Akuma no Riddle/Riddle Story of Devil

Bored now.

How would you rank the characters' fighting ability?

Personally, I would rank them like this:

• Sumireko
• Isuke
• Otoya
• Azuma
• Nio
• Chitaru
• Haruki
• Banba
• Kouko

Non-combat:

• Shiena
• Hitsugi
• Haru
• Suzu

edited 5th Sep '14 2:08:38 PM by Sykosis

We have cyborgs, I think it's safe to assume this world's medical technology is like 50 times more advanced than ours. Still WTF at Chitaru and Kirigaya living, but not surprising that Nio lived (you think Nio is going to die from one little stab wound?) and happy that Haru lived. Still a really entertaining show, but also hoping the manga will have a better ending.

The ending itself ain't bad, it's just the execution and explanation that's messy.

Indeed. The problem was never 'what' happened. It was in 'how' it happened.

I think it's less of a cop out than if Tokaku had changed her mind about killing Haru.

Nio planned on killing Haru because I think that, now that Tokaku had issued the noticed, she could still 'win' the class by killing Haru.

edited 21st Jun '14 1:31:28 PM by Scherzo09

I think Haru's survival basically worked. Chitaru and Kirigaya's survival did not, though.

I wish the anime would have focused on any other character other than the 2 mains, they had the least interesting back story. Also wish the made a spinoff with Nio or Banba. Or a big team-up sequel.

Please make it happen!!

Haru was kinda an asspull, but at least they explained it and you could also assume Tokaku flinched a little bit. I have to admit: Her logic was kinda messed up there.

I don't know why Tokaku was in a rush to prove that she wasn't Primed... She had all the time in the world to think of a solution. I thought of some alternatives that would have been less stupid to try in just the past few days.

1: Set up a situation where Haru must sacrifice herself to save Tokaku. If she isn't willing, or isn't trying to find a 3rd option, then clearly Haru didn't care as much about her. If she did, then the protection was mutual and who cares why? (Hint, this already happened with Suzu in the waterslide of doom, so Haru has already risked her survival for Tokaku.)

2: Take some time away from Haru and learn more about Priming. Maybe there is a time limit. Otherwise, if you feel some unnatural desire to be back with her without reason, then clearly something us up.

3: Make your wish from the school be "I want to know if my actions during class black were caused by Haru's Primer ability, without taking the option of assaulting Haru as evidence." They were going to gather all the scientists for Suzu, and I am sure the Primers already have studied themselves pretty extensively. Might be a quick matter of blood work.

Of course. These are boring options. Wouldn't want there to be a boring ending to the story.

There is definitely some merit there. I find myself more interested in Suzu, Kouko, Isuke, Banba, and Haruki than Disaffected-Teen-Tokaku and Sunshine-and-Rainbows-Haru.

You assume she has time and resources to experiment. I'm not sure of that, though I can't tell what expects them after graduating.

I would have preferred the ending to be simply ambiguous about Haru and Tokaku's future and whether any other survive. But my biggest hope is that the teacher does not lose his confidence and continues. He seemed cheery enough.

Maybe they'll follow it up with an OVA in which everyone tries to kill each other but fails, then they all die from an accident. A perfect successor.

Finale: Graduation Time

• Oh. So the Kuzunoha's are more on the deceptive side in contrast to the Azuma's more direct approach. And thusly, the Mystery of Nio has been unraveled.
• Couldn't follow the battle at first. And I thought that Haru would be trapped in a "I am the real Tokaku" scenario, where she would end up killing the fake one...or did she?
• A dramatic finish, with dramatic deaths. Darn, I knew Haru wasn't gonna make it, but Nio also bit it. Well, I'm sad no-Oh. Haru graduated. And Nio's tough as nails, too. Um... ...No need to worry!
• In this world, everyone's Made of Iron. Chitaru and Hitsugi being alive really shocked me. Now I feel like a fool Although... Yeah, Chitaru surviving makes sense. She downed an entire bottle of poison, yes. It was poisonous, all right. Enough to cripple her severely. Heh, Hitsugi must've never had the killer poison with her during her enrollment. Oh well, they're alive. Grateful.
• Everyone's doing fine, it seems. Haruki looks so happy. And Kouko decided to say "screw you" to that assassin church. Yeah!
• Tokaku's dragon blazer. Nice.
• Group ED's a nice ED. No Shiena ending, though. That, too, is why she's hacking the system for her vengeance.

Ending was weird, but this was a nice show, overall.

edited 22nd Jun '14 4:29:14 PM by Diamite

Vol 7 Blu Ray with the OVA comes out in December. It's 48 minutes.

Hm, I'm wondering what everyone's assassin status is like after their time in the Black Class. Here's what I think.

Tokaku- Heir to the Azuma Clan. Has clearance to kill. May or may not continue.
Nio- A Kuzunoha. Quite unpredictable.
Isuke- Raised to kill. Will continue.
Takechi- Will she be reformed after serving her sentence, Or will she continue to be a serial killer? Survey says...
Suzu- Her body ain't fit(well, it is fit, but you know what I mean!) for assassinations. So she'll just keep on living.
Kouko- Currently on the run from that assassin orphanage. Since it's a bad idea for an operative to go AWOL, she will be on the run for a long time. She may have to kill once they catch up from time to time. Out of everyone, her life's in the greatest peril.
Shiena- Is she really a killer? Hacking's her forte, it looks like.
Sumireko- She doesn't seem like the killing type. Will kill if there's a bounty on her head, probably.
Haruki- From the looks of things, she may never have to kill again.
Mahiru- Same as Haruki, unless her life is in very grave danger. Shin'ya may or may not return.
Chitaru- She was less of a killer and more of an avenger. Might not kill again. She's recuperating, after all.
Hitsugi- Will she still be Angel Trumpet? Perhaps not. I'd like to think that on that day, Angel Trumpet and the avenger died. Who you're seeing now are different people.
Haru- Is Haru. Just your normal girl now.

A Black Class reunion would be epic.

Since Haru doesn't have Primer powers, the people who died for her...did it of their own volition. They truly wanted her to live.

Mizorogi toughed it out, and he's still his cheerful self. Perhaps the greatest victory coming out of that class.

edited 22nd Jun '14 4:31:43 PM by Diamite

It would make sense if the Class Black clan cut a deal with them giving them a part of what they wanted, under condition that they stayed low for now. In which case, Otoya's definitely out, she tried to break the rules, attacked Nio, and then broke out of prison to attack Haru again. The only deal she would be getting is to stay in prison like a good girl, with <clan running Class Black> keeping an eye over her. Shiena also likely didn't get yet, and the info she's hacking might be just decoys to test out her skill. Chitaru/Hitsugi also likely didn't get any yet, recovering and all.

edited 23rd Jun '14 7:44:00 AM by arahman56

So long as Nio gets good screentime, this OVA should be good. I would definitely like to see more Shiena too, if only because her backstory sounds potentially interesting. She really got screwed over by the anime. No ending theme or focus at all.

As for the ending . . . meh. Way too happy and convenient for a show about freaking assassins.

A team-up sequel would be nice. Maybe the OVA will feature that. Is there any news regarding the radio dramas?

edited 25th Jun '14 9:17:42 PM by HopefullySane

I'm sure Shiena will be the most memorable character in the long run, just like Akarin. It's a Reverse Psychology thing.

edited 25th Jun '14 10:18:21 PM by stairwalker

BTW, added [1080p ED screens]( http://robopot61.minus.com/mbymFNwMtowp9O ) from the BD-Rip.

Also, the Manga changed Hitsugi's personality to be colder and more selfish. Would be interesting to see how things go.

edited 3rd Jul '14 7:58:38 PM by arahman56

link's not working for me.

There is an errant closed parentheses at the end of the link, ")". Got to delete that first.

Thanks Arahman!

Edit: My favorite is definitely the following: http://robopot61.minus.com/i/BGPWszhVEZFj Those girls were definitely the most colorful colorless backdrop characters I have ever seen in a Death-game style anime composed entirely of a class full of female assassins.

edited 3rd Jul '14 7:24:52 PM by ergoemos

And I just realized something: We actually saw Meichi in the OP◊.

Also, the "naked hug" background isn't wavy colours◊ in the BD.

Another minor difference: Chitaru's coat◊.

Shiena looks so badass.

Considering the deal she got, this was probably just an attempt to make things a bit better for her. Doesn't look like it was enough for her, though.

Soomething on the side: Yonkoma Log. YmirxChrista+ChitaruxHitsugi. The last two panels (page 5) is...hilarious.

Also, Somebody already reviewed Volume 7 of the Bluray. Seems to be disappointed with the Ep12 ending. Sir, wrong volume. You're supposed to review Volume 6.

edited 10th Jul '14 6:41:52 PM by arahman56

Im totally being a necromancer here but I felt the need to write out how I feel after FINALLY getting the time to sit down and watch this whole thing.

I...the ending...it...yeah. At first I hated it, because I was kinda expecting a downer and felt like the ride ended at the top of the last hill instead of plunging down it.

But I realize on reflection that what I hate it not the whole ending.

I HATE that an awesome tragic Romeo and Juliet motif got ruined. I do hate that outcome slightly less only because they clearly have a long way to go before that couple is emotionally and physically better. Which, oddly, is what I was EXPECTING of the main pairing, rather than a time-skip to everyone being totally happy (more on that below).

I DISLIKE that we get a jarring "Haru is fine" bit rather than something in the hospital. I hoped she would live (considering how tough the other girl in her place is, her scars indicating this isnt new to her, and the ambulance) but I kinda figured the girls would part ways or have a painful reconciliation after Haru wakes up in the hospital. It was like they ran out of time for a proper scene of this sort due to deciding to give everyone a bit of time in the happy ending montage. ... Seriously...who WOULDN'T want to see the scene where the two actually have to talk for the first time after trying to kill each other?

I am UNCOMFORTABLE with so many assassins, serial killers and psychopaths getting happy endings. Im more of a fan of nasty villains dying for closure sake and sympathetic ones dying to suggest that redemption is a path of sacrifice (sometimes ultimate sacrifice). And lets be honest, this show has like 1/2 to 1 hero (depending on if Haru actually compels people to die for her sake)and many villains, some of whom are just slightly less antagonistic. Some of them seem to have moved on but a person willing to murder for money isnt the most trustworthy when it comes to accepting that they will just turn their life around. Haruki Sagae is a good example...taking care of your family is a noble goal but even desperate people usually turn to crappy jobs, theft, or prostitution in bad situations like that. If she gets bored with legit work she will likely start killing again.

But I know my personal moral discomfort isnt a good judge of quality in a work so other than ruining my shakespearian tragedy buzz the ending isnt actually bad. Just...not as good as it could be.

The rest of the show I loved and I wish I could find one place with all the episode ending songs together in one neat list. Those range from badass to sad to sadbadass (Set Me Free and Survival for their suicide implications thanks to the events of the associated episode or the visuals used).

Anyways, you can go back to sleep now, thread. I had my say.

From the latest chapter.◊ It seems the stage is set. Toukau and Haru saw Hitsugi's attack, and Haru seems to have been pinned as the attacker.

Also, in other news, There was a Riddle exhibition. Seems like it did pretty well. Also, Congratulations message from Akiko Morishima, also a short 4-panel comic (DynastyScans link for both, check comments for translation of first picture.)

Also, some OVA Info. 2x24minute, and apparently set on a desert island.

edited 8th Aug '14 8:41:59 PM by arahman56

A desert battle? Sounds interesting. Shiena can finally shine. Maybe.

And it's non-canon. That good? Or bad?

@4-koma: Tokaku needs no hanky. Haru might need more than one, though.