36 - Ch. 21 - delayed brain
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This was a wild chapter.
Seeing Ikoma being so passive and demure is so jarring. It's like two different people in the same body...which, that's how trauma is, a lot of the time. Compensating (sometimes overly) in one direction with demeanor and behavior and mannerisms to cope with whatever events/experiences occurred in the past, and then the second those old triggers come around, it's right back to the fight/flight/freeze response and a shutting down of the "mask" personality to protect the self from the trigger.
His father is ....a piece of work. Shrugging off all manner of violence, taking it as a matter of course--and yet still getting hung up on the concept of "we're family". Quite the classical bully mentality and behavior: carrot and stick in turns, holding out a hand to shake or hug and strike with no hint or warning as to which will be drawn. It's clear Ikoma's grandmother also isn't happy with her son, but...well, Japan puts a lot of emphasis and importance on the concept of family and cohesion and harmony, even when some elements or individuals are less than savory and would warrant calling the cops or skipping town to get away.
Visually, though, this might be the first time we get a real look at the world through Ikoma's eyes, and the author really sold how distorted and skewed the world is for him. Whether that's a result of trauma, or innate brain chemistry, or altered neurological processes, remains to be seen. I think it could be a mix, at this point, but suffice to say all the little gremlins we see floating about him in past chapters are the tip of the iceberg, and more an indicator that something's happening in Ikoma's mind in reaction to whatever's in front of him.
(I'd like to go back through and see if the little black figures appear in response to events / actions of those around him that reflect what his father did in this chapter--instances of violence or threatened harm or aggression, type thing. I suspect they were clues all along to the sort of stuff Ikoma has to deal with, and with all the fantastical elements popping up panel to panel this chapter, I think there's a case for it.)
Ending on Anzu kidnapping and gang-pressing Miyako into "being her friend" in the wake of either cutting off or losing her former circle of associates continues to make me sad for the both of them. Anzu trying to fill the void and keep herself busy with any distraction will only work for so long, and with the timer ticking on being whisked away with her mother in traveling abroad...well, it feels like each of our primary cast members have mountains before them, and no one aware (or close) enough to really be of help
They're all on their own, in very pointed ways. Those who are sticking around (willingly or otherwise) aren't equipped to handle with Anzu and Ikoma are dealing with, I fear. So where this goes, I'm not sure, if we're even assuming a "happy" ending that sees the band getting back together.
But I'm excited to find out.
Thanks for the TL.
Seeing Ikoma being so passive and demure is so jarring. It's like two different people in the same body...which, that's how trauma is, a lot of the time. Compensating (sometimes overly) in one direction with demeanor and behavior and mannerisms to cope with whatever events/experiences occurred in the past, and then the second those old triggers come around, it's right back to the fight/flight/freeze response and a shutting down of the "mask" personality to protect the self from the trigger.
His father is ....a piece of work. Shrugging off all manner of violence, taking it as a matter of course--and yet still getting hung up on the concept of "we're family". Quite the classical bully mentality and behavior: carrot and stick in turns, holding out a hand to shake or hug and strike with no hint or warning as to which will be drawn. It's clear Ikoma's grandmother also isn't happy with her son, but...well, Japan puts a lot of emphasis and importance on the concept of family and cohesion and harmony, even when some elements or individuals are less than savory and would warrant calling the cops or skipping town to get away.
Visually, though, this might be the first time we get a real look at the world through Ikoma's eyes, and the author really sold how distorted and skewed the world is for him. Whether that's a result of trauma, or innate brain chemistry, or altered neurological processes, remains to be seen. I think it could be a mix, at this point, but suffice to say all the little gremlins we see floating about him in past chapters are the tip of the iceberg, and more an indicator that something's happening in Ikoma's mind in reaction to whatever's in front of him.
(I'd like to go back through and see if the little black figures appear in response to events / actions of those around him that reflect what his father did in this chapter--instances of violence or threatened harm or aggression, type thing. I suspect they were clues all along to the sort of stuff Ikoma has to deal with, and with all the fantastical elements popping up panel to panel this chapter, I think there's a case for it.)
Ending on Anzu kidnapping and gang-pressing Miyako into "being her friend" in the wake of either cutting off or losing her former circle of associates continues to make me sad for the both of them. Anzu trying to fill the void and keep herself busy with any distraction will only work for so long, and with the timer ticking on being whisked away with her mother in traveling abroad...well, it feels like each of our primary cast members have mountains before them, and no one aware (or close) enough to really be of help
They're all on their own, in very pointed ways. Those who are sticking around (willingly or otherwise) aren't equipped to handle with Anzu and Ikoma are dealing with, I fear. So where this goes, I'm not sure, if we're even assuming a "happy" ending that sees the band getting back together.
But I'm excited to find out.
Thanks for the TL.
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What a chapter huh. It’s really interesting to see how things look from ikoma‘s perspective.
The presentation this chapter was something else, what with the cigarette burns on every page showing a glimpse of the past, people’s faces getting replaced with chicken heads, the black figures that are always around him.
I like that Anzu is making friends with miyako, and it might come off as shallow but idk there might be some real friendship in there. Poor miyako tho lol
Thanks for the translation
The presentation this chapter was something else, what with the cigarette burns on every page showing a glimpse of the past, people’s faces getting replaced with chicken heads, the black figures that are always around him.
I like that Anzu is making friends with miyako, and it might come off as shallow but idk there might be some real friendship in there. Poor miyako tho lol
Thanks for the translation
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luck, huh... I hope that by the end of this manga more characters can say they were lucky to meet each other than not. Didn't think I'd get both pieces of Ikoma backstory and the aftermath of his birthday, what a ride that was from start to finish. I really hope he can settle back in with the others sooner rather than later, he feels like the type to work himself into a hole before he'd admit to any real problems
and Miyako, ough. I hope she doesn't get eaten up by Anzu's whims while Anzu continues to refuse herself further connection with the band and the rest... wonder if they'll talk about Meiling any more too...... much to look forward to
echoing the other comments about presentation this chapter too, always stunned by the art this manga has lol
thanks for the chapter!!
and Miyako, ough. I hope she doesn't get eaten up by Anzu's whims while Anzu continues to refuse herself further connection with the band and the rest... wonder if they'll talk about Meiling any more too...... much to look forward to
echoing the other comments about presentation this chapter too, always stunned by the art this manga has lol
thanks for the chapter!!
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Starting to suspect that Sou-Chan, the homeless man who gave Ikoma his acoutic guitar, is Anzu's runaway Dad. Shibasawa Yui was so horrible that he left his daughter to go live under a bridge, and he died after getting beat up by someone. Hardcore. There was also a news report in the background of an earlier chapter, about a 16 year old who beat someone to death. And a scene where one of the homeless guys was injured, after some college kids grouped up and beat him for being poor. Makes me think there's a violent youth gang going to make an appearance eventually.
Seems like three types of triggers for visions- When the music feels good or interesting, he sees dinosaurs and stars and fish and plants. Happy visions. Next, When the music feels bad and he's self doubting, he sees the little guy whispering negative talk. And finally when he feels really bad and people are in conflict, he sees the monsters over people's faces and the negative little guy becomes huge and multiplies. Two and three both seem like interpersonal conflicts, just at different scales.
So his visions correspond to outside stimulus. I think that suggests mental illness more than traumatic head injury as the cause. And he really sees them, it's not just a visual metaphor for the readers.
Good call! Here's the data.
Chapter 2, page 26-28. Fish, stars, fireworks, music notes, a toothy brachiosaur, while Ikoma plays music after first meeting Anzu.
Chapter 4, page 5, he sees a pteranodon while thinking about Anzu and playing guitar.
Chapter 7, page 1-2. Ikoma leaves his grandma’s place and walks to the riverbank. A small human figure whispers into his ear, and Ikoma slaps his ear to quiet it. He’s thinking about Anzu, and Shunpei adding drums to his tracks.
Chapter 8, page 8. Ikoma wakes up at the homeless camp, still thinking about Anzu and Shunpei and forming a band. His homeless friend tells him to stay out of trouble and not thinking of the homeless camp as a safe place. He hallucinates a little guy on his shoulder who tells him he’s Lonely. He grabs the guy and stuffs him in his guitar.
Chapter 9, page 4. Anzu drags Ikoma to a band try out with Shunpei. Ikoma still feels reluctant. The little guy appears on his shoulder and asks “wanna leave?” He sticks it out.
Chapter 9, page 6. As they play together, Ikoma starts seeing little animals, but Shunpei’s drumming doesn’t fit the vision and some of the animals get crushed by his drumsticks.
Chapter 9, page 13-16. They discuss how shunpei’s drums fit in. A horrid lizard hangs on Ikoma’s back and says it was “stiff and boring,” Ikoma tunes it out. But the voices keep asking him “wanna leave? As more weird animals show up. Saying it’s not gonna work out, they should just leave.”
Chapter 9, page 20-26. They give Anzu a bass, and they start practicing together. The sound comes along. The little guy sits on an amp, silent. plants and animals looking happy appear.
Chapter 19, page 13. Anzu’s mom forced Anzu to quit the band. Shunpei wants to get her back. Ikoma says don’t bother, it’s her choice. The little guy appears on Ikoma’s shoulder but doesn’t speak, with arms crossed.
Chapter 20, page 8. Ikoma is leaving his grandma’s home. He walks outside to his bike, and he sees The pointy nose guy sitting on the rear rack of his bike like Anzu used to. It’s now the size of kid.
Chapter 20, page 16. Ikoma and Shunpei just played a show without anzu, and they’re discussing if she’ll come back. The guy, kid sized, crawls across Ikoma’s back.
Chapter 20, page 27-31. Ikoma is walking at night after his show. There’s a little slime in the crosswalk. He arrives home and his deadbeat father is back, singing enku. Ikoma feels a Snake with hands up his spine. Chipmunks run up his arm, a salamander with evil teeth crawls through the grass.
Chapter 21, Page 1- Ikoma’s dad is back, and Ikoma’s vision get hellish. His dad’s head shifts from a spiked pole, to a snapping turtle, his Grandma collapses with the head of a bird. At the hospital his dad has the head of a cackling dog. At the family restaurant his head is a pigeon. A crowd of pointy nose guys is crawling up behind Ikoma’s back, and now they’re adult sized. They crawl over him. Back at the hospital the Doctor’s head looks like a Kandinsky painting. Driving home his dad has the face of the pointy nosed guy.
Chapter 4, page 5, he sees a pteranodon while thinking about Anzu and playing guitar.
Chapter 7, page 1-2. Ikoma leaves his grandma’s place and walks to the riverbank. A small human figure whispers into his ear, and Ikoma slaps his ear to quiet it. He’s thinking about Anzu, and Shunpei adding drums to his tracks.
Chapter 8, page 8. Ikoma wakes up at the homeless camp, still thinking about Anzu and Shunpei and forming a band. His homeless friend tells him to stay out of trouble and not thinking of the homeless camp as a safe place. He hallucinates a little guy on his shoulder who tells him he’s Lonely. He grabs the guy and stuffs him in his guitar.
Chapter 9, page 4. Anzu drags Ikoma to a band try out with Shunpei. Ikoma still feels reluctant. The little guy appears on his shoulder and asks “wanna leave?” He sticks it out.
Chapter 9, page 6. As they play together, Ikoma starts seeing little animals, but Shunpei’s drumming doesn’t fit the vision and some of the animals get crushed by his drumsticks.
Chapter 9, page 13-16. They discuss how shunpei’s drums fit in. A horrid lizard hangs on Ikoma’s back and says it was “stiff and boring,” Ikoma tunes it out. But the voices keep asking him “wanna leave? As more weird animals show up. Saying it’s not gonna work out, they should just leave.”
Chapter 9, page 20-26. They give Anzu a bass, and they start practicing together. The sound comes along. The little guy sits on an amp, silent. plants and animals looking happy appear.
Chapter 19, page 13. Anzu’s mom forced Anzu to quit the band. Shunpei wants to get her back. Ikoma says don’t bother, it’s her choice. The little guy appears on Ikoma’s shoulder but doesn’t speak, with arms crossed.
Chapter 20, page 8. Ikoma is leaving his grandma’s home. He walks outside to his bike, and he sees The pointy nose guy sitting on the rear rack of his bike like Anzu used to. It’s now the size of kid.
Chapter 20, page 16. Ikoma and Shunpei just played a show without anzu, and they’re discussing if she’ll come back. The guy, kid sized, crawls across Ikoma’s back.
Chapter 20, page 27-31. Ikoma is walking at night after his show. There’s a little slime in the crosswalk. He arrives home and his deadbeat father is back, singing enku. Ikoma feels a Snake with hands up his spine. Chipmunks run up his arm, a salamander with evil teeth crawls through the grass.
Chapter 21, Page 1- Ikoma’s dad is back, and Ikoma’s vision get hellish. His dad’s head shifts from a spiked pole, to a snapping turtle, his Grandma collapses with the head of a bird. At the hospital his dad has the head of a cackling dog. At the family restaurant his head is a pigeon. A crowd of pointy nose guys is crawling up behind Ikoma’s back, and now they’re adult sized. They crawl over him. Back at the hospital the Doctor’s head looks like a Kandinsky painting. Driving home his dad has the face of the pointy nosed guy.
Seems like three types of triggers for visions- When the music feels good or interesting, he sees dinosaurs and stars and fish and plants. Happy visions. Next, When the music feels bad and he's self doubting, he sees the little guy whispering negative talk. And finally when he feels really bad and people are in conflict, he sees the monsters over people's faces and the negative little guy becomes huge and multiplies. Two and three both seem like interpersonal conflicts, just at different scales.
So his visions correspond to outside stimulus. I think that suggests mental illness more than traumatic head injury as the cause. And he really sees them, it's not just a visual metaphor for the readers.
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is the dad a chinpira?
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SENSATIONAL CHAPTER!!
No need for text in all those panels. All you needed where the visuals. Fantastic story telling moment from the author!
I no longer have the time to look at the clues left behind. So, I let you guys gather info and I will read it. Really cool theories. This manga is looking better and better. I am glad I started reading it.
No need for text in all those panels. All you needed where the visuals. Fantastic story telling moment from the author!
I no longer have the time to look at the clues left behind. So, I let you guys gather info and I will read it. Really cool theories. This manga is looking better and better. I am glad I started reading it.
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