Hey There!

I'm gonna be upfront here, a lot of what I'm about to speak about has been on my mind since probably as early as episode 1 but even then it wasn't as strong as it is at this moment.

I am DEEPLY concerned about Asuka and whatever the story regarding him might entail. This is 16 weekly episodes worth of concentrated worry brewing in my synapses. (And also maybe a fanfic or and some discussions I've had)

So...where to begin.

Probably at where we saw him last and how it's a perfect example of why I am suffering.

....Oh wait shoot. I meant awake and not his current dilemma.

Uh fuck hold on-

//shuffles through the cards

Ah hah!

Ok honestly lets be real, episode 12 was a mad rollarcoaster for my emotions but this scene between Tomoro and Asuka is honestly perfect to describe my emotions here.

Because let's be honest.

I was asking the same thing as Tomoro during this scene and I probably wasn't the only person.

My thoughts about Asuka can essentially be filed down to several questions I desperately wish to ask him.

"Why can't you be honest to Tomoro"

"How can you willingly drop out of school and your interests"

"How are you so perfect of a brother despite everything"

"How are you so ready to become an adult at the age of SEVENTEEN"

So. to put it simply.

In a story where character emotions and flaws can manifest into glitches, Asuka's character flaw seems to be that he never told Tomoro anything and hid things from him for his own safety.

Because apart from that, he's basically a perfect brother. Practically a saint.

And thats why it kills me, because Tomoro's pedestalling (which makes so much sense ) has become the reason he's been able to understand Gekkomon and eventually found the courage to finally introduce Gekkomon as part of their family.

And yet because this is Digimon, I know this won't be the case forever and what happens will inevitably be part of Tomoro's growth.

But hopefully, to me. Also part of Asuka's future growth.

Let me ramble for a moment about the themes of Adulthood in Digimon (Prepare for a minor text wall)

So I'll be real, I have a complicated relationship with some of the themes in Digimon, especially when it comes to Kizuna and Tri.

The theme of "Growing up" has always been a funny one to me, because I've long been of the opinion that just because someone grows up, it doesn't always mean they need to hide away all their thoughts and interests to pursue "Adult" things.

I was not a real big fan of Kizuna's ending when it came out and to be honest, earlier before there was a particular mindset I had when Tri initially dropped and Applimon was airing.

"I guess Digimon isn't for me anymore, I think I've just grown up"

To be clear, at the time I was finishing up my last year of school which was way before the pandemic came and punched me in the gut and i'm still trying to figure myself out due to it.

Anyway what does this have to do with Asuka and Beatbreak?

Well.

Beatbreak is one of the few digimon seasons and the first digimon season, to have an adult in the cast with an ultimate digimon.

MAIN cast lineup might I add, Kyo's story is still being told and the guy still has character development to go through despite his role as team leader and adult of the group.

Because I'm gonna be real, with what we saw of Kyo in episode 12 at 11 years old. He was basically the lone-wolf type kid that is known in the digimon series. (If you know characters Like Matt, Kouji and Rika, then that's who I'm talking about.)

So what of Asuka?

Yeah big bro ain't beating the Red protag allegations, Red is Asuka's colour afterall and yes his design feels very similar to Taichi and Marcus Daimon.

This however is not the post where I clamor on about the themes of these duo types, I need to save that post for when that info finally drops.

No.

This is the post where I talk to you about how Asuka's story might end up relating to the themes of "Growing up" and "Adulthood". But in a interesting way that would be at odds with his core character growth potentially.

I have to wonder if Asuka having to look after Tomoro, become an adult, abandon his interests etc, is gonna be part of the reason why Asuka's digimon isn't around. He had to grow up and look after Tomoro but in doing so, he has had to reject whatever ideals and interests and plans he had for himself.

What if Asuka had to hide or abandon his partner because he had to "Grow up" to fit what society demands of you to be seen as an "Adult"

I don't necessarily predict that this will be how they go about explaining what's going on with Asuka, but to me Asuka feels like he could be the "eldest son" trope. Their parents got arrested and despite everything, Asuka chose to be the sole provider and guardian of Tomoro and never finished school because of it. We never heard people talking about these two but from the sounds of it once their parents were arrested, they were on their own and Asuka wasn't gonna let his brother go into the system.

Personally I think if Digimon Beatbreak were to do this, it would end up being a really significant story to tell in a series that rarely has a focus on adult characters and their struggles.

A lot of my thoughts about this stems partially from the fact that Asuka doesn't even have a Sapotama.

You could toss it up to the brothers only having one, or him rejecting it like the people in Sasatake's clan, but in a series that puts so much emphasis on everyone having their personal ai companion to support them, especially in active warzones no less. Asuka's strange lack of one feels so at odds with the theming that it could very well be intentional.

Especially when you consider digimon and their role as being the mirror of someone's emotions and at times a visual means for the audience that the characters are going through self-reflection and understanding their faults.

(Genuinely if the reason haven't seen Asuka's digimon is because it would essentially reveal so much of Asuka core personality, then this would be very Meta of Beatbreak to do and I would love it forever.)

If Asuka has a digimon, (and I strongly think he does for many reasons), theres a very likely chance that if it wasn't taken, then Asuka would have had to hide them away due to his and Tomoro's situation, or even had to reject them. Especially if it turns out Asuka's digimon were formed in a standard fashion through negative emotions, emotions that Asuka is trying so hard to keep hidden in order to be a pillar for Tomoro.

I've talked a bit before about how Kyo and Asuka are similar and one of their similarities I feel is that Asuka is also someone who is putting on a front, especially for Tomoro's sake. He's doing so much on his own and having to hide his own fears and worries to reassure Tomoro (and even then he's not perfect at it, Tomoro is constantly worrying about him)

Kyo is just as guilty as this, and is still working through it in the story. But the key difference to remember here is that Kyo has always had Cougarmon by his side. Cougarmon who will scold Kyo and tell him to trust others and get him to listen. This is all the case with the members of Glowing Dawn, even Tomoro.

Not Asuka, who I'm quite worried has been trying to handle things on his own and has had to keep his own worries and thoughts hidden with barely anyone to talk to about it. (Genuinely, I'm hoping this isn't the case, I really hope Asuka had some support even if it was just his bandmates or on the off chance Kyo)

But still, the comparison right now I fear could be as vivid as night and day.

If Asuka has a digimon, I fear it's gonna be made into the example of why Asuka never told Tomoro in the first place, or at least, it's gonna be a good indication of how much Asuka was hiding from Tomoro, aspects of yourself can be found in your digimon afterall and for us to discover Asuka's digimon would mean that we'd be learning about Asuka from another lens instead of just Tomoro's

It might also end up being a case where Tomoro's resolve and view of Asuka will be tested, something that I feel will need to happen at some stage in the story

So I'll leave it off like this. Regarding Digimon partners.

In the case of Gekkomon, I can see Asuka easily coming to accept them as a part of Tomoro, and as part of their family. He'd easily see some familiar qualities in Gekkomon and treat them as he would treat Tomoro.

As of right now, I cannot say the same would be true if it were Asuka's digimon. Because of how Asuka never told Tomoro about digimon in the first place and how he seemed to be putting on a brave face for Tomoro.

If Tomoro were to meet a part of Asuka, a part who Asuka had rejected, would he still consider it part of their family?

*ahem*

Well, now that that's out of my system (it's not), time to discuss some things about this episode. Because, oh my goodness.

The directions during the flashback was perfect -- Asuka being the one to bring colour to Kyo's world

I love, loved, how the flashback started out dull, cold, with very little colour or hues, and white blurred edges.

Then gradually, colour, warmth and light came to Kyo's world thanks to Asuka coming into his world.

One thing that's noticeable is that until his world becomes completely full of colour, the surrounding scenery and changing seasons change and brighten with him. (We start around the late-fall or mid-winter and end in the spring)

By the end, the missed meeting, Asuka being held, the struggle? (I wasn't the only one who noticed that Asuka was, with all his might, trying so hard to get to Kyo's side that he pulled those kids with him before freeing himself) All that turns a dark red and features orange hues; the music darkens in tone and increases even when Cougarmon appears. When Kyo escapes from the fight with Cougarmon to learn how they came to be, everything is more sombre with dark purples, and mauves and dark blues. The warmer pinks of the sakura blossoms' petals are darker and lavender and the light is coming (likely) from the moonlight.

His first meeting with Cougarmon even parallels Tomoro's with Gekkomon so much. Even down to Kyo's encounter with the MCP agents explaining that his Digimon (without naming it) is a glitch and they'll replace his Sapotama paralleling how the Mushroom Gang give a quick overview with a short sketch of what the MCP agents do in this situation.

Alternate reading of the colours: Kyo's world during his childhood is presented dull, monochrome, emotionless and lacking any colour....except for his favourite places, which gradually expand to include the whole world he lives in after he meets Asuka.

As a notable example: Our first glimpse at the lighthouse Kyo goes to and watches the sunset. The subsequent scenes after this are back to being dull and almost monotone and cold.

DID YOU HEAR HIM SQUEE? DID YOU HEAR HOW HE SQUEED AFTER HE WAS THANKED?

Final point on this--I just loved how bright and energetic 7-year old Asuka was. And honestly such a child. The little lie to save Kyo from the bullies, the pouting when Kyo ignored him and didn't thank him at first for what he did, the glee and energy he had introducing himself, then the squee when he got an answer and learned Kyo's name.

The fact that this friendship ended like this so dramatically and abruptly...was sad. I can't wait to find out how they reconnected.

A "final" goodbye...

This hurt. I loved the flashback but this part was painful.

His first real friendship and it lasted a while. At least a few months? From fall or late winter until spring? That's practically a decade for a young child. Even more incredible is how Kyo's desire to protect, not just people, but someone whom he considers a friend being harmed in front of him (and also fights to protect him) was strong enough to trigger Cougarmon's birth.

We know they eventually reunite, but I think before the day Asuka has Kyo promise to take care of Tomoro should anything happen to him, there were other reunions, like while Kyo was a Five Star. One involves a wild theory which could actually work given Asuka's Digimon.

....Which speaking of--

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH WHAT

HE HAD A DANGER-CLASS DIGIMON. I KNEW IT. AAAAAAAAAAH

There's a lot happening here that I don't know where to start. The sun imagery for Asuka to Tomoro's moon imagery with Gekkomon's line and designs being clear as day (ha). The fact that Asuka's partner hid itself within or in the form of the White Core. The fact that this Digimon, four years ago, exhibited signs that it had the potential to be as powerful as the amalgam/null Digimon that destroyed Kano Island and violently altered the world and changed society forever? The fact Genjo knew of this Digimon's existence and disappearance 4 years ago? Is this how he maybe joined the Five Stars--by offering information to Wong? (Much like we see Kishiwada do) How did Heliosboamon get sealed with Asuka's original Sapotama? How did he even get by without it?

I find it very interesting that even with the dark e-Pulses of three sources (Miharu, Mephismon, and Souji), it still isn't enough to evolve Heliosboamon to Mega. I find it extra interesting and even more exciting how Tomoro's abnormal e-Pulse is key here. I think this indirectly serves to highlight just how strong Kyo's e-Pulse is. (I do wonder if Kishiwada relayed what he witnessed. Because I think that would put him as a "backup" option, though his e-Pulse is mostly of light granted we witnessed him wield dark e-Pulse easily?)

I'm very curious what role Genjo's mission of ensuring Heliosboamon evolves to Mega will be. I do think this will finally bring him into more direct confrontation with Glowing Dawn (or I hope so), soon.

I've bounced theories back and forth a while back with a mutual that the fact Asuka had an a coloured e-Pulse meant he birthed a Digimon (or the potential to? IIRC, Tomoro's e-Pulse was purple from the start?), where we concluded that it had to have been caused by an emotionally significant moment in his life. The only one we know of from the story so far is the arrest of his and Tomoro's parents 5 years ago and the fallout that ensued as their life was upended.

The weight, the indescribable pressure and stress, the early years...this was a recipe for disaster. The mask would've cracked at some point when this happened and something made him snap. I'm worried it was because of comments from Tomoro that were the final straw curious.

I do hope we get to see that moment as I feel it's connected to one of the final moments that lead to Kyo's possibly tumultuous depature from the Five Stars, the severe burns he suffers, and the beginning of his life as a Cleaner.

I like how with his plans marching forwarded almost perfectly, Wong's "old" mask is showing cracks and he's starting to act just a little bit excited and potentially unhinged. Much like he did 21 years ago during the Kano Island disaster.

Professor Tasuku Tenma

Ok, I so I see some reasonable complaints and people clowning on Tomoro again for not asking Kyo nor Yoshimura about if they knew his grandfather sooner but:

1- He had no reason to (genuinely. 😭). I know it feels out of nowhere, but he genuinely had no reason to and we may find out why very soon.

2- Like with asking about Asuka, he was suspicious of Kyo. Asking him, especially with a highly-skilled conversationalist like Kyo who would've skillfully guided the conversation away would've gotten him half-answers or a change of topic.

3- Yoshimura chiming in happens in real life too. (As does Tomoro's "Wait, you know my grandpa too?" reaction. No one knows all the people who know our parents and extended family) We've learned from this exchange that he knows about the orphanage work, and I guess figures having watching Tomoro these few months, jumping in to explain this makes sense. This also allows his character to take some early steps in the story's expansion of its remaining lore and hopefully tie him to the past.

4- We may learn something about Dr Tenma's absence from the present day of the story to explain why Tomoro doesn't ask (death, they lost touch, or he cut ties with the family for their safety)

5- Unrelated - but I genuinely hope we learn how he got involved in Sapotama development. From the graph in the OP, it's a development that spans 20+ years minimum (assuming the lower y-axis values are not zero, and the units are millions for example). It'll be a sad story, and I'm sure one where he only realizes when it's too late that things are not going to end well.

You know what I find insane? This cycle that's going on in this series

Asuka brought light and colour to Kyo's world when he was an outcast.

After Tomoro is born, Asuka becomes a reassuring presence in the face of all the problems Tomoro faces non-stop because of him e-Pulse. After their lives are upended, Asuka tirelessly continues to be Tomoro's light and like anchor despite it all. (a heavy burden for a teenager)

Kyo in turn, years later, fulfills a promise and takes in Tomoro after arriving too late to save him--becoming his light and source of stability after traumatic loss.

Later, after having to adjust this new life and new form of family, Tomoro (and Reina (who leaves her orphanage) and Makoto (who leaves his family to save their reputation)) in turn become Kyo's light when his past returns and endangers them all, leading to him to not place his faith his in them.

((((SCREAMS INTO A CUSHION))))

I hope Tomoro, with Kyo, Reina and Makoto's help, work together to get Asuka back. You bet Kyo will be fighting tooth and nail not to go overboard and delete Asuka's Digimon (I have a theory that the first or second time Kyo and Asuka reunite is when he's a young Five Star but is told to stop a very strong Digimon birthed from a child's Sapotama. He deletes it. (or so he thinks))

I also think Reina and Makoto will equally have stakes in this that could test them emotionally: Reina is an orphan who left because she spawned a Digimon (like Kyo), while Makoto has a younger brother whom he "lost" after leaving and emphasizes profoundly with Tomoro's situation. They will have roles in this, trust.

The new Star of Earth: Kishiwada Kanchi - KAWARAZAKI I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO MAKE SURE NONE OF YOUR STAFF HAVE ACCESS TO PANOPTICON JAIL ROOM OK?

Nah nah nah n ah nahhhh.

Yes he did human and Digimon trafficking. Yes he ran an illegal ring. Yes, I know. (And was running a decades-long revenge plan to get back at the humiliation he and his people went through as test subjects)

But I'm worried that whatever this new group is --whether GIFT extremists who were found by Kishiwada, or a new group --they will find a way to get to the "weakest" links of the Five Stars. In fact, I wouldn't b e surprised if their plan is to usurp control or quietly replace most o fthe members of the Five Stars through whatever means they can via currying favour with Chairman Wong.

This may also mean that Souji is also in danger? Oh and Miharu being in MCP's direct custody feels like a stroke of genius (While Kawarazaki did initiate the process to get MCP the custody of Miharu, Kyo was genuinely concerned about her ending up in Wong's custody. I wonder if we'll catch glimpses of his reasons for that, especially as he was the "lapdog" for Wong)

I do get the feeling the remaining active Five Stars may need to be careful going forward as Wong completely gives in to his greed and then some?

Briefly also want to mention how Rose, who's been revived, firmly has Glowing Dawn's back. I sincerely hope she can get back on her feet soon and help them (I need her to get on Kyo's nerves just for fun when she shows up. "Oh, don't mind us Kyo" *puts hand on his opposite shoulder* "We're only here to return a favour. You have no say in the matter *smiles serenely*" "....😐".

I had made a whole post of random dialogue ideas after ep 29 lol

Episode 43 - Preview. I need Kyo going all out like yesterday

Now it will be extremely telling if Kyo knows Heliosboamon. While Tomoro will definitely be unable to fight, I need Kyo and the others to go all out (they probably won't. Or Kyo will try and have the worst trouble since this is right out side their doorsteep AAAAAAAAGH)

I do wonder if Kyo was the one Five Star sent to deal with Heliosboamon when it emerged. I think he dealt with it and deleted it to save Asuka, but the act was enough to break him further and led to his departure from the Five Stars. Much like how Glowing Dawn defeated Mephismon, maybe he didn't realize the White Core was there and thought from what they could see that all was said and done. (Or maybe, as Wong's "lapdog", he was already aware of the search for the White Core and the only one in charge of that at the time? Maybe upon discovering that Asuka's Digimon, when it evolved a certain way or gave off some kind of energy he could perceive, that set off a chain of events. But also maybe guaranteed his safety after his departure?)