Background[edit | edit source]
Ikoma hails from Kyōto. He was taught iaidō by his grandfather[1] before being scouted by Border and relocating to Mikado City.[2] At some point he was discovered to be compatible with Fūjin[3] and created his signature technique as a counter to Takuma Yuba's fighting style.[4]
Introduction Arc[edit | edit source]
Ikoma Squad presumably takes part in the extermination of all Rads in Mikado City.[5]
Large-Scale Invasion Arc[edit | edit source]
Ikoma Squad is seemingly not deployed during the Second Large-Scale Invasion, and could, therefore, be among the B-rank units with missing members which Masafumi Shinoda prevents from fighting against Aftokrator's forces out of fear of capture.[6]
B-Rank Wars Arc[edit | edit source]
Round Two[edit | edit source]
On February 5,[7] Ikoma Squad faces off against Ninomiya Squad in the second round of rank wars. Ikoma is able to force Masataka Ninomiya to Bail Out by cutting him down with Ikoma Senkū from behind a wall.[8] Since Azuma Squad, Katori Squad, Ōji Squad and Yuba Squad[9] compete in a four-way match in the day division,[7] it can be inferred that the three-way battle takes place in the night division and that Kageura Squad is the third participant
Round Four[edit | edit source]
Since Tamakoma Second fights Ninomiya Squad, Kageura Squad and Azuma Squad in the night division of rank wars on February 15,[10] and since Katori Squad and all other possible opponents were in the middle tier of B-rank or lower,[11] Ikoma Squad must have fought in the day division against Ōji Squad and Yuba Squad. After the scores from both divisions are tallied, Ikoma Squad remains in third place[12] with 24 points.[13]
Galopoula's Invasion[edit | edit source]
Since Azuma Squad, Kageura Squad, and Yuba Squad fight in the night division of rank wars on February 19,[14] Ikoma Squad must have competed in the day division against Ninomiya Squad, Ōji Squad and Suzunari First. They rank third at the end of the match.[15] That same night, Ōji Squad and Ikoma Squad are deployed to intercept opponents west and south of the base in preparation of Galopoula's Invasion.[16][17]
Round Five (Night)[edit | edit source]
After the results of both the day and night divisions are tallied in round five, Ikoma Squad ranks third, with 27 points.[18]
Round Six[edit | edit source]
Ikoma Squad is pitted against Ōji Squad and Tamakoma Second in round six. On the day of the match, the team members are gathered in the strategy room. Ikoma in particular is impressed with Tamakoma Second's prowess. He advises watching out for Yūma Kuga's skill, Osamu Mikumo's tricks, and Chika Amatori's cuteness. When Kōji Oki points out that Maori Hosoi seems to think that Ikoma never complimented her looks, Ikoma and his other teammates proceed to do so, to her embarrassment.[19] The conversation moves on to the cafeteria menu, which Ikoma is excited about, until the match begins.[20]
Ikoma spawns in the north-western area of Cityscape A and immediately proceeds to meet up with Satoshi Mizukami. The latter clears his confusion over Yutaka Kashio's disappearance from Radar by suggesting that Ōji Squad is looking for Osamu.[21] Kashio and Kai Minamisawa are lured into clashing by Tamakoma Second's captain, prompting Ikoma and Mizukami to rush to their teammates' aid, but he is defeated before they can reach him. A disgruntled Ikoma remarks that if they lose a member right away, their only distinctive feature is Oki's popularity with girls. The reunited Ōji Squad is stopped in its tracks by Yūma, allowing Ikoma to target all four with his signature Senkū Kogetsu; however, to his surprise, he fails at taking anyone out, although he manages to injure the ace of Tamakoma Second.[22] Ikoma repeats the attack, but it is successfully dodged again. Instead of chasing after Yūma, he chooses to fight Ōji Squad as payback for Minamisawa's defeat. However, the ace of Tamakoma Second returns to launch a sneak attack that forces Kazuki Kurauchi to bail out. Ikoma and Mizukami shift their focus to Yūma while pressuring Oki into sniping Chika.[23] Ikoma praises Oki when he manages to shoot off the Attacker's arm, the first injury either team has managed to lay on the other.[24]
Yūma lures them towards a wire zone while Chika positions herself at its center and proceeds to destroy buildings that Ikoma Squad might use as cover. Nonetheless, Ikoma insists on following their target into the wire zone,[25] confident that the logs have enabled him to counter Yūma's mobility, only to quickly discover that he has gotten much faster. Despite his impatience, Ikoma convenes with Mizukami to fight while cutting down the wires, advancing at a slower pace. When Kazuaki Ōji suddenly steps in and beheads the Shooter, Ikoma retaliates with Senkū, cutting off his leg. Yūma switches targets to Ōji while Chika demolishes the buildings around Ikoma and snipes at him. When Oki forces her to take cover, the captain proceeds to cut down all surrounding buildings.[26] Yūma emerges as the victor, but, instead of facing off against Ikoma, he targets Oki, forcing him to bail out. However, Ikoma anticipates his evasive maneuver and bisects him. With Chika bailing out spontaneously, Ikoma Squad ties for second place with Ōji Squad.[27] Following the match, Ikoma Squad remains in third place with a point total of 34.[28]
Round Seven[edit | edit source]
After the end of the match, Ikoma heads to the solo battles hall, where Noboru Koarai asks him to fight Hyuse.[29] Impressed by the recruit's victory against Shinnosuke Tsuji, Ikoma accepts. The two swordsmen find themselves evenly matched, winning four times each before Ikoma ends the final match with Senkū, a foul which leads to his defeat. He apologizes to Koarai and Hyuse.[30]
Since Tamakoma Second faces off against Kageura Squad, Azuma Squad, and Suzunari First in the day division of rank wars on March 1,[31] it can be inferred that Ikoma Squad competes against Ōji Squad and Ninomiya Squad in the night division. After the results of both the day and night divisions are tallied, Ikoma Squad ranks fourth.[32]
Round Eight[edit | edit source]
On March 5,[33] Ikoma Squad is pitted against the Ninomiya Squad, Tamakoma Second, and Yuba Squad in the night division of rank wars. Shortly before the match, Ikoma recounts seeing Yūichi Jin at the solo rank war hall and wanting to challenge him. However, he was preceded by Kei Tachikawa, so he invited himself to watch the duel. When Hosoi points out that they should be discussing something else, Ikoma shares an even more pointless anecdote.[34]
Ikoma spawns in the eastern area of Cityscape B, and quickly recognizes the bombardment in the west as Ninomiya's doing.[35] As multiple opponents begin to gravitate in his general direction, Minamisawa becomes convinced that he is being targeted, prompting his teammates to rush to his aid. However, it is soon discovered that the real target is Hyuse, whom Ikoma Squad agrees to focus on. Ikoma gets him in Oki's line of fire with Senkū, but the latest addition to Tamakoma Second blocks the Sniper's fire. Yuba, Yukari Obishima[36] and Sumiharu Inukai soon join the fight, with Hosoi warning Ikoma against Sniper fire as he continues to pressure Hyuse.[37] The latter seems to be able to escape by holding back his opponents with a combination of Escudo and "Asteroid", but Mizukami and Inukai intercept him, allowing the other fighters to catch up. Ikoma prepares his special Senkū, but Hyuse catapults him into the air before he can fire it. However, Ikoma manages to unleash it while airborne, foiling Hyuse's escape attempt and cutting off his remaining foot.[38] Ikoma lures his fire by pretending to ready his signature move, whereas he activates Full Guard. However, the bullets curve around his Shields, revealing that Hyuse had been using Viper all along. Ikoma urges Minamisawa to deal the finishing blow before bailing out.[39]
The match ends with Ikoma Squad and Yuba Squad tied in third place, having scored two points each.[40] When the final commentary does not answer his questions about Hyuse's ability to dodge his first Senkū, Ikoma turns to Mizukami, who explains that their movements confirmed that their movements and numbers tipped him off. The season of rank wars ends with Ikoma Squad ranking fourth, with a total of 34 points.[41]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Vol. 18 Character Profile
- ↑
Daisuke Ashihara: Q: Who are the main agents who were scouted from out of the prefecture?
A: Suzunari First's Murakami, Taichi, Kon, Tachikawa Squad's Kunichika, Ikoma Squad's members etc.
Source: Border Briefing File, Page 302, Question 130 - ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 43 (p. 3)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 191 (p. 9)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga and Anime — Vol. 2 Chapter 11 (p. 15) and Episode 6.
- ↑
Daisuke Ashihara: Q: Why couldn't upper B-ranks like Ninomiya Squad or Kageura Squad participate in the Second Large-Scale Invasion? Did they travel far away on their time off?
A: It seems I lost the chance to draw it in the story itself so I'll write it here: "HQ Chief Shinoda gave the order that B-rank and lower agents are not allowed to participate in the fight until all members of the team are present". It seems he was worried about agents acting on their own and getting captured by Rabbits. Of course, there are also teams like Kako Squad who was late to the fight because their captain went out on a drive on her time off.
Source: Border Briefing File, Page 319, Question 252 - ↑ 7.0 7.1 World Trigger Manga — Chapter 94
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 184 (p. 6)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 173 (p. 5)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 105 (p. 18)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 103 (p. 12)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 115 (p. 13)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 116 (p. 15)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 123
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 146 (p. 14)
- ↑ World Trigger Anime — Episode 74
- ↑
Daisuke Ashihara: Q: What were Ikoma Squad and Ōji Squad doing when Galopoula showed up? I guess they were off duty?
A: In Chapter 124, when Shinoda said, "Leave one squad in the West and one in the South," that was those two.
Source: Volume 21, Question Corner 17 - ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 150 (p. 5)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 150
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 151
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 152
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 153
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 154
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 155
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 156
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 157
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 158
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 161
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 159
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 160
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 164
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 184 (p. 3)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 183
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 184
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 185
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 186
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 187
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 188
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 189
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 195
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 196