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“All right! Now it's time, right?!” ― Kugara's ever-present energy, even in the heat of battle.[source]
Hajime Kugara (
He is a supporting character in the Vs. Sojo Arc.
Appearance
Kugara was a towering individual, though he often appearred hunched or leaning. Despite this, he still stood at least a head taller than his captain Hagiwara in his usual hunched posture. He had a bird-like mask attached onto his face with several prongs, and has black hair that flared rearward. Kugara donned the standard Kamunabi uniform, resembling a modern black haori kimono over a white dress shirt accompanied by black pants fastened with a black belt.
Personality
Kugara loudly praises Chihiro's hot-bloodedness.
Kugara was an energetic person, outspoken and hot-blooded person. While visiting Chihiro in ahospital, he spoke loudly and was fascinated by the echoes. He claimed he loved Chihiro's hot-bloodedness and made several other loud outbursts. Kugara would fidget often and keep moving rather than remaining still, often hovering over Hagiwara or bothering Kazane. [1] Kugara's exuberance remained in combat, where he fought at the front with the same level of enthusiasm.
Relationships
Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces
In general, Kugara is on good terms with his squadmates, talking casually with them and working well together.
Ikuto Hagiwara
Despite his energetic nature, Kugara respects his captain, generally playing down his antics around him. The two's coordination in battle is top-notch, Hagiwara spontaneously coming up with a tactic incorporating both of their sorcery and Kugara immediately falling to Hagiwara's position at his command without questioning why.
Kazane Machi
Kugara frequently bugged Kazane when he felt he was acting 'jerky', getting up close and personal with him and generally leaving Kazane irritated at being manhandled. [2]
Chihiro Rokuhira
Upon learning that Chihiro had risked his life saving civilians during his battle with Sojo, Kugara vocalised his respect for him, and was amazed by Chihiro's calm explanation of his reasoning.
Plot
Past
Since he was around five years old, Kugara was friends with Ikuto Hagiwara. Kugara already had his mask.
Since at least ten years ago, Kugara was acquainted with Shiyumi Harima, Kiyohiko Uzuki and Makoto Kasahara, his squadmates alongside Hagiwara.[3]
Vs. Sojo Arc
When Sojo and Chihiro were fighting in the streets, Kugara arrived with the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces (barring Kazane Machi) as well as Togo Shiba and Azami. Their combined presence dissuaded Sojo from attacking and Sojo left after throwing up a cloud of mist with Kou.[4]
Kugara and the others meet Chihiro.
Five days later, on the 12th of October, Kugara would arrive with his squadmates minus Makoto Kasahara at the hospital where Chihiro was being treated. As Kugara caused a ruckus, Shiyumi Harima quickly shushed him. When Kazane was upset at Chihiro's demand to be included in the plan, Kugara went up to him and placed a hand around his shoulder, seeing he was acting 'jerky'. After Chihiro mentioned he redirected the lightning towards himself using his blade, Kugara was greatly impressed at Chihiro's willingness to put himself on the line to save civilians. Kugara later told Ikuto Hagiwara he thought Chihiro was cool, though Hagiwara saw him more as hot-blooded.[5]
After Hagiwara made a deal with Chihiro as to how they would approach Sojo, the group moved to the hospital's roof. There, Chihiro told them of Cloud Gouger's three abilities, Kugara noting Cloud Gouger must be insanely strong.[6] The male Kamunabi members present later took a collective bathroom break, and Chihiro followed in order to continue the discussion. Like his colleagues, Kugara was confused when Chihiro told them they needed to let Sojo hit them with the Kou-Mei combination attack. At Kugara and Uzuki's prompting, Chihiro then elaborated they needed to let Sojo buy time to perform a fully-charged Mei, as it would leave Sojo wide open. Kugara asked how they would survive the charged Mei and Chihiro replied they should know what to do given they were an elite squad.[7]
More than 49 hours afterwards, Kugara and his squad tracked Sojo to a bathhouse and engaged him.[8] Harima sent pieces of the ground into the air and moved them towards the ocean to prevent damage to civilians, while Kazane protected her as she did so. Following the strategy his comrades had planned with Chihiro, Kugara continuously attacked Sojo alongside Uzuki, Kasahara and Hagiwara, Kugara slashing in with his metallicised hands, but Sojo was able to dodge all of the attacks the Kamunabi threw at him.[9]
Kugara and Hagiwara take advantage of Cloud Gouger's electricity.
Sojo then unleashed Kou, spraying water over the surrounding area including over the four attacking Kamunabi members, before using a Mei with little charge. Kugara took this attack, wincing in pain, and fell to the ground, as did his comrades, and Sojo used the opportunity to begin charging Mei. When Sojo was nearly finished charging, Kugara jumped into the air alongside his comrades at Hagiwara's command. Hagiwara then unleashed Jikai onto the ground, cracking the earth, the impact also sending Sojo and the water flying into the air, just as Sojo unleashed a fully-charged Mei, which flowed uselessly through the water around him, to Hagiwara's glee. Kugara, Uzuki and Kasahara then rushed Sojo down, taking advantage of the 10-second interval they now had before Sojo could use Mei again.[10]
Noticing Sojo preparing to counterattack, Hagiwara called Kugara to move towards him just as Sojo cast Yui, the water in the air flash-freezing and spiking upwards at the three Kamunabi. Kugara dropped downwards towards Hagiwara while Kasahara and Uzuki flew towards Sojo, managing to immobilise him after a brief confrontation. Sojo then crackled with lightning, Kugara noticing 10 seconds had passed and asking Hagiwara if they would change their strategy. Hagiwara replied they wouldn't and ordered Kugara to prepare his iron transformation and cast Jikai to utilise the lightning radiating off of Sojo to launch Kugara towards him like an electromagnetic cannon. As Kugara launched Sojo off the floating earth, Kasahara grabbed Cloud Gouger. Hagiwara and Uzuki then prepared to finish Sojo off.[11]
At that moment, the still-crackling Sojo cast Mei, Cloud Gouger responding and also crackling with lightning. The attraction force between the two sources of lightning sent Sojo flying upwards to his blade, eviscerating much of Kasahara and Kugara's sides, before catching Cloud Gouger in his mouth. [12] In the ensuing battle, Sojo easily managed to defeat the Kamunabi.[13] Kugara was confirmed to have died in the battle.[14]
Abilities
The Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces successfully disarm Sojo
Overall Abilities: Kugara was an elite member of the Kamunabi chosen specifically to be part of the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces, a squadron made specifically to counter an Enchanted Blade, one of the most powerful weapons ever created. He played a major role in momentarily overpowering Genichi Sojo, acting as one of the main close-range fighters applying pressure to him.[15] Once the squad captured Cloud Gouger, they used Kugura as the tip of the spear in their strategy and managed to injure Sojo.[16]
As a sorcerer, Kugara has naturally accomplished the first stage of spirit energy usage, being able to use his spirit energy to strengthen his body to superhuman levels.
Enhanced Endurance: Kugara and his squadmates withstood a shock from a uncharged Mei mixed with Kou and were capable of leaping into the air shortly afterwards.[17] However, they actively tried to avoid taking on a fully charged Mei, aware that taking such an attack would likely prove fatal.
Sorcery
Kugara using his iron body to block a blade.
Iron Transformation: Kugara's sorcery hardened sections of his body or clothing with the properties of iron.[18] This greatly enhanced his durability for defense while also sharpening parts of his fingers and the nose of his mask for offense. In combination with Hagiwara's Jikai technique and electricity from Cloud Gouger, the two were able to create a makeshift rail-gun, with Kugara as the ammunition.[19]
Etymology
The Japanese name Hajime Kugara (
具 (Ku): means "tool" or "implement."柄 (Gara): refers to a "handle" or "grip," often used in the context of tools or weapons.一 (Hajime): means "one" or "first."
Trivia
References
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 11 (Page 13-16).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 11 (Page 6-9).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 98 (Page 6).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 10 (Pages 9-13).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 11 (Pages 12-19).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 13 (Pages 2-4).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 13 (Pages 10-13).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 12 (Pages 14-16).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 13 (Pages 2, 4-7).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 13 (Pages 9-16).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 16 (Pages 7-11).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 16 (Pages 12-15).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 17 (Page 6).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 18 (Page 12).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 13 (Pages 10-11).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 16 (Page 11).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 13 (Pages 6-9).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 16 (Page 9).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 16 (Pages 9-11).