The Shot Heard Round the World
Peace is not so easily obtained. Tensions rise on both sides, and trust is strained. After a misunderstanding, the situation only gets worse.
SPOILER WARNING
Yuka and Tsurugi take Maru along on their sorcerer duties. They explain that after the Culling Game, all of Tokyo was designated a quarantine zone. Numerous cursed spirits reside there, and a purification ritual is underway to keep them in check.
Elsewhere, Acting Minister Usami concludes that Simurian kalyans are as close as living creatures can get to Japanese cursed spirits. It would be easy for the Simurians to mistake the killing of one for the other. Usami prevents the misunderstanding from turning into a brawl. However, his colleague, Yakumaru, is unable to contain his contempt and shoots Cross before the conflict can turn deadly, Dabura steps in.
Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun
I applaud Akutami’s (writer) choice to maintain a steady simmer on the conflict between the Japanese and the Simurians. It would have been so easy for this misunderstanding to blow up into a huge fight. Instead, Akutami opts to give us just a hint of the boiling tensions. Every plot development feels very intentional, albeit with a heavy dose of story convenience. What keeps me engaged, however, is the character dynamics and the nuanced story. It’s refreshing to see a story take the time to establish the characters before throwing them to the wolves.
Speaking of characters, I think it’s very interesting that the fight is set off by shots fired in fear, not retaliation. The conflict could have escalated under the premise that the Japanese were in the wrong for killing a kalyan, even with the misunderstanding. But Yakumaru shoots Cross because of an ambiguous movement. I think this was the better choice and speaks volumes about how the characters view each other. A great example of show, don’t tell.
So far, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo has built upon the world of its predecessor with much better writing, art, and thematic elements. It’s still very early in its run, but it’s shaping up to be a standout in Shonen Jump. Catch up on the story by visiting the official Viz Media manga webpage for Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo.
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