We talk about Kiriyama's synaesthesia and that car chase! Skip synopsis @ 11:00
021: Battle Royale vol. 15
Art by Masauki Taguchi
Story by Koushun Takami
Translation by Keith Giffen
Topics:
· Kiriyama has synaesthesia…And can choose to feel emotion, but prefers to distract himself and numb himself from the pain. "I hear Rubi crying, red face and crying red"
· The Car chase
· Taking out the windows
· Dopey "Wire-Fu"
· Kiriyama's backstory
Pop culture references:
· Elvis
· Pollyanna
Synopsis:
The penultimate volume involves Kawada, Nanahara and Noriko fighting for their lives against Kazuo Kiriyama, the one student who has killed the majority of the class.
After speaking about where they should flee to, the characters are soon alerted by Kiriyama's presence once the announcement of Sugimura's death is made. Kawada realises that Kiriyama will arrive at any second, following the smoke trail and bird signals meant for Sugimura. Kawada's makeshift alarm is triggered and the chase begins.
The chase leads them using cars to rush through the island. Kawada is driving the heavier vehicle and decides to use it to ram into a head on collision with Kiriyama along with suppressive gunfire to take out his tires, a la a game of chicken. They use their remaining rounds of ammo to blow up Kiriyama's car.
Kiriyama survives, having bailed out of the car before the crash and explosion. He finds another car and the chase continues, this time taking them through the site where Mimura died and finally to the site where Kiriyama first ambushed them.
Kawada uses this place to get hold of the shotgun. He uses it to get a surprise attack on Kiriyama, sending his car flying and shooting Kiriyama mid-air.
Noriko and Nanahara walk away from their car. Noriko spots something glistening in the sun as Nanahara speaks to Kawada. Kawada is shot. Kiriyama rises from a prone position with a damaged Kevlar vest showing under his torn shirt. Noriko shoots Kiriyama in the cheek with the gun she found, it shocks him, a sensation of bright colours has him feeling rage at Noriko. He remembers how his life was like before everything felt grey to him. A child prodigy, amazingly gifted with everything, including a kind and compassionate personality. Until a car crash gave him brain damage that is.
As Kiriyama retaliates Nanahara remembers the dart that Sugimura crafted for him and he uses this on Kiriyama to stop him once and for all. Sugimura's spirit is with him through this moment. The spirit to protect the one you love.
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