Maybe some of you knows him only by name and design.
In his Manga, Mr. Adachi often added bonus/additional chapters indirectly linked to the main story or even sometimes not related at all.
The 8th volume is no exception.
Why am I speaking of this one chapter in particular?
Well the answer is simple:
https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=22909319
https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?id=61954
You may (or may not) know by now my unlimited and irrational love for Kyoya and I know I’m far from being the only one since he’s a very popular character in the fandom. One of the reasons he’s so appreciated is probably because he had a lot of screentimes in the anime and thus a lot of development as a character (both good AND bad development btw).
That’s why it’s a truly a shame that his CANON brother, didn’t get to appear not a single time in the anime.
(No, I’m not taking that poor single frame at the end of Shogun Steel/Zero-G in consideration because people who saw the anime only couldn’t have a clue on who the hell he was.
SO HERE I COME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO KYOYA’S LITTLE BROTHER!
In order to do that I’ll simply give you the bonus chapter Kakeru appears in and more or less translate it.
The scene takes place before Gingka’s final battle in the World Championship, meaning his fight with Damian. Basically in the first two pages we have Kakeru stalking Gingka and saying “The day has finally come!”.
Then he says “I’ll finally be able to beat him with my loyal bey!” and he and the rest of his “gang” basically kidnap Gingka and Masamune in the street.
While doing so Kakeru introduces himself and says that his sorry for his bad manners.
(We are 252662726251 miles away from Anime!Kyoya behaviour as you can notice.)
Still on his motorbike with Gingka, he tells him that he wanted to fight him so much, and Gingka as the fierce blader he is, forget everything about the “kidnapping” stuff and says that he’ll gladly battle against Kakeru.
After that they all arrive at Kakeru’s special stadium, and I quote: “As you can see it, we also use it as a training ground for extreme sports!”
As the BMX or skate board for example.
Kakeru adds that he got inspired by theses extreme sports to desing himself his ultimate bey, divine Chimera.
(Yes because the kid is apparently intelligent enough to create himself a bey).
I’ll spare you the technical stuff about Chimera and with a very determined Kakeru, the fight begins.
(Just before the fight the speech bubbles say “I absolutely must win against you Gingka!” and “If you managed to beat up my brother, then it’s my turn to beat you”)
Well I think I can spare you the technical stuff about the fight too but basically what’s happening is that Gingka is REALLY having a hard time fighting back Kakeru.
Pegasus is attacking Chimera but it’s not effective, Chimera doesn’t take any damage from it. So Kakeru decides that it’s his turn to attack.
Kakeru uses his special move “Wild Beast’s Dance”. Pegasus resists it and Kakeru is surprised by Gingka’s tenacity.
DID HE GOT INSPIRED FOR HIS SPECIAL MOVE’S NAME FROM HIS BIG BROTHER?
At one point both beys are flying through the air and make like a “flying” race. Pegasus being in its elements flies higher than Chimera and Gingka uses his special move.
But before hitting the ground Chimera manages to pass in a vertical position and stays stable/steady this way.
(Have you ever seen Beywheelz? Because basically Chimera is doing the same as the Beywheelz here.)
In this vertical position Chimera rolls from one side of the stadium to the other while gaining more speed to jump out the stadium.
So thanks to the speed gained from that move Kakeru uses another of his special moves : The Wild Reversed Dance of the Beast.
(The kid idolizes his big brother so much it’s adorable.)
AND THE FIGHT END ON A TIE!
So Kakeru is a little bit disappointed because he couldn’t beat Gingka and Kenta’s under shock, stating that Kakeru is really a strong opponent, and then
KYOUYA APPEARS FROM NOWHERE SAYING “YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TRUE YOUR WORDS ARE!”!
Everyone yells “Kyouya” in surpise and he’s like “Hi!”.
Gingka asks him what is he doing here and he replies “What? Are you surprised?”.
Then he goes “He’s my little brother, Kakeru!” while pointing at his sibling.
(CAN YOU SEE THE SLIGHT BLUSH ON KAKERU’S CHEEKS?!)
And everyone is like “HUUUUUUUUUH?”.
Gingka then says “Oh okay! That’s why you’re strong then!” and then Kenta asks to Kakeru why is he living in the USA.
Kakeru replies “I wanted to become even stronger than my brother, so I went to travel all around the world to perfect myself!”
“Gingka won against my brother, so I hoped I could prove him [Kyoya] that I surpassed him by beating Gingka!”
“But I lost, it’s frustrating!”
Kenta comforts him reminding him that he didn’t lost, that Gingka and Kakeru were on a tie and Kyouya adds “Yeah, that was an incredible match, you astonished me little brother!”
Kyoya, is this really you?
Then Gingka’s like “We will make a tons of battles together!” so Kakeru screams a big “YAY” of joy.
On the last page Kakeru thanks his bey saying “It’s all thanks to you, Divine Chimera!!” and on the very last panel there is Gingka teasing Kyoya saying “Maybe that Kakeru is even stronger than Kyoya in the end~” and Kyouya’s like:
(Best line of the whole the chapter.)
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I LOVE THE TATEGAMI BROTHERS SO MUCH NOW?
Their relationship is simply the most adorable one in this manga.
Even though Kakeru doesn’t have a primordial role in the plot (which is also a shame), he does have a certain importance for Kyoya’s character.
The way he looks up to his brother, how much he wants to prove to Kyoya that he is strong and independent and can win all by himself while creating special move names directly inspired from Kyoya’s ones, the way he wanted to take revenge for his brother by beating Gingka all fair and square…
But also how proud Kyoya seems to be of his little brother, the way he supports him and encourages him and put him on a pedestal when talking if him with Gingka and the others…
All of these are proves of an healthy and lovely relationship between the two. They love and care for each other more than anything and they don’t let their pride making them hiding their feelings for each other, and I think this is beautiful.
Letting your family members know that you care for them and maintaining a good relationship with them won’t affect your capacities in a negative way nor your public image. On the contrary having siblings you can count on and who encourage you can only push you forwards and making you improve.
(Kakeru became strong because showing his skills to Kyoya was his first motivation.)
Yes the power of friendship can make you do the impossible, but family’s love too.
This is the message I’m seing behind their relationship and I love it.
BUT BASICALLY KAKERU IS JUST AN ANGEL, NO ONE CAN PROVE ME WRONG, AND THAT ALONE SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE YOU ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL HIS CHARACTER IS.
And you? Now that you know little bit more about him, what do you think of him?
Original manga © - Takafumi Adachi.
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