Lamentation V: Surprise! A Game of Bullfighting ♡
- Original Airdate: April 2, 2023
Written by: Yuya Takahashi
Directed by: Teruaki Sugihara
Summary
Archimedel: All the pieces were in place for us to obtain the Producer's Vision Driver, in the JGP's second round.
However, that damned nuisance Geats and his powers obstructed us yet again!
Defeating Geats... is now the Jyamato's foremost task.
However, that damned nuisance Geats and his powers obstructed us yet again!
Defeating Geats... is now the Jyamato's foremost task.
Neon's birthday has arrived, but there's no rest for the weary as another round of the Jyamato Grand Prix has begun. After getting his hands on the Game Master's Vision Driver, Michinaga decides to bring the JGP to a close by organizing a game of bullfighting: a series of one-on-one duels between the Jyamato players and DGP Riders.
Beroba, however, thinks the setup is too boring and decides to spice up the game a bit in her own way: a dark secret pertaining to the birthday girl is about to be revealed...
Tropes:
- A Birthday, Not a Break: The episode's events unfold on Neon's birthday, and as it turns out, it's also the day she was kidnapped, or rather, the day the person she was replacing was murdered.
- Break the Cutie: Neon's birthday celebration is marred by her fans turning on her just after she blows the candles on her cake, with the young woman being overwhelmed by the reveal about her true identity and the ensuing hate coming from her former fans. It could have been even worse, as if Ace hadn't switched in Round 2 (having suspected something was), Beroba would have revealed it in the middle of her fight which would have almost certainly gotten her killed.
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends with Ace in the middle of his fight.
- Death of a Child: Played horribly straight with poor Akari, who is shown being rolled out of the crime scene in a body-bag.
- Died on Their Birthday: Akari is killed on her birthday after being kidnapped.
- Foreshadowing: Kousei places white tulips where Neon was kidnapped, which are commonly given for people who have died. Even without knowing the specific flower symbolism, leaving flowers at a gravesite or the site of a death is a common custom, so the fact that he placed a bouquet there instead of giving it to Neon for her birthday raises red flags.
- Four Is Death: Akari was born on April 4, 2004 (2004.04.04 in Japanese date order), and she died on her birthday after being kidnapped
- Internal Reveal: Neon officially learns that the young man who has been insulting her is her supporter Kyuun.
- Kick the Dog: This episode further highlights Beroba's most despicable act by revealing to the world of Neon's true origins just to demoralize her.
- Lucky Charms Title: The third episode title to feature Beroba's signature heart, continuing the trend of uneven-numbered episodes of the arc.
- My Rules Are Not Your Rules: While the Bullfighting game is advertised as a series of 1v1 matches between Riders and Jyamato, Beroba has no intention of abiding by said rules in order to gain victory and has the Dunkleosteus Jyamato support the participating Jyamato.
- Once More, with Clarity:
- Beroba's actual revelation of Neon's history is drowned out by silence as everyone watches in shock. It's only when Neon's (former) fans begin turning on her that we actually learn what Beroba said.
- The flashbacks of Neon's kidnapping are played once again near the end, this time showing what really happened.
- Out-Gambitted: The Bullfighting game has Keiwa and Neon participating first before Ace, to make sure that the strongest Rider doesn't get to participate should these 2 lose. Beroba further guarantees their defeat by having Dunkleosteus Jyamato sneak attack Keiwa and unveiling a dark secret regarding Neon in her match later. But Ace goes in Neon's stead to fight the Jyamato and it seemed to pay off as he is able to spot the second Jyamato, albeit Beroba still proceeds in her plan to reveal Neon's secrets.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Ace's reaction to the news about Neon is a Tranquil Fury, which he later makes it clear that he's mad about Beroba ruining Neon's life.
- The Reveal: The Kurama Zaibatsu's daughter, Akari, never made it past her kidnapping. Kousei used a Desire Card to create Neon as a Replacement Goldfish for her in exchange for his role as a sponsor of the DGP.
- This Is Unforgivable!: Ace declares this to Beroba after she ousts Neon.
- Tranquil Fury: Ace, upon realizing that Beroba is going to reveal Neon's secret to the audience while he's busy fighting the Jyamato, goes into this as he activates LaserBoost.
- Ship Tease: Chirami seems to think Ace and Neon's interactions are this, but Tsumuri brushes them off.
- Wham Episode: Neon is a Replacement Goldfish created by the Goddess of Creation after the Kurama's real daughter died in her kidnapping. Beroba reveals this truth during the round, which causes enormous backlash from Neon's fans, breaking Neon and sending Ace into a fury.
- Wham Shot: The police carrying Akari's corpse out of the warehouse.
- What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Neon's fans turn against her due to the fact that she's a mere Artificial Human who replaced the dead child of the Kuramas, even if it wasn't her fault that it happened in the first place.
- Worf Had the Flu: Keiwa was close to defeating the Rook Jyamato one on one only for the Dunkleosteus Jyamato to perform a sneak attack on him, which led to his defeat.
- Xanatos Gambit: How Beroba's plan came out. Either Neon fights and she reveals her dark secret for the DGP to see while giving Neon a Heroic BSoD and an opportunity for the Jyamato to take the win or Ace takes her place and she still reveals the dark secret mid-fight, demoralizing Neon so that when it's her turn to fight, it'll be a win for her.
Mission 3 — Bullfighting
CURRENT STANDINGS
Team Jyamato vs Team Riders (1-0)
Rook Jyamato vs Keiwa Sakurai/Tycoon (Win-Lose)
Bishop Jyamato vs N̶e̶o̶n̶ ̶K̶u̶r̶a̶m̶a̶/̶N̶a̶-̶G̶o̶ Ace Ukiyo/Geats (In Progress)
Michinaga Azuma/Buffa vs A̶c̶e̶ ̶U̶k̶i̶y̶o̶/̶G̶e̶a̶t̶s̶ Neon Kurama/Na-Go
Bishop Jyamato vs N̶e̶o̶n̶ ̶K̶u̶r̶a̶m̶a̶/̶N̶a̶-̶G̶o̶ Ace Ukiyo/Geats (In Progress)
Michinaga Azuma/Buffa vs A̶c̶e̶ ̶U̶k̶i̶y̶o̶/̶G̶e̶a̶t̶s̶ Neon Kurama/Na-Go
JGP Rule #6
All methods that cause misery to humans are permitted.
