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    evilpii
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    Chapter 10 of the adaptation of Ai Tenchi Muyo! by Haruna Nakazato leaps forward to the end of the 2014 anime. Specifically, it adapts plot points from Episodes 38, 39, 41, and 42 with some major changes.

    The chapter opens with Momo pondering the meaning of her dream from the previous chapter, debating what to do. Embarrassed to confide in her friends, she decides instead to speak with Tenchi, thinking that since he is a teacher, he should be more understanding.

    I do have a little problem here, as Momo’s relationship to Tenchi has suffered from the story’s compression. Indeed, the anime spends several episodes endearing our hapless hero to her, but most of that development falls into the few panels of the last chapter during the cultural festival. Compare this to Beni’s relationship to Tenchi, where she has had multiple chapters to fight alongside him, confront him, and now ask for his help.

    In that vein, as Momo exits the classroom to find Tenchi, she immediately sees Beni with Tenchi as they head to the old schoolhouse, beneath which was the excavation from Chapters 3 and 4. At the excavation site are Ryoko, Ayeka, Sasami, Yuki, and Rui, all of whom are recruited to find the “treasure” beneath the school. According to Yuki, the treasure is likely a “cold sleep” system, likely some form of statis. The day previous shows that Washu confirms that they may be looking for some key, which Beni assumes is herself.

    While brief, this scene does give Yuki a moment to flaunt her personality some like she did in Chapter 3. Again, she draws many parallels to Washu: explaining scientific notions, taking an interest in watching people, using others for her benefit. Yuki even has her own foil in Rui, just as Washu has Mihoshi in the original OVA.

    Beni is touched that everyone is there to help, but the moment is interrupted when Momo stumbles onto their gathering. The student council president is crawling down the steep slope of the excavation, much the same way she did in Episode 6 of the anime. However, unlike the anime, the slope is steeper, and her handhold gives way. Without hesitation, Beni rushes forward and catches Momo, much like she did in Chapter 4. Having overheard the entire exchange, Momo volunteers to help Beni in her quest.

    Speaking of Mihoshi, she finally appears, and her costume is blatantly modeled after the attire of a Playboy Bunny: a corset teddy, pantyhose, collar, cuffs, and a cottontail with only the bunny ears replaced by her service hat. In Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki and Tenchi Universe, her uniform seemed much more sensible: a collared jacket with slack pants, not unlike a real police uniform. Admittedly, Tenchi in Tokyo changed her uniform to a bodysuit with an oversized jacket, but not as overtly suggestive as what is demonstrated here. Now, this is likely not the fault of the manga artist as this was also the design used for the anime. Instead, blame resides rather plainly with the concept designer for the series.

    Tenchi acknowledges that he knows her, and Yuki and Rui state that she has helped them in the past. When asked about her purpose, Mihoshi openly admits that she is searching for evidence of tampering with spacetime, which immediately sets the others on the back foot. Fortunately, the bubbleheaded officer doubts she will find such proof, so she is really just there to search for treasure. She too joins the dig effort, rounding out the involved cast.

    Despite her ridiculous costume, Mihoshi’s personality seems intact, her talkative nature and well-meaning naivety consistent with her previous appearances. Her dialogue is nearly identical to her explanation in Episode 39. On a somber note, the 2014 anime was the last time Yuko Mizutani portrayed Mihoshi before her death in 2016 due to breast cancer. I am very happy that she got this last chance to play the role, as well as to foil Washu’s schemes one more time.

    Soon after the digging commences, Momo uncovers a very familiar artifact, a sword key of Jurai like Tenchiken. Beni reaches for it, and the device reacts. Momo pushes her peer out of the way and is seemingly enveloped in an explosion of light that frees her memories. The chapter ends with Tenchi running toward the scene.

    The events here differ fairly heavily from the anime. Episode 38 has Washu scolding the Science Club members for not finding the treasure fast enough. Beni decides to recruit Tenchi into their number, while Ukan reveals Tenchi’s change in allegiance to Hana and Hachiko. The next episode has the two gather Momo and Tori to assault the old schoolhouse in force, disrupting the excavation. Yuki and Rui reveal a cellular phone Tenchi lost in his mission 1300 years ago. The following installment depicts a brief battle between a rebuilt Goriki and the team of Hachiko and Hana, before the two girls face Ryoko and Ayeka, respectively. Elsewhere, Momo and Beni hold the phone and allow it to detect where the treasure is buried. Episode 42 finishes the battles in the old schoolhouse while the sword key is uncovered by Beni. Here, both Beni and Momo reach for the item when it reacts, awakening the Juraian ship deep below them. The resulting earthquake swallows the key before Beni can snatch it.

    While a bit contrived in the anime, the battles offered Ryoko and Ayeka a chance to shine, demonstrating their respective powers in modern animation. In particular, Ayeka actually showed an ability not present in other incarnations, firing beams of energy from her mini-guardians like turrets. Further, the contrast between the new characters and the classic cast was shown visually as the combat progressed. Also, Goriki himself essentially becomes the muscle of the Science Club after his reappearance in Episode 18.

    Moreover, the anime has several visual allusions to other series. The black monolith is likely an homage to the Seele monoliths in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Hana declares in Episode 41 that their battle with Goriki is “punishment” while posing exactly like Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon. When the earthquake swallows the key, Momo is holding Beni as she is reaching for the artifact, just like Henry Jones and his son in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

    Sadly, I think this is a casualty of the compression of the story, which is my main issue with the work as a whole.

    That said, the chapter served to move the plot forward, seemingly into the endgame. Indeed, Momo’s envelopment by the explosion of light is very similar to the ending of Episode 55. Also, the emphasis on Beni being proactive, sensible, and protective of Momo is quite welcomed. Contrast Beni’s depiction in this chapter to her desperation in Episode 42.

    Rogue Thoughts