Background[edit | edit source]
When he was younger, Arafune was bitten on his right butt cheek by an unprovoked small dog, bearing the scar to this day. The incident caused him to dislike dogs.[1] Arafune joined Border around two years before Yūma Kuga and Chika Amatori,[2] starting out as an Attacker.[3] His approach to improving, which remain unchanged when he would later transition to Sniper, consisted in watching the logs of other agents of the same position, creating theories, testing them in Rank Wars, and seeking guidance only if after sustained trial and error he was unable to understand what he was lacking.[4][5]
A little over a year and two months before his squad's match against Tamakoma Second and Suwa Squad,[6][7] Arafune began teaching swordsmanship to Kō Murakami. Less than seven months later Murakami surpassed Arafune in points.[6] Around the same time Arafune reached Master Class as an Attacker and became a Sniper.[8] This caused a rumor to spread among Snipers that Arafune had changed position due to being surpassed by Murakami,[9] whereas, in reality, Arafune had always planned on quitting after scoring more than 8,000 points with his method, his ambition is to become the first Perfect All-Rounder after Reiji Kizaki and to develop a master theory that would allow the mass production of Perfect All-Rounders.[10] He did not share his goal with anyone out of fear that it would sound like an excuse.[8] However, the rumor caused Murakami to fall into depression, leading Tatsuya Kuruma to meet up with Arafune to ascertain the truth. Arafune explained his aim to Kuruma and agreed to send Murakami a video to put his mind at ease.[11] Not much later Arafune also started weight training with Atsushi Hokari.[12]
Introduction Arc[edit | edit source]
Arafune Squad presumably takes part in the extermination of all Rads in Mikado City.[13]
Border Enlistment Arc[edit | edit source]
Arafune appeared alongside Haruaki Azuma as one of the Sniper instructors on enlistment day. He is surprised that trainee Chika Amatori already knows that Snipers have to run after firing.[14]
Large-Scale Invasion Arc[edit | edit source]
Masafumi Shinoda orders Arafune Squad and the other B-rank squads on active duty during Aftokrator's invasion to meet up with Azuma.[14] Arafune, Hokari, and Yoshito Hanzaki take sniping positions while Azuma lures Ranbanein towards them. The Neighbor however blocks their bullets and retaliates. Arafune manages to dodge the attack but his two teammates Bail Out.[15] As he repositions himself after another failed ambush, he observes that Ranbanein seems to leave himself completely exposed to draw in the shots.[16] When A-rankers Kōhei Izumi, Shun Midorikawa and Yōsuke Yoneya are dispatched to assist the B-rank squads against the Neighbor, Arafune warns them that his defenses can withstand Egret shots and might be able to resist Attacker Triggers too.[17] When Ranbanein takes to the sky Arafune manages to damage his Trigger. He jumps off the building to avoid Ranbanein's counter, but the Neighbor waits a few moments before firing a follow-up shot, tearing off Arafune's left arm. The Sniper remarks that Ranbanein's accuracy has increased and that the Border agents can no longer get close to him, but Azuma objects that they must remain on the offensive to force him to show more openings.[18] Following the Neighbor's defeat, Arafune is reassigned to defending the southern area of Mikado City.[19] After the end of the invasion Arafune Squad is the recipient of an Excellent Distinguished Service award.[20]
B-Rank Wars Arc[edit | edit source]
Round Two[edit | edit source]
On February 2, three days before Arafune Squad's match against Tamakoma Second and Suwa Squad, Arafune, Hokari and Hanzaki watch the logs of Tamakoma Second's first rank war. Arafune notes that Chika will be easy to snipe back at if she fires with Ibis and instructs Rin Kagami to gather all the data on the members of Tamakoma Second so that he can memorize their habits. He then wonders which map they will choose.[21]
When the stage, Cityscape C, is announced, Arafune warns his teammates to watch out for Chika and tells them to go about the match as usual. He spawns to the southernmost point in the map, already wearing his Bagworm. Thanks to Hokari's suppress fire, Arafune manages to slip past Suwa Squad. One of Chika's Ibis bullets explodes right next to him, causing all of Arafune Squad to focus their fire on the gathered members of Tamakoma Second. While they do so, however, the members of the Suwa Squad activate their Bagworms and close in on the Snipers undetected. Arafune's leg is injured by Kōtarō Suwa's sneak attack.[22] Arafune withdraws with Suwa hot on his heels. Arafune draws him in to be sniped by Hanzaki, but Suwa anticipates it and blocks the bullet. He and Hisato Sasamori continue pursuing Arafune while he intercepts Yūma Kuga, confronting him with his Kogetsu[23] and keeping his Bagworm on to conceal the wound on his leg. As he clashes with Yūma he takes note of his opponent's skills and predicts that Suwa will come for both of them. When Hokari blows off Yūma's shoulder in a suicidal attack and the Neighbor activates Grasshopper, Arafune moves in to land the finishing blow, but Yūma feints and cuts off both his legs. He manages to slip away thanks to Suwa opening fire and focusing on Yūma.[24] When Chika devastates the area around her teammate, Arafune snipes at her, picking her off before bailing out himself due to losing too much Trion. He apologizes to his teammates for being unable to defeat Yūma. He reacts with surprise to the announcement that one of Tamakoma Second's upcoming opponents will be Suzunari First.[25]
Round Three[edit | edit source]
Arafune heads to the solo rank booths after the match, where he runs into Yūma and Midorikawa. He puts the latter in a headlock for foreseeing his defeat in his commentary and challenges him to a solo match.[26] He greets Murakami when he arrives and the two chat for a little while before Yūma challenges the no. 4 Attacker. Arafune is the first to warn him against doing so, but when Yūma goes through with it, he watches the match.[27] Afterwards he has a match against Yūma himself.[28] A few days later, Arafune Squad wins a rank war against Kakizaki Squad.[29]
Galopoula's Invasion[edit | edit source]
During stealth and target acquisition training Arafune is shot in the head by Isami Tōma without being able to retaliate. He finishes the session in 7th place. He is dissatisfied with his result and he approaches Hokari.[30]
On February 19[31] Arafune is assigned to the half of official Snipers led by Tōma in preparation for Galopoula's Invasion. The Snipers are all stationed on the roof of HQ. When the Idras combined their shields, they begin to focus their fire. Koskero summons dozens of Dogs on the roof, prompting Arafune and Kizaki to fight back with their Attacker Triggers.[32] Together with Midorikawa and Shinnosuke Tsuji they proceed to exterminate the Trion Soldiers, allowing the other Snipers to resume their positions.[33] When the roof is cleared, Arafune Squad, Kizaki and Ken Satori jump off to assist the agents on the ground.[34] As they gain the upper hand, Arafune wonders if Galopoula has more aces up its sleeve.[35] After the enemies retreat, Arafune, together with the rest of the ground forces, remains inside the security zone for a while. He asks Kizaki if they are done, to which the latter replies that they will probably not try anything while there are still Border agents around, but warns Arafune not to lower his guard.[36]
Round Seven[edit | edit source]
A few days later Arafune and Hokari run into Yūma, Tōma, Murakami, Yuzuru Ema, Hiro Kitazoe and Masato Kageura at the latter's family restaurant. When they explain Ema's predicament to him, Arafune explains that all Ema needs to do is be selected as a member of the away team to protect Chika.[37] Later, he asks if it is true that she cannot shoot people, and understands that is why she started using Lead Bullet. He listens to Tōma's theory about Chika not wanting to shoot rather than being unable to.[38]
Round Eight[edit | edit source]
On the night of March 5, Arafune and Hokari spectate Tamakoma Second's match against Ninomiya Squad, Ikoma Squad and Yuba Squad.[39] When the match starts Arafune comments that Hyuse's spawn position is very unfavorable.[40]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑
Daisuke Ashihara: Q: What is the reason behind Arafune disliking dogs?
A: Because he was bitten by a small dog on his right butt cheek for no reason when he was young. The scar still remains even now.
Source: Border Briefing File, Page 296, Question 79 - ↑ World Trigger Manga — Border Briefing File (p. 270)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 89 (p. 18)
- ↑
Daisuke Ashihara: Q: Did Arafune establish Attacker/Sniper methodology through self-study? Or did he have a mentor for each of them?
A: It seems he studied the logs, constructed his own theories, tried them out in Rank Wars, and then after multiple trial and error, only the bits he couldn't understand himself he sought teaching for from those more experienced.
Source: Border Briefing File, Page 296, Question 76 - ↑
Daisuke Ashihara: Q: Did Arafune transfer to Sniper after Arafune Squad was formed? Or was Arafune Squad formed after he transferred to Sniper?
A: Forming the team came first. Just after the team formed, they were Attacker, and two Snipers; a composition similar to Miwa Squad.
Source: Border Briefing File, Page 296, Question 78 - ↑ 6.0 6.1 World Trigger Manga — Chapter 94 (p. 6)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 95 (p. 1)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 World Trigger Manga — Chapter 95 (p. 5)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 94 (p. 5)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 95 (p. 5-6)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 95
- ↑
Daisuke Ashihara: Q: Arafune called Reiji by his last name 8 months ago but now calls him by first name, did he seek teaching from him or became his disciple for his goal of becoming a Perfect All-Rounder?
A: It seems likely. At that point, Arafune started emulating Hokari and started weight training, so there was the rumor within Border that he "received a muscle baptism".
Source: Border Briefing File, Page 302, Question 128 - ↑ World Trigger Manga and Anime — Vol. 2 Chapter 11 (p. 15) and Episode 6.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 World Trigger Manga — Chapter 34
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 54
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 58
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 59
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 60
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 61
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 83 (p. 11)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 87
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 88
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 89
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 90
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 91
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 92
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 93
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 94
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 136 (p. 15)
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 118
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 123
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 124
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 125
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 127
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 129
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 136
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 163
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 164
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 183
- ↑ World Trigger Manga — Chapter 185
[edit | edit source]