Mutsu (陸奥 Mutsu) is one of the few male Sekirei in the series.
Appearance
Mutsu is a tall Sekirei with messy silver colored hair and grey eyes. He is equipped with a sword. His outfit consists of black pants and a long sleeved shirt of the same color. The shirt is open in the front, stopping just a few inches below his solar plexus, with crisscrossing bands of leather forming an 'X' (much like Kazehana's). The sleeves near his shoulders has a single band around them. Sitting almost lazily on his waist is a belt that looks more like an accessory than an actually functioning one. It sits slightly askew, the left side riding lower on his hip than the right, and the ends are tied together by a leather string. The only other distinguishing features about his clothing is the black fingerless gloves he wears, and the orange scarf he wraps around his neck and shoulders.
Personality
He is a composed and calm Sekirei who has been shown to be capable of judging situations carefully and acting immediately based on precise judgment, as seen when he instantly retreats against the will of his Ashikabi during the hunt for Homura when the East (Higa's forces) appear[1] or when Yukari wings Shiina.[2] Miya described him as someone that was "hard to keep a hold of" and expressed her surprise that he has become Mikogami's Sekirei.[3] When Homura mentions that he was on the First Generation Disciplinary Squad during their encounter after Minato's match, Mutsu dryly wishes Homura good luck with the 'Hannya', 'the alcoholic', and 'the pervert', referring to Miya, Kazehana, and Matsu respectively. He is seen to show some fatherly character traits towards Mikogami such as sending him to bed at a reasonable time or reminding him to properly dry his hair.[4]
Abilities and Powers
Earth-based Powers and Swordsmanship: Mutsu specializes in swordsmanship similarly to Miya and Karasuba. It is shown that when the edge of his scabbarded sword touches the ground, it causes a small-scale earthquake to occur, tearing apart the ground in front of him.
Equipment
Mutsu with his sword
- Sword: In battle, Mutsu uses an uchigatana contained in a simple black scabbard adorned with purple diamond-like patterns near the hilt. Often times he simply chooses to wield the sword in a similar fashion to a staff via swinging it while still scabbarded, and parrying incoming attacks in the same manner. Only against formidable opponents such as Karasuba will he unsheathe the sword and wield it in a more traditional fashion. While using the sword for earth-based attacks, Mutsu will usually keep it sheathed.
History
He was once a member of the First Generation Disciplinary Squad and participated in defending Kamikura Island, but for unknown reasons he left the Squad and vanished. Some time later he was "called" by Mikogami, reacted over a large distance to him, and came to the capital in search for his Ashikabi. He found Mikogami during a one-sided fight with thugs who were trying to rob him. He didn't want to fight in MBI's territory but he quickly defended Mikogami and became his Sekirei regardless.[6]
Synopsis
Hayato approaches Shiina and Yukari with Mutsu in order to wing the young Sekirei, however he is repelled after Yukari smashes him in the head with a bottle, and later wings Shiina herself. Hayato's next major appearance comes during the free-for-all hunt for the last unwinged Sekirei-Homura, which he engages in after receiving a text/email from Minaka along with all the other Ashikabi. Hayato elects to send Akitsu into battle while he brings up the rear with Mutsu. Mutsu calls an audible after observing Higa's Sekirei arriving at the scene with Kakizaki in order to keep Hayato safe, leading to Akitsu pulling out as well before she can defeat Homura or Uzume.
Hayato resurfaces during the Third Stage of the Sekirei Plan, matched up against Seo and Sanada in a three-way Sekirei and Ashikabi battle based around being the first team to retrieve a Jinki. Hayato has Mitsuki and Himeko attack Hibiki, Hikari, and two members of the Lovelies trio so that Taki and himself can pursuit the Jinki with the aid of Taki's fog. He is beaten to the Jinki by Shijime, who then drops it down to him by accident, and Mitsuki in turn secures Hayato against a nasty fall with her wires.
After Minato wins the third match of the Third Stage, Hayato appears with Akitsu and Mutsu to prevent Uzume from attacking and stealing his Jinki for Higa, claiming to hate those who break the rules of the game/Plan. He also makes it clear to Minato that he dislikes him for what happened in the first Stage and that intervening on his behalf was something Hayato did out of dislike for Higa's tactics.
During Higa's second attack on Izumo Inn, Mikogami intervenes and arrives on the scene aided by Taki, laying into Higa about violating the rules of the plan to suit his professional needs and how shallow Higa has become in his aims and path in life. He eventually forces Higa to back down and leaves the scene himself.
When the Fourth Stage of the Plan begins, Hayato travels to Kamikura Island alongside his Sekirei, and places his Jinki into a matching receptacle in order to circumvent the localized anti-Ashikabi effects. This leads him and his Sekirei into a match against Sanada and his Sekirei. Yuna, Hatae, and Chiyo arrive after the two banter back and forth, terminating all of Hayato's Sekirei apart from Akitsu, Mutsu, and Himeko. Moved by Mikogami's sincerity and the revelation of the depth of his feelings for her after he states that his Sekirei mean a great deal to him and that he doesn't want to lose anyone else, Akitsu's Sekirei crest begins to glow and then disappears. After her crest disappears, a warm sensation spreads through Akitsu's entire body; she's finally ready to be winged, and Mikogami obliges. Mutsu blasts a hole into the earth to save Hayato, himself, Himeko, and the Lovelies from the effects of Akitsu's Norito. While navigating around the Sekirei ship, Minaka tells Mutsu and Hayato that the ship's systems are damaged, allowing for hostile forces to move in if they so wished. Mikogami later pledges to help Sanada when he is captured by the hostile forces. After suceeding, Mutsu tells Hayato about this concept of the Ashikabi core. After talking things over with Sanada and Minato, he agrees to the plan of having Ku use her Norito. Mitsuki, Taki, and several other fallen Sekirei awaken and find themselves in a bright dream-like grassland. They also find themselves in the midst of invading soldiers, who they quickly disarm and disperse. As they try to regain their bearings Mikogami rushes to them, closely followed by Mutsu. Mikogami is overcome with emotion at being reunited with his lost friends, especially Akitsu, and swears he will never let them be terminated again. He is later incapcitated before Musubi and Minato travel to Kouten to take on Miya. After the plan is over, he travels the world to deepen his bonds with his Sekirei, and also assists in another battle at Kamikura in the epilogue chapters.
Quotes
Anime and Manga differences
- In the anime he is shown using his sword in an anime-only fight against Karasuba, but was unable to defeat her, and barely held her off. When Karasuba retreats, and Mikogami wonders why he isn't going after her, Mutsu says "It's pointless to fight someone like her".