Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning

Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning (Japanese: テンプレート:日本語, Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna) is a Japanese manga series written by Kyo Shirodaira and illustrated by Eita Mizuno. Initially serialized by Enix and later by Square Enix, the series ran in Monthly Shōnen Gangan from 1999 to 2005, spanning 15 tankōbon volumes. The story centers on Ayumu Narumi, a high school student, as he investigates the enigmatic Blade Children—gifted individuals with cat-like eyes and the absence of a seventh rib bone, who are said to be cursed.

A prequel, Spiral: Alive, also created by Shirodaira and Mizuno, was serialized in Gangan Wing and later Monthly Shōnen Gangan from April 2004 to June 2008, culminating in five collected volumes.

In North America, Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning was initially licensed for English publication by Tokyopop, but the company discontinued the series. Yen Press subsequently acquired the rights and released the first volume in October 2007.

The series was adapted into a 25-episode anime television series, which aired on TV Tokyo from October 1, 2002, to March 25, 2003. The anime was licensed in Region 1 by Funimation, which distributed it on DVD and broadcast it on the Funimation Channel, as well as on the Colours TV programming block in 2006. Additionally, the franchise expanded into four light novels and a series of CD dramas.

Plot

Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning

Two years prior to the start of the series, Ayumu Narumi’s older brother, Kiyotaka, a renowned detective and pianist, vanishes without a trace. Before disappearing, Kiyotaka makes a cryptic phone call to Ayumu, leaving him with a single clue: “Blade Children.” Now a high school freshman, Ayumu becomes entangled in a series of murders and mysterious incidents, all connected to the enigmatic Blade Children. With the help of his school’s journalist, Hiyono Yuizaki, and his sister-in-law, Madoka, Ayumu works to uncover the truth behind the Blade Children and their goals.

The Blade Children are at the heart of the mystery. They are cursed individuals pursued by the Hunters, an organization that seeks to destroy them. Identified by their cat-like eyes (though some lack this trait) and the absence of their seventh right rib, the Blade Children’s origins and purpose are shrouded in secrecy. As Ayumu interacts with five key Blade Children—Kousuke Asazuki, Rio Takeuchi, Eyes Rutherford, Ryoko Takamachi, and Kanone Hilbert—he is tested repeatedly. Over time, the Blade Children come to believe that Ayumu possesses the potential to “save” them, as Kiyotaka once predicted.

The anime adaptation follows the story up to the sixth volume of the manga, comparing the Blade Children to cuckoo birds, creatures that are left in the nests of other birds and grow increasingly dangerous with age. The manga extends the story, delving into Ayumu’s discoveries about the Blade Children’s origins, their connection to Kiyotaka, and the reasons behind Kiyotaka’s belief in Ayumu’s role as their savior.

Thirty years earlier, a man named Yaiba Mizushiro was born missing a rib on his right side, much like the Blade Children. A prodigy, Yaiba founded a secretive and powerful organization. Out of boredom, he launched the “Blade Children Project,” using his DNA to create 80 genetically modified children, each marked by the removal of a rib at birth. These Blade Children inherited Yaiba’s genius but were also cursed to one day lose their self-will and become murderous avatars of Yaiba’s ambition.

Yaiba’s organization fractured into three factions over the Blade Children:

• The Savers: Supporters of Yaiba’s goals, they sought to protect the Blade Children after Yaiba’s death.
• The Watchers: Neutral observers who aimed to study the Blade Children and their development.
• The Hunters: Opponents of Yaiba, they sought to eliminate the Blade Children to prevent their potential danger.

At 36, Yaiba was killed by Kiyotaka Narumi, who became Yaiba’s counterforce. While Yaiba sought destruction, Kiyotaka worked to preserve the balance, fighting to protect the Blade Children from the Hunters and contain the ambitions of the Savers.

Eventually, Ayumu confronts his own counterpart, Hizumi Mizushiro, Yaiba’s younger brother and the one destined to awaken the Blade Children’s violent tendencies. Through his friendship with Hizumi and growing confidence in his own abilities, Ayumu comes to embrace his role as the Blade Children’s savior, leading to a final confrontation that determines their fate.

Spiral: Alive

Spiral: Alive follows Imari Sekiguchi, a girl in love with Shirou Sawamura, an aspiring detective. Before she can confess her feelings, Shirou unexpectedly leaves school to pursue Kiyotaka Narumi. Unbeknownst to Shirou, his girlfriend, Yukine Amanae, is a reluctant murderer. As Imari and Shirou grow closer to uncovering Yukine’s secrets, they become entangled in events connected to the Blade Children.

Toru Saiki, a police investigator, begins probing a series of murders linked to Yukine but refuses to involve Kiyotaka, whom he views as a dangerous figure. The lives of Imari, Shirou, and Saiki intersect as they unravel mysteries surrounding the Blade Children and the shadowy factions pursuing them.

The series reveals that of the 80 original Blade Children, 13 have vanished from the records of the Hunters, Savers, and Watchers. These disappearances were orchestrated by a neutral party, who committed suicide after ensuring the erasure of these individuals. The only surviving record of their existence is the Mikanagi File, created by Professor Isabel Mikanagi, who masterminded their removal. After her death, the file was passed to Yukine’s parents. Following their deaths at the hands of a Hunter, Yukine became the sole bearer of the file’s secrets, stored entirely in her memory.

Returning characters from the original series include Kiyotaka, Kousuke, Ryoko, Kanone, and Madoka, further tying the prequel to the overarching mystery of the Blade Children.

Main characters

Ayumu Narumi

The protagonist of Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning, Ayumu is a reserved and introspective high school student with exceptional intelligence. He struggles with self-doubt, stemming from the belief that he cannot surpass his older brother, Kiyotaka, a renowned detective and pianist. Despite his insecurities, Ayumu is a skilled pianist and an excellent cook. He shares a deep bond with his sister-in-law, Madoka, and once harbored feelings for her but let them go after her marriage to Kiyotaka. Throughout the series, Ayumu is portrayed as the Blade Children’s sole hope for salvation, with Kiyotaka emphasizing that Hiyono is the most important person in Ayumu’s life.

Hiyono Yuizaki

Hiyono is the cheerful and energetic school journalist who serves as Ayumu’s loyal sidekick. Her quick wit and resourcefulness often come in handy, though her confidence sometimes borders on arrogance. The polar opposite of Ayumu, Hiyono is extroverted and provides much of the series’ comic relief. She is a skilled hacker with access to an extensive network of resources and frequently uses blackmail to achieve her goals. Hiyono’s faith in Ayumu never wavers, and she shows unwavering loyalty and belief in his abilities. However, it is revealed later in the series that Hiyono is a spy planted by Kiyotaka to assist Ayumu. She has also lied about her age, being older than she initially claimed.

Eyes Rutherford

Eyes is a 17-year-old world-class pianist and a member of the Blade Children. Part English, he debuted as a pianist at the age of 14 and is known for his stoic demeanor and unwavering loyalty to Kiyotaka. Eyes is deeply committed to the survival of the Blade Children, often taking on a leadership role among them. He views Ayumu as Kiyotaka’s successor and has great faith in his abilities. Eyes keeps many secrets about the Blade Children and their mysterious origins, making him a key figure in their struggle for survival.

Kanone Hilbert

Kanone is a Blade Child with a dual personality, capable of being charming and kind but also manipulative and ruthless. Once close friends with Eyes Rutherford, their relationship soured over differing views on the Blade Children’s fate. Kanone believes their situation is hopeless and works with the Hunters to destroy those who give false hope. Over time, he regains his sanity and begins to believe in Ayumu’s potential to save the Blade Children. Tragically, Kanone is killed by Hizumi Mizushiro, but not before urging Ayumu to use his death as a turning point. Kanone is also a master fighter who trained many of the Blade Children in combat.

Hizumi Mizushiro

Hizumi is a manga-exclusive character and the “younger brother” of Yaiba Mizushiro. He serves as Ayumu’s counterpart, embodying traits that are opposite to Ayumu’s. Charismatic and outwardly friendly, Hizumi hides his manipulative and sinister nature beneath a cheerful facade. While he initially bonds with Ayumu, Hizumi’s true personality reveals a lonely and desperate individual consumed by despair. He becomes a formidable adversary to Ayumu, representing a significant challenge in the latter part of the series. Main Characters

Ayumu Narumi

The protagonist of Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning, Ayumu is a reserved and introspective high school student with exceptional intelligence. He struggles with self-doubt, stemming from the belief that he cannot surpass his older brother, Kiyotaka, a renowned detective and pianist. Despite his insecurities, Ayumu is a skilled pianist and an excellent cook. He shares a deep bond with his sister-in-law, Madoka, and once harbored feelings for her but let them go after her marriage to Kiyotaka. Throughout the series, Ayumu is portrayed as the Blade Children’s sole hope for salvation, with Kiyotaka emphasizing that Hiyono is the most important person in Ayumu’s life.

Hiyono Yuizaki

Hiyono is the cheerful and energetic school journalist who serves as Ayumu’s loyal sidekick. Her quick wit and resourcefulness often come in handy, though her confidence sometimes borders on arrogance. The polar opposite of Ayumu, Hiyono is extroverted and provides much of the series’ comic relief. She is a skilled hacker with access to an extensive network of resources and frequently uses blackmail to achieve her goals. Hiyono’s faith in Ayumu never wavers, and she shows unwavering loyalty and belief in his abilities. However, it is revealed later in the series that Hiyono is a spy planted by Kiyotaka to assist Ayumu. She has also lied about her age, being older than she initially claimed.

Eyes Rutherford

Eyes is a 17-year-old world-class pianist and a member of the Blade Children. Part English, he debuted as a pianist at the age of 14 and is known for his stoic demeanor and unwavering loyalty to Kiyotaka. Eyes is deeply committed to the survival of the Blade Children, often taking on a leadership role among them. He views Ayumu as Kiyotaka’s successor and has great faith in his abilities. Eyes keeps many secrets about the Blade Children and their mysterious origins, making him a key figure in their struggle for survival.

Kanone Hilbert

Kanone is a Blade Child with a dual personality, capable of being charming and kind but also manipulative and ruthless. Once close friends with Eyes Rutherford, their relationship soured over differing views on the Blade Children’s fate. Kanone believes their situation is hopeless and works with the Hunters to destroy those who give false hope. Over time, he regains his sanity and begins to believe in Ayumu’s potential to save the Blade Children. Tragically, Kanone is killed by Hizumi Mizushiro, but not before urging Ayumu to use his death as a turning point. Kanone is also a master fighter who trained many of the Blade Children in combat.

Hizumi Mizushiro

Hizumi is a manga-exclusive character and the “younger brother” of Yaiba Mizushiro. He serves as Ayumu’s counterpart, embodying traits that are opposite to Ayumu’s. Charismatic and outwardly friendly, Hizumi hides his manipulative and sinister nature beneath a cheerful facade. While he initially bonds with Ayumu, Hizumi’s true personality reveals a lonely and desperate individual consumed by despair. He becomes a formidable adversary to Ayumu, representing a significant challenge in the latter part of the series.

Media

Manga

Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning was serialized by Enix in Monthly Shōnen Gangan magazine from 1999 to 2005, and collected in 15 Template:Transl. The manga was licensed in North America in 2005 by Tokyopop, with the first volume initially scheduled for release October 2005. The series was never published and Tokyopop dropped the license. The license was later acquired by Yen Press in 2007. Yen Press released the first volume in October 2007, releasing the remaining volumes quarterly, with the final volume in April 2011.

Spiral: Alive, a prequel and spin off of the original series, also written by Shirodaira and illustrated by Mizuno, began publishing in the May 2001 issue of Gangan Wing. In 2006, the series moved to Monthly Shōnen Gangan, where it ended in June 2008. It has been collected in five bound volumes.

Anime

Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning was adapted as a 25-episode anime television series by TV Tokyo with production by J.C.Staff. It adapts the first six volumes of the manga, with a different ending. It was directed by Shingo Kaneko with music by Akira Mitake and character designs by Yumi Nakayama. The series was broadcast from October 1, 2002, to March 25, 2003, and released on nine DVDs between December 18, 2002, and August 27, 2003.

The opening theme was "Kibouhou" ("Cape of Hope") by Strawberry Jam, and the ending theme was "Kakuteru" ("Cocktail") by Hysteric Blue. There was also an insert song, "Twinkle My Heart" by Mitake Akira, which is sung by the character Hiyono Yuizaki. Piano music used during the series includes Jeux d’eau by Maurice Ravel (episode 3), Liebestraume No. 3 by Franz Liszt (played in concert by Eyes Rutherford in episode 13), Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude by Liszt (episode 21; in the manga, this is a significant piece of music for Eyes and Kanone Hilbert), and Arabesque No. 1 by Claude Debussy (episode 25). A soundtrack album was released March 19, 2003.

The series is licensed in Region 1 by Funimation, which has released it on six DVDs and as a box set. Funimation also aired the series, in dubbed format, in the Funimation Channel programming block on Colours TV from June 19, 2006, until August 22, 2006.

Reception

The manga and anime adaptation have been praised for their creation of suspense and good mystery stories. Although the manga has received slight criticism for its blatant display of sexual content.

See also

• In/Spectre, another manga series written by Kyo Shirodaira

External links

• Template:Ann
• Spiral at Yen Press
• Spiral at Funimation
• Spiral at Aniplex Template:In lang