Dog Versus Dog
Summary
Tsubasa: The Jūto have the power to copy humans, taking their identities and doing whatever they want.
Now that I've been trapped in some sort of strange dimension, I'm with the real Natsumi...
...in the same deep sleep.
Now that I've been trapped in some sort of strange dimension, I'm with the real Natsumi...
...in the same deep sleep.
Upon learning that Tsubasa has been released from custody, Tsuyoshi decides to tail him. Sononi notices "Tsubasa" acting oddly and realizes that even he has been replaced by a Jūto. Haruka becomes acquainted with "Natsumi", who she met while the latter was rehearsing a play in the park.
Meanwhile, Taro decides to fight the two Jūto he is aware of — "Natsumi" and "Tsubasa". At that moment, however, Sonoza appears...
Tropes
- Ambiguous Situation: Tsubasa manages to get out of the Juto's vines, but there isn't any indication as to who freed him.
- A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: The Donblasters are unable to tell a Juto copy of a Donbrother from the real thing, forcibly summoning Juto!Tsubasa into the battle with Kyukyu-Ki as Inu Brother.
- Bloody Horror: Played for Laughs. Inu Brother's sections of Don Momotaro's sudden role call are pitch-dark with leaking blood to reinforce that it's his Juto copy and not him.
- Captain Oblivious: Despite Sononi and Sonoza appearing to confront "Natsumi" as a Jūto, Haruka's knowledge of the latter's background as an actress who engages in martial arts hobbies leads her to assume the whole encounter was a performance, and instead becomes impressed at her apparent Charles Atlas Superpower.
- Call-Back:
- At the start of the episode, Tsuyoshi repeatedly says Miho's name in the same vein she motivated him back in #16.
- When introducing herself to "Natsumi", Haruka mentions the fact that she was in a movie, which refers to the events of New First Love Hero.
- This is the second time the team has been trapped in a burning building.
- Cheer Up Episode: The first third of the episode begins this way, Tsuyoshi's co-workers and the residents of Donbura simultaneously taking notice of the salaryman's sudden irritability. The Donbrothers' attempts to pep him with complimentary sweets are a bust though, as their attempts to improve his mood center around bringing up Miho...the source of his mood.
- Clone Degeneration: Invoked. If a copied human manages to escape the Jungle, their corresponding Juto is robbed of their immortality.
- Confronting Your Impostor: Tsubasa shows up at the end of the episode and deals with his imposter himself.
- Curb-Stomp Cushion: While Tsubasa manages to destroy the Juto impersonating him with just his shuriken, the Juto managed to get one good attack in that gives some harm to the former before imploding.
- Enemy Mine: Sonoza decides to help Taro fight "Natsumi" and "Tsubasa", given that the Jūto threat is bigger than the rivalry between the Donbrothers and the Nōto.
- Failed Attempt at Drama: Sonoi prepares an epic Badass Boast for Sonoza to say before fighting the Jūto. Unfortunately, the words he wrote down are too difficult for Sonoza to read and he ends up awkwardly struggling to get through his script, to both Taro and Sonoi's frustration.
- Force Feeding: Juto!Tsubasa attempts to mimic his host's talent for cooking by hijacking a restaurant and cooking for customers. He sees Tsuyoshi standing by the entrance and pulls him inside, pinning him to the floor and shoving chicken into his mouth.
- Foreshadowing: During each of Kuga's appearances, there is the flashing and wailing of sirens. He later becomes the host of Kyukyu-ki.
- Go-Karting with Bowser: Downplayed. "Natsumi" and Haruka have a day around town with the latter unaware the former is a Jūto.
- Internal Reveal: Subverted. The Crane Juto implies (without directly stating) to Taro that her "Miho" persona is fake.Taro: Tsuyoshi Kijino calls you "Miho-chan". Why does he do that? Are you Kijino's wife?
"Natsumi": "Miho" is who Natsumi dreams to be. I told you before: Crane Juto weave stories. - Locked Out of the Loop: Tsuyoshi tells the Donbrothers that he's been "on edge," but doesn't bring up the recent drama relating to her and Tsubasa. Taro subverts the trope later in the episode when he asks "Natsumi" about the Miho identity.
- Not So Above It All: Played for Laughs. Don Momotaro decides today's a good day to have a role call (something he's been adamantly opposed to before now) and orders the team to "declare themselves." Inu Brother's Juto duplicate is unable to properly join in, causing the various background effects to leak with ominous blood whenever it's on-screen.
- Not So Stoic:
- Sonoi gets annoyed when Sonoza completely misreads the speech he gave to him to deliver to the Juto.
- The Crane Juto joins the battle against Taro and Sonoza to "have some fun."
- Out-of-Character Alert:
- The episode opens with Tsuyoshi having a breakdown at his office due to his pining for Miho, which troubles his co-workers.
- Taro notices something is off with "Tsubasa" not because he's acting strange, but because his cooking has gotten worse.
- The Reveal:
- "Natsumi" reveals a Jūto can also be killed if the human they impersonate manages to leave the Jūto's realm, and the latter will be spared upon the former's destruction; Tsubasa somehow managing to escape and eliminate the Jūto that impersonated him proves this.
- We also get a look at what a Crane Jūto's monster form looks like when "Natsumi" transforms into one to fight Taro and Sonoza.
- Single-Stroke Battle: Tsubasa's duel with his Jūto counterpart takes on this form.
- Status Quo Is God: "Tsubasa"'s tenure was short-lived as the real Tsubasa had somehow escaped captivity and claimed back his Inu Brother powers before destroying the former by the end of the episode, restoring his position to how it was before.
- Tsundere: Sonoi tries to paint himself as a formal rival to Taro by refusing to meet him in person, instead sending Sonoza with a pre-written speech. And yet, he still hides nearby on a rooftop to overlook them.
