[Kill Blue Episode 5 Review] Tenma Tendo's Cunning Ignites the 'Pride' of the Home Economics Club

Episode 5 of 'Kill Blue' was an installment where the meaning of the Home Economics Club was suddenly strengthened by the appearance of a new character, Tenma Tendo.

In episode 4, a powerful transfer student named Shin Kohasame appeared, shaking up the relationship between Juzo and Noren from the outside. Shin, with his unfortunate habit of using a pacifier despite being a handsome guy, was a character very typical of 'Kill Blue,' but Tenma Tendo, who appeared in episode 5, was a person with a strong personality in a different direction.

Good at all sports.
Loves to stand out.
Confident.
And, he challenges people to competitions in events that favor him.

I think this 'strong but hard to honestly root for' feeling was the core of what made this episode interesting. Tenma is not just a nasty character. His ability is the real deal. He is depicted as a 'three-sword style' sportsman who dominates in baseball, soccer, and basketball, and has such a presence that he is even called a 'unicorn' by those around him. However, the way he uses that ability is somehow cunning. That was the sticking point this time.

Episode 5 was an episode that showed off Tenma's strength, but at the same time, it was an episode that depicted how Juzo and the Home Economics Club 'get angry when their place is made fun of.' This part was really good.

Juzo, fired up for the test, is already completely immersed in school life

First, what was interesting at the beginning was that Juzo is taking the midterm exam quite seriously.

Juzo stumbled in his studies in episode 3, and while being taught by Shiraishi-kun, he gradually learned the joy of learning. Following that flow, in episode 5, his enthusiasm for the test became strangely intense. He directs his killing intent as a hitman toward the test. That gap is funny in itself. In the viewers' reactions, there were many comments about his enthusiasm and killing intent toward the test.

But I don't think this is just a gag.

Juzo no longer sees school life only as a 'stage for his mission.' He wants to get results on the test. He wants to work hard at his studies. He wants to properly shape what he has learned up to the previous episode. You can see those feelings.

In episode 1, Juzo was a foreign object that had slipped into the school.
In episode 2, he entered school life to get closer to Noren.
In episode 3, he learned the joy of being taught by someone through studying and cooking.
And in episode 5, he is so caught up in the rhythm of school that he is taking the test seriously.

This accumulation is good.

Even though he is an adult hitman on the inside, he is desperate for the midterm exam. Thinking about it normally, it's strange, but in this work, that strangeness looks like growth. It's because Juzo is gradually making his time as a middle schooler his own.

On the other hand, Noren is actually glowing because her stress decreases during the test period since the boys stop acting so giddy. The contrast between Juzo, who is becoming dry and stressed, and Noren, who is glowing, was also interesting. It was a scene that subtly showed how tired Noren usually is of the affection and gazes from the boys.

Tenma Tendo was a character who was strong but 'hard to root for comfortably'

Tenma Tendo, the central figure this time, is a very easy-to-understand strong character.

From the beginning, he appears with an atmosphere that makes you wonder if a baseball anime has started, and he shows off his all-around sports ability. He is a 'three-sword style' player who dominates not only in baseball but also in soccer and basketball. He has high physical ability and a large presence. As a person with abilities beyond those of a middle schooler, he had quite an impact.

However, Tenma's interest lies not in his strength itself, but in how he displays that strength.

He has confidence.
He also likes to stand out.
He knows he is amazing.
And he doesn't hide it.

Up to this point, he is a common type of rival in a shonen manga. He has ability, confidence, and involves those around him. Such characters would normally lead to a sense of exhilaration.

However, in Tenma's case, that confidence manifested in a rather unpleasant way.

He looks down on the Home Economics Club.
He does not respect his opponent's playing field.
He forces a challenge under conditions favorable to himself.
And what's more, he does it without a hint of remorse.

That is why, even though he is strong, it is hard to genuinely think of him as cool. The viewers' reactions also reflected a sentiment of 'that really ticked me off' and 'don't underestimate the Home Economics Club,' so Tenma functioned perfectly as a 'character meant to make you angry.'

This feeling of 'actually being annoyed' is quite important.

If he were just a villain, it would be enough for him to be defeated.
But Tenma is a talented individual who also possesses the greed and desire for attention typical of a middle schooler.

In other words, rather than being a complete enemy, he is the type who is 'annoying, but his talent is the real deal.' Because of this subtle unpleasantness, you find yourself wanting to root for the Home Economics Club. I think Episode 5 handled the direction of those emotions quite well.

The 'cunning' of challenging others in events where he has the advantage reveals Tenma's true nature

What is particularly grating about Tenma this time is his decision to challenge them to a duel in futsal.

Tenma, who is gifted at sports, challenges opponents who are inexperienced in athletics to a sports match. Moreover, he chooses a soccer-based competition, which is his specialty. This is clearly advantageous for him no matter how you look at it.

Of course, in the world of competition, bringing an opponent onto your own turf is a strategy in itself. Striking at an opponent's weaknesses is also part of the game. However, the problem here is that Tenma presents this as if it were a 'fair and cool match.'

This is where the sneakiness lies.

If he were truly strong, he should be able to stand on his opponent's turf as well.
But Tenma chooses conditions where he can easily win, and on top of that, he looks down on his opponent.

This is what makes the audience feel a bit irritated.

Shin from Episode 4 was quite an eccentric character, but his feelings for Noren were straightforward. Despite the glaringly disappointing element of the pacifier, there was a certain lack of malice and a sense of charm to him.

On the other hand, Tenma possesses a different kind of trouble compared to Shin.

Shin is disappointing, but honest at heart.
Tenma has charisma, but lacks respect for others.

This difference was clear.

Tenma challenging others in events where he has the advantage does not seem like a mere tactic, but rather an expression of his very values. Just win. Just stand out. Just show off how amazing he is. There is a lack of imagination there regarding what his opponents hold dear.

That is precisely why, the moment he mocked the Home Economics Club, the anger of Juzo and the others was properly ignited.

The anger at having the Home Economics Club mocked showed Juzo's growth

The best part of this episode was when Juzo got angry because the Home Economics Club was being mocked.

In episode 3, Juzo joined the Home Economics Club and learned the 'joy of cooking for others' through food. Through his interactions with Shiraishi-kun and Club President Chisato, he began to learn how to connect with people, not just how to fight.

That is why it is significant that Juzo gets genuinely angry when Tenma looks down on the Home Economics Club in episode 5.

This is not anger because he himself was mocked.
It is anger because the place he belongs to, the place he has started to cherish, was mocked.

This distinction is significant.

Juzo was originally a person with pride as a hitman. If he had been insulted as a hitman, his anger would be easy to understand. But this time is different. The target of his anger is the insult toward the Home Economics Club.

In other words, for Juzo, the Home Economics Club is no longer just 'a club he joined'.

The place where he was taught to cook.
The place where he learned to cook for others.
The place where he interacts with his peers.
The place that has started to become his own space within school life.

Because that place was treated like a 'play club,' Juzo gets ticked off.

There is a solid connection here to episode 3. If the previous cooking episode hadn't happened, this anger wouldn't have resonated as much. Episode 5 highlighted how important the Home Economics Club has become to Juzo through the lens of Tenma's rudeness.

Viewer reactions also included comments like 'Don't underestimate Home Economics' and 'The Home Economics Club is great,' showing a very strong trend of wanting to root for the Home Economics Club side.

Club President Chisato's chivalrous aura prevents the Home Economics Club from looking like just any other club

In episode 5 as well, Club President Chisato's presence was quite strong.

Even though it's a Home Economics Club, the atmosphere of their conversations is strangely not that of ordinary citizens. When standing next to Juzo, there are even moments where it looks like a meeting in the criminal underworld. In fact, the atmosphere of the Home Economics Club was so strangely intense that viewers even commented, 'Is this a conversation between ordinary middle school students?'

But this intensity is what makes it good.

Generally, the Home Economics Club has an image of being a calm and everyday club. A place to cook, bake sweets, and learn domestic skills. However, the Home Economics Club in 'Kill Blue' has a strange 'way of upholding principles' to it.

Cooking is not a game.
Do not treat cooking for others lightly.
If you mock our activities, we will take you on.

This feeling is completely more like the pride of an organization than a school club.

Club President Chisato is not just a senior who is good at cooking. She is someone who carries the pride of the club on her shoulders. In episode 3, she was depicted as someone who sees through Juzo's softness and has a certain stance on cooking, but in episode 5, that strength emerged as the spirit of the entire Home Economics Club.

Compared to a character like Tenma who stands out in flashy sports, the Home Economics Club seems plain at first glance. However, just because it is plain does not mean it has low value. Cooking, and working with your hands for the sake of others, becomes a source of pride if you do it with genuine seriousness.

I think Episode 5 depicted that as the anger of the Home Economics Club side.

Noren's presence complicates the relationships once again this time.

Even in Episode 5, Noren remains quietly at the center of the story.

This time, Tenma's flow was less about targeting Noren and more about challenging Jujo to a duel to crush him. However, Noren's presence is still significant. Her existence makes the relationships between Jujo, Shin, Tenma, and the Home Economics Club increasingly complex.

What was interesting was how Noren looked strangely radiant during the test period. For her, who is usually swayed by the affections and confessions of boys, the test period is a precious time when those around her stop being so flighty. That's why her stress decreases. This is funny as a gag, but at the same time, it shows the daily hardship Noren faces.

Noren is popular because she is cute.
But being popular is not necessarily a fun thing.
Rather, it has become a burden that interferes with her daily life.

This way of depicting her has been consistent since Episode 2.

Noren is not just a heroine; she is a person who is tired of the affections and gazes of those around her. That's why Jujo's existence is a bit special to her. Jujo is not a middle school boy attracted to Noren; he is an adult on the inside, carrying missions and circumstances. Of course, that is complicated in its own way, but at least for Noren, he is someone with a different sense of distance compared to the ordinary boys.

Then Shin is added to that, and Tenma is added on top of that.

With Noren at the center, the human relationships within the school are becoming increasingly noisy. How Jujo stands within that has become a highlight to look forward to.

Shin's 'lack of malice' makes the situation even more complicated.

In Episode 5, Shin also brought his usual unique flavor.

Shin, who appeared in Episode 4, stole the show with his intense disappointment of being a handsome guy who uses a pacifier. His presence remained strong this time as well, moving quite freely, such as appearing suddenly or unintentionally twisting the knife in Noren's wounds. In the viewers' reactions, there were comments like 'he's the type who hurts people without malice' and 'he just says everything,' and it feels like Shin's character has solidified even further.

The interesting thing about Shin is, after all, that his malice is thin.

He is serious about Noren, and his actions are quite eccentric, but he is not the type to look down on people like Tenma. Rather, he just seems to be moving straight within his own world. That's why, even though he is a nuisance, you can't quite bring yourself to hate him.

It is also interesting that the impression of Shin changed a little with the appearance of Tenma in Episode 5.

In Episode 4, Shin was the biggest anomaly.
But when Tenma appeared in Episode 5, Shin started to look more like an eccentric with charm.

This contrast was quite effective.

Tenma is strong and stands out, but he looks down on others.
Shin is strange and doesn't read the room, but he has little malice.
Jujo is an adult on the inside and strong, but he is clumsy in school life.

Looking at it this way, 'Kill Blue' is a work that is quite good at depicting the 'ways strong men are off-kilter.' Each has a different type of strength and a different type of disappointment. That's why even as the number of characters increases, their roles don't overlap, and the story becomes more lively.

Episode 5 was the episode where the Home Economics Club found their 'reason to fight'.

Episode 5 ended right before the actual futsal match began. Therefore, as a story, it is also an episode that serves as a setup for the duel.

However, this setup was quite important.

Why does the Home Economics Club fight?
Why is Juro getting angry?
Why do they want to beat Tenma?

The reasons for that were properly established this time.

If Tenma were just strong, the match would be a simple sports competition. But Tenma looked down on the Home Economics Club. He ate the rice balls made for others, yet treated their activities lightly. He challenged them to a match in a sport where he had the advantage, while looking down on his opponents.

That is why emotions are riding on this match.

The Home Economics Club doesn't just want to win.
They want to get back at him because their club was mocked.
They want to show that their activities have pride too.
They don't want to be easily swayed by Tenma's values.

Because of this flow, I am looking forward to the next episode's futsal match.

Juro, who learned to cook in Episode 3, gets angry for the sake of the Home Economics Club in Episode 5.
This progression is very natural.

Cooking is love.
The Home Economics Club is not just for play.
Don't take making things for others lightly.

That sentiment is now being tested in the completely opposite arena of a sports match. This is the interesting part.

Normally, it would be difficult for the Home Economics Club to win at futsal. Moreover, their opponent is the three-sword-style user Tenma. It looks disadvantageous no matter how you look at it. But precisely because of that disadvantageous situation, it makes for an exciting story.

Juro is strong as a hitman.
But futsal is a different sport.
I don't know how well each of the Home Economics Club members can move.
Even so, they will fight for the pride of their club.

This composition was very shonen manga-esque and good.

With the appearance of Tenma, 'Kill Blue' has expanded further as a school battle series.

What I felt watching Episode 5 is that 'Kill Blue' is quite skillfully expanding its genre.

Episode 1 was about a hitman.
Episode 2 was about infiltration and protection.
Episode 3 was a club activity episode about studying and cooking.
Episode 4 was a romantic comedy with a fake boyfriend and the appearance of a rival.
And Episode 5 is the prelude to a sports duel.

When you line them up like this, it packs in quite a lot of elements. But it doesn't look disjointed. That is because at the center, there is always the axis of 'Juro redoing his life as a middle schooler'.

No matter what genre it leans into, Juro encounters new rules there.

School rules.
Rules of human relationships.
Rules of cooking.
Pride of a club.
And this time, the arena of sports.

As a hitman, Juzo is a fairly complete individual. However, as a middle schooler, he is thrown into a new world every time. Each time, he clumsily learns all over again.

In episode 5, a flow was created where Juzo, having found a place in the Home Economics Club, fights to protect that place. This is a fairly significant change.

At first, Juzo was just infiltrating the school.
But now, Juzo has a club he wants to protect.
He has friends who get angry with him.
He has enough attachment to feel annoyed when looked down upon.

I think this is exactly what Juzo is gaining from his school life.

Tenma Tendo made a rather unpleasant entrance. He challenges people on his own favorable terms, looks down on the Home Economics Club, and is a show-off with no delicacy. However, that is precisely why he has become a character who strongly drives the story.

Because he mocked the Home Economics Club, Juzo and the others stand up.
Because he is strong, the next match will be exciting.
Because he is cunning, it makes you want to root for them.

Episode 5 was an episode that built the emotions leading up to the futsal match, rather than the match itself.
And I think that emotional buildup was quite successful.

Don't underestimate the Home Economics Club.
Cooking, club activities, and acting for the sake of others—these things truly become a source of pride.
With that feeling in their hearts, I look forward to seeing how the next futsal duel will be depicted.

Episode 5 was an episode that clearly showed the unity of the Home Economics Club and Juzo's growth by introducing a 'strong but cunning opponent' named Tenma Tendo. I am really looking forward to seeing how the Home Economics Club shows their determination next time.

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