Please note the SPOILER warning, many key elements and developments of the anime, Kannaduki no Miko are revealed in the following paragraphs, do not continue reading if you do not want to know the various plot twists.
Kannaduki no Miko - Episode 5: Transcend the black night
Picking up immediately where we left off last episode, Souma and Tsubasa fight with their mechs and Himeko gets thrown into the air by a blast. She lands unconscious on the ground but her solar symbol starts to shine brightly. During the battle, Souma suddenly recognises Tsubasa as his blood brother and loses his will to fight. Tsubasa decides to give him a chance to think about where his loyalties should lie. He issues a challenge for the next morning and flies away, leaving a wrecked Souma behind.
Chikane finds an unconscious Himeko lying on the ground (presumably Chikane found her by following the light because her solar mark stopped shining the minute Chikane arrives) and notices the rose clip in her hair.
Souma is back at his house resting as Kazuki tells Yukihito that Souma and Tsubasa are brothers. Their real father used to physically abuse them when they were very young. Tsubasa endured most of it but when their father started to turn his sights on Souma, Tsubasa took a knife and killed him. Tsubasa spent time behind bars (or maybe boys’ reform home) and was released when he was an adolescent but refused to burden Souma with a brother who is a murderer. He broke all ties with Souma and left him in the capable hands of the Oogami family ( who presumably took Souma in when his father died and his brother was taken away). Tsubasa was never seen again until now.
We finally see why Souma and Himeko were so close as kids, both of them were enduring the same living nightmare and they found a friend who understood their fears and pain. This is a really tragic story, for all the kids, and especially for Tsubasa. No wonder he is the leader of the Orochi.
This anime weaves an unexpectedly tight plot by its farfetched and unoriginal but ready explanations about the emotions and motivations behind the attraction that two outstanding personages, namely Chikane and Souma, would feel towards an ordinary and timorous girl like Himeko.
Chikane’s bond with Himeko goes back several lifetimes, they are old souls who have been reunited at long last and Chikane is thus naturally drawn to her. Souma’s bond only starts from this life, but might not be any less strong because they are kindred spirits. They have literally gone through thick and thin together and were each other’s support and strength in their times of great need. They understand each other in ways that others will probably never be able comprehend, their bond is well-nigh unbreakable.
So now we see why Souma and Chikane are both after Himeko and we also see why Himeko is more open and candid with them than she is with others, but again we are left the same question, who will she choose? Neither choice is wrong, but to hurt either seems heartless. However, at this point in time, Himeko might not even be aware of either Souma’s or Chikane’s true feelings. Both have yet to officially declare their intentions.
Souma wakes up and is in anguish at having to choose between the brother who had always protected him and the beloved girl he wants to protect.
Back at the mansion, Himeko is upset about destroying Chikane’s dress and says it was because of Chikane’s cheery encouragement that she was able to have fun on the date. Himeko starts crying and can’t stop (her tears seem disproportionate to the minor concerns stated). Himeko is obviously upset about something she cannot define, as if she senses that Chikane is somehow hurt by her going on the date. Chikane again uncannily seems to know what Himeko is trying to say and reassures that she is fine as long as Himeko is safe. Himeko weeps in Chikane’s arms and apologises. Woah, Himeko shows that she is more insightful than she appears.
Chikane looks at a sleeping Himeko and admits to herself that she was relieved at Himeko’s teary reaction (it showed there was hope for them since Himeko subconsciously knew that Chikane was upset by the date. If Himeko knew that then she must have an inkling of Chikane’s true feelings. Also, for Himeko to apologise and cry meant that somehow, going on the date was hurting her too). Chikane softly asks the sleeping blond what she is to her, a classmate, a roommate, a friend, a fellow priestess or something more? She bends down and looks about to kiss Himeko when there is a knock on the door.
Chikane meets Souma outside the mansion, which is off limits to all males except her father. Souma wants to talk to Himeko but Chikane asks him to come tomorrow since Himeko is asleep and exhausted. Souma persists because it would be meaningless to talk the next day. Chikane gets angry and challenges him about his determination to protect Himeko (somehow she seems to know that he is wavering or might let himself be killed).
She asks if he really means to keep his oath to protect Himeko at all costs, even if it meant taking on inhuman mental and physical abuse. If she was in his shoes, she would allow no other options but the one that protects Himeko. Souma explodes and demands to know what she has done to protect Himeko, what exactly can she do to protect her and why the Sword God has not been revived if Chikane is so determined to protect her? They are both shocked at his outburst and immediately calm down and apologise to each other.
Oh my, this is unexpected, the two have been nothing but respectful and courteous to each other before this, and the accusations are so hurtful and so out of character for them. Obviously they are at their breaking point. But despite everything, they do not seem to really resent each other as the insults are limited to their abilities to protect Himeko.
Souma leaves to meet Tsubasa, who asks if Souma has changed his mind. Souma says he is not certain about anything but he knows that he cannot stop opposing the Orochi. The fight begins and Himeko wakes up when her solar symbol shines. Tsubasa notices a marked improvement in Souma’s fighting abilities and realises with glee that Souma is deliberately employing the Orochi power to enhance his strength (Souma’s eyes turn red and the Orochi symbol on his forehead flares). Tsubasa eggs him to draw more deeply on the dark energy as he soundly trashes Souma.
An awake but weak Himeko beseeches Chikane to take her to the battle site. The fight rages on and Souma asks Tsubasa why the Orochi have to destroy the earth. They do not have to fight if they defend the world together. Tsubasa clobbers Souma and sneers that he no longer has any reason to save the world. He asks if Souma ever had to eat trash, or was betrayed by a friend, or knelt to beg for his life from a hated foe. He did not want Souma to share the same experiences, which was why he left, but he regrets it now.
Tsubasa says that if he knew they would both end up as followers of Orochi, he would have personally shown him that the world was not worth saving. Earth is hell because here, people related by blood hurt each other. Tears fall from Tsubasa as he says that he was happy when he discovered they were both of the Orochi. He hoped to revive their relationship but now he sees that Souma is worthless. As Tsubasa hits him with his power and wills Souma to accept the darkness, the girls arrive and light radiates from Himeko. Tsubasa advances towards the girls and strikes but Souma stops him.
Souma seems to have made up his mind and tells his brother that he does not know as much as him or if the world is worth saving but there is a girl he loves who is always in pain and he wants to protect her, make her smile and give her happiness. This world is not hell because he will not let it become hell. Himeko’s symbol shines brightly as she smiles at the return of Souma’s fighting spirit while Chikane looks downcast upon hearing his words. The fight continues and Souma’s mech rams a hand through the other mech’s chest. Tsubasa’s mech disappears in a beam of light and Souma collapses on the ground, his torn shirt revealing dark scales on his back.
The episode where Souma grows up, we see him struggle manfully to make a difficult and terrible choice based on what he knows to be true and not what someone else says is right. At the crucial moment, he did not succumb to despair or irresolution, instead he refuted Tsubasa’s claims that the world deserved to be destroyed. It might seem like he was swayed by emotions, namely his love for Himeko, but actually this was his most lucid moment.
He realised that his love for Himeko and his intense need to protect her and give her happiness meant that the world was a place worth living in, because the world has made these and many other good things possible. Souma has also learnt a valuable lesson, that caring for someone does not mean he will agree with them and might even end up opposing them if their actions are wrong, even if they are done with the best of intentions.
Souma has matured unbelievably in the last few moments, he did not dismiss his undeniable love and gratitude for Tsubasa, as well as his obvious anguish at opposing Tsubasa, but his emotions and confusion did not deter him from doing what he knows to be right. Souma is willing to be branded a traitor, an ingrate and a fool, by the very brother who had given up everything and suffered untold horrors on his behalf, in order to protect an innocent he knows should not be made to pay for others’ misfortunes. He has found his path in life and through his strength of conviction seems unlikely to stray.
Souma has also finally declared his feelings to Himeko, indirectly of course but still right in front of her and there is no doubt she heard it. This is an episode of firsts for Souma, the first time he experienced true divided loyalties, the first time he had to choose between two people dear to him, the first time he deliberately used the Orochi power, the first time he sorted out his priorities, the first time he told Himeko his feelings and truly, he did everything right.