploit. And indeed they have, for the Yummy returns to Mezool, Gamel, and Uva and breaks down into Medals for them. But Kazari is missing, wandering the city in shock, trying to figure out how Eiji ended up with his Lion Medal, and they don't expect him to come back.
The nest morning, Chiyoko and Eiji are changing out the decorations when Hina comes in early. Another explosion happened, this time close to her school, damaging the pillars supporting a bridge. She brings Eiji to the crime scene and explains that it was another consecutive series of explosions, except three this time. Eiji's shaking and breathing unevenly again, staring off into space and his whole body tense, not acting at all like himself, as Hina points out. She tries to ask him how he knew it was a bomb or that another would go off, but he barely acknowledges her. She apologizes, thinking she's offended him, and he snaps out of it, trying to laugh it off by saying that of course a cop's sister would be so observant. But under her gaze, his smile fades. He explains that he recognized the explosion by the feel of it in his stomach and that he'd often seen secondary bombs go off to kill anyone who'd gathered around the first. And hesitantly, he tells his story.
During his travels, he ended up in the middle of a civil war in Africa—it's never said where specifically, but there are two possibilities, based on the time period and the locations mentioned in the show: the Chadian Civil War, which itself was fueled by the war in Darfur. For weeks, he tried to help save the villagers he stayed with. There's a break in the story as Eiji's alerted of the Yummy attack, confirming his suspicions, but he notices the creepy guy with the doll again before running off to fight. The rest of the story is told to us as both he and Hina remember, as he fights, and it's really effective. The war was terrible, and Eiji wasn't able to help. The village ran out of food, and Eiji himself was feeling the effects, becoming worn-out (in Japanese, "boro boro") and pathetic. The flashback of the little girl is of the first person he'd befriended there. The rockets exploded around her and knocked him back as he reached for her, unable to save her. When he looked back, a pile of rubble stood right on top of where she'd been, and he broke down screaming.
As he remembers, Eiji fights with a ferocity he hadn't had before, powering through the water bombs thrown at him. Hina begins to realize that Eiji isn't the way he is despite his tragedy, but because of it, and Ankh rides past her before joining Eiji at the river. Despite his furious pace earlier, Eiji can't keep up with the fast Yummy, and when Ankh tosses Cheetah, he does better, but Mezool and Gamel show up. Ankh tries to protect him and orders a retreat, but Eiji takes out the Lion Medal and ignores his warnings about the combo. LaToraTah boils off the water around them with scorching heat. His theme is Ride on Right time, and it's good, but we're at the point where the songs are becoming more challenging for Shu Watanabe. It's half-rap, half-song, and while he can't quite keep up with the rap portion, where the other singer, Tsuyoshi Himura, takes over most of it, Shu does great with the singing. The lyrics are a little more standard for a heroic battle theme, but again, it's super catchy. LaToraTah blasts four Medals out of Mezool, and Gamel has to get her out of there just before the waters rush in. The finisher has him charge ahead at top speed and tear apart the Yummy with his claws.
Again, Eiji collapses in pain. Ankh tells him he told him so and takes the Medals away from him. Eiji tries to get up, but he sees the creep again. He tells Ankh that he suspects the guy is the bomber, but Ankh can tell he's not the parent. The man confirms, insisting he's observing the bomber and he's glad he got to see OOO's power for himself. Ankh asks who he is, but he answers that humans are only complete at the end, after they've accomplished something, so he wishes that they all have a good end. That answer is so Vorlon that I'm actually disappointed in myself for returning the Babylon 5 DVDs without creating a "Kosh Approved" image. So...Kosh Approved. Ankh is appropriately confused, but Eiji's really too hurt to care much.
At the Kougami Biological Research Lab, Satonaka brings Kougami's screen to celebrate the lab's tenth anniversary, and its genius head, Dr. Maki—the creep with the doll, who also developed and thus completed the Medal System. But the mad bomber also works there...
Fist, An Experiment, Super Bike (Kobayashi/Shibasaki): Cakes are delivered to the lab and all its employees, even as Ride Vendors and candroids roll off the assembly line. Maki's not crazy about the idea of birthdays, but Kougami, who's finally gotten into the swing of pure ham, tasks him with gathering the Medals and creating the power that exceeds infinity, though he worries about finding a vessel to contain it. Sidenote: TVN usually refers to this as the "container," but I tend to use "vessel" instead, since I think it gives a little better sense of carrying something, as well as containing it. Maki suggests a Greeed may work as the vessel, but he also thinks he can develop a new system to allow humans to use the Medals themselves—something that piques Goto's interest. But Kougami wants OOO to be the vessel—something that stuns Maki, but he says he approves, since he also wants Eiji to test the new Tora candroid. Privately, however, Maki admits his disapproval of Kougami's fixation on beginnings, even switching the radio from playing "Happy Birthday To You" to the Lacrimosa portion of Mozart's Requiem (can be heard here). A Requiem Mass is a Catholic tradition of a special Mass held in memory of the dead, to pray for peace for their souls. Mozart's Requiem was commissioned by a count for the anniversary of his wife's death. It was meant to be the complete score for the whole Mass, but Mozart died before it was completed—at 35, very young, and the circumstances around his death and funeral are still debated today. Of course Maki would love this piece. He gazes at a painting of cherubs holding Cell Medals, with naked humans twisted amidst smoke and fire, bugs and a bird visible in the background...and a purple T. rex as well. Interesting. He says that endings are what should be commemorated, before returning to watch over the mad bomber, testing four explosions in a tank for his third "experiment."
Back at the bar, Gamel tries to give Mezool one of his Cores to help after Eiji took hers, but Uva tells him it won't work. She says she'll be fine once her Yummies are born, and Uva's just even more pissed at Eiji and Ankh.
At Cous Coussier, Eiji ices all of his aches while Hina gets him a wet cloth and Ankh plays with the Medals. He again says he's taking Eiji's Medal-holding privileges away, since he's too reckless with them, but Eiji grumbles to let him keep the ones that don't form combos. A hawk appears at the window, which Eiji sent to follow Maki in order to find out more about the bomber. Eiji starts to head off, but Hina tries to convince him to rest, to no avail. He's afraid of casualties from the next bomb, and so goes off. Ankh asks why Eiji cares so much, and Hina says he'd never understand. While he claims not to care, he goes after Eiji anyway, because of his talent at collecting Medals. She grouses about how awful he is, especially when he's got her brother's face.
Goto decides to visit the lab, curious about the new Medal System. At the same time, the bomber leaves to conduct his next experiment, another Yummy hatching inside the lab. Eiji almost runs him over on his way over, and as Ankh passes him, he recognizes the aura and tells Eiji he got it right again—this guy is indeed the parent, and the nest is inside the lab. Apologetically, Eiji asks the hawk to follow the bomber, but the Yummy attacks, knocking Ankh off Shingo. Eiji keeps up with Cheetah, kicking it to death, then runs inside. But Maki closes the emergency barricades, sealing off the lab. He asks Eiji to wait to destroy the nest so he can continue to observe it, explaining that the bomber, Tadano, had a dark side and a secret interest in bombs. Mezool brought it to the surface. Eiji asks if Maki understands how many people will be hurt by the bombs, but Maki says it's just research, and that just as a story reaches its conclusion, so too must all humans. Eiji calls him crazy, but he realizes that Tadano's setting more bombs, so he runs off, and Maki understands that Eiji will never see things his way.
Tadano sets seven bombs at the amusement park, hatching more Yummies. Goto, only aware of the lab shutting down, asks the researchers what's going on, but they say that only Maki has the authority to deactivate emergency mode, and no one can find him. But the Yummies attack, apparently killing some of the researchers, and Goto has to protect them. He shoots his way to the control room and uses his laptop to try to hack past security.
Eiji catches up to Tadano and takes his notes, realizing that the bombs are about to go off. He runs, following the notes to find them, and the park's police have the easiest arrest in history when Tadano screams after him, "My bombs!" Eiji first tries to evacuate the rollercoaster, but people are already on the ride. He gets everyone else to run, then disarms all of the bombs along the tracks. The whole time, he's terrified, flashing back to the girl—both the happier times, with her smiling and giving him a rock, and the worst, of her death.
He finds the last bomb in the men's room, with only seconds to go. But a young boy is washing his hands and letting the sink overflow. Terrified, Eiji throws the book and yells at him to get down, diving for the bomb. He pulls out the wires in time, but he's completely trapped in the moment again, only able to think of the girl he couldn't save and his shock and pain as he fell to his knees, screaming. And this, my friends, is a flashback—in posttraumatic stress disorder, it's not always just a memory, but the intense feelings like you're back in the moment. Throughout the entire episode, Eiji has been displaying symptoms of PTSD, making a pretty solid diagnosis. But I'll get to that more in the endpoint. He finally starts to come out of it and realizes that he's shaking uncontrollably. He lets go of the wires and holds his hand to stop the trembling as he hyperventilates and turns to check on the boy, who is soaked—probably from the water, but given Eiji's behavior, it's entirely believable he wet himself. Eiji finally gets to his feet and apologizes for scaring him, offering his own underwear as a replacement.
He returns to the lab, Ankh, and Maki, freezing in fury as he looks at him. Maki notes that because Eiji's stopped Tadano, his own observations are over, and gives him the Tora candroid, advising him to attach it to his bike. You know, there's a picspam from Babylon 5 I've been waiting to use:
...Or Eiji could try to punch Maki. No, really. To everyone's shock, he grabs Maki, whips him around, and with an uncharacteristic look of pure hatred, he throws a punch. Except that at the very last second, a breath away from Maki's face, he buries his fist into a fusebox. There's no way for it to be an accident at that distance; it's perfectly controlled, a warning shot. Trembling from trauma and fury, Eiji politely tells him to fuck off. The doll proceeds to faint, and Maki loses it, jerking around and claiming he can't talk.
As Eiji starts to calm down, Ankh tosses him the TaToBa Medals. Eiji activates the new candroid and attaches it to the front of the Ride Vendor, turning into a 4-wheeler called the Toride Vendor. But it has zero control and charges right through the rising barricade, and Eiji's back to his usual derpbaby self, running after it and trying to reason with it, much to Ankh's disbelief.
Goto alerts everyone to the open door and urges them to evacuate while the wildly bucking Toride Vendor attacks the Yummies. Eiji leaps on and still fails to control it, warning Goto to get out of the way. He's thrown, but Maki appears again, suggesting that he use a combo so the Toride Vendor can absorb the excess energy. Despite the general sense of "cut off your head and stick it on a pike" that Eiji kind of had toward Maki before, he decides to give it a shot and shakes Ankh until the Lion and Cheetah Medals come out. LaToraTah tames the Toride Vendor through its energy, and the drain makes the form a lot easier on Eiji. He chases the Yummies outside, cutting down a few with his sword. A roar from the Toride Vendor blasts the rest out of the ground, and Medal-shaped blasts from the front wheels take them out. Having seen all of this, Maki has to wonder if OOO will be the vessel to bring a proper end to the world.
Cous Coussier is serving its take on school lunches from all over the world, and Eiji and Ankh get their lunch during the break—Japanese for Eiji, Russian for Ankh. Eiji, of course, says he loves it, much to Hina's delight. Ankh, of course, says he hates it, so she scolds him and tells him to make sure he eats the whole thing. Chiyoko comes out, dressed as a teacher, determined to teach Ankh proper Japanese. Ankh gets annoyed and storms off, but she persists, much to Eiji and Hina's amusement.
Traveler, Swallowtail Butterfly, Celebrity (Shoji Yonemura/Kaneda): It's Eiji's laundry day at Cous Coussier, and Hina is trying in vain to talk him out of hanging up his underwear to dry on the restaurant's sign. To make matters more awkward, the wind blows it onto a poor bystander's face...but Eiji recognizes said bystander as his friend, Keisuke Tsukuba, who tells him not to worry—or "mai pen rai," as they say in Thailand. Tsukuba had helped Eiji out during a trip to Thailand, and here's where I need to delve into one of my theories.
One of the rumors I've heard is that Eiji was supposed to be written more cynical than he ended up, with his personality changing once they cast Shu Watanabe. I'm not sure how true that is, when we have Ankh as our pure cynic, but I will say that something strikes me as a little odd about Eiji in contrast to Shu. See, there are clear parallels to Kamen Rider Kuuga, and Eiji is very reminiscent of Yusuke Godai, albeit much younger. Godai was 25 during the events of Kuuga. Judging by Shu Watanabe's age, Eiji has to be about 18 or 19 throughout the show, and certainly no older than 20. But there are moments in the writing where it seems like Kobayashi was planning for someone a little older than Shu, someone closer to Godai's age, and this is one of them. Tsukuba is clearly older than Eiji, but they seem to have been friends for a while. They act like it's been a few years since they last saw each other, so Eiji would have had to have still been in high school when he went to Thailand. But at the same time, Tsukuba knows about Eiji's past in the war, which we learn later is still a fairly recent event for Eiji, no more than a year ago. So it's weird, like the writers forget that they're dealing with someone who's still very young.
Anyway, they go inside and Chiyoko recognizes Tsukuba as a blogger—a small-time blogger—who writes about his world travels. Tsukuba asks about Eiji's next journey, but of course, Eiji hesitantly answers he's on a break. Tsukuba says his own travels are over, and he's focusing on a new dream—writing a book about what he's done. Eiji volunteers to help him find a publisher, but the publisher rejects him, saying his writing is too amateurish, contrasting with a more popular blogger, Kotaro Sawada. Even so, Tsukuba doesn't give up, telling Eiji and Hina that life itself is a journey.
Meanwhile, Gamel looks for Cell Medals to help Mezool, checking around the Ride Vendors to see if any were dropped. And honestly, this is a pretty brilliant idea—the Ride Vendors are storing the Medals that Eiji and the troopers put in. They're eventually delivered to Kougami. As he and Maki said, they haven't managed to tap into the Medals' powers at all. The closest they've managed is the sword, and even that requires OOO's powers to even activate. So why not try to take advantage of Kougami's Medal hoarding? Shake down that vending machine, Gamel. But Mezool is back on her feet and less than appreciative of his efforts, roughly pulling him up and saying that she doesn't want a discarded Cell Medal, but her own Cores back from OOO. Then she pats him on the head and compliments him for being so loyal. It's like watching someone hit a puppy who's too dumb not to love her—it's honestly hard to watch, especially in retrospect once you get to the end of the series. Uva watches the whole thing and decides to just harvest Medals the old-fashioned way. Sure, just because you guys didn't have a brilliant plan like that.
At the Foundation, Goto runs into an old police acquaintance of his, Misumi, who recognizes him right away and remembers how he quit to try to protect the world. He strikes a nerve, asking Goto if he really has managed to protect the world, or if those were just pretty words to justify leaving a job where his mission was to protect and serve. But Goto retorts that Misumi was only ever interested in promotions, constantly in competition with him, and he promises himself that he'll make good on his word.
Tsukuba looks over Sawada's flashier blog, trying to figure out what it is that makes him more popular. He sees that Sawada's got another book coming out and he's making a radio appearance too. Uva takes advantage of his envy and creates a Yummy before appearing to him in human form and asking him to think really hard about what he wants, in order to become famous. Tsukuba wishes to write as well as Sawada and to appear on the radio. The Yummy then attacks Sawada at a meeting with his publisher and takes the very talent from him, becoming a swallowtail butterfly, pollinating Tsukuba with the stolen talent, allowing him to write.
Ankh sends a hawk to lead Eiji to the Yummy, but it lifts him into the air and drops him. Ankh catches him before he can hit the ground, then drops him the moment Eiji starts yelling at him for being late. No, I think Ankh is justified this time. The Yummy's flight keeps Eiji from catching it, also allowing it to divebomb him, and Goto gets on his case for letting it get away. When Eiji points out he can't fly and thus can't chase it, Goto asks why someone as irresponsible as him got to be OOO. Eiji says he wants to help the people he sees in trouble, but Goto mocks him and says that he personally wants to save the world. He then tattles on Eiji to Kougami. Kougami gears up for another "Eiji shouldn't be OOO" rant and argues that he finds Eiji "fascinating," which Goto really can't argue with. He asks him to give Eiji a new set of candroids—the Unagi, or eel. Specifically, electric eel. Goto's aggravated by his menial delivery jobs, but Maki appears and tells him that he believes Goto can save the world. But he must prove it to Kougami.
Hina hears Tsukuba on the radio, taking Sawada's place while stumbling through the interview. While she and Chiyoko are happy for him, Eiji's a little confused. Tsukuba's blog ranking goes up to #2, only behind a comedy duo's travel blog. He envies their easy talking style and says as much to Uva. The duo is attacked on the road, their talent drained. But this time, Eiji notices the pollen passing overhead and recognizes it. While Hina and Ankh argue, Eiji tries to tell him what's going on. When Ankh yells at him, Hina grabs his ear. Chiyoko tells them that Tsukuba's texted her about appearing on a live talk show and suggests that Hina go before they open.
Eiji and Ankh, in the meantime, go to fight. But along the way, they run into Gamel—literally. Gamel grabs Eiji's bike and sends him flying. Speed from the Cheetah Medal gives Eiji an edge, but Gamel collides with Ankh and releases two of Mezool's Medals. Worse for Ankh, Eiji's first priority is the Yummy, not the Medals. Goto's fighting it alone, getting his ass kicked, while Maki watches and wishes him a fair ending.
Hina goes to the show and watches the rehearsal, surprised at Tsukuba's sudden ease with public speaking and inexplicable Osakan accent. She also notices the strange way he looks toward Evil Ben 10, immediately recognizing Uva. Unfortunately, she calls this out, and when he realizes she does recognize him, he changes forms and goes to attack her, with everyone panicking as they approach the stage.
Still new to super speed, Eiji can't stop accurately, but he still manages to rescue Goto, much to his chagrin. Ankh advises him to cut off the Yummy's wings so it can't fly away, and Eiji equips Kamakiri. He almost finishes it off, but Goto's pride and envy get in the way. He grabs his rocket launcher and fires, but hits Eiji instead...
Unagi, The World, Heavy-Hitter Combo (Yonemura/Kaneda): Eiji goes flying again, and the Yummy is able to take advantage of his injuries and get the upperhand. At the same time, Hina lifts the heavy stage backdrop and throws it at Uva, who just slices through it. She then uses a fire extinguisher as a smokescreen so she can hide under the stage until he loses interest, so she can escape.
The Yummy takes to the air again, and though Ankh has Eiji switch back to TaToBa for high jumps, it gets away. Despite getting shot with a bazooka, Eiji still runs over to check on Goto. When Goto shoves him away, Ankh asks the very reasonable question of why the hell did you just shoot our hero? Goto says that Eiji got in his way, and there's this almost kicked-puppy look on Eiji's face for a moment, like he really, honestly, and truly believes this was his fault. Goto reiterates that he, not Eiji, is the one protecting the world, much to Eiji's shock. Ankh asks exactly how Goto plans to protect it, and Goto grumbles that he would if he had OOO's power. Eiji says he'd be happy to just give him the Driver instead, since the way he sees it, he's only doing what he can for right now. If Goto wants it so bad, why not let him have it? Why not let him join them? Goto gets defensive and pissy, and both he and Ankh grab him. Eiji points out that they actually agreed on something for once, and they both look at each other like they'd rather die. Ankh tells Eiji that giving up the Driver won't work—when Ankh placed the seal on him, it bonded and sealed to him, so no one else can become OOO. I get the feeling this is a hint toward a dropped plotline—it sounds like foreshadowing that the seal may have been broken in a later storyline, with Eiji no longer being OOO. But Hina finally escapes Uva and warns Eiji that Tsukuba's in danger. She brings him to the stage, where the damage is being cleaned up, and she says that Tsukuba acted like he was possessed. Eiji realizes this means Tsukuba is the Yummy's parent.
Gamel gives Mezool back her Medals, and she's immediately gentle and motherly toward him. Uva compliments him, and Mezool asks if he was trying to keep the Medals from his Yummy to himself. He just says that OOO got in the way, and Gamel swears to defeat him. Mezool agrees, but they remind her that she's still weak from the last battle, so it'll be Uva and Gamel who fight. But secretly, Uva plans to keep some of the Cell Medals from them.
Goto apologizes to Kougami for his actions, and Satonaka gives him a dressing down, saying his behavior is like some kind of awful rebirth. Kougami applauds his initiative in fighting without permission and considers Goto's suggestion of a Medal System that would better let him use their power as a "birthday present." But he can't condone the shooting of our hero and so he puts him on administrative leave, dismisses him, and for good measure, splatters his face with cake batter. Humiliated, Goto thinks over Eiji's words and offer. Maki finds him in the garage and mocks him for his punishment. He suggests again that such a system could be developed and asks if Goto still wants it. Realizing that the new system does exist, he asks for it, but Maki says he needs to see if he's worthy. After all, he won't be anything until he's accomplished something—the results are what's important.
Tsukuba meets with the publisher, still not satisfied with everything he's gained. There's something else he still needs. Meanwhile, Ankh realizes that until they defeat the Yummy, he and Eiji are using more Medals than they earn, but he doesn't know how they can defeat it. He recalls Eiji's trouble with the gravity-manipulating Bison Yummy and realizes they need Gamel's Cores, now. Hina and Eiji talk about Tsukuba's sudden rise to fame, and Eiji also heard the new accent. Suddenly, Tsukuba visits, and Eiji asks why he hasn't called him back, since he's been worried. But Tsukuba asks to use Eiji's story about the war for himself, since he needs more emotional stories. Hina's aghast while Eiji's numb with shock. When Tsukuba says the story will increase his fame, Eiji quietly and seriously asks him why he wants to be famous. Tsukuba says he wants to prove his critics wrong—in Bangkok, others said he couldn't do anything. Eiji asks if that's why he started traveling the world, and Tsukuba says that other world-travelers are haughty and he needs to prove himself to them. Ankh arrives and confirms that Tsukuba is the parent. Eiji tries to reason with him, but Tsukuba has no idea what he's talking about. Ankh pulls him aside and tells him to fight the Yummy, since it's built up a lot of Medals, and Hina suggests that Tsukuba come with them.
The Yummy is attacking celebrities atToei's backlot a studio, and Eiji tackles it before it can attack a woman who lost her shoe trying to escape. While he fights, Hina explains that the Yummy was born from Tsukuba's desire. Eiji manages to pull the Yummy away from the woman again, then returns her shoe and tells her to run before he gets thrown again. He realizes that Hina and Tsukuba are there, and he gives Tsukuba permission to use his story—even if it's only to make Tsukuba famous, he just asks that he convey how painful war is, that what's important is what's done.
This resonates with Goto, who came along in his desperate quest to prove himself, and they have parallel revelations, and I really love it. Tsukuba realizes he hasn't done anything—he didn't even travel around the world; his blog was about what he wanted to do. Likewise, Goto realizes that for all his talk about wanting to save the world, he also hasn't done anything to make that happen. Neither of them have accomplished anything, and they've only become jealous of people like Eiji who have.
Goto realizes he can accomplish his dream Eiji's way, by doing the little he can every chance he has so it can build up toward saving the world. As Eiji falls, he shoots his rocket launcher at the Yummy, then tosses over the new candroids. He even tries not to get too mad when Eiji panics, thinking they're snakes. As the Yummy attacks him again, Eiji decides to trust Goto that they're not snakes, and throws the eels at the Yummy, restraining its wings and shocking it. Batta sends the video footage to Maki, now in league with Kazari, each wanting to observe the other's side and learn more.
Uva joins the fight and frees the Yummy. Goto tries to help, but Gamel takes his bazooka and throws him into a wall. He goes to attack Eiji while he tries to help an injured Goto, but Ankh pushes them out of the way, sending Eiji to take Gamel's Cores. The stakes are pretty hopeless against two Greeed and a Yummy, but fortunately, Gamel is so intent on defeating Eiji himself that he even attacks Uva when he's about to do it. This leaves Gamel open so that Eiji can punch him and remove three Medals. When the Yummy throws him again and Gamel tries to attack, he ignores Ankh's warnings and uses the heavy-hitting SaGoZou combo, to the brass band of "Sun Goes Up." Again, the lyrics are a little generic—in fact, they're kind of odd, since it talks about light defeating the darkness when the light-powered combo is LaToraTah, not SaGoZou. But the song really starts to bring out Shu Watanabe's versatility, with him making his voice lower, deeper, and stronger for the second verse. Beating his chest allows Eiji to create shockwaves that send Uva and Gamel running and cause Uva to lose a Medal. The finisher has him leap into the air, then fall straight down, generating a gravity wave that sinks the Yummy into the ground and draws it closer for a double punch with oversized fists and a headbutt with his hard, horned head. Again, Eiji collapses in exhaustion once he transforms back, but Ankh has to admit he's pretty damn suitable as a vessel, managing to control both LaToraTah and SaGoZou. Goto goes over and helps him up, and exhausted, all Eiji can say is that he doesn't hate him.
Eiji tells Tsukuba that all of the Yummy's victims have gone back to normal, much to his relief. He's decided to take his journey one step at a time, first biking to Hokkaido. Hina wishes him luck and promises that Chiyoko will follow his new blog. As a gift, Eiji gives him some underwear, which he appreciates as he sets off.
Eiji teases him for basically being completely whipped, but Ankh reveals his hand, threatening to attack. But when Chiyoko sees it, she compliments him on his "costume" and invites him down to the restaurant more often, insisting everything's going to be okay. Ankh asks Eiji why she suddenly started treating him like that, and he explains that he told her Ankh was an abandoned child from overseas, who'd grown up on the streets and in a war zone—apparently raised by three evil ghosts, based on the illustration. Because of his difficult upbringing, he's a shut-in who doesn't understand appropriate social behavior and can only say rude things because of poor language development. Ankh, naturally, is really offended. To add to the humiliation, Satonaka comes to collect on Eiji's debt, apparently not realizing or not caring that it was supposed to be paid by Eiji alone. Satonaka's acting, by now, has improved to make her personality more along the lines of "does not give a shit," so it and her cat costume just add to the fun of the bit. Every day builds up 10% interest, and since Ankh doesn't want to have to pay the interest, he just repays the ten Medals right away. But the effect is kind of like donating too much blood at once—he's uncoordinated, exhausted, and in pain, so he goes upstairs to rest.
Then the story takes a turn for the serious when a sudden boom shakes the restaurant. In the background, you can see Eiji instinctively grabbing Hina and moving in front of her while everyone else stands around in confusion. Chiyoko wonders if it's an earthquake, but an extremely tense Eiji is looking around, breathing heavily and looking like he's having a panic attack. Hina asks him what's wrong, but without a word, he bolts out the door. She catches up to him at a nearby alley, where onlookers are gathered around two parked cars, one of them destroyed. She says it looks like an accident, but he looks at the car next to them and starts up again, desperately shouting at everyone to get away and shoving them back before the car explodes with water. There's an expression of pure terror on his face before he realizes he's soaked, and after checking on Hina, he shakily explains that they all just survived a bomb. He immediately starts scanning the crowd and notices a strange man with a ball-jointed doll on his arm, holding a Cell Medal. Before he can do anything, however, Ankh's candroid distracts him, warning him of a Yummy.
Eiji follows the hawks to the bridge, finding a Shark Yummy that can swim through the ground and spit water bombs—and Eiji immediately recognizes them as the same type of explosion he just went through. But the Shark escapes, dropping only five Medals. Ankh absorbs them immediately and explains that it's another Mezool Yummy, so there's a nest of them somewhere. Eiji mentions the similarities to the bombs, and Ankh agrees that the desire to destroy something is also a desire the Greeed can exploit. And indeed they have, for the Yummy returns to Mezool, Gamel, and Uva and breaks down into Medals for them. But Kazari is missing, wandering the city in shock, trying to figure out how Eiji ended up with his Lion Medal, and they don't expect him to come back.
The nest morning, Chiyoko and Eiji are changing out the decorations when Hina comes in early. Another explosion happened, this time close to her school, damaging the pillars supporting a bridge. She brings Eiji to the crime scene and explains that it was another consecutive series of explosions, except three this time. Eiji's shaking and breathing unevenly again, staring off into space and his whole body tense, not acting at all like himself, as Hina points out. She tries to ask him how he knew it was a bomb or that another would go off, but he barely acknowledges her. She apologizes, thinking she's offended him, and he snaps out of it, trying to laugh it off by saying that of course a cop's sister would be so observant. But under her gaze, his smile fades. He explains that he recognized the explosion by the feel of it in his stomach and that he'd often seen secondary bombs go off to kill anyone who'd gathered around the first. And hesitantly, he tells his story.
During his travels, he ended up in the middle of a civil war in Africa—it's never said where specifically, but there are two possibilities, based on the time period and the locations mentioned in the show: the Chadian Civil War, which itself was fueled by the war in Darfur. For weeks, he tried to help save the villagers he stayed with. There's a break in the story as Eiji's alerted of the Yummy attack, confirming his suspicions, but he notices the creepy guy with the doll again before running off to fight. The rest of the story is told to us as both he and Hina remember, as he fights, and it's really effective. The war was terrible, and Eiji wasn't able to help. The village ran out of food, and Eiji himself was feeling the effects, becoming worn-out (in Japanese, "boro boro") and pathetic. The flashback of the little girl is of the first person he'd befriended there. The rockets exploded around her and knocked him back as he reached for her, unable to save her. When he looked back, a pile of rubble stood right on top of where she'd been, and he broke down screaming.
As he remembers, Eiji fights with a ferocity he hadn't had before, powering through the water bombs thrown at him. Hina begins to realize that Eiji isn't the way he is despite his tragedy, but because of it, and Ankh rides past her before joining Eiji at the river. Despite his furious pace earlier, Eiji can't keep up with the fast Yummy, and when Ankh tosses Cheetah, he does better, but Mezool and Gamel show up. Ankh tries to protect him and orders a retreat, but Eiji takes out the Lion Medal and ignores his warnings about the combo. LaToraTah boils off the water around them with scorching heat. His theme is Ride on Right time, and it's good, but we're at the point where the songs are becoming more challenging for Shu Watanabe. It's half-rap, half-song, and while he can't quite keep up with the rap portion, where the other singer, Tsuyoshi Himura, takes over most of it, Shu does great with the singing. The lyrics are a little more standard for a heroic battle theme, but again, it's super catchy. LaToraTah blasts four Medals out of Mezool, and Gamel has to get her out of there just before the waters rush in. The finisher has him charge ahead at top speed and tear apart the Yummy with his claws.
Again, Eiji collapses in pain. Ankh tells him he told him so and takes the Medals away from him. Eiji tries to get up, but he sees the creep again. He tells Ankh that he suspects the guy is the bomber, but Ankh can tell he's not the parent. The man confirms, insisting he's observing the bomber and he's glad he got to see OOO's power for himself. Ankh asks who he is, but he answers that humans are only complete at the end, after they've accomplished something, so he wishes that they all have a good end. That answer is so Vorlon that I'm actually disappointed in myself for returning the Babylon 5 DVDs without creating a "Kosh Approved" image. So...Kosh Approved. Ankh is appropriately confused, but Eiji's really too hurt to care much.
At the Kougami Biological Research Lab, Satonaka brings Kougami's screen to celebrate the lab's tenth anniversary, and its genius head, Dr. Maki—the creep with the doll, who also developed and thus completed the Medal System. But the mad bomber also works there...
Fist, An Experiment, Super Bike (Kobayashi/Shibasaki): Cakes are delivered to the lab and all its employees, even as Ride Vendors and candroids roll off the assembly line. Maki's not crazy about the idea of birthdays, but Kougami, who's finally gotten into the swing of pure ham, tasks him with gathering the Medals and creating the power that exceeds infinity, though he worries about finding a vessel to contain it. Sidenote: TVN usually refers to this as the "container," but I tend to use "vessel" instead, since I think it gives a little better sense of carrying something, as well as containing it. Maki suggests a Greeed may work as the vessel, but he also thinks he can develop a new system to allow humans to use the Medals themselves—something that piques Goto's interest. But Kougami wants OOO to be the vessel—something that stuns Maki, but he says he approves, since he also wants Eiji to test the new Tora candroid. Privately, however, Maki admits his disapproval of Kougami's fixation on beginnings, even switching the radio from playing "Happy Birthday To You" to the Lacrimosa portion of Mozart's Requiem (can be heard here). A Requiem Mass is a Catholic tradition of a special Mass held in memory of the dead, to pray for peace for their souls. Mozart's Requiem was commissioned by a count for the anniversary of his wife's death. It was meant to be the complete score for the whole Mass, but Mozart died before it was completed—at 35, very young, and the circumstances around his death and funeral are still debated today. Of course Maki would love this piece. He gazes at a painting of cherubs holding Cell Medals, with naked humans twisted amidst smoke and fire, bugs and a bird visible in the background...and a purple T. rex as well. Interesting. He says that endings are what should be commemorated, before returning to watch over the mad bomber, testing four explosions in a tank for his third "experiment."
Back at the bar, Gamel tries to give Mezool one of his Cores to help after Eiji took hers, but Uva tells him it won't work. She says she'll be fine once her Yummies are born, and Uva's just even more pissed at Eiji and Ankh.
At Cous Coussier, Eiji ices all of his aches while Hina gets him a wet cloth and Ankh plays with the Medals. He again says he's taking Eiji's Medal-holding privileges away, since he's too reckless with them, but Eiji grumbles to let him keep the ones that don't form combos. A hawk appears at the window, which Eiji sent to follow Maki in order to find out more about the bomber. Eiji starts to head off, but Hina tries to convince him to rest, to no avail. He's afraid of casualties from the next bomb, and so goes off. Ankh asks why Eiji cares so much, and Hina says he'd never understand. While he claims not to care, he goes after Eiji anyway, because of his talent at collecting Medals. She grouses about how awful he is, especially when he's got her brother's face.
Goto decides to visit the lab, curious about the new Medal System. At the same time, the bomber leaves to conduct his next experiment, another Yummy hatching inside the lab. Eiji almost runs him over on his way over, and as Ankh passes him, he recognizes the aura and tells Eiji he got it right again—this guy is indeed the parent, and the nest is inside the lab. Apologetically, Eiji asks the hawk to follow the bomber, but the Yummy attacks, knocking Ankh off Shingo. Eiji keeps up with Cheetah, kicking it to death, then runs inside. But Maki closes the emergency barricades, sealing off the lab. He asks Eiji to wait to destroy the nest so he can continue to observe it, explaining that the bomber, Tadano, had a dark side and a secret interest in bombs. Mezool brought it to the surface. Eiji asks if Maki understands how many people will be hurt by the bombs, but Maki says it's just research, and that just as a story reaches its conclusion, so too must all humans. Eiji calls him crazy, but he realizes that Tadano's setting more bombs, so he runs off, and Maki understands that Eiji will never see things his way.
Tadano sets seven bombs at the amusement park, hatching more Yummies. Goto, only aware of the lab shutting down, asks the researchers what's going on, but they say that only Maki has the authority to deactivate emergency mode, and no one can find him. But the Yummies attack, apparently killing some of the researchers, and Goto has to protect them. He shoots his way to the control room and uses his laptop to try to hack past security.
Eiji catches up to Tadano and takes his notes, realizing that the bombs are about to go off. He runs, following the notes to find them, and the park's police have the easiest arrest in history when Tadano screams after him, "My bombs!" Eiji first tries to evacuate the rollercoaster, but people are already on the ride. He gets everyone else to run, then disarms all of the bombs along the tracks. The whole time, he's terrified, flashing back to the girl—both the happier times, with her smiling and giving him a rock, and the worst, of her death.
He finds the last bomb in the men's room, with only seconds to go. But a young boy is washing his hands and letting the sink overflow. Terrified, Eiji throws the book and yells at him to get down, diving for the bomb. He pulls out the wires in time, but he's completely trapped in the moment again, only able to think of the girl he couldn't save and his shock and pain as he fell to his knees, screaming. And this, my friends, is a flashback—in posttraumatic stress disorder, it's not always just a memory, but the intense feelings like you're back in the moment. Throughout the entire episode, Eiji has been displaying symptoms of PTSD, making a pretty solid diagnosis. But I'll get to that more in the endpoint. He finally starts to come out of it and realizes that he's shaking uncontrollably. He lets go of the wires and holds his hand to stop the trembling as he hyperventilates and turns to check on the boy, who is soaked—probably from the water, but given Eiji's behavior, it's entirely believable he wet himself. Eiji finally gets to his feet and apologizes for scaring him, offering his own underwear as a replacement.
He returns to the lab, Ankh, and Maki, freezing in fury as he looks at him. Maki notes that because Eiji's stopped Tadano, his own observations are over, and gives him the Tora candroid, advising him to attach it to his bike. You know, there's a picspam from Babylon 5 I've been waiting to use:
...Or Eiji could try to punch Maki. No, really. To everyone's shock, he grabs Maki, whips him around, and with an uncharacteristic look of pure hatred, he throws a punch. Except that at the very last second, a breath away from Maki's face, he buries his fist into a fusebox. There's no way for it to be an accident at that distance; it's perfectly controlled, a warning shot. Trembling from trauma and fury, Eiji politely tells him to fuck off. The doll proceeds to faint, and Maki loses it, jerking around and claiming he can't talk.
As Eiji starts to calm down, Ankh tosses him the TaToBa Medals. Eiji activates the new candroid and attaches it to the front of the Ride Vendor, turning into a 4-wheeler called the Toride Vendor. But it has zero control and charges right through the rising barricade, and Eiji's back to his usual derpbaby self, running after it and trying to reason with it, much to Ankh's disbelief.
Goto alerts everyone to the open door and urges them to evacuate while the wildly bucking Toride Vendor attacks the Yummies. Eiji leaps on and still fails to control it, warning Goto to get out of the way. He's thrown, but Maki appears again, suggesting that he use a combo so the Toride Vendor can absorb the excess energy. Despite the general sense of "cut off your head and stick it on a pike" that Eiji kind of had toward Maki before, he decides to give it a shot and shakes Ankh until the Lion and Cheetah Medals come out. LaToraTah tames the Toride Vendor through its energy, and the drain makes the form a lot easier on Eiji. He chases the Yummies outside, cutting down a few with his sword. A roar from the Toride Vendor blasts the rest out of the ground, and Medal-shaped blasts from the front wheels take them out. Having seen all of this, Maki has to wonder if OOO will be the vessel to bring a proper end to the world.
Cous Coussier is serving its take on school lunches from all over the world, and Eiji and Ankh get their lunch during the break—Japanese for Eiji, Russian for Ankh. Eiji, of course, says he loves it, much to Hina's delight. Ankh, of course, says he hates it, so she scolds him and tells him to make sure he eats the whole thing. Chiyoko comes out, dressed as a teacher, determined to teach Ankh proper Japanese. Ankh gets annoyed and storms off, but she persists, much to Eiji and Hina's amusement.
Traveler, Swallowtail Butterfly, Celebrity (Shoji Yonemura/Kaneda): It's Eiji's laundry day at Cous Coussier, and Hina is trying in vain to talk him out of hanging up his underwear to dry on the restaurant's sign. To make matters more awkward, the wind blows it onto a poor bystander's face...but Eiji recognizes said bystander as his friend, Keisuke Tsukuba, who tells him not to worry—or "mai pen rai," as they say in Thailand. Tsukuba had helped Eiji out during a trip to Thailand, and here's where I need to delve into one of my theories.
One of the rumors I've heard is that Eiji was supposed to be written more cynical than he ended up, with his personality changing once they cast Shu Watanabe. I'm not sure how true that is, when we have Ankh as our pure cynic, but I will say that something strikes me as a little odd about Eiji in contrast to Shu. See, there are clear parallels to Kamen Rider Kuuga, and Eiji is very reminiscent of Yusuke Godai, albeit much younger. Godai was 25 during the events of Kuuga. Judging by Shu Watanabe's age, Eiji has to be about 18 or 19 throughout the show, and certainly no older than 20. But there are moments in the writing where it seems like Kobayashi was planning for someone a little older than Shu, someone closer to Godai's age, and this is one of them. Tsukuba is clearly older than Eiji, but they seem to have been friends for a while. They act like it's been a few years since they last saw each other, so Eiji would have had to have still been in high school when he went to Thailand. But at the same time, Tsukuba knows about Eiji's past in the war, which we learn later is still a fairly recent event for Eiji, no more than a year ago. So it's weird, like the writers forget that they're dealing with someone who's still very young.
Anyway, they go inside and Chiyoko recognizes Tsukuba as a blogger—a small-time blogger—who writes about his world travels. Tsukuba asks about Eiji's next journey, but of course, Eiji hesitantly answers he's on a break. Tsukuba says his own travels are over, and he's focusing on a new dream—writing a book about what he's done. Eiji volunteers to help him find a publisher, but the publisher rejects him, saying his writing is too amateurish, contrasting with a more popular blogger, Kotaro Sawada. Even so, Tsukuba doesn't give up, telling Eiji and Hina that life itself is a journey.
Meanwhile, Gamel looks for Cell Medals to help Mezool, checking around the Ride Vendors to see if any were dropped. And honestly, this is a pretty brilliant idea—the Ride Vendors are storing the Medals that Eiji and the troopers put in. They're eventually delivered to Kougami. As he and Maki said, they haven't managed to tap into the Medals' powers at all. The closest they've managed is the sword, and even that requires OOO's powers to even activate. So why not try to take advantage of Kougami's Medal hoarding? Shake down that vending machine, Gamel. But Mezool is back on her feet and less than appreciative of his efforts, roughly pulling him up and saying that she doesn't want a discarded Cell Medal, but her own Cores back from OOO. Then she pats him on the head and compliments him for being so loyal. It's like watching someone hit a puppy who's too dumb not to love her—it's honestly hard to watch, especially in retrospect once you get to the end of the series. Uva watches the whole thing and decides to just harvest Medals the old-fashioned way. Sure, just because you guys didn't have a brilliant plan like that.
At the Foundation, Goto runs into an old police acquaintance of his, Misumi, who recognizes him right away and remembers how he quit to try to protect the world. He strikes a nerve, asking Goto if he really has managed to protect the world, or if those were just pretty words to justify leaving a job where his mission was to protect and serve. But Goto retorts that Misumi was only ever interested in promotions, constantly in competition with him, and he promises himself that he'll make good on his word.
Tsukuba looks over Sawada's flashier blog, trying to figure out what it is that makes him more popular. He sees that Sawada's got another book coming out and he's making a radio appearance too. Uva takes advantage of his envy and creates a Yummy before appearing to him in human form and asking him to think really hard about what he wants, in order to become famous. Tsukuba wishes to write as well as Sawada and to appear on the radio. The Yummy then attacks Sawada at a meeting with his publisher and takes the very talent from him, becoming a swallowtail butterfly, pollinating Tsukuba with the stolen talent, allowing him to write.
Ankh sends a hawk to lead Eiji to the Yummy, but it lifts him into the air and drops him. Ankh catches him before he can hit the ground, then drops him the moment Eiji starts yelling at him for being late. No, I think Ankh is justified this time. The Yummy's flight keeps Eiji from catching it, also allowing it to divebomb him, and Goto gets on his case for letting it get away. When Eiji points out he can't fly and thus can't chase it, Goto asks why someone as irresponsible as him got to be OOO. Eiji says he wants to help the people he sees in trouble, but Goto mocks him and says that he personally wants to save the world. He then tattles on Eiji to Kougami. Kougami gears up for another "Eiji shouldn't be OOO" rant and argues that he finds Eiji "fascinating," which Goto really can't argue with. He asks him to give Eiji a new set of candroids—the Unagi, or eel. Specifically, electric eel. Goto's aggravated by his menial delivery jobs, but Maki appears and tells him that he believes Goto can save the world. But he must prove it to Kougami.
Hina hears Tsukuba on the radio, taking Sawada's place while stumbling through the interview. While she and Chiyoko are happy for him, Eiji's a little confused. Tsukuba's blog ranking goes up to #2, only behind a comedy duo's travel blog. He envies their easy talking style and says as much to Uva. The duo is attacked on the road, their talent drained. But this time, Eiji notices the pollen passing overhead and recognizes it. While Hina and Ankh argue, Eiji tries to tell him what's going on. When Ankh yells at him, Hina grabs his ear. Chiyoko tells them that Tsukuba's texted her about appearing on a live talk show and suggests that Hina go before they open.
Eiji and Ankh, in the meantime, go to fight. But along the way, they run into Gamel—literally. Gamel grabs Eiji's bike and sends him flying. Speed from the Cheetah Medal gives Eiji an edge, but Gamel collides with Ankh and releases two of Mezool's Medals. Worse for Ankh, Eiji's first priority is the Yummy, not the Medals. Goto's fighting it alone, getting his ass kicked, while Maki watches and wishes him a fair ending.
Hina goes to the show and watches the rehearsal, surprised at Tsukuba's sudden ease with public speaking and inexplicable Osakan accent. She also notices the strange way he looks toward Evil Ben 10, immediately recognizing Uva. Unfortunately, she calls this out, and when he realizes she does recognize him, he changes forms and goes to attack her, with everyone panicking as they approach the stage.
Still new to super speed, Eiji can't stop accurately, but he still manages to rescue Goto, much to his chagrin. Ankh advises him to cut off the Yummy's wings so it can't fly away, and Eiji equips Kamakiri. He almost finishes it off, but Goto's pride and envy get in the way. He grabs his rocket launcher and fires, but hits Eiji instead...
Unagi, The World, Heavy-Hitter Combo (Yonemura/Kaneda): Eiji goes flying again, and the Yummy is able to take advantage of his injuries and get the upperhand. At the same time, Hina lifts the heavy stage backdrop and throws it at Uva, who just slices through it. She then uses a fire extinguisher as a smokescreen so she can hide under the stage until he loses interest, so she can escape.
The Yummy takes to the air again, and though Ankh has Eiji switch back to TaToBa for high jumps, it gets away. Despite getting shot with a bazooka, Eiji still runs over to check on Goto. When Goto shoves him away, Ankh asks the very reasonable question of why the hell did you just shoot our hero? Goto says that Eiji got in his way, and there's this almost kicked-puppy look on Eiji's face for a moment, like he really, honestly, and truly believes this was his fault. Goto reiterates that he, not Eiji, is the one protecting the world, much to Eiji's shock. Ankh asks exactly how Goto plans to protect it, and Goto grumbles that he would if he had OOO's power. Eiji says he'd be happy to just give him the Driver instead, since the way he sees it, he's only doing what he can for right now. If Goto wants it so bad, why not let him have it? Why not let him join them? Goto gets defensive and pissy, and both he and Ankh grab him. Eiji points out that they actually agreed on something for once, and they both look at each other like they'd rather die. Ankh tells Eiji that giving up the Driver won't work—when Ankh placed the seal on him, it bonded and sealed to him, so no one else can become OOO. I get the feeling this is a hint toward a dropped plotline—it sounds like foreshadowing that the seal may have been broken in a later storyline, with Eiji no longer being OOO. But Hina finally escapes Uva and warns Eiji that Tsukuba's in danger. She brings him to the stage, where the damage is being cleaned up, and she says that Tsukuba acted like he was possessed. Eiji realizes this means Tsukuba is the Yummy's parent.
Gamel gives Mezool back her Medals, and she's immediately gentle and motherly toward him. Uva compliments him, and Mezool asks if he was trying to keep the Medals from his Yummy to himself. He just says that OOO got in the way, and Gamel swears to defeat him. Mezool agrees, but they remind her that she's still weak from the last battle, so it'll be Uva and Gamel who fight. But secretly, Uva plans to keep some of the Cell Medals from them.
Goto apologizes to Kougami for his actions, and Satonaka gives him a dressing down, saying his behavior is like some kind of awful rebirth. Kougami applauds his initiative in fighting without permission and considers Goto's suggestion of a Medal System that would better let him use their power as a "birthday present." But he can't condone the shooting of our hero and so he puts him on administrative leave, dismisses him, and for good measure, splatters his face with cake batter. Humiliated, Goto thinks over Eiji's words and offer. Maki finds him in the garage and mocks him for his punishment. He suggests again that such a system could be developed and asks if Goto still wants it. Realizing that the new system does exist, he asks for it, but Maki says he needs to see if he's worthy. After all, he won't be anything until he's accomplished something—the results are what's important.
Tsukuba meets with the publisher, still not satisfied with everything he's gained. There's something else he still needs. Meanwhile, Ankh realizes that until they defeat the Yummy, he and Eiji are using more Medals than they earn, but he doesn't know how they can defeat it. He recalls Eiji's trouble with the gravity-manipulating Bison Yummy and realizes they need Gamel's Cores, now. Hina and Eiji talk about Tsukuba's sudden rise to fame, and Eiji also heard the new accent. Suddenly, Tsukuba visits, and Eiji asks why he hasn't called him back, since he's been worried. But Tsukuba asks to use Eiji's story about the war for himself, since he needs more emotional stories. Hina's aghast while Eiji's numb with shock. When Tsukuba says the story will increase his fame, Eiji quietly and seriously asks him why he wants to be famous. Tsukuba says he wants to prove his critics wrong—in Bangkok, others said he couldn't do anything. Eiji asks if that's why he started traveling the world, and Tsukuba says that other world-travelers are haughty and he needs to prove himself to them. Ankh arrives and confirms that Tsukuba is the parent. Eiji tries to reason with him, but Tsukuba has no idea what he's talking about. Ankh pulls him aside and tells him to fight the Yummy, since it's built up a lot of Medals, and Hina suggests that Tsukuba come with them.
The Yummy is attacking celebrities at
This resonates with Goto, who came along in his desperate quest to prove himself, and they have parallel revelations, and I really love it. Tsukuba realizes he hasn't done anything—he didn't even travel around the world; his blog was about what he wanted to do. Likewise, Goto realizes that for all his talk about wanting to save the world, he also hasn't done anything to make that happen. Neither of them have accomplished anything, and they've only become jealous of people like Eiji who have.
Goto realizes he can accomplish his dream Eiji's way, by doing the little he can every chance he has so it can build up toward saving the world. As Eiji falls, he shoots his rocket launcher at the Yummy, then tosses over the new candroids. He even tries not to get too mad when Eiji panics, thinking they're snakes. As the Yummy attacks him again, Eiji decides to trust Goto that they're not snakes, and throws the eels at the Yummy, restraining its wings and shocking it. Batta sends the video footage to Maki, now in league with Kazari, each wanting to observe the other's side and learn more.
Uva joins the fight and frees the Yummy. Goto tries to help, but Gamel takes his bazooka and throws him into a wall. He goes to attack Eiji while he tries to help an injured Goto, but Ankh pushes them out of the way, sending Eiji to take Gamel's Cores. The stakes are pretty hopeless against two Greeed and a Yummy, but fortunately, Gamel is so intent on defeating Eiji himself that he even attacks Uva when he's about to do it. This leaves Gamel open so that Eiji can punch him and remove three Medals. When the Yummy throws him again and Gamel tries to attack, he ignores Ankh's warnings and uses the heavy-hitting SaGoZou combo, to the brass band of "Sun Goes Up." Again, the lyrics are a little generic—in fact, they're kind of odd, since it talks about light defeating the darkness when the light-powered combo is LaToraTah, not SaGoZou. But the song really starts to bring out Shu Watanabe's versatility, with him making his voice lower, deeper, and stronger for the second verse. Beating his chest allows Eiji to create shockwaves that send Uva and Gamel running and cause Uva to lose a Medal. The finisher has him leap into the air, then fall straight down, generating a gravity wave that sinks the Yummy into the ground and draws it closer for a double punch with oversized fists and a headbutt with his hard, horned head. Again, Eiji collapses in exhaustion once he transforms back, but Ankh has to admit he's pretty damn suitable as a vessel, managing to control both LaToraTah and SaGoZou. Goto goes over and helps him up, and exhausted, all Eiji can say is that he doesn't hate him.
Eiji tells Tsukuba that all of the Yummy's victims have gone back to normal, much to his relief. He's decided to take his journey one step at a time, first biking to Hokkaido. Hina wishes him luck and promises that Chiyoko will follow his new blog. As a gift, Eiji gives him some underwear, which he appreciates as he sets off.