Fracturing Friendship
There are some arguments that can’t be won through words alone. The fate of Japan and the Simurians rests in a young woman’s hands. The fate of their friendship rests in her brother’s.
SPOILER WARNING
The day of the ritual combat between Yuka and Dabura arrives. Maru reflects on his life, lamenting the distance that grew between him and Cross. Tsurugi seeks him out to confirm that Maru and Cross’s cursed technique helped the Simurians build their ship and travel to Earth.
As they talk, it’s clear they only want what’s best for those closest to them. Tsurugi reveals that Yuka’s condition has worsened. She now only has three months left to live, and he wants her to live out her remaining time. He’s willing to drive out the Simurians to make that happen. Maru still carries the hopes of his displaced people. They finally found somewhere they could set roots, and he doesn’t want to give that up. Unable to come to terms, Maru and Tsurugi come to blows.
The Dramatic Shift
Looking back at chapter 1, I don’t think I could have predicted how the story has developed. Crafting the narrative around the Japan-Simuria relations was a great choice. It forces the story to focus on the characters and their responses to an ever-shifting landscape. Akutami (writer) keeps up the pace and intrigue by masterfully manipulating the highs and lows. It’s a far cry from the supernatural battle formula Jujutsu Kaisen was known for, but I find the shift in structure refreshing. I feel so much more connected to these characters. The themes JJK Modulo presents are timeless, lending themselves to deeper storytelling.
I’d also like to point out Iwatami’s (artist) consistent art quality. It is honestly mind-blowing how much detail and motion they put into their illustrations. The best panel in this chapter, by far, is so simple you could mistake it for a blank page. And yet, it tells you everything you need to know about Maru’s journey.
It’s very interesting getting a deep dive into Maru’s psyche. He struggles to uphold his people’s warrior ethos. We aren’t given many details about what that entails, and it’s intentionally kept vague. In this chapter, he exudes a more detached demeanor, a stark contrast to how exuberant and open he was in the earlier chapters. The whole main trio, Maru, Tsurugi, and Yuka, seems to have matured over the past month, but not in the best ways. The times for laughter are behind them.
We’d better get some awesome action soon. With two fights happening simultaneously, Maru vs Tsurugi and Dabura vs Yuka, there’s plenty to fill the next few chapters. I can’t wait! Catch up on the story by visiting the official Viz Media manga webpage for Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo.
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