Kagerou-Nostalgia: Difference between revisions

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* [[Armour Is Useless]]: Averted thus far with Ranmaru and Rikimaru who cover themselves in plate from head to foot and have yet to sustain any serious injuries, while dealing out absolutely horrific damage in response.

* [[Badass Long Hair]]: Goki, Gessho

* [[Badass Preacher]]: Shiranui is a priest (or perhaps more accurately a [[Mentor Occupational Hazard|priest's apprentice]]). He's also about as [[Badass]] as this [[Crapsack World|setting]] allows any of its protagonists to be. Given [[Big Bad|Gessho's]] reaction to his [[Obi Wan Moment|ghost appearing]] during his interrogation of Shiranui, it's fair to estimate that his master was this as well.

* [[Badass Preacher]]: Shiranui is a priest (or perhaps more accurately a [[Mentor Occupational Hazard|priest's apprentice]]). He's also about as [[Badass]] as this [[Crapsack World|setting]] allows any of its protagonists to be. Given [[Big Bad|Gessho's]] reaction to his [[Obi-Wan Moment|ghost appearing]] during his interrogation of Shiranui, it's fair to estimate that his master was this as well.

* [[Badass Longcoat]]: The Sufu Ninja Squads, especially Squad 2 (Fuwa's) leader. Fuwa himself also counts.

* [[Badass Normal]]: Squad 2's leader again. He repeatedly claims to have no spiritual powers.

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* [[Determinator]]: Kazuma and Fuwa. It's nearly gotten both of them killed on occasion.

* [[Doomed Hometown]]: Kazuma is the sole survivor of the attack on his village. Also true for the town that he is first shown defending. To be fair to him, the second one would have been destroyed a lot sooner if it wasn't for his efforts. The town of Sufu, where Fuwa lives, also gets totalled.

* [[The Dragon]]: Rikimaru, Ranmaru, [[Bastard Understudy|Kuroda]], and even {{spoiler|[[The Mole|Goki]]}} could all be seen as Gessho's [[The Dragon|Dragons]], with Kuroda leading the army and serving as [[The Man Behind the Man|his figurehead]] while the other three protect him as bodyguards. Of them, [[Co Dragons|Rikimaru and Ranmaru]] are probably the closest to the archetype, with Rikimaru having served [[Big Bad|Gessho]] the longest, and Ranmaru being ''slightly'' more obsessively loyal.

* [[The Dragon]]: Rikimaru, Ranmaru, [[Bastard Understudy|Kuroda]], and even {{spoiler|[[The Mole|Goki]]}} could all be seen as Gessho's [[The Dragon|Dragons]], with Kuroda leading the army and serving as [[The Man Behind the Man|his figurehead]] while the other three protect him as bodyguards. Of them, [[Co-Dragons|Rikimaru and Ranmaru]] are probably the closest to the archetype, with Rikimaru having served [[Big Bad|Gessho]] the longest, and Ranmaru being ''slightly'' more obsessively loyal.

** Given that Gessho typically keeps Rikimaru with him while sending out Ranmaru to do the diry work it seems that Gessho at least considers Rikimaru to be his Dragon, even if story-wise the two of them more or less hold the role [[Co Dragons|equally]].

** Given that Gessho typically keeps Rikimaru with him while sending out Ranmaru to do the diry work it seems that Gessho at least considers Rikimaru to be his Dragon, even if story-wise the two of them more or less hold the role [[Co-Dragons|equally]].

* [[Driven to Suicide]]: {{spoiler|Mizuki}} attempts to kill himself following his love interest's death as he no longer sees a reason to live. He is prevented before he can carry it out though.

* [[Dull Eyes of Unhappiness]]: Shiranui and Goki constantly feature these. Kazuma had them pre-[[Character Development]].

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* [[Epic Flail]]: Ranmaru's weapon is somewhere between this and a [[Blade On a Stick]]. The staff can break apart while remaining joined by a chain.

** The weapon that Fuwa's previous incarnation used also exhibits properties of this, the blade can be launched and remains connected to the staff by a chain.

* [[~~Everythings~~ Better With Princesses]]: Played straight with Princess Mio XI. ( {{spoiler|Then they killed her}}) Akira ( {{spoiler|the reincarnation of Princess Mio I }})is now attempting to do the same, with limited success.

* [[Everything's Better With Princesses]]: Played straight with Princess Mio XI. ( {{spoiler|Then they killed her}}) Akira ( {{spoiler|the reincarnation of Princess Mio I }})is now attempting to do the same, with limited success.

* [[Evil Overlord]]: Kuroda rules feudal Japan with an iron fist. Might count as a [[Sorcerous Overlord]] given his spiritual powers.

* [[Evil Redhead]]: Goki is one of these. His ancestor Shiretsu, on the other hand, was a [[Redheaded Hero]].

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* [[Femme Fatalons]]: Bima, the demonic [[The Vamp|Vamp]].

* [[Gender Bender]]: ({{spoiler|Ranmaru}}). Hoo boy. Where to start. ({{spoiler|Ran}}) was woman, who hated her own gender. So, when she signed on with Gessho she had him change her into a man, ({{spoiler|Ranmaru}}). Sound simple enough? But wait: once a month he changes back into a woman for just one night. Did we mention that ({{spoiler|her partner Rikimaru has a crush on the aforementioned woman?}}) Yeah, it's complicated like that.

* [[Hair Trigger Temper]]: Kazuma

* [[Hair-Trigger Temper]]: Kazuma

* [[Handguns]]: Shiranui carries two, one somewhat resembling an automatic, while the other is clearly a [[Revolvers Are Just Better|revolver]]. Both have been blessed for use against demons, and as such have been used heavily, not only by Shiranui, but by other members of the cast.

* [[Hates Being Touched]]: Kazuma has a bad case of this during the first couple of chapters, to the point where he'll instantly attack anyone who so much as makes contact with him. There's a reason that even his fellow mercenaries think he's psychotic.

* [[Heel Face Revolving Door]]:{{spoiler|Make up your mind, Goki}}

* [[The Hero]]: Kazuma Shudo. There may not be a full [[Five Man Band]] in place, but Kazuma is definitely this. Somewhere between ''Kagerou-Nostalgia'' and ''The Resurrection'' Kazuma has gone from Shiranui's bodyguard to being the leader among the five kids, if not Hikami itself ( {{spoiler|that remains Mizuki's job}}). Both Shiranui and Fuwa come to him to request leave, Akira turns to him for advice and leadership, and in combat situations he even gives orders to Mizuki. On top of that, he's the protagonist to boot.

* [[The Hero]]: Kazuma Shudo. There may not be a full [[Five-Man Band]] in place, but Kazuma is definitely this. Somewhere between ''Kagerou-Nostalgia'' and ''The Resurrection'' Kazuma has gone from Shiranui's bodyguard to being the leader among the five kids, if not Hikami itself ( {{spoiler|that remains Mizuki's job}}). Both Shiranui and Fuwa come to him to request leave, Akira turns to him for advice and leadership, and in combat situations he even gives orders to Mizuki. On top of that, he's the protagonist to boot.

* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: Subverted by {{spoiler|Rikimaru and [[Gender Bender|Ranmaru]]}}.

* [[Highly Visible Ninja]]: Fuwa. He's in bright yellow.

* [[Highly-Visible Ninja]]: Fuwa. He's in bright yellow.

* [[Hired Guns]]: Kazuma's profession of choice before Shiranui recruits him, earning pay equal to the number of men he kills. And he gets paid a lot.

* [[Hot Blooded]]: Kazuma again. Charges monsters with just a sword? Check. No respect for personal safety? Check. Ready to fight at the drop of a hat? Way check.

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* [[Kid Samurai]]: Kazuma used to be one. You know, before monsters [[Doomed Hometown|killed his entire town]] and [[I'm a Humanitarian|ate]] [[Dead Little Sister|his sister]]. Good-bye wannabe dojo instructor, hello [[Child Soldier|child]] [[Hired Guns|mercenary]].

* [[Killed Off for Real]]:{{spoiler|Princess Mio XI}}

* [[Load Bearing Boss]]: [[The Vamp|Bima]]. When she's slain her castle collapses, and the army of monsters Gessho gave her runs amok. Ranmaru flat out states that Bima's death is the reason for this. Justified as magic was involved with Bima serving as the anchor for it. Generally speaking, the death of any major demon causes their [[Keystone Army|monsters to turn on everyone around them]].

* [[Load-Bearing Boss]]: [[The Vamp|Bima]]. When she's slain her castle collapses, and the army of monsters Gessho gave her runs amok. Ranmaru flat out states that Bima's death is the reason for this. Justified as magic was involved with Bima serving as the anchor for it. Generally speaking, the death of any major demon causes their [[Keystone Army|monsters to turn on everyone around them]].

* [[Loners Are Freaks]]: When we first meet Kazuma he's antisocial to the point of being in full-on [[Psycho Loner]] territory.

* [[Love At First Sight]]: {{spoiler|[[The Dragon|Rikimaru]] for [[Action Girl|Ran]], who eventually became [[Co Dragons|Ranmaru]]}}. She was so pretty he couldn't bring himself to kill her, {{spoiler|which grabbed Gessho's attention and resulted in her being [[Gender Bender|turned into a man]]}}. Good work, lover-boy.

* [[Love At First Sight]]: {{spoiler|[[The Dragon|Rikimaru]] for [[Action Girl|Ran]], who eventually became [[Co-Dragons|Ranmaru]]}}. She was so pretty he couldn't bring himself to kill her, {{spoiler|which grabbed Gessho's attention and resulted in her being [[Gender Bender|turned into a man]]}}. Good work, lover-boy.

* [[Love Hurts]]: Minor example with {{spoiler|Rikimaru's crush on Ranmaru}}. It's left him pretty depressed. See {{spoiler|[[Gender Bender]]}} for why.

* [[The Man Behind the Man]]: To the public, General Kuroda is the one to be feared, a military dictator who's managed to take control of most of Japan, ordered the slaughter of thousands, and is Hell bent on the conquest of the few remaining holdouts. But the one who's really in charge is Kuroda's master, Lord Gessho.

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* [[Mr. Exposition]]: Mizuki serves as this immediately after he, Kazuma, and Fuwa are introduced. Odd, seeing as he's relatively silent for the rest of the series.

* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: Gessho Kuki, Shadow. Would you trust a guy with a name like that?

* [[Nice Job Breaking It Hero]]: Shiranui suffers through a particularly horrific one in the early chapters. He and Kazuma are staying with a woman whose husband left, planning to travel to the capital and assassinate Kuroda, leaving her and their daughter behind. The husband subsequently returns with a band of mercenaries and massacres the town; when his wife confronts him and accuses him of People Hunting, he does not seem to understand what she is talking about. Shiranui realises that the man has been tainted by the darkness in the capital and purifies him. ( {{spoiler|Horrified by what he has done the husband promptly murders his wife and daughter, and then commits suicide while Shiranui looks on, unable to bring himself to stop the killing by shooting another human being.}}) Nice job breaking it, priest.

* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: Shiranui suffers through a particularly horrific one in the early chapters. He and Kazuma are staying with a woman whose husband left, planning to travel to the capital and assassinate Kuroda, leaving her and their daughter behind. The husband subsequently returns with a band of mercenaries and massacres the town; when his wife confronts him and accuses him of People Hunting, he does not seem to understand what she is talking about. Shiranui realises that the man has been tainted by the darkness in the capital and purifies him. ( {{spoiler|Horrified by what he has done the husband promptly murders his wife and daughter, and then commits suicide while Shiranui looks on, unable to bring himself to stop the killing by shooting another human being.}}) Nice job breaking it, priest.

* [[No Export for You]] : The first chunk of the story is only available in Japanese. Only minimal amounts of the story have be translated online creating giant [[Incredibly Lame Pun|plot holes]].

* [[Not So Stoic]]: {{spoiler|Mizuki}} for a few seconds after {{spoiler|Princess Mio's death}}. [[Big Bad|Gessho]] gets a scary one during [[A Chat With Satan|a chat with]] Shiranui.

* [[Offing the Offspring]]: {{spoiler|Gessho}} seriously (as in grabs by the throat and starts throttling) contemplates doing this to {{spoiler|Goki following the revelation that Goki is Shiretsu's reincarnation}}. He relents at the last minute and they hug instead. Of course, whether they're actually related is open to debate. Fuwa's dad rather comically attempts this against him in a flashback.

* [[Only One Name]]: Fuwa doesn't have a first name. His mother died before she could tell his father what it was and Fuwa was too young to remember it, and his father was too lazy to give him a new one. Shiranui also lacks a full name.

* [[One Winged Angel]]: Gessho starts shifting into this randomly during the middle of a conversation with Shiranui. Also counts as a ''very'' freaky [[Not So Stoic]] moment.

* [[One-Winged Angel]]: Gessho starts shifting into this randomly during the middle of a conversation with Shiranui. Also counts as a ''very'' freaky [[Not So Stoic]] moment.

** [[The Vamp|Bima]] also does this during her fight against Kazuma, Fuwa and Shiranui.

* [[Our Demons Are Different]]: They look human, albeit with some animalistic features, and are all working for Gessho or Kuroda. How they're being controlled hasn't really been addressed. Gessho seems to summon them from a dark void in the middle of his castle, and uses them to give orders to his monster armies. Many seem to have sexually perverse and/or [[I'm a Humanitarian|cannabalistic]] tendencies.

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* [[Starter Villain]]: Shimari, the demon who killed Kazuma's sister. He appears in the first chapter to torment Kazuma some more, serves to force Kazuma and Shiranui to work together, and promptly dies.

* [[The Stoic]]: Mizuki and Goki both have shades of this. When Shiranui walks away from him at one point without explaining or saying a word Kazuma accuses him of "Pullin' a Mizuki."

** Gessho appears to be a villainous version, complete with an inability to understand normal human emotions. This leads to a rather disturbing [[Not So Stoic]] moment during his conversation with Shiranui, one that crosses right into [[One Winged Angel]] territory.

** Gessho appears to be a villainous version, complete with an inability to understand normal human emotions. This leads to a rather disturbing [[Not So Stoic]] moment during his conversation with Shiranui, one that crosses right into [[One-Winged Angel]] territory.

* [[The Strategist]]: [[Big Bad|Gessho]] pretends to be one for [[Evil Overlord|Kuroda]].

* [[Survivor Guilt]]: All of them have it to one degree or another, having outlived a [[Mentor]] (Shiranui), a fiancee (Mizuki), a father (Fuwa), and a friend (Akira). Kazuma is the worst though, still blaming himself for surviving the massacre of his [[Doomed Hometown]], as well as the subsequent carnage around him.

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* [[The Vamp]]: Bima, one of the demons from the first half, who attempted to seduce both Shiranui and Kazuma. Made worse given that they're in their teens and [[Shotacon|look younger]], while she was at least (physically) her twenties or thirties. It almost works too, at least until Shiranui's tattoos kick in.

* [[The Voiceless]]: {{spoiler|Goki}} at first (and he still doesn't talk much now). Kuroda's bodyguards don't speak either.

* [[What the Hell Hero]]: Subverted. Akira calls out Mizuki on his apparent manipulation of {{spoiler|Princess Mio's death}} in order to seize control of {{spoiler|Hikami}}. This wasn't his goal actually (he was just trying to rebuild the ruined nation, and needed to give everyone someone to follow), but her words drive him over the edge, resulting in {{spoiler|his attempted suicide}}.

* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: Subverted. Akira calls out Mizuki on his apparent manipulation of {{spoiler|Princess Mio's death}} in order to seize control of {{spoiler|Hikami}}. This wasn't his goal actually (he was just trying to rebuild the ruined nation, and needed to give everyone someone to follow), but her words drive him over the edge, resulting in {{spoiler|his attempted suicide}}.

* [[White Haired Pretty Boy]]: Shiranui is a rare, heroic example.

* [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]]: Shiranui is a rare, heroic example.

* [[White Magician Girl]]: Shiranui looks like a male example at first. He's a priest, he hates bloodshed, and he's never killed another person before. He even helps patch up Kazuma after a battle. Of course, during said battle, he nearly kills Shimari, a demon, with the guns his master gave him.

* [[Wise Beyond Their Years]]: All of the main characters are in their early to mid teens but have grown up pretty fast. Justified by the war, and their status as the reincarnations of adult heroes.