[TheRaizin]

Disappointingly, I think the magazine scans actually point to Kento just being in a coma. He's not much any closer to being a bad guy, I think. Kenzan has a chance tho what with the "heel turn".

I kinda actually like Mei here too. She showcases another emotion other than "poggers", being genuinely upset at Kento.

Edit: rewatching with subs and VoidinToku's opinion about the characters not being fully established yet kinda makes emotional scenes like this have little in impact. It was a sad scene but with the notion that he'll just be in a coma (I think magazine scans said that), Kento's 'death' scene is hard to swallow. Altho, there might still be room for him to be "Dead" dead, what with Touma saying something about "You sacrificed people! And even Kento!"

Rintaro's injury actually has more weight, despite his "I'm an orphan" backstory just being dumped to Kento out of nowhere, but it does contextualize his personality throughout the show. He's sheltered, doesn't know much of earthly culture, and very kind to people since only SOL was there for him. And his injury actually lasts till next episode, which is cool.

Kento was also dumb here (which is kinda in-character for him) since he knows that taking on Calibur alone is useless since the three of them barely managed to beat Calibur on his base form. Even kept his plans to everyone a secret, except Touma. His only hint was the "place where we made the promise" and even then it banks on Touma actually regaining that memory, otherwise Touma might not have been able to find him. Ren dum dum too for not checking if Kento was actually with him the whole time, he also looks better when he's not smiling like a psycho lmao.

It's an okay episode, but not fully earned since we know little of SOL. Tho, that might helped with the Swordsman biographies, maybe.