I bid welcome to ye — my lords, ladies, and gentlemen — to the longest manifesto I’ve put onto this blog since I started it 3 months ago. I hope, in all earnestness, that it will be worth it.
Episode 67 of Arc-V has proven to be quite the … explosive addition to the plot. Quite a few things have been revealed about a number of our characters, and this is particularly pertinent for me since my favorites so far are, and have been — without doubt — the Akaba siblings.
My favorite of the two of them, though, is Layra. So this episode has another advantage, since he’s the focal point. The … swinging pendulum of the episode’s major conflict, shall we say.
I have already made it clear my general thoughts on his treatment in this episode, but now that I’ve seen the full make-up of his situation, I’m going to clarify my specific thoughts on it.
Particularly on the subject of Reiji.
I’ve seen a fair amount of Reiji hate since joining this wing of the fandom, so to speak, and this episode pretty much exemplifies exactly why I’m tired of it. These are my thoughts, and my analysis, of the newest addition to the widening arc of this family. I am in no way attempting to force my viewpoint on anyone.
Just … take it into consideration, if you would.
Now, then. Spoilers abound for this episode. If you haven’t seen it yet, and don’t want to ruin the suspense, go ahead and stop reading now.
With that said, let us begin.
The main thrust of this episode’s plot elements is this: Layra is called upon to duel Shinji — a friend of Crow’s — in the Friendship Cup. When he hesitates to enter the arena, guess who shows up to talk about it?
The Sock-Less Wonder his own self.
Now, this entire arc has basically shown me that Layra suffers from some form of PTSD. He’s too scared, too often, for it to be simple shyness. This kid has faced deep trauma.
The first important scene regarding Reiji’s behavior is here, in Layra’s room, on the subject of his duel with Shinji. It’s time to go. The match is starting. So, naturally, Reiji wants him to get a move on.
This seems harsh to us, or it’s framed to seem harsh, considering the poor kid’s reaction. But notice that, while the first thing he offers — aside from his hand — could certainly be called an order …
The very next sentence is reassurance. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He knows Layra is scared. He tries to assuage that fear. Sure, maybe the line is somewhat trite.
Especially when this choice bit of commentary is what follows.
But it’s noteworthy, I think. Because I’m pretty sure this exchange is a product of the general Akaba family environment, rather than Reii’s own decision-making.
I submit that it’s extremely important for us to remember that Reiji isn’t an adult. Yes, he’s the president of a major corporation. Yes, he carries the responsibilities of an adult.
That doesn’t give him an adult’s skills, or perspective.
Like any number of Yu-Gi-Oh! characters — heroes and anti-heroes and villains alike — before him, Reiji is a kid. He’s only a handful of years older than his brother.
He’s using his own experiences, and his own coping mechanisms, to teach his brother. A loving, nurturing, healthy family environment … the Akaba household is surely not.
Look at the folks at its head, after all.
I mean, seriously? Those earrings alone make her a Bond Villain.
Uh … y’know what? I’m not even gonna touch this one.
I hope you see my point. Reiji probably didn’t grow up “normal.”
Layra is frantic to deny that he’s disobeying his Niisama. Here we have the first sign that Reiji’s ministrations aren’t really working. This isn’t exactly healthy.
Note here that Reiji doesn’t discourage. He doesn’t put Layra down. He plays him up. Again, reassurance. Does it work? Not really. But it’s there. And so far, it’s all I’ve ever seen from him. This is how Reiji is. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Is it helping? Debatable, at best.
Does it make him “a pitiful excuse for a brother”? Does it make him a villain? Does it make him irredeemable?
No. And once more, for good measure: no.
Still, it must be pointed out that Layra doesn’t take this well.
That looks like a full-scale panic attack to me.
Layra refuses to duel. Outright refuses. Now, if Reiji were abusive, if he were some taskmaster treating Layra as a pawn, surely he would be angry? Surely he would be offended?
That’s not anger. That’s not offense. That’s simple surprise.
One might even say … concern?
Now, then … when Layra can’t lean on his big brother, where can he possibly go? This season has shown us the answer already, and I’m not sure anyone was honestly surprised.
It’s telling that Yuya has shown himself to be trustworthy enough for such a frightened child as Layra to be able to count on him. It’s probably one of the biggest character notes we have on him so far.
I don’t think this little guy gets too many hugs.
Owing to the nature of this whole situation — which is to say, owing to what Yuya knows about the dimension they’re in (this place is screwed up, y’all), the people they’re surrounded by (equally screwed up, y’all), and the simple fact that Layra is so obviously scared and desperate for comfort — it’s no real surprise that he’s immediately on the defense.
This is a good question to ask. Reiji hasn’t exactly done a very good job of explaining himself so far. Yuya has several questions on the subject of Layra, actually, and this is good because it doesn’t really feel like anyone else is going to ask them.
Let’s review those questions.
Yuya has faced a lot in his time as a Yu-Gi-Oh! protagonist. He’s had his fair share of awful experiences. Layra is such a small, frightened little boy. Why should he have to weather this storm, too? It is a valid concern, and I’ll admit that it’s one I wish Reiji were half as heated about as Yuya so clearly is.
But … let’s play this fair. Let’s review Reiji’s answers. First: why the tournament?
Huh. And why bring him to the Synchro Dimension in the first place?
This is a lot to unpack. But again, let’s not just look at this from Yuya’s perspective.
Which is … clear enough, I’d say.
Yuya wants none of this. He asked these questions to vent. He was attacking. This wasn’t about figuring out Reiji’s reasoning, or his motives. This was about protecting Layra. And while that’s noble, it leaves us as an audience without much understanding of what the holy hell Reiji thinks he’s doing.
Reiji is fighting a war. He’s defending his home — the Standard Dimension — from assimilation. We’ve already seen, earlier in the season, just what that means. When a dimension is brought under Fusion’s control, it’s … basically swallowed whole.
Reiji is determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Keep in mind the catalyst behind this war, too, by the way.
This is a 16-year-old kid, under intense scrutiny and God only knows how much stress, trying to scrounge together a defense force capable of fending off his own father’s army.
Has he gone about it in the best way? No. Of course not. Should he involve someone as young and vulnerable as Layra? No. I’m not white-washing his motives here. What I’m saying is: he’s doing what he thinks is necessary.
Everything he’s done so far in the show has been a calculated decision based on what he views as the only option he has. Keep also in mind that he’s kind of under a time limit, here.
One dimension has already been crushed underfoot. There are only two more. The war is progressing. Fusion is already invading. He has to scramble if he’s going to make any of this worth the sacrifices he’s making.
He’s recruited Layra because he feels he has to.
Layra is one of his only candidates.
The Lancers are a rather pitiful group, if you think about it, compared to a full army. But then, that army doesn’t screw around. Reiji can’t just throw anybody he can at them. He has to be particular. He has to take the best.
Layra is one of the best.
Yuya’s perspective is heartfelt, and noble. I’m not denying any of this. But yet again, we are faced with a conflict in Yu-Gi-Oh! that basically amounts to world-shattering.
If the Lancers lose, the Standard Dimension will be obliterated.
This isn’t a normal card game. This isn’t a normal tournament.
This is victory or oblivion.
That’s why Layra is in this situation. That’s why Reiji made this judgment call. However, the back half of this conflict shows us something new. Something I think is more telling than anything we’ve seen so far.
Yuya makes a unilateral declaration.
While Reiji asks for Layra’s input.
That’s a fair guess, Yuya, but you actually don’t know that. Again, Yuya is stepping into dangerous territory here. He’s speaking for Layra, instead of encouraging him to speak for himself.
Reiji is asking Layra to speak up. And while that might seem cruel in this instance, it’s necessary. Layra deserves to be loved, and supported. All children deserve this.
He can’t be coddled. Not in the state he’s in. One of my favorite books in the world posits that the greatest harm can result from the best of intentions.
Yuya is absolutely acting with the best of intentions. But he’s not acting in Layra’s best interests.
Reiji insists on hearing an answer directly from Layra.
Now. To the most vital part of my views on this episode.
Layra does as his Niisama asks.
We now understand that Layra doesn’t want to fight because Shinji isn’t an enemy. He doesn’t see the fight as necessary, so he doesn’t want to do it. He’s not afraid of the match. His reaction isn’t about dueling.
This is about disappointing his family.
Reiji listens to his brother’s answer. Analyzes its meaning.
Immediately validates it.
Upon receiving Layra’s reason for not wanting to fight, Reiji changes his plans at once. He doesn’t ask for clarification. He doesn’t mock his brother’s decision. He doesn’t question it, he doesn’t scrutinize it, he doesn’t ignore it.
But wait — you might be thinking — if Reiji is willing to do this for his brother, if he’s willing to change his plans so easily, then why did he force Layra into the situation in the first place?
The two things aren’t mutually exclusive. This isn’t about having Layra back out of the competition. It’s simply a matter of perspective.
Clearly, Reiji has decided that this duel would do more harm than good. So he strikes it from his plans for Layra.
And I would reiterate here: immediately.
These are not the actions of a bad person to me, and certainly not the actions of a bad brother. Reiji is complex, and problematic. He’s an anti-hero. But he’s not a bad person. In fact, compared to some of the other anti-heroes we’ve gotten from this franchise … he’s practically a teddy bear.
Part Three: The Background
The situation thus dealt with, Reiji decides to leave.
This is where things start to take an extremely dark turn, or rather it’s when we get our first glimpse of just how deep Layra’s trauma goes. And it might be easy, at this point, to think that Reiji’s actions up to now have been manipulative.
But the episode isn’t over. There’s more to it than this.
Layra makes it undeniably clear that this whole situation has been about disappointing his family. He doesn’t fear for his own safety, as Yuya seems to posit. He fears backlash for not being strong enough.
He fears his brother’s anger.
Oh. Well, that’s a whole different kettle of fish.
There’s more to this than we get in this scene, but the thing I want to point out here is that, yet again, Reiji resorts to touch to comfort Layra. This has happened on almost every occasion we’ve seen them together. The only physical contact that Layra has gotten came from Reiji and Yuya.
Here, we see Reiji’s reasoning laid out. He has determined that Layra’s refusal to duel shows something more valuable than simple combat experience. Layra is standing up for himself, for his own convictions. That should be validated.
And so that’s precisely what Reiji does.
Reiji is not some warmongering chess-master.
He doesn’t want automatons. He wants people willing and able to save his dimension from extinction. Again: is it a good idea to put Layra into such a position as “soldier” at his age and stage of development? No. But again, Reiji is scrambling for purchase right now.
The enemy is literally better equipped on all fronts.
Beggars, as they say, can’t be choosers.
Consider how often we see Layra. How often he looks uncomfortable, or blank-faced, or scared out of his mind. Now consider the fact that every time he’s smiled, it has been because of Reiji.
Reiji is likely the only constant source of comfort and love — and most importantly, validation — that this traumatized little boy has.
I might be worried that Reiji is manipulating this to his own benefit, except for the fact that Reiji hasn’t been shown to be that kind of anti-hero. He’s stern, he’s harsh, sometimes he’s downright cruel. But he isn’t a liar.
And when Yuya still tries to call him out, good old Enjoy Chojiro — probably my favorite minor character so far — brings up another point that’s pertinent to this situation.
Yuya is so angry at Reiji for forcing Layra to fight that he hasn’t considered the fact that he wants to force Layra to back off. Again, noble. Best of intentions. I get that, and celebrate it. I honestly do.
But all things considered … it’s kind of hypocritical.
This. Right here. Chojiro gets it.
We’re still not quite finished yet, though. The clincher is still ahead of us. We get a flashback scene after this whole thing goes down. It gives us an understanding of what Reiji was talking about when he mentioned Layra’s “sense of self.”
Because, as it turns out, Layra isn’t Reiji’s blood brother. He isn’t the child of Himika and Leo, like Reiji is.
What I take from this notion is that Layra’s post-traumatic stress was so pronounced, in whatever situation he was in before his induction into the Akaba family, that he became completely dissociated. His only coping mechanism was to shut down.
Emotions became a liability.
In order to live, to survive, he had to sacrifice himself.
This is Layra when Himika — who looks so pleased with herself — first got hold of him. Now, Layra has had strangely blank, almost hypnotic eyes from the word go, but this is something entirely different.
That’s a true thousand-yard stare if I’ve ever seen one.
Ah. See? I was probably right. But see, what Himika has decided is that this is the perfect excuse to mold Layra into something … useful. Something prevalent to their cause. Whatever that cause is.
It’s Himika who first decided to mold Layra into a soldier. Not Reiji.
She’s the one who found him. She’s the one who took him. She’s the one who shaped him.
This is what Himika wants.
