Toukyou KINOKO ~Sekai Ranking 1-i no Komyu-ryoku Saijaku JK~ - Vol. 2 Ch. 9 - Raise Your Head

[jackjack9]

If Kino didn't panic so much, she wouldn't be in this mess. She's gotta work on that.

 

[Migoo]

I think this is the reason the "serious" commenters here are wrong.

I'm pretty sure she didn't see her friend, nor any of the other people, dead or alive. She's so happy to be forgiven, that she's smiling all throughout whatever they're doing to her, because in her mind, this is part of the job, ordered directly by the boss.

She went from what she considered a cataclysmic situation to being extremely happy to be forgiven. She didn't pay attention to anything else after that.

Next chapter is where we'll probably see her finally noticing her friend close by.

Hopefully, I hope her friend smacks her one because her op ness is literally the only thing keeping her alive

 

[a_other_alt]

"Funny misunderstanding" tropes can only last for so long before they become incredibly grating...

 

[Rockdrop]

If by next chapter, this mc still thinks this is still just her part time job, then this manga is just a stink bomb.

 

[TwilightReverie]

Saitama did it better. He's the world's ultimate powerhouse who misunderstands a lot and does a lot of silly but he catches on quick when lives are at stake? But this lady? I'm didisappointed

Exactly. Saitama is the same type of goofy, clueless, trusting powerhouse with self-esteem issues, but he's not stupid. He has his own brand of common sense, and he ultimately realizes when he needs to bust out the Serious Series.

Kino is so disconnected from events occurring around her that she's no longer a character in this narrative, she's a force of nature. Part of the setting. Which is a real problem, when she's supposed to be the protagonist.

 

[passerbymoth]

Yeah this whole misunderstanding has a pretty clear expiration date of exactly the moment she finally turns around. If she does that and somehow manages to extend the mental gymnastics anyway, that's where I slam my head into the table, but so far it's reasonable enough in the context of the joke (even if getting through it faster would have been more optimal).

 

[UdenEmpati]

I think the issue is manifold here, specifically.

Thinking on it more now, the trope of "totally unaware & idiotic protagonist" works best in an episodic series, where each chapter (or group of up to 3 or so) are self-contained, with no overarching storyline or professed character arcs/goals. Like a Slice of Life-type series, wherein we see the day-to-day of the characters getting up to this or that, but the focus is on their interactions and the quirks of their characters carry the actual narration. But there's few, if any, overarching narrative elements, no real long-term goals or aspirations, or "true continuity". Once the chapter's over, things reset, and we get a new episode of zany nonsense the next go-around.
Also, there tend to not be such clear distinctions between overt antagonists and benevolent characters. If there's a malicious member of the cast, they're recurring, and tend to be "low-stakes" enemies that are defeated, then come back around to try again the next time. The tension of the chapter is resolved by the end, and things then "reset" and the school bully or supervillain tries another wacky tactic only to be shut down again and again.

That's not what's happened here; we have a clear setting with multiple characters striving toward a specific goal, with actual malicious forces--now including humans on top of monsters--and the protagonist has a clearly stated goal that requires a progression of character and a growth of character to see achieved. The bad guys are the same, and the secondary & tertiary characters do, as well.
All of that assumes that we should be seeing real velocity to what's going on with each character that's been introduced. This is not an episodic series; there's progression of time and events, there's multiple chapters dedicated to a single incident, there's before-and-after states to the world setting due to the actions being taken.

We are only 9 chapters in; in real-time in-universe, it's not been much time at all, with few interactions between Kino and other characters to really lay the groundwork for what she's now experiencing having left her hometown.

In light of that, it makes sense that she's this dumb and oblivious. I would argue that some level of situational awareness to one's surroundings would be appropriate here - she grew up in a hellscape, where being blind to what's happening around you can mean certain death, and understanding risk, should be important facets of her character.
But if Kino's convinced that people can't be evil, then that's a valid-enough argument that I can see it getting to the point she'd allow herself to be tied up on a cross beside her friend. I think it stretches credulity because, again, she should have some amount of situational awareness having lived where she did, but that was monsters, not people, so I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

However, this arc has gone on for multiple chapters, now. It's a gag-forward manga, and there's already been several facets to both the narrative and the layout of the manga itself and the characters therein, that go against the established "formula" of such a story.
So while I think it's prudent to withhold judgment on the series' potential because we are seeing the first "real stakes arc" of Kino's integration into society and the start of her professed character arc journey, the outcome of this--and whether or not Kino sees any growth on the other side and understands what she got wrong and learns from it--will be telling as to whether this series is trying to do two very different things simultaneously, and whether it can manage that.

Because a progression-style story that seeks to have its characters achieve long-term goals and see an actual change to the setting and state of the world after the narrative has concluded, cannot carry gags like "dumb & unaware protagonists", because the entire setting has to bend around allowing them to stay dumb & unaware--to the extent that it breaks immersion with side characters remaining forever silent about the truth around the protagonist, enemies getting one-shot with no change in awareness of the protagonist over why it only happens for them, and if that's allowed to go on for too long, it becomes harder and harder to justify in-world or in a meta-narrative sense.

So I think it's fine for now. But the conclusion of this arc, and whether anyone tells Kino the truth or Kino figures it out and learns and grows as a character, will in my opinion be vital as to whether the series can carry the gag elements successfully in the long run.

 

[tremor3258]

This maybe past dumb if she never looked and saw the captives at all.

 

[cybeast21]

Okay I didn't expect her to get up there and also be tied LMAO

 

[Carn109]

The nightmare of the employed

 

[AsteroidCreator99]

Atleast she didn't get fired

 

[Yuuen]

This isn't even funny anymore, it's just annoying.

 

[pedronimo]

It's still 9 chapters and i'll take it since it's too early to judge. But if the author kept using such a formula, this manga would turn into a total mediocre.

if she still acts this legally stupid by ch 18 i'm dropping this.

does anyone know what the japanese comments on the raw are saying?

 

[WJ_PK]

Waiting for the Domination Loss tag to kick in

 

[detarameMangadex]

Next chapter, I assume Eiri will show up, and Kino will do something. It would be funny if Eiri's first impression of Kino is whatever this is, after all.

With that said, holy crap, Kino is dense.

 

[dcdfvr]

This maybe past dumb if she never looked and saw the captives at all.

Cant see what you're not looking at. Also she probably now thinks they're being punished for failing on the job or something.

Anyways Love is pretty fast to be able to get to Nadeshiko and cover her mouth the moment she started speaking, considering their distance and that Nadeshiko only got one word out before being silenced.

 

[dontprepublish]

before blaming kino for being a dunce you have to blame her sister and whoever else she grew up with for not teaching her basic etiquette, her crippling anxiety before now has very nearly caused catastrophic consequences to both herself and her family even in the first chapter, if kino’s classmate wasn’t a rude prick and anyone in her vicinity showed interest in her rank she’d fold immediately, show her rank, and her entire life would basically be over, this hands off approach borderlines on negligence when kino is so susceptible to literally anything anyone tells her and is precisely why she’s in the predicament she’s in.

Now we could speculate on why her sister seems to not care how horrifically dangerous her sister’s behavior is but I’m content saying it’s writer oversight until proven otherwise.

 

[leaveomelas]

yeah. this story is strongly starting to lose me too. socially awkward & misunderstanding, no problem at all.
but right now Kino just behaves incredibly stupid. this has gone far beyond misunderstandings or being socially awkward.

Completly agree. Still reading because I hope they will tone the stupid down, but losing hope.

The tone of the story is kind of all over the place? Like I can't find it funny after a civilian dies pretty brutally and we are still expected to laugh at Kino misunderstanding the situation.

Yes, exactly!!

Staff note: Unified individual comment quotes for readability

 

[juancarlospareja]

I like overpowered every day people but misunderstanding cant read the room type air heads like our dear protagonist? I can't believe she just let them tie her up. She saw her friend tied up. No doubt saw other people tied up and dead on crucifixes. Saw that everyone is exhibiting cult behavior and she just... brushes it off? It didnt click immediately when she looked up and turned around? I get being socially isolated in a dangerous zone where everything tried to kill you may give you some bad social skills but this is taking me out of the immersion. And then the chapter just ends on that cliffhanger?

I get that it's a comedy and i will laugh at their cartoonish reactions to her killing stuff with ease but this will be an annoying song and dance if this happens on the regular.

Saitama did it better. He's the world's ultimate powerhouse who misunderstands a lot and does a lot of silly but he catches on quick when lives are at stake? But this lady? I'm disappointed

Kinoko es oficialmente una retrasada mental

There has to be a limit on how much of a dense dumbass you can be. She is so deep in her own little world that she ignores everything else.

It was funny at first but as it went on its becoming annoying. I really think Kino fell head first and rolled down the stairs after being born.

And since this is a major character trait of hers, and one of the main source of comedy in this, I really doubt she is going to learn self awareness.

Totalmente de acuerdo

Hopefully, I hope her friend smacks her one because her op ness is literally the only thing keeping her alive

Yeah

Exactly. Saitama is the same type of goofy, clueless, trusting powerhouse with self-esteem issues, but he's not stupid. He has his own brand of common sense, and he ultimately realizes when he needs to bust out the Serious Series.

Saitama realmente no tiene problemas de autoestima le molesta querés te lo llamé calvo Pero no por eso compra peluca (la vez que quiso disfrazarse de charanko no cuenta) , al principio quería ser popular Pero cuando una multitud lo habucheo decidió que no volvería a preocuparse por lo que pensaran los demás

Kino is so disconnected from events occurring around her that she's no longer a character in this narrative, she's a force of nature. Part of the setting. Which is a real problem, when she's supposed to be the protagonist.

Está tan loca Que prácticamente vive en otra realidad

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[xTachibana]

This girl isn't dense, she might genuinely be like 30IQ