Overview: Shu (Howard Wang), Kisara (Kayli Mills) and Ayano (Suzie Yeung) guard the mayor as an assassin attempts to take his life.
Our Take: We have all been there, when the bank account is as hallowed out as our stomachs are and there ain’t nothing in the fridge but bean sprouts. This unbearable feeling of hunger is the result of more money troubles for Shu and Kisara with both looking for extra work. However, before that we get to know a little bit more about Kisara’s life and her gal pals. It is a harshly funny misconception in them believing Shu abuses her, with her paying for his expenses not being the greatest look. There is also the idiot son of the mayor and student council president, Hachisuka. He is so ridiculously pompous that you can’t help but enjoy his presence when trying to woo Kisara.
After begging like the sad sack he is and getting some fanservice sweating and bouncing around in the gym, Shu, Kisara and Ayano are assigned to help protect the mayor at the 25th anniversary party for the city. Shu’s old friend in the police force, Miles, is a law enforcement veteran and has a good rapport with Shu in both being experienced and understanding the true nature of the city. His presence also fleshes out the firm hand the government has over the floating paradise with contractors being allowed to carry firearms but police being restricted from doing so. As a last note, Shu not remembering key events, like when he was taken in by Miles as a kid, hint at a deeper issue with his memory retention that continues to build intriguingly.
Everything is not what it seems on the surface with the beautiful oasis that is Bayron being nothing but a mirage. There is plenty of poverty and struggling citizens turning to crime within the city, despite the prosperous people and commerce he speaks of. Kisara and Ayano understand it and so does Shu in his parents being murdered by demons, making his hatred and vengeance towards them especially understandable. There is an amazing chase scene of the would-be chameleon assassin in what has a spy thriller feel to it with an intense electric guitar thumping throughout. With Shu and Kisara using most of the money made from their job to take him down, and not even needing the item they bought, it shows what kind of shit luck they both have, setting the tone moving forward. Shu wrestling with his family’s murder being covered up by the government but having no other option but to be employed by them illustrates his conflicting plight that, hopefully, we get more complexity from in the future. We do not get a chance to delve deeply into the looming issues as much as we could have, like Shu’s memory or the poor, desperate citizens of the city, but at least we get a taste of them to wet our appetites for more.