This is a battle action series written by Daisuke Ashihara that began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2013. It has been serialized in Jump Square since 2019. The first season of the anime (73 episodes in total) aired from October 2014 to April 2016, and the second season is scheduled to air in 2020. Border is an organization that protects the Earth from Neighbors (near-worlders). The main character, Osamu Mikumo, who belongs to the organization, meets Yuma Kuga, a Neighbor from outside the gate. Mikumo fights the Neighbors that have attacked the school, but Kuga uses a "trigger" to help him when he is struggling. Mikumo of Border and Kuga of Neighbor, two people who should be enemies, end up joining forces to fight. In this article, I would like to introduce Yuma Kuga, Mikumo's partner and the other main character.
The mysterious transfer student, Kuga Yuma, suddenly appears
A rumor spreads that a transfer student has come to the school Osamu attends. Many students are transferring from Mikado due to the Neighbor invasion, but few students are transferring to the school, so the rumor goes around that it might be someone from Border. Osamu reacts to the rumor, but Yuma is not from Border, but from the enemy Neighbor! Osamu was skeptical when Yuma said he was a Neighbor using triggers, but after seeing his overwhelming strength and how he looked calm even after being hit by a car, he was convinced that he was definitely a real Neighbor.
Yuma follows Osamu
As a Border member, Osamu couldn't leave Yuuma, a Neighbor, alone, but since he had helped him at school, he decided to stay and keep an eye on him. Yuma has no idea how to spend money, Japanese laws, or manners, so he basically solves things with force. He's a good-natured guy, but he does take risky actions, so Osamu warns him, but Yuma doesn't know much about Japan. However, in order to achieve his goal in Japan, Yuma decides to ask Osamu to teach him about Japan. Yuma's words, "Rules are not for protecting you," and "It is your own strength that can protect you," are quite extreme, but I think they are also true.
Kuga Yuma saves Osamu without revealing his true identity
Suddenly, the "combat" Trion soldier, Mallmod, attacks the school. It will take time for Border's regular troops to arrive to help, so in order to prevent damage in the meantime, Osamu goes to fight, knowing he has no chance of winning. Yuma had told him to wait for help, but for some reason he cannot leave Osamu alone and goes to help him. However, if Yuma uses his own trigger, Border will detect it and find out that Osamu has been hiding Yuma, a Neighbor. The only way to save Osamu without revealing his true identity is to fight using Osamu's trigger. Osamu's trigger is a training trigger distributed to C-rank members, but he easily repels the Mallmods with it... Neighbor Yuma is truly formidable.
Kuga Yuma speaks to Kitora
Osamu and Yuma repel the Neighbors that appeared at school. They are praised as heroes throughout the school, but then the A-class unit, Arashiyama's squad, arrives. C-class members are prohibited from using triggers outside the base, and what Osamu did is a violation of the squad's regulations. Osamu is prepared for severe punishment, but Arashiyama praises Osamu for the fact that there were no casualties, and is impressed that he took down the Mallmod with almost one blow. It was Yuma who did it, but... Kitora, an A-ranked member, is not happy with this and criticizes Osamu for being in violation. The triggers belong to Border, so he needs permission to use them. Kitora responds by saying, "The triggers belong to the Neighbors, but have you got permission from the Neighbors?" He also says that he's late and yet is acting all high and mighty. Kitora's point is correct, but there is also the saying that it depends on the case, and there are different ways of saying things. I'm sure many readers felt relieved by Yuma's words.
I hate him, but Osamu asked me to do it
On the way to Border HQ with Osamu, Yuma, and Kitora, a new Neighbor called Ilgar appears. Osamu, who cannot use weapons, goes to rescue people, while Kitora goes to intercept Ilgar alone. Yuma tries to follow Osamu, but Osamu asks him to support Kitora without being noticed. Yuma dislikes Kitora, but since it is Osamu's request, he goes to support Kitora without hesitation.
Mission accomplished! !
When Ilgar, a "bombing" Trion soldier, receives significant damage, it will self-destruct, aiming for a place with many people. Therefore, Ilgar, who received damage from Kitora, begins to fall towards the city. Since Ilgar in a self-destruct state can be defeated without using a trigger, Yuma blows Ilgar to a place where there are no people and cheerfully mutters that the mission is complete. Even Kitora, who is an A-class soldier, was unable to deal with the falling Ilgar, but Yuma easily deals with it. He has something to say to an A-class soldier.
Everyone has things they're not good at
While waiting for Osamu on the bank, Yuuma practiced riding a bike. Even at 15 years old, Yuuma couldn't ride a bike. Or rather, he didn't know about a bike until he came to Japan. He can defeat Neighbors with one blow and has the ability to surpass Border A-rank members, but he can't ride a bike... Everyone has strengths and weaknesses! He met Chika by chance and she helped him practice, and he seems to have gotten the hang of it a little. He got carried away and fell into the river (lol)
Kuga Yuma is targeted by Border
Miwa, an A-rank member with a personal grudge against the Neighbors, believes in killing all Neighbors, even if they are humanoid. Miwa suspects that Osamu is connected to the Neighbors, so he reports it to Commander Kido and keeps an eye on Osamu. When Miwa sees Osamu and Yuma together, he fires at Yuma the moment Yuma identifies himself as a Neighbor. It was a sudden close-range attack, but Yuma blocks the attack and tries to calmly discuss it. Yuma remembered that Osamu had told him not to solve everything with force. Furthermore, considering Osamu's position as a B-class, Yuma tried his best to resolve the issue peacefully.
Kuga Yuma, who has a black trigger, is "special" even acknowledged by Jin
Osamu thought that even a strong Yuma would have a hard time facing multiple A-class fighters, so he consulted with Jin, who acknowledges Yuma's existence. However, Jin said, "He's special," and did not doubt Yuma's victory. In front of Yuma are two A-class fighters, and two A-class snipers from the shadows, a total of four people aiming at Yuma. Yuma is surprised by Miwa and the others' attack, which turns Trion into weight, but he quickly understands how it works, copies it, and counterattacks. He even increases its power. He takes on four A-rank warriors at the same time and brilliantly defeats them. One of the reasons Yuma is so strong is his experience and sense from many wars, but what Jin spoke of as "special" also has a lot to do with it. That "special" is that the trigger Yuma possesses is a black trigger. Jin also possesses a black trigger, so perhaps there is something in common between them.
Kuga Yuma's Purpose
The reason Yuma came to Japan was because his father Yugo told him, "If I die, go to Japan." Yugo said that Border is an organization that acts as a bridge between Earth and the Neighbors, and Yugo knew someone in Border. Yuma, who lost his father at the age of 11, came to Japan looking for someone Yugo knew.
Replica's purpose and Yuma's purpose
Yugo sacrificed himself to create the Black Trigger in order to save the dying Yuma. He sealed the dying Yuma's body inside the trigger and created a new body using Trion. This body had lost its growth function, which is why Yuma is small despite being 15 years old. However, Yuma's body sealed inside the trigger was slowly but surely heading towards death. Replica visited Border to do something about that. However, Yuma had visited Border to find a way to revive Yugo using the Black Trigger, which Yugo had poured everything into.
Yuma's Side Effect
Side effect is a super sense that is rarely manifested by those with high trion abilities, and it means "side effect". Yuma's side effect is to see through people's lies, and when Yuma talks to people, he sometimes says, "Don't tell stupid lies," but this is because he was able to see through their lies due to his side effect. He says this when Kitora was involved with Osamu and when the Miwa Squad attacked Yuma. Yuma manifested this side effect when he inherited the black trigger. It was originally Yugo's side effect, but it was passed down to Yuma through the black trigger.
Replica tests Commander Kido
Yuma's partner, Replica, does not fully trust Border, so he asks Commander Kido to guarantee Yuuma's safety as a condition for providing information. Of course, verbal promises have no meaning, but because of Yuuma's side effect, Commander Kido can immediately see through any lies. Commander Kido says that he will guarantee it as long as he follows Border's corps regulations, and Yuuma doesn't respond, so it seems he is not lying. Is this Commander Kido's true feelings? Or does he know Yuuma well and have noticed the side effect? Either way, this negotiation prevented Commander Kido from carelessly laying hands on Yuma.
Kuga Yuma has lost his purpose...
Yuma was looking for Yugo's acquaintance, Mogami Souichi, who was Jin's master and Jin's black trigger. Since black triggers are generated by pouring all of one's energy into them, Mogami must already be dead. Since Jin's master Mogami has died and Border has not brought him back to life, Yuma realizes that even with Border's technology, it is impossible to revive the dead. Having lost his purpose, Yuma tries to return to his own world, but Replica asks Osamu to give him a purpose, so he invites Yuma to join the team. Yuma has a tendency to not be able to ignore people in trouble... Yuma is probably attracted to Osamu because he is somewhat similar to his father. Thus, Yuma aims to become Border A-class with Osamu and Chika.
Kuga Yuma becomes an apprentice to Konan
Yuma, who has joined Tamakoma, becomes an apprentice to Konan. (Actually, I was forced to choose Yuma because Konan seemed the strongest...) Yuma easily repelled the attacking Neighbors and A-rank members, but during training with Konan, he was defeated 9 to 1. Even though they are both A-rank, Konan's strength is in a class of its own. Konan's victory was a landslide, but judging by her face as she came out of the training room, it was clear that she was extremely upset to have been beaten by even one victory. Yuma acknowledges Konan's abilities and calls her senior, but Konan also acknowledges Yuma's abilities and calls her by her name.
Kuga Yuma stands out
Yuma and his friends aim to become Border A-class. Although they joined Border, Yuma and Chika are C-class trainees, so they will first aim to become B-class regular members. To be promoted to B-class, they need to earn 4000 points, and there are two ways to earn points: by performing well in joint training or by stealing points in ranked battles. In the training to fight against Neighbors reproduced in the virtual battle mode, A-class Kitori recorded 9 seconds and Midorikawa recorded 4 seconds, surprising everyone, but Yuma recorded an overwhelming record of 0.6 seconds. The record was so bad that they said the measuring device was broken and they had to do it again... but in the end, he improved his record to 0.4 seconds (lol)
Neighbor but a border?! What kind of person is Kuga Yuma, who has a black trigger? Summary
What did you think?
Kuga Yuma, a Neighbor, came to Japan with a message from his father. Although he was unable to achieve his original goal, he finds a new goal and moves forward. Yuma has a painful past, but his feelings are gradually changing after meeting Osamu. It is no exaggeration to say that Yuma, who is outstanding in any situation, is another protagonist.
