#kozuke

So with the opening scene I think its interesting how easily Mei changes names with the guys who are in love with her. For instance Ryusaki to Hayate, and now Kozuke to Yuta. I wonder if this change is significant.

I was hoping Mei would stick around the palace and run into Kozuke again. I feel like from the beginning Mei has always been risky but she played it safe when Shiori gave her a way out. Kind of disappointing.

She could have found more "evidence" and "truth" if she stuck around a bit, but hey what do I know?

So Ryu is rescued... I knew he was going to be ok. I think it was either Shiori who rescued him or the General... maybe Hayashi has something up his sleeves and it was him. I dont know, but Shiori would be my number one guess.

So we catch up with Katsu and Akane. I've missed Katsu, I always feel like we don't get enough of him.

First of all I always knew that Hayashi was a creep. He reminds me of the this one character in the movie Gladiator... the emperor had a thing for his sister too... if you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about. If you havent seen the movie you should it's really good...Anyway that was a sad moment for Akane. I wish her true happiness in the future.

The moment with her and Katsu was sweet... still not shipping it, but it was sweet.

So as the chapter comes to a close Mei got to the palace really quick. I thought she was weeks away from the palace not hours. I'm glad she's back but I hate that she ran into Hayashi. She has no idea she's surrounded by enemies, hopefully the general is on her side.

Also what about Osamu?He's a 13 year old innocent boy that could easily be corrupted by Hayashi. I hope he's ok and stronger than what I'm thinking. If not, Hayashi could have overturned the palace with both the king and blood king out. Leaving Mei in a dangerous situation. Then again having Mei, escape and arrive without any problems is suspicious. Maybe Kozuke let her go on purpose?

For those who are interested in the ships...

This is just my personal opinion on the chapter as a whole. The chapters of mdcbk, is more enjoyable to me when it doesnt involve the "pairs" (K×A) and (R×M). I'm more interested in the plot and the action of the story. Rather the romance. Sometimes I think it's too much. I hope Shiori has her own plans for letting Mei escape rather than just her loving Kozuke. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that romance in any story can still be there, but the action and moving the plot forward is more important. Depending on the character, liking someone isn't really a motivation and if it is it's a weak one. Especially for a character to do something out of the norm. A character should have their own goals in addition to having feelings for someone. I have never seen Mei as that type of girl. She always had sense of duty, and now I feel like she's lost it a bit.

Anyway my main point is I want to know the secrets of Katsu, Ryu, and Kozuke. And whether Mei is fighting for the "bad" side. The story was more interesting when she was trying to discover the palace secrets. Now I feel like with the relationship change with Ryu just makes her a boring character. I miss her fighting and defying orders, as the chapters progress I've seen less and less of what Mei was in the beginning.

For this lets do something fun and lets put the story of MDCBK into the modern world! Instead of Kindgdoms, there would be mafias/gangs(idk the diffrence). The world would also probably be in a single city for the most part.

“At the end of the day, we have a murderer to kill and a family to pay penance for.”

Alright, then. Here’s the evidence for my explanation of Daisuke’s “murder.” 

In a posthumous ceremony held for the lieutenant general -- now General Daisuke Kihara『Ep • 35』the explanation given for his death is to have sacrificed himself for his men while staging a counter-attack against the rebellion. 

‘His men were outnumbered and surrounded but due to his quick thinking and clever skill, he orchestrated a counter-attack that while would prove fatal to the enemy was also fatal for him, as he chose to die to save those serving under him.’ 

Seems (partially) legit. Mei mentioned that Daisuke and her father used to discuss military tactics around her to the point of it being commonplace. So Daisuke would have had such knowledge to think out something. He was also mentioned as being “sharp,” and “resilient,” by Fujioka. 

However, the self-sacrificing part seemed a tad sketchy. It isn’t that Daisuke wouldn’t do something of the nature, since what we know of his personality is that he was most likely a caring brother-figure, not only to his own siblings but to Ryusaki and Katsu and that he would always help people who needed it. 

At that line, Ryusaki went completely expressionless and Sanjirou, Mei’s father, had an expression not solely of sadness. 

“I spend every night cursing myself for Daisuke’s fate.” - Sanjirou Kihara.

So here’s the thing, if Daisuke sacrificed himself why would things be said such as, “murderer,” “couldn’t protect Daisuke...” “fearing the same fate will befall her...” “we were spared that defeat...spared at quite the cost.” “...you can’t resurrect the dead.”

I believe that we shall have to examine the event in which he was “murdered” to understand some things. 

For background, the Hebi Gang (蛇) is an anarchist group lead by Kôzuke which rose to power roughly six years ago which seeks to tear the Blood King off his throne. (and replace him with the “true king.”)

Under the leadership of Kôzuke, the Hebi gang grew to such a level of power that they were able to amass a well-manned army, starting a war three years before the start of the series, and were able to make it right to the throats of the Capitol Palace. 

Now, this was the war in which Daisuke died. It seems to be that Daisuke near-singlehandedly “spared them from that defeat,” thanks to a ‘self-sacrificing’ measure.

What on earth could Daisuke have done to completely end a war by ending his life? 

I’ll leave you to think about that question with a single quote to accompany. 

“She will find out that she is no ordinary farmer's daughter...and she will find out your secrets.”

Moving on to make another point; Kôzuke seems to have a great deal to do with Daisuke’s death as well. Which makes sense, since he was the one who started the war. 

I wish I knew why Kôzuke started the war since it would clear up a few of my questions, but from what I can say now, he seems to have betrayed them since in the flashbacks Katsu and Kôzuke, (Shibisaki, too?) had a close bond to almost being brothers. (Well, it was revealed that Ryusaki and Katsu were real brothers...)

“I’d hate for something to happen to your brother, especially after Daisuke.”『Ep • 48』“Would you like to learn more about your brother Daisuke?”『Ep • 50』