Kazuichi Souda: The one who persevered for the sake of those alive
Recently finished rewatching Super Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Idk, the urge to review the game came up, so I did it. And I took special attention to a specific character this time: Kazuichi.
The first time I ever watched the game, I didn't pay much attention to him, instead turning my focus on characters like Gundham, who is still likely my most favorite, Nagito and Chiaki, specially because the playthrough I watched that time did free time events focusing on key characters like that, so it was easier to connect with them.
The playthrough I watched this time skipped free time entirely, instead making Hajime sleep all day (at least he's not getting tired from lack of sleep), which helped take notice of everyone's involvement in the main story better. And like I said, I focused a lot on Kazuichi this time around (admittedly because I've been reading soudam fics, but that's besides the point)
Out of all 5 "survivors", in the end, Kazuichi is the one that stands out to most imo due to the reason he's still around. From a character perspective, Kazuichi plays a role similar to Hiro in the first game, that of the paranoid, scaredy-cat person that easily leads to conflict. There's bo doubt that's his main role as a survivor. He does have the bonus of having a crush on Sonia. However, similar to how Hiro can be somewhat overlooked as a character in the first game due to his paranoid and distinctly stupid nature, Kazuichi also isn't the smartest and falls in a similar path, being thus mostly remembered as a Sonia simp.
But Kazuichi is much more than just that. He does a lot throughout the game that helps us, some things more directly than others, and more than that he keeps going for the sake of those that are alive as well. If we look at the 5 survivors, Kazuichi has a very distinct fact about him that separates him from the rest: the ones he cares about the most are still alive. These would be Sonia, his crush, and Hajime, his soul friend/brother. All the others mostly keep going and gain strength in that last trial because of someone that passed away. Hajime has Chiaki (and Nagito, somewhat), Akane has Nekomaru, Fuyuhiko has Peko and Sonia has Gundham. Kazuichi is the only one whose biggest relationships are with those still alive.
And that's what makes him such an interesting survivor.
On top of that, while Sonia and Hajime are arguably his strongest relationships, he did also have a good relationship with Akane and Fuyuhiko, and many others that died. Now let's take a look at what he does throughout the game and the relationships he builds.
In the first chapter, Kazuichi, focusing solely on the main story, doesn't have much going on. You meet him at the airport, which should be somewhat expected because of the planes. On a little side note, I find it funny how the other character you meet at the airport is Gundham, considering the rivalry they'll later develop. Anyway, Kazuichi doesn't do anything special for the party or the investigation itself, but I feel it's worth to note the fact he volunteered to go check out the breaker when the blackout happened, even if he didn't actually get to it at the time. He knows it ain't much, but it's honest work. Also, he's the first person we shoot at the class trial, which is an interesting extra to his character imo.
During the second chapter, Kazuichi has a bigger influence and helps us out more. First, he and Nekomaru are the ones who tie up Nagito; I can't remember if they ever specify if they both planned it or only one came up with the plan, but imo Kazuichi thought of it, paranoid as he is, and recruited Nekomaru's help to ensure Nagito couldn't win. The second most important thing he does in this chapter is crash Sonia's girl-only beach party alongside Hajime. Thanks to it, we personally see the state and can confirm alibis of the girls for the second murder, as well as watch Fuyuhiko and Hiyoko come from the beach house. He also is the third to find Mahiru's body, which ended up being somewhat relevant to show Fuyuhiko was at the crime scene. His testimony regarding the water bottles was also what ended up pinning Peko as the culprit, somewhat.
In chapter 3, Kazuichi's talent shines. Not only do they find an eletronics avenue, which he immediately falls in love with (he'd properly live there if he could), but due to the despair disease, he ends up building devices so both parties can communicate. I'm sure Nagito would be super excited to have seen it, had he not been sick. We even agree with him during this trial iirc, regarding the cameras.
Next comes chapter 4, which is a very impactful chapter for him, indirectly. For starters, Nekomaru is now a robot and Kazuichi is super enamored with the technology and wants to know all about it. Secondly, during the investigation, Kazuichi is the one that fixes the elevator and performs an autopsy of sorts on Nekomaru, helping everyone get more information regarding the case. His talent as the Ultimate Mechanic shines yet again. Another very turning point here is that Kazuichi starts avoiding Hajime, believing him to be the traitor (his trust issues are touched in his free times, but I'm not focusing on them rn), due mostly to Mikan's words. The other way this chapter influences him is due to Gundham's death influencing Sonia, which in turn indirectly affects our shark boy. And although he tries to contribute a lot to the trial, I find it worth noting how his rebuttals can be dispelled with a single cut, no matter the difficulty, which could 1. Be a reflection of how hard he's trying to impress Sonia, at the cost of saying things completely wrong and stupid and/or 2. Be a reflection of how much he truly believes those words, meaning he probably also doesn't believe them much himself. I do find it interesting how previously we'd always relied on Mikan's autopsy to provide extra info regarding the deaths, and now that she's gone, the one who dies isn't human and Kazuichi, as the machine's expert, is in charge of performing an autopsy of sorts. Also, remember how I said he also builds a good relationship with both Akane and Fuyuhiko? Chapter 4 shows his friendship with Fuyuhiko the best. Namely, there's the fact they both sit together when entering the Funhouse and when Kazuichi jumped on Fuyuhiko after hearing Nekomaru falling to his death (not that they knew the loud sound was that).
He has quite some influence in chapter 5, but it's not much. He creates Minimaru, which is immediately snatched by Akane, thus strengthening their relationship somewhat. And later he plans to tie up Nagito again (and then goes flying because of the bomb, rip). He doesn't influence much anything else, tho he is the one they turn to after finding the truck with the "bombs".
During the final investigation, no one is that remarkable imo. And the final trial comes around and again, of all survivors, Kazuichi is the only one who hasn't lost someone close to him, but that's his drive. He lives to help those that are still alive, and when they figure out the others don't really die, them too.
I haven't watched the animes, so I'm not touching them, and not touching his free time events either, since I wanted to focus exclusively on the main story. Tho, on another side note, Kazuichi is connected to two extra scenes, one in chapter 1 about collecting coconuts and another in chapter 3 to find out Nekomaru has been giving Akane massages. When you look at the bigger picture, Kazuichi has, in a way or another, built a relationship with just about everyone, some stronger than others, some happier than others. That's what makes him such an interesting character and survivor imo. Especially if you compare him to Hiro, since they play similar roles, but Kazuichi ends up having a bigger impact because 1. He's close friends with Hajime and 2. His talent is used a lot throughout the game, especially chapter 3 and forward.
Ngl, after reviewing the game and paying close attention to Kazuichi, I like him more than before. I've never disliked him, but I quite overlooked him. Not anymore.
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