Based on the things I heard about the manga, and how Rikuo’s classmates were supposed to disappear after the Gyuki-arc, I’m actually very impressed here in how well the creators of the anime managed to weave them back into the story. They’re getting better and better at this point, they create extra tension for Rikuo, and yet they don’t feel like the useless damsels in distress that they once were. Which makes me wonder: what was their purpose in the manga anyway?
I can somewhat see that the fight against the youkai who destroyed the shrines was part of the manga, and I really like how the classmates were weaved into that scene as an introduction: it both established Kiyo as someone who can actually use his head with his network, and Shima now turns out to play footbal. It’s definitely interesting to see these guys try to spend their time for multiple days like this.
The main story is still building up, however this episode did mark the first casualty from the bad guys now that the rooster is gone. I have a big suspicion that their purpose goes even beyond destroying the shrines around the city, though. And the build-off is already starting to pay off a bit here, with the atmosphere getting better and better. Yura meanwhile was a bit silly in this episode, but I like how she’s also working alone in order to try and figure out what’s going on.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
“Which makes me wonder: what was their purpose in the manga anyway?”
Useless comedic relief. And since the pacing of the manga can’t be the same like in the anime, the author decided to leave them out of the major arcs to improve the pacing and let the youkai take greater focus.
“I can somewhat see that the fight against the youkai who destroyed the shrines was part of the manga”
That little guy (who got owned by Shima) did destroy the shrines in the manga as well. However, the fight against Firebird is not from manga: the Firebird had much smaller role in the manga (you only saw him few times) and he died near the end of the arc as a sacrifice rather then in a fight.
The fact that anime made this Phantom Traveler feel more like one of the villains and gave him a decent ending is a great improvement in my opinion.
I think the soccer is part of the manga. They also show up a little in later arcs such as the “sodemogi” part of this arc and the later major story arcs. I have a feeling they’ll do something more eventually besides need defending since they (unsurprisingly) learn a little more…