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    evilpii
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    Chapter 4 of Haruna Nakazato’s adaption of Ai Tenchi Muyo! continues the events from Episode 6 of the 2014 anime and into Episode 7. As before, there are some notable deviations from the source material.

    The first major change is the opening of the chapter itself. As Tenchi was not stripped and bound in the previous chapter, Momo and Tori do not have to free him. Instead, the duel between Beni and Hachiko begins in earnest, and the manga shows explicitly that the battle itself is causing the cave to collapse, a point left nebulous in the anime. Indeed, even Beni takes notice and muses to Hachiko if the collapse might be prevented, while the dog-eared enforcer is focused solely on attacking Beni, blaming it all on her and the rest of the Science Club.

    Momo then jumps between the two combatants and demands that they stop and save themselves. In so doing, Momo positions herself below some falling debris, and Beni rushes to her side and uses her club to protect them both. In that moment, Beni’s arm wrapped around Momo’s shoulders, which spurs nostalgic feelings to rise in the former, leaving her confused as she escapes with Yuki and Rui.

    Here is another change from the anime, where Tenchi was the one to save Momo instead of Beni. Moreover, Momo was busily gathering his clothes from where Beni had ripped them off in Episode 4, rather than interfering in Beni’s bout with Hachiko. Furthermore, the fight in the anime only ends when Hana recalls Hachiko for them all to escape. Considering the past relationship between Beni and Momo, which is revealed later in the anime, the manga’s choice to have Momo interfere in the battle and Beni to save her from the collapsing ceiling seems far more in keeping with the overarching story.

    Naturally, the awkward moment of Tenchi holding Momo’s hand at the exit, much to the dismay of Hachiko, remains and serves its purpose. I do miss Tori’s cold and calculating “Data Miracle” statement, however.

    Later, Tenchi arrives at his temporary home close to the school, where Ayeka and Sasami meet him. The greetings are far more brief than in the anime, with the entire scene with Washu’s package of riot gear and an obituary entry is omitted. This is likely due to the royal sisters having an introduction in the first chapter alongside Ryoko.

    Speaking of the former space pirate, she invades Tenchi’s bath time much the same as she did in the anime. Their interaction is also more brief as Ryoko had a fuller introduction in Chapter 1. That said, Ryoko’s teasing of both Tenchi and Ayeka is nostalgic and in keeping with her nature as the free-spirited troublemaker.

    All in all, this manga chapter seems more focused and targeted than its anime counterpart, getting to the point of Momo and Beni’s connection, showing Beni to be physically strong and emotionally confused, while still keeping Tenchi and his friends close at hand. Moreover, the ecchi element has been dramatically reduced, completely rewriting the scene to avoid Tenchi being stripped, gagged, and bound.

    Rogue Thoughts