Ririchiyo Shirakiin, scion of an influential family, has an issue — she has No Social Skills. She resolves to get rid of this by moving out and living on her own in the "Maison de Ayakashi", a mansion housing Half-Human Hybrids who pass a very strict examination, each resident coming with his/her own Secret Service (SS) agent, also a Half-Human Hybrid. Ririchiyo refused to have an SS accompany her, but eventually finds out that her assigned SS — Soushi Miketsukami — was a fox spirit she helped as a child. Now, whether she likes it or not, she has to start living with the protective Soushi and her fellow tenants and their SS Agents.Inu × Boku SS (妖狐×僕SS, Inu Boku Secret Service, Dog and I Secret Service) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Cocoa Fujiwara. It was adapted into an anime television series for the Winter 2012 Anime Season. The anime has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks for streaming on Crunchyroll.com, and home video release in North America.The forum thread can be found here.Note: All examples that are found after the end of the anime and in the manga only should be spoiler-tagged.
Asskicking Equals Authority: The genetic throwbacks (for certain definition of "genetic") are close in powerlevel to their supernatural root, so their family members respect and fear them. Theoretically they can do anything they want as long as they are on their clan grounds... theoretically, that is.
Awesome McCoolname: The entire cast can be said to have them, since most of their names reflect their demonic heritage, making them double as Meaningful Names.
Badass Crew: All of the residents, clients and SS alike, are this, which is made especially apparent every time anyone's in danger and everyone else steps in to help.
Her supernatural lineage is gashadokuro, or giant skeleton many times bigger than a human, created from the gathering of bones of people who died of starvation. No wonder she's always hungry.
Big Fancy House: We see the Shirakiin residence at the start of episode 3, a fancy traditional Japanese home. Also all the half demon families are supposedly inexplicably very wealthy.
Big "NO!": Ririchiyo makes one when she realizes that she accidentally sent the wrong letter to Soushi and pretty much just confessed her feelings for him.
Bishie Sparkle: Soushi, every time he's talking about how much he adores Ririchiyo, and they're mostly black.
Bishounen: Soushi, Sorinozuka, Zange, Watanuki... Basically all the main male cast. And their casual outfits do not help.
Bland Name Product: One of Karuta's many snacks (seen in episode 8) is a box of Picky.
Blatant Lies: Yeah Ririchiyo, you definitely wrote that long letter of apology just to practice your penmanship.
Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Nobara, Ririchiyo, and Karuta. Soushi, Kagerou, and Zange are the male, childhood friends version.
Bodyguard Crush: Soushi has one on Ririchiyo. It's the reason he wanted to be her body guard in the first place.
Bodyguarding A Badass: 23 years later, Zange ends up being Kagerou's SS, who, as far as we have seen, is much more competent in a fight.
Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: Zange and Watanuki. Soushi and Ririchiyo end up in this as well sometimes, especially when Soushi is going off on a stalker-ish tangent.
Bratty Half-Pint: Ririchiyo seems like one at first, but it is soon revealed that she actually feels really guilty about her behavior and wants to change.
Watanuki is another example, being the shortest of the male cast and easily irritated.
Cute Monster Girl: All of them. Karuta zig-zags this: she's adorable in her human form, but her Demon form on the other hand, not so much.
Dead Person Impersonation: Reincarnation!Soushi tries to emulate the previous Soushi to please reincarnation!Ririchiyo because he knows about their past relationship.
Despair Event Horizon: All of the characters felt this when Karuta got attacked. Later, the same perpetrator targeted all of them, which ultimately caused all but Renshou's deaths before the timeskip.
Disproportionate Retribution: Soushi mentions that he would've had to "get rid of" Ririchiyo's classmates if they had any physical evidence of Ririchiyo, Karuta, and Watanuki's youkai forms.
The Ditz: Maid #1. Often reined in by Maid #2, who usually ends up being her Minder.
Do It Yourself Theme Tune: Except Episode 1, which played the opening, succeeding episodes end with a theme song befitting the focus character:
Episode 1: "Nirvana" by MUCC
Episode 2: "Rakuen no Photograph (Paradise of Photographs)" by Soushi/Yuuichi Nakamura
Episode 3: "Kimi wa (You are)" by Ririchiyo/Rina Hidaka
Episode 4: "one way" by Zange/Mamoru Miyano (with cameos by Banri/Takuya Eguchi)
Episode 5: "SM Hantei Forum (S&M Judgment Forum)" by Kagerou/Tomokazu Sugita
Driven to Suicide: Played for Laughs. When Ririchiyo says she doesn't need protection Soushi produces a katana from Hammer Space and implores her to kill him saying his life has no meaning if he's not guarding her. She responds to this by throwing the katana aside and yelling, "Value yourself more!"
Fanservice: The first episode has Ririchiyo performing a lot of fan service.
This series is famous for providing fanservices aimed at both kind of sexual orientation. Yukinokouji has very nice body, while Soushi is a sensual kind of man.
Fantastic Racism: Made apparent by Soushi's backstory, on grounds of superstition and fear.
First Time In The Sun: Soushi was trapped by his family since birth but managed to escape by manipulating the more powerful women around him. Learning its lesson, the Miketsukami house placed even more restrictions on his reincarnation. Ririchiyo, by asking Kagerou's mom to save Soushi when he was reborn, let him see the sun again.
Foreshadowing: In Episode 1 there is a Running Gag where Ririchiyo is complaining about Soushi's canine loyalty is underlined by him sprouting a furry tail and pointy ears. When a burglar appears at the end of the episode Soushi releases his kyuubi-kitsune legacy, sprouting the same ears and nine tails.
Go-Go Enslavement: Kagerou is really fond of this trope, as befitting his S&M obsession. He makes Karuta wear a Slave Collar and French Maid Outfit when he visits in Episode 5, but she doesn't really mind, especially since he brought her food.
Hair Contrast Duo: Most of the SS and client duos are this, especially Ririchiyo and Soushi.
Happily Ever After: Soushi and Ririchiyo are in a happy relationship at the end of the anime. Horribly subverted in the manga. Everyone but Renshou is killed after Chapter 18.They get better, though.
I Kiss Your Foot: Soushi to Ririchiyo in Episode 1. Also used later in Soushi's backstory as characterization with Kagerou commanding him to kiss his foot upon their first meeting. Soushi went to do it without hesitation but Kagerou didn't actually expect him to do it.
Impossibly Cool Clothes: Pretty much everyone has them, especially the atavists who get wardrobe upgrades in their demon forms.
Kagerou: This elevator sure is making us wait, huh. S!!
Instant Seduction: Any interaction between Soushi and a female usually involves this in some way.
Intergenerational Friendship: The relationship between Renshou and the others becomes this after everyone except him died and got reincarnated.
Interspecies Romance: All of the atavists are a result of this. Technically, any relationships involving the atavists themselves could be considered this as well.
I Owe You My Life: Reincarnated!Soushi certainly feels this way towards reincarnated!Ririchiyo, even going so far as to research the behavior and personality of past!Soushi, choosing to impersonate his past self as he felt that past!Soushi was the most important person to Ririchiyo.
Irrational Hatred: Watanuki's ire towards Soushi is revealed as this.
It Doesn't Mean Anything: Ririchiyo tries this excuse when she accidentally confessed to Soushi via letter but stopped after Soushi honestly believed her.
It Got Worse: Inu X Boku SS took a sharp swerve in this direction in chapter 18 of the manga.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: As the series goes on, Kagerou's more like this. I mean, he folded 1000 cranes for Karuta by himself in an effort to help her return to normal in Chapter 17. And reincarnated Kagerou's the one who gave Ririchiyo a wake up call by telling her not to confuse the reincarnated Soushi with the past Soushi. He's actually kinda sweet, albeit in a more... twisted way.
Jerkass Façade: Ririchiyo has this in order to protect herself from others, and it's been on long enough that it's almost a case of Becoming the Mask.
Kappa: Kawasumi Jyoutarou, the cook at Ayakashi Kan.
Lack of Empathy: Soushi believed that he had this until Ririchiyo remarked that he "finally showed her something about himself" to her in their letter correspondence.
Love Bubbles: Appear whenever Watanuki gets the heartbeats for Karuta.
Love Epiphany: Played around with in the case of Ririchiyo.
Major Injury Underreaction: Soushi didn't feel the bullet at all after he blocked it. When Ririchiyo directed his attention to it in worry, he simply extended his other hand to her, believing that she just didn't want to get her hand dirty with his blood.
Morality Pet: Ririchiyo serves as one for Soushi, to some extent, as he basically has no qualms about doing anything bad as long as he doesn't hurt her.
Obfuscating Disability: Zange always wears bandages over his right eye, but reveals in Chapter 18 that not only does he have two working eyes, he also has dozens of eyes all over his body that can let him see virtually anything.
Official Couple: Soushi and Ririchiyo. The anime ends with the beginning of their relationship. Watanuki and Karuta count too.
Parental Neglect: Due to having more demon blood than her sister, Ririchiyo was set aside as her family's lucky rabbit's foot and given next to no attention by her family save for some attendants who tend to everything but her emotional needs. She recalls the only time her father hit her: Ririchiyo complained that her parents were doting on her sister but paid her no mind, and saw that all of her father's feelings were for her sister. Couple this with the bullying she received in school and you've got her Freudian Excuse.
One Head Taller: Taken to extremes with Ririchiyo and Soushi, but the height difference between genders is pretty blatant for all the characters.
One True Love: The manga makes this seem the case with Watanuki and Karuta.
Past Life Memories: After the whole death and reincarnation thing, everyone but Ririchiyo, Soushi and Watanuki has recalled his or her past life memories.
Zange also reveals earlier that the atavists often remember figments of their past lives along with being carbon copies of their previous incarnation.
Poisonous Friend: Soushi shows signs of this for Ririchiyo. He is astoundingly loyal to Ririchiyo but has no qualms about hurting others if they're in his way.
Power Strain Blackout: Zange uses his power to find Karuta in Chapter 16, but it takes a toll on his body and he collapses.
Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Zange and Watanuki, respectively, though Watanuki isn't exactly what you'd call "manly".
Shana Clone: Subverted with Ririchiyo. Aesthetically, she has all of the characteristics that place her firmly in the category, but her attitude shows that she hates her rudeness to outsiders and wishes to get along with people.
Sliding Scale of Beauty: Ririchiyo, Nobara, and Karuta are often mentioned to be beautiful or cute by other characters, making them World Class Beauty. Their youkai forms push them into Uncanny Valley territory however, especially Karuta's.
Smart People Wear Glasses: Frequently used. Even characters who normally do not wear glasses, such as Ririchiyo and Soushi, are shown with them in their spare time to illustrate their studious sides.
Sole Survivor: Renshou Sorinozuka was the only person to survive the events that occurred 23 years ago, and the only person who has yet to reincarnate. In Chapter 19, we see an older Renshou, who's about 41 years old.
Something about a Rose: Roses appear in the background when Zange hits on Soushi in Episode 4.
The different spelling is mainly a confusion by fan scanlators between "ちょ" and "ちよ" while translating. It's confirmed in the anime, however, where her name is definitely pronounced as Ririchiyo.
Spoiled Sweet: Ririchiyo, even though she tries really hard to hide it.
Surreal Theme Tune: Both the opening and endings to the anime are pretty strange.
The opening is an abstract version of how Ririchiyo and Soushi first came into contact, though this is something only manga readers would understand. They wrote letters to each other, with Soushi pretending to be Ririchiyo's fiance, Kagerou.
The first ending showcases Soushi's obsession with Ririchiyo by having him be constantly surrounded by her photos, and even recording himself like this in public.
The second ending has Ririchiyo wandering a grayscale landscape all alone (probably symbolic of her loneliness) until she sees a brightly colored sakura tree.
Team Mom: Nobara for the girls, albeit a perverted one. Zange plays this for the younger residents with Renshou as his counterpart Team Dad after the timeskip.
Technician Versus Performer: Soushi is the technician while Kagerou is the performer, at least in terms of personality.
Theme Tune Cameo: In episode 3, a girl has one of the endings, "Rakuen no Photograph", as her cellphone ringtone.
The Three Faces of Eve: The 3 main female characters exhibit traits that place them in these categories: Karuta is the innocent and sweet young girl, Ririchiyo is the mentally older and sensible one, and Nobara is the mature and sexy adult of the trio.
Ririchiyo arguably deconstructs this, as she is thoroughly aware of her status as a Tsundere and its negative affects on her and the people around her, and she hates herself for it.
If you want to be technical, Ririchiyo is a tsunshun - abrasive and then depressed. It's a slight difference, but big enough for the author to point it out in an omake.
Transformation Sequence: Both Ririchiyo and Soushi get one when changing into their youkai forms.
The Unfavorite: Ririchiyo is an interesting case of this. Due to her strong youkai blood, she had been treated as a treasure back at home, while her sister was largely ignored. To compensate, her parents showered her younger sister with love while rejecting Ririchiyo, believing that she didn't need them anyway.
Unfortunate Implications: Ririchiyo has never had real friends before moving to Ayakashi Kan. In other words, people like her can only be happy with other hybrid humans.
Vapor Wear: Ririchiyo is always braless under her dress shirt when alone in her apartment.
.Note: All examples that are found after the end of the anime and in the manga only should be spoiler-tagged.
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