This article contains spoilers for Astro Royale Chapter 4, “The Ikebukuro Two,” by Ken Wakui, available in English at
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After a week hiatus, Ken Wakui Astro Royale returns with Chapter 4, “The Ikebukuro Two”, which picks up directly after the events of the previous chapter. Chapter 3 pits Hibaru against his most beloved brother, Terasu, as they disagree on how to handle the inevitable war launched by their adopted brother Shio. While Hibaru still believes that they can win this war with sheer conviction and reason, Terasu does not. In fact, Terasu fears that things could get extremely violent and as such, chooses to open the Yotsugiri armory. This sets Hibaru off, leading the two brothers to face off in a showdown.

The twists and turns in Astro Royale Chapter 3 didn't stop there, however, when the confrontation itself opened the door for Terasu to reveal that he possesses an Astro Ability of his own. Terasu's ability, Shield Astro, allows him to manifest a shield that is strong enough to stop Hibaru's bullet punch. Once the confrontation ends, the two brothers come to terms with their opposing views. Terasu decides to go along with Hibaru's plan to try and reason with his adoptive brothers and prevent the conflict from escalating, ending the third chapter.

Where do Hibaru and Terasu go in Chapter 4 of Astro Royale?

Hibaru and Terasu are heading to Ikebukuro to meet one of their brothers.

If we can get Kuran on our side, then Kou will definitely follow us.

– Terasu, Astro Royale, Chapter 4

Astro Royale Chapter 4 begins immediately after the end of Chapter 3. with Hibaru and Terasu arriving in Ikebukuro, the area that his brother Kuran is in charge of. This is part of Hibaru's mission to speak to his brothers one by one and hopefully get them to unite and stand together as one. Upon arriving, the brothers witness a thief stealing a woman's purse and, moments later, are knocked unconscious by a man wearing a jacket with an insignia. Wasting no time, Wakui expands the world and brings in a new faction.

The Sanmenroppi, or Three Faces and Six Arms, is a security squad made up of delinquents that Kuran has assembled and tasked with keeping the city of Ikebukuro safe. Delinquents being used as protectors of the peace is not a strange trope for this type of genre, so it's not at all surprising that Wakui brings it into the Astro Royale world as well. With this discovery, Wakui also begins to set the stage and prepare the ground for more revelations. Terasu and Hibaru are pleasantly shocked to learn of this change.

What does the Astro Royale What makes it such a fun read is that the story's revelations are first experienced simultaneously by both the reader and Hibaru. While the two-week knockout may have seemed like a cliché at first, it's actually proving to be a very strategic storytelling decision made by Wakui to level the playing field between the reader and Astro Royaleprotagonist. This keeps each chapter engaging and engaging, allowing each twist to be effective.

Who are the two Yotsugiri brothers introduced in Chapter 4 of Astro Royale?

Kuran Yotsugiri, the tenth adopted son;

The world has always treated me like trash. I was holding this lighter when I made my wish…

Sincerely, Astro Royale, Chapter 4

While Astro Royale Chapter 4 is a bit quiet, the new entry includes the introduction of two new brothers into the Yotsugiri family: Kuran and Kou. Chapter 3 sets up a promise of who Kuran is, as the final panels of the chapter show him sitting in a chair in the middle of a raging club. “The Ikebukuro Two” builds on this, and yet Wakui brilliantly finds a way to subvert expectations. Everything about Kuran points to strength, confidence, and leadership. This is far from the truth, however.

What Hibaru and Terasu discover could seriously affect how the narrative progresses. Hibaru's plan to go to Ikebukuro first was due to his assumption and hope that his brother Kuran would be the easiest to convince to join for a reason. Things do not go as planned, however, when, much to Hibaru's disappointment, Kuran says that he cannot stay by Hibaru's side. Shocked by this, Hibaru questions Kuran only to discover that his tenth adopted brother is no longer in charge of Ikebukuro and the Sanmenroppi.

Continuing the long string of changes to the status quo, when the meteor struck, it granted one of his most despicable brothers, and the one with the weakest backbone, a very powerful Astro. Kou has an ability called Astro Asura that grants him six hands.. This power was granted to him through a wish he made while holding a lighter that had what appeared to be a spiritual symbol of six hands surrounding a lotus flower. However, his erratic behavior does not entirely convey the energy of a dangerous enemy.

Is Astro Royale in danger of becoming repetitive?

Hibaru's journey up the ladder may end up being repetitive

Perfect. Because you're the first person I've ever wanted to kill. You coattail brat.

Sincerely, Astro Royale, Chapter 4

Ken Wakui Astro Royale has all the right elements to make it an excellent and popular manga, but there is one aspect that could lead to its failure. That aspect unfortunately lies within its narrative formula. From the very beginning, Astro Royale presents itself as a story about a difficult climb to unite a family after the patriarch passes away. Hibaru's journey to convince each of his siblings to join him without an all-out war seems like a great foundation, but it can also make it very repetitive. Wakui has managed to keep things interesting and while some elements are repeated, there are enough new elements that tip the scales in the manga's favor.

Ultimately, every shonen manga has recurring elements, from fighting to villains returning from the dead to the power of love and family being the solution to apocalyptic problems. Considering all of this, these stories have become iconic and beloved by readers who have become die-hard fans. For now Astro Royale may find Hibaru slowly facing off against each of his brothers, but as long as Wakui's character development and storytelling strategies remain as strong as they have been thus far, then fans will have no real reason to worry. Chapter 4 of Astro Royale builds on the best chapter of the manga and continues to move the story forward while exploring the fascinating world created by Ken Wakui.

Astro Royale Chapter 5 will be released on Monday, May 18, 2024.