History VisualNovel / TogainuNoChi

%%* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler:Nano]], especially in Shiki's route and his own.

* {{Yandere}}: [[spoiler:Keisuke as a result of not having his feelings toward Akira being acknowledged as well as the effects of Rein making him insane. Whether he snaps out of it or not depends on the route. In the anime though, he snaps out of it and reverts back to his normal self]].

** In the anime, [[spoiler:Takeru bit the dust first via Keisuke and later, Gwen is killed by Emma, and Emma killed by Nano. Keisuke seems to subvert this trope often despite having the lowest chance of surviving, although by Episode 11 he is killed by Shiki when he tries to protect Akira. As of Episode 12, Nano is dead. The only survivors are Akira, Rin, Motomi and Shiki. The fate of Arbito and his thugs are unknown as the last time we see them, they were still stuck in Toshima]].

%%* AssShove: Happens to poor, poor [[spoiler:Akira]]. With screwdrivers. Yeesh.
%%* AxCrazy: [[spoiler:Keisuke]], after a massive dosage of Rein.
%%* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler:Keisuke]].
%%* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Nano]] in Episode 10.

%%** The anime (mostly) follows [[spoiler:Keisuke]]'s final bad ending, albeit with [[RandomEventsPlot various aspects of other routes chucked in Just Because]], so this is only to be expected.

* BlackBlood: Inverted with a vengeance in the AnimatedAdaptation. Since blood plays such an important role in the story, the anime emphasizes it by making it so bright red that it ''glows''.

%%** The [=PS2=] port is cleaned up considerably.

** Same happened to the anime to the point that entire sequences completely lost any sort of coherence. Apparently, [[spoiler:Keisuke]] beat and kidnapped Akira just to have a nice conversation with him.
%%** An extremely similar situation also happened in [[spoiler: Motomi's]] route in the game.

%%* BodyHorror: Arbitro's modifications on his slaves.

* BoysLove: This is only to be expected, since Nitro+[=CHiRAL=] is the branch of Nitroplus that focuses on this trope as its main genre.
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler:Akira]] in Arbitro's BadEnd, where he becomes a second Kau. Remember, kids: don't accept food from crazy masked men with weird fetishes.
* BreakTheCutie:
** Akira goes through a lot of crap in the series (anime and game). It officially started when Keisuke [[spoiler:injected Rein]] and it seemed to have ended [[spoiler:when Keisuke went back to normal after drinking Akira's blood.]] However he might have [[DespairEventHorizon officially been broken]] when in the anime [[spoiler:Keisuke is killed by Shiki]].
** Also what mainly happens on [[spoiler:Shiki's]] route, intentionally. Though to be fair, he was already in a HeroicBSOD even before [[spoiler:Shiki took him captive]].

%%* CainAndAbel: Rin is the Cain to [[spoiler:Shiki's]] Abel. Unfortunately for Rin, it's [[CurbStompBattle not working out so well...]]

%%* CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler:Nice going, Akira]].
%%* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Keisuke and Motomi again.
%%* {{Cute Kitten}}s: Some cats show up in Nano's route.

%%* DeathSeeker: Rin after [[CurbStompBattle he is humiliated by Shiki]]. Akira snaps him out of it.

* DiedInYourArmsTonight: In the anime [[spoiler:Keisuke]] dies in Akira's arms after Shiki almost cuts him in half. Also happens in the game to the same character in Nano's route.
%%* DoggedNiceGuy: Keisuke [[spoiler:until he injects Rein into himself and goes FromNobodyToNightmare]].
* DubInducedPlotHole: Somewhere between volumes 4 and 5 of the Tokyopop edition of the manga, the translators noticed that the character they'd been calling "Nicole Prumier" was actually supposed to be "Nicole Premier". Since this was [[MeaningfulName plot-relevant]], they had to change it mid-story.
* DuringTheWar: The opening states [[WorldWarIII The Third Division]] is responsible for the CrapsackWorld the story takes place in. However, this isn't touched on again until very late in individual character routes, and isn't mentioned in some adaptations.
* DyingDeclarationOfLove: Subverted. [[spoiler:Keisuke]] came close to confessing his feelings just before he died. Instead, he just tells Akira that he's sorry for all the trouble he caused.
%%* {{Dystopia}}

%%* {{Eroge}}: A rather violent one, at that.
%% * EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace
%%* EtTuBrute: [[spoiler:Emma to Gwen]].
%%* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Akira, especially in the anime.

%%* EvilRedhead: Emma.

%%** Akira also prefers dying over losing his dignity.

%%* TheGlomp: Rin towards Akira.

%%* HeIsAllGrownUp: [[spoiler:Rin's]] ending.
%%* HemoErotic: Some of the more deranged characters.

%%* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Akira's and Keisuke's fight in Episode 9.
%%* InASingleBound: Nano.
* InformedAbility:
** Akira is supposedly a good fighter, but in the anime he is more often than not getting his ass kicked. Then again, most of the people he goes up against are ''really'' tough ''and' use [[PsychoSerum Rein]]. So [[CurbStompBattle ass-kicking is imminent]].
** Averted in the game and manga where Akira can curb-stomp normal Igra participants, stand his own against [[spoiler: Rein-addicted Takeru and Keisuke]] and only has trouble against [[PsychopathicManchild Gunji]], [[BloodKnight Kiriwar]], and [[ImplacableMan Shiki]].

%%* PowerOfTrust: Plays a big role in Rin's route, especially near the end.

%%* RapeAsDrama

* StepfordSmiler: Keisuke in Episode 5, where he smiles at Akira despite it being clear he is disturbed by what Akira had done. Naturally, Akira [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech calls him out on it.]]
%%** Rin could count, though instead of depression he mainly wants to kill Shiki out of vengeance.
%%* SurvivorGuilt: Rin, after [[spoiler:Shiki]] killed his teammates.

%%* TheTease: Rin.
* TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: The story takes place within Toshima, which is formerly known as Tokyo before the third World War.

* UncannyFamilyResemblance: In Rin's TimeSkip ending, he's essentially Shiki with a PaletteSwap.

%%* WhiteShirtOfDeath: [[spoiler: Poor Keisuke]].

* WorldWarIII: Starts before the game storyline causing Japan to be split into two zones. Although the game takes place during the war, this is hardly mentioned until the end.

** Shiki likes Akira's eyes as well, but for [[YouGotSpunk completely different reasons]].

* YouGotSpunk: Shiki becomes interested in Akira when he doesn't run, scream, or beg for his life like other participants. On his route, this doesn't end well for Akira.

Set in a Japan that has been ravaged and divided by a [[Main/WorldWarIII third World War]], Akira suddenly finds himself accused of a murder he never committed and is sent to jail. He is then approached by a mysterious one-armed woman named Emma, who offers him a deal: in exchange for his freedom, he will participate in a BloodSport competition taking place in the city of Toshima called Igra. The rules are simple; collect dog tags from other competitors by beating them in brawls. The one who collects the right tags gets to face off against Il-Re, the supposed undefeated champion of Toshima.

Set in a Japan that has been ravaged and divided by a [[Main/WorldWarIII third World War]], one day, Akira suddenly finds himself accused of a murder he never committed and is sent to jail. He is then approached by a mysterious one-armed woman named Emma, who offers him a deal: in exchange for his freedom, he will participate in a BloodSport competition taking place in the city of Toshima called Igra. The rules are simple; collect dog tags from other competitors by beating them in brawls. The one who collects the right tags gets to face off against Il-Re, the supposed undefeated champion of Toshima.

When Akira is accused of murder and sent to jail, he is approached by a mysterious one-armed woman named Emma. Emma has a deal for him; in exchange for his freedom, he will participate in a BloodSport competition taking place in the city of Toshima called Igra. The rules are simple; collect dog tags from other competitors by beating them in brawls. The one who collects the right tags gets to face off against Il-Re, the supposed undefeated champion of Toshima.

** Since this series is rather dark and violent, expect a lot of people to die. The route in the game and the choices you make determines how many of the characters are alive at the end. [[spoiler:Motomi]] is the only character who never dies, or at least no proof is given of his death.

* AppliedPhlebotinum: Rein, a drug from an unknown source which can significantly (albeit temporarily) increase the physical and mental capabilities of the user.

%%* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: [[spoiler:Nano towards Akira]].

* BittersweetEnding: In one ending of Shiki's route, [[spoiler:he successfully defeats Nano with his katana, but then loses all motivation to live and ends up like a doll. Akira decides to stay with Shiki despite this and protects him from all the people who wants him dead,]] and that's the ''GoodEnding''. Although the end of the drama CD implies [[spoiler:that Shiki is starting to regain consciousness]].

* BlackAndGrayMorality: At first, the story appears to be the ExcusePlot of Akira being sent to Igra to kill Il-Re, while violence and sex ensues. Later, we find out that the factions involved (the Military, Vishico and some individuals) are at battle with each other, over Rein and its source, and every side has questionable motives which do not take the protagonist or other individuals into consideration.
* BlackBlood: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]. Since blood plays such an important role in the story, the anime emphasizes it by making it so bright red that it ''glows''.

* BoysLove: The PC visual novel. Some adaptations remove elements of BL.

** Or knife, rather. While it may not seem that important besides being Akira's weapon, it plays a vital role in his relationship with Nano if the latter's route is taken.
** Before going into Toshima, Akira is given a phone so he can keep in contact with Emma. [[spoiler:Turns out there's a tracking device in it]].

%%* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: Akira to [[spoiler:Motomi]].

* PsychoSerum: Rein, which causes increased strength and speed along with occasional raving homicidal insanity. It's self-limiting however, as the higher the concentration percentage, the more likely it will kill the user.

* ReflectiveEyes: In the first episode of the anime, there are two separate shots where Shiki and Akira's eyes are reflected in the others.

%%* MysteriousWoman: Emma.

''Togainu no Chi'' (咎狗の血, "Blood of the Reprimanded Dog") is the first BoysLove VisualNovel made by [[Creator/NitroPlus Nitro+CHiRAL]]; it is noteworthy for its violence and dark storyline. It was later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 under the name ''Togainu no Chi: True Blood'' with the adult content taken out and some scenes censored, but containing more endings and a few new characters. One of the several manga adaptations (one which has no BoysLove content) is available in English from Creator/{{Tokyopop}}. An official English translation was released in 2020 by Creator/{{JAST}} USA.

!!This game provides examples of:
%%* AloofOlderBrother: [[spoiler:Shiki to Rin]]. Though aloof is still only putting it lightly.

When Akira is accused of murder and sent to jail, he is approached by a mysterious one-armed woman named Emma. Emma has a deal for him; in exchange for his freedom, he will participate in a BloodSport competition taking place in the city of Toshima called Igura. The rules are simple; collect dog tags from other competitors by beating them in brawls. The one who collects the right tags gets to face off against Il-Re, the supposed undefeated champion of Toshima.

* AppliedPhlebotinum: Line, a drug from an unknown source which can significantly (albeit temporarily) increase the physical and mental capabilities of the user.

%%* AxCrazy: [[spoiler:Keisuke]], after a massive dosage of Line.

* BioAugmentation: The Nicole Virus, more commonly known as [[spoiler:Line]], is the result of augmenting a human to become a supersoldier.

* BlackAndGrayMorality: At first, the story appears to be the ExcusePlot of Akira being sent to Igra to kill Il-Re, while violence and sex ensues. Later, we find out that the factions involved (the Military, Vishico and some individuals) are at battle with each other, over Line and its source, and every side has questionable motives which do not take the protagonist or other individuals into consideration.

** Akira goes through a lot of crap in the series (anime and game). It officially started when Keisuke [[spoiler:injected Line]] and it seemed to have ended [[spoiler:when Keisuke went back to normal after drinking Akira's blood.]] However he might have [[DespairEventHorizon officially been broken]] when in the anime [[spoiler:Keisuke is killed by Shiki]].

* CheatedDeathDiedAnyway: The anime adaptation mostly follows Keisuke's route from the visual novel, but includes important scenes from the various other routes. This leads to a jarring sequence of events where [[spoiler:Keisuke gets addicted to Line, nearly bites the bullet, barely overcomes his addiction and returns to his normal self (all from Keisuke's route), and then is abruptly killed while trying to protect Akira from an unrelated threat (taken from Nano's route).]]

%%* CombatSadomasochist: Line users.

* CorruptTheCutie: [[spoiler:Keisuke, thanks to [[KickTheDog Akira's]] [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech rejection]] and [[PsychoSerum Line]], goes from a kind-hearted and timid guy to a sadistic rapist who's {{Yandere}} for Akira]].

%%* DoggedNiceGuy: Keisuke [[spoiler:until he injects Line into himself and goes FromNobodyToNightmare]].

** Akira is supposedly a good fighter, but in the anime he is more often than not getting his ass kicked. Then again, most of the people he goes up against are ''really'' tough ''and' use [[PsychoSerum Line]]. So [[CurbStompBattle ass-kicking is imminent]].
** Averted in the game and manga where Akira can curb-stomp normal Igra participants, stand his own against [[spoiler: line-addicted Takeru and Keisuke]] and only has trouble against [[PsychopathicManchild Gunji]], [[BloodKnight Kiriwar]], and [[ImplacableMan Shiki]].
* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: Right from the get-go, we're shown how much crime in Toshima is sexually-motivated when Akira happens to see an Igura participant raping his dead opponent, and all of Akira's relationships with the love interests directly involved in the game take various shades of this.

** In Keisuke's good ending, [[spoiler:he snaps out of his Line-induced insanity and when he remembers everything he did -- including raping Akira -- he says he will go away if Akira doesn't want to see him again. Thankfully, Akira doesn't want him to leave.]]

%%* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Shiki at the end of the anime, having injected too much Line into his body for anyone to have a chance of physically defeating him.]]

%%** Also, Line users, you'd be forgiven for mistaking them for different characters.

* LickingTheBlade: A lot of [[PsychoSerum Line]] users tend to do this, which signifies their growing bloodlust and insanity.

%%* LoveMartyr: Keisuke starts out looking like one in regards to Akira. [[spoiler:Eventually the dynamic gets flipflopped once he starts taking Line]].

* NeckLift: Nano calmly grabs a Line-addled man by the neck to stop his attack, lifts him, and proceeds to crush his neck. All with only a single hand.
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: Averted on [[spoiler:Keisuke's]] route. Akira figures out his feelings because -- for the first time -- he is completely separated from Keisuke, and not because [[spoiler:he was raped by a Line-addled Keisuke]]. Also, the scene later implies he is still traumatized by what happened before.

* OneDegreeOfSeparation: Akira and Keisuke were both from the same orphanage because [[spoiler:they were both part of the same experiment that created Nano. Working on that experiment was Emma, who framed Akira and sent him to Toshima. Her fellow researchers included Motomi and Arbitro. Arbitro pretty much runs Vischio, which distributes the drug Line (which is made from Nano's blood), but the official boss, Il-Re, is actually Shiki, who is Rin's brother.]]

* PhlebotinumOverload: Taken in large doses, Line can kill its user.

* PsychoSerum: Line, which causes increased strength and speed along with occasional raving homicidal insanity. It's self-limiting however, as the higher the concentration percentage, the more likely it will kill the user.

* SituationalSexuality: A premise of the entire visual novel; there are practically no women in Toshima ''anywhere'' (save, except, for Arbitro's "prizes" for Igura participants, although he prioritizes the grooming of male sex slaves over female ones), and the men who are there have just learned to make do.

** [[spoiler:Shows Keisuke's reflection on a line vial and the blade of a katana and also shows him falling down on the same scene. Which pretty much spells Keisuke's destiny]].

* ToxicPhlebotinum: When Line's effects wear off, the user experiences severe withdrawal symptoms, seemingly proportional to the amount they have had.

* WinYourFreedom: Akira agrees to join Igura and challenge the undefeated champion, Il-Re, in exchange for Emma's promise to drop his murder charge if he wins.

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: If Line is used repeatedly, it will drive the user AxCrazy.

* {{Yandere}}: [[spoiler:Keisuke as a result of not having his feelings toward Akira being acknowledged as well as the effects of Line making him insane. Whether he snaps out of it or not depends on the route. In the anime though, he snaps out of it and reverts back to his normal self]].

* YourHeadAsplode: [[spoiler:Keisuke]] crushes [[spoiler:Takeru's]] skull with his ''bare hands'' after taking Line.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tnc_cover.png]]

* ArmorPiercingSlap: During his route, Motomi gives a good one to Akira when the latter refuses to recover after his [[spoiler: final fight with Keisuke]].
%%** Akira gives one to [[spoiler:Rin]] in his route.

%%* DeathSeeker: Rin after [[CurbStompBattle he is humiliated by Shiki]]. Akira [[ArmorPiercingSlap snaps him out of it]].

** Or knife, rather. While it may not seem that important besides being Akira's WeaponOfChoice, it plays a vital role in his relationship with Nano if the latter's route is taken.

An anime adaptation by Creator/A1Pictures has been aired during the Fall 2010 anime season, the trailer for which can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01OrEoLF1sY here]].

%%* AnimeOfTheGame

* AppliedPhlebotinum: Line, a drug from an unknown source which can largely but temporarily increase the physical and mental capabilities of the user.

* ItsAllMyFault: Akira blames himself for [[spoiler:Keisuke's death]]. So much that he somewhat accepts the treatment [[spoiler:Shiki]] gives him because he believes it's punishment.

%%* LickingTheBlade: A popular display of [[PsychoSerum Line]] users.

%%* MayDecemberRomance: Motomi's route.
* MercyKill: Attempted by Emma to Nano, on the assumption that he will be forced to undergo painful experiments if captured by the government. Instead, [[spoiler:he kills her]].

* NeckLift: Nano calmly grabs a Line-addled man by the neck to stop his attack, lifts him, and proceeds to crush his neck.
%%* NeverTrustATrailer: The final anime is completely different from the trailer. And ''not in a good way''.

* OffModel: The final episode essentially screams "We'll fix this when it comes out on DVD". But maybe we should at least give them credit for [[Creator/StudioShaft airing the episodes on time]].
* OneDegreeOfSeparation: Akira and Keisuke were both from the same orphanage because [[spoiler:they were both part of the same experiment that produced Nano. Working on that experiment was Emma, who sent Akira to Toshima. Her fellow researchers included Motomi and Arbitro. Arbitro pretty much runs Vischio, which distributes the Nano-produced drug Line, but the official boss, Il-Re, is actually Shiki, who is Rin's brother.]]
* OnlyOneName: ''Everyone''. And Nicole Premier doesn't count as an exception, because it's not even [[spoiler:Nano's]] real name in the first place.
* OutlawCouple: In Nano's route, he and Akira become this as they're still pursued by the military even three years after Japan reformed.

%%* PsychopathicManchild: Gunji.

%%* RedEyesTakeWarning: Shiki.

* SingleTargetSexuality: Keisuke reveals in a monologue that Akira is the only person he's ever fallen in love with, and he hasn't experienced the same sort of feelings for other men. Akira does verbally shut this down in the game, however.

** Rin and Shiki are shown back to back. Which pretty much suggests that they have a connection with each other possibly in the past.

* StartOfDarkness: [[KickTheDog Akira's]] TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Keisuke in Episode 5 is what pushes Keisuke over the edge. Enter Episode 6 [[spoiler:with him hopped up on Line and massacring a whole bar of people within the ''first five minutes'']].

* StockholmSyndrome: Shiki's route. [[spoiler:Somewhere during this route, Shiki abducts Akira, takes him to his abandoned apartment, pierces his belly button as a sign of his ownership, and you know what comes next. In fact, Akira tries to leave, but is unable to]].
%%* {{Stripperific}}: Kau's outfit.
%%* TheStoic:
%%** Akira has shades of this, though he mainly falls under NotSoStoic.
%%** Nano.

%%* TeachHimAnger: It didn't go as planned. Akira just wanted to teach Keisuke just how much of a serious situation they were in.

%%* TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: It's renamed as Toshima in this setting, though.

* TragicKeepsake: Akira keeps [[spoiler:Keisuke's tag]] after he's killed.
%%* TyphoidMary:
%%** [[spoiler: Akira, but only to Line users, though apparently, Keisuke is an exception]].
%%** [[spoiler: Nano]] is another example as he carries the [[spoiler: pure source of Line; the Nicole virus]].

''Togainu no Chi'' (咎狗の血, "Blood of the Reprimanded Dog") is the first BoysLoveGame made by [[Creator/NitroPlus Nitro+CHiRAL]]; it is noteworthy for its violence and dark storyline. It was later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 under the name ''Togainu no Chi: True Blood'' with the adult content taken out and some scenes censored, but containing more endings and a few new characters. One of the several manga adaptations (one which has no BoysLove content) is available in English from Creator/{{Tokyopop}}. An official English translation was released in 2020 by Creator/{{JAST}} USA.

''Togainu no Chi'' (咎狗の血, "Blood of the Reprimanded Dog") is the first BoysLoveGame made by [[Creator/NitroPlus nitro+CHiRAL]]; it is noteworthy for its violence and dark storyline. It was later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 under the name ''Togainu no Chi: True Blood'' with the adult content taken out and some scenes censored, but containing more endings and a few new characters. One of the several manga adaptations (one which has no BoysLove content) is available in English from Creator/{{Tokyopop}}. An official English translation was released in 2020 by Creator/{{JAST}} USA.

%%* CryCute: Rin. And [[spoiler: Akira]].

* TasteTheRainbow: As with most BL games. Akira's the sane guy[=/=]audience surrogate, Keisuke's the nice guy, Rin's the young energetic guy, Motomi's the old sensible one, Shiki's the BastardBoyfriend, the Executioners are brutal, Arbitro is the villain with weird fetishes, and Nano's the quiet one with HiddenDepths.

%%* IHaveTheHighGround: Shiki and Nano.

''Togainu no Chi'' (咎狗の血, "Blood of the Reprimanded Dog") is the first BoysLoveGame made by [[Creator/NitroPlus Nitro+CHiRAL]]; it is noteworthy for its violence and dark storyline. It was later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 under the name ''Togainu no Chi: True Blood'' with the adult content taken out and some scenes censored, but containing more endings and a few new characters. One of the several manga adaptations (one which has no BoysLove content) is available in English from Creator/{{Tokyopop}}. An official English translation was released in 2020 by Creator/{{JAST}} USA.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tnc_cover.png]]

''Togainu no Chi'' (咎狗の血, "Blood of the Reprimanded Dog") is the first BoysLoveGame made by [[Creator/NitroPlus Nitro+CHiRAL]]; it is noteworthy for its violence and dark storyline. It was later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 under the name ''Togainu no Chi: True Blood'' with the adult content taken out and some scenes censored, but containing more endings and a few new characters. One of the several manga adaptations (one which has no BoysLove content) is available in English from Creator/{{Tokyopop}}. An official English translation was released in 2020 by JAST USA.

Now has a [[Characters.TogainuNoChi character page.]]

* ALadyOnEachArm: Rin in the scene where he first speaks to Akira and Keisuke.
* AloofOlderBrother: [[spoiler:Shiki to Rin]]. Though aloof is still only putting it lightly.

** In the game, Akira had to travel to Igra by foot, making it possible for Keisuke to follow him but in the anime it was changed to Akira being driven there. This was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in the [[OnTheNext next episode trailer]] with Akira asking Keisuke how he mangaged to get to Igra and [[HandWave Keisuke replying that he was in a daze]].
** In the game, a phone is given to Akira so that he can keep contact with Emma [[spoiler: while it also serves as a transmitting device so he -- and hopefully Nano -- can be found.]] However, nothing like that is given to him in the anime so [[spoiler: how did Emma and Gwen find him?]]

* AnimeOfTheGame
* AnOddPlaceToSleep: At one point, Akira finds Nano sleeping by a tree, even though he's somewhere in the open streets of Toshima.

** Since this series is rather dark and violent, expect a lot of people to die. The route in the game and the choices you make determines how many of the characters are alive at the end.
** In the anime, [[spoiler: Takeru bit the dust first via Keisuke and later, Gwen is killed by Emma, and Emma killed by Nano. Keisuke seems to subvert this trope often despite the fact he has the lowest of surviving, although by episode 11, he is killed by Shiki when he tries to protect Akira]].
** [[spoiler: As of episode 12, Nano is dead. The only survivors are Akira, Rin, Motomi and Shiki. The fate of Arbito and his thugs are unknown as the last time we see them, they were still stuck in Toshima]].
** In the game, [[spoiler: Motomi]] is the only character who never dies. Or at least no proof is given.
* AppliedPhlebotinum:
** Line, a drug from an unknown source which can largely but temporarily increase the physical and mental capabilities of the user.
** PhlebotinumBreakdown and ToxicPhlebotinum: When its effects wear off, the user experiences severe withdrawal symptoms, seemingly proportional to the amount they have had.
** PhlebotinumOverload: Taken in large doses, it can kill its user.
* ArmorPiercingSlap: Akira gives one to [[spoiler: Rin]] in his route. During his route [[spoiler: Motomi]] gives a good one to Akira when the latter refuses to recover after his [[spoiler: final fight with Keisuke]].
* AssShove: Happens to poor, poor [[spoiler: Akira]]. With screwdrivers. [[NightmareFuel Yeesh.]]
* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Keisuke]], after a massive dosage of Line.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: [[spoiler: Nano towards Akira]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler: Keisuke]].
* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Nano]] in episode 10.
* BioAugmentation: The [[spoiler: Nicole Virus]], more commonly known as [[spoiler: Line]], is the result of augmenting a human to become a supersoldier.
* BittersweetEnding:
** [[spoiler: In one ending of Shiki's route, he successfully defeats Nano with his katana, but then loses all motivation to live and ends up like a doll. Akira decides to stay with Shiki despite this and protects him from all the people who wants him dead]] and that's the ''GoodEnding''. Although [[spoiler: the end of the drama CD implies that Shiki is starting to regain consciousness]].
** The anime (mostly) follows [[spoiler:Keisuke]]'s final bad ending, albeit with [[RandomEventsPlot various aspects of other routes chucked in Just Because]], so this is only to be expected.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: At first, the story appears to be the ExcusePlot of Akira being sent to Igra to kill Il-Re, while violence and sex ensues. Later, we find out that the factions involved (the Military, Vishico and some individuals) are at battle with each other, over Line and [[spoiler: its source, Nano]], and every side has questionable motives which do not take the protagonist or other individuals into consideration.

** The [=PS2=] port is cleaned up considerably, and the manga illustrated by Suguro Chayamachi is so thoroughly de-sexed that it's not identifiable as a BoysLove work at all.
*** One of the worst cases in the manga happens with Arbitro. While the anime at least showed his fetishes, the manga ignores this side of him so much, that one has to wonder why everyone calls him "pervert". He's also a bit of a comic relief in this adaptation.
** Same happened to the anime to the point that entire sequences completely lost any sort of coherence. [[spoiler: Apparently, Keisuke beat and kidnapped Akira just to have a nice conversation with him]].
** An extremely similar situation also happened in [[spoiler: Motomi's]] route in the game.
* BloodSplatteredInnocents: Akira getting splattered with [[spoiler:Keisuke's]] blood in episode 11.
* BodyHorror: Arbitro's modifications on his slaves.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler: Akira in Arbitro's BadEnd, where he becomes a second Kau. Remember, kids: don't accept food from crazy masked men with weird fetishes]].

** Akira goes through a lot of crap in the series (anime and game). It officially started when Keisuke [[spoiler: injected Line]] and it seemed to have ended [[spoiler: when Keisuke went back to normal after drinking Akira's blood.]] However he might have [[DespairEventHorizon officially been broken]] when in the anime [[spoiler: Keisuke is killed by Shiki]].
** Also what mainly happens on [[spoiler: Shiki's]] route, intentionally. Though to be fair, he was already in a HeroicBSOD even before [[spoiler: Shiki took him captive]].
* BridalCarry:
** [[spoiler:Nano]] carries an unconscious Akira like this is his route after [[spoiler:Keisuke]] dies.
** Also happens to Akira on [[spoiler:Shiki's]] route in the game.
* ButNotTooGay: Hugs and hand-holding are as far as the anime will let anyone get. It's better than [[HideYourGays the manga]] by a little (if only in that regard) since volume 8 [[spoiler:has a scene in the first chapter explicitly implying rape]], but considering that this is after all a BoysLove series and there's still subtext absolutely everywhere, [[UnfortunateImplications you've gotta wonder what Aniplex was thinking]]. Especially given [[VisualNovel/YosugaNoSora some of the other eroge-based shows that ran this season]].
* CainAndAbel: Rin is the Cain to [[spoiler:Shiki's]] Abel. Unfortunately for Rin, it's [[CurbStompBattle not working out so well...]]

** Or knife, rather. While it may not seem that important besides being Akira's WeaponOfChoice, [[spoiler:it plays a vital role in his relationship with Nano if the latter's route is taken.]]
** Before going into Toshima, Akira is given a phone so he can keep in contact with Emma. [[spoiler: Turns out there's a tracking device in it]].

* {{Chiaroscuro}}: Quite a few of the visual novel's illustrations.

* ClearMyName: The very reason Akira went to Toshima.
* CombatSadomasochist: Line users.
* CompressedAdaptation:
** The anime. Trying to squish plot elements from multiple routes into twelve episodes rarely works out well (especially when all your budget seems to be going towards paying for a new ending song for each episode), and Shiki's fans in particular seem to be unhappy with his lack of appearances and [[spoiler:eventual vilification]].
** PragmaticAdaptation: So as not to neglect any of the boys, the anime follows Keisuke's route [[spoiler:to its bad end]] with a few important scenes from Rin and Motomi's routes tossed in. The last few episodes also append [[spoiler:a particular flashback from Nano's route and one of Shiki's bad ends]], with an original (and poorly-received) epilogue.
* CorruptTheCutie: [[spoiler:Keisuke, thanks to [[KickTheDog Akira's]] [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech rejection]] and [[PsychoSerum Line]]]].
* CrapsackWorld: Courtesy of the [[WorldWarIII Third Division]].
* CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler:Nice going, Akira]].
* CryCute: Rin. And [[spoiler: Akira]].
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Keisuke and Motomi again.
* {{Cute Kitten}}s: Some cats show up in Nano's route.

* DeadlyGame: Igra.[[note]]from the [[Main/GratuitousRussian Russian]] word "игра", meaning "Game".[[/note]]
* DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler:Keisuke's death in the anime feels like this especially after Akira's nifty speech at the end]].
* DeathSeeker: [[spoiler: Rin after [[CurbStompBattle he is humiliated by Shiki]]. Akira [[ArmorPiercingSlap snaps him out of it]]]].
* DespairEventHorizon: Experienced by various characters.
** Akira after [[spoiler: Keisuke dies]].
** Keisuke after Akira unintentionally tells him off for being weak.
** Rin after humiliation by [[spoiler: Shiki]].
* DiedInYourArmsTonight: In the anime [[spoiler: Keisuke dies in Akira's arms after Shiki almost cuts him in half]]. Also happens in the game [[spoiler: to the same character in Nano's route]].
* {{Did Not Get the G|irl}}uy: Akira ends up with nobody at the end of the anime. [[spoiler: Although, Akira's feelings for Keisuke is to be questioned, especially at the end]].
* DoggedNiceGuy: Keisuke [[spoiler:until he injects Line into himself and goes FromNobodyToNightmare]].

* DyingDeclarationOfLove: Subverted. [[spoiler: Keisuke came close to confessing his feelings. Instead, he just tells Akira that he's sorry for all the trouble he caused]].
* {{Dystopia}}

** Keisuke's route. [[spoiler: Because there are multiple bad endings with him and choosing other routes will mean his death, the only GoodEnding is when they escape Toshima and things go back to normal for them, except that this time the two are in a relationship]].

* {{Eroge}}: A rather violent one, at that.

* EtTuBrute: [[spoiler: Emma to Gwen]].
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Akira, especially in the anime.
* EverybodyHasLotsOfSex: In Shiki's ending, [[spoiler: Akira]] goes out of his way to seduce men and let them have their way with him.
* EvilRedhead: Emma.
* {{Expy}}: Admit it, you thought Gwen was [[Franchise/AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]] when you first saw him.
* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler: In the short story, ''Kawaita Mizu'', and Shiki's Drama CD, Akira tells Shiki to kill him when Shiki was having his way with him]].
** Akira also prefers dying over losing his dignity.
* FauxlosophicNarration: Courtesy of Nano in the anime.
* FightClubbing: Bl@ster started out as this.
* ForgottenFirstMeeting: Akira had one [[spoiler:with Nano]] as a child. Justified by the reveal that Akira's childhood memories [[spoiler: were [[LaserGuidedAmnesia erased]] by the scientists at ENED]].
* GetAholdOfYourselfMan: Akira does this to [[spoiler: Rin]] after he saves him from [[spoiler: being killed by Shiki]].
* TheGlomp: Rin towards Akira.
* GoneHorriblyRight: [[spoiler: Nano]].
* GoodEyesEvilEyes: [[spoiler:Keisuke, who had big puppy dog eyes for the first five episodes, now has narrower, crazier eyes after his {{corru|ptTheCutie}}[[StartOfDarkness ption]]. But he gets better after episode 9.]]
* HannibalLecture: Nano does this to Shiki. [[spoiler: In the game, whether Shiki accepts Nano's challenge or not -- and conversely what kind of ending the player gets -- depends of if Akira reminds him of his original goal. Near the end of the drama CD following the good ending, Shiki delivers a ShutUpHannibal to Nano]].
* HappinessInSlavery: Apparently Kau to Arbitro. Also, [[spoiler: Akira to Arbitro in Arbitro's]] bad ending.
** [[spoiler: Arguably, Akira in Shiki's route, at least towards the end]].
* [[SheIsAllGrownUp He Is All Grown Up]]: [[spoiler:Rin's]] ending.
* HemoErotic: Some of the more deranged characters.
* HiddenDepths: Most of the characters appear to have a simple yet sound reason behind their actions. However, the motivations of individual characters are explored in more detail in their individual routes, including their pasts and previous experiences with [[spoiler: Project Nicole]] and the war.

* HoYay: Invoked.
** In practically every episode of the anime. In fact, certain scenes in the anime are even more {{Ho Yay}}-tastic than their ''R18 PC [[YaoiGenre BL game]] counterpart'', probably as compensation for not including certain other scenes.
** Episode 4 goes UpToEleven. Starts out with Keisuke x Akira, then moves right along to Rin x Akira, and then wraps it up with [[FoeYay Shiki x Akira]].
** In Episode 6, it seemed, [[spoiler:Keisuke was going to get what he wanted, but that didn't pan out, either]].
* {{Hypocrite}}: Akira becomes this at the end of the anime series. [[spoiler: When he saves Rin from Shiki, he tells Rin to forget about killing Shiki because it's not worth it. Later on, Shiki kills Keisuke and Akira tries to kill him. [[IronicEcho Rin tells him the same thing.]] Akira doesn't listen to him at the end and returns to Toshima to kill Shiki]].

* IChooseToStay: In [[spoiler: Shiki's]] route, despite hating [[spoiler: Shiki, Akira]] stays with him even when he had many chances to [[spoiler: escape]]. Even [[spoiler: Shiki]] lampshades this in his drama CD.
* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: Akira to [[spoiler: Motomi]].
* IHaveTheHighGround: Shiki and Nano.

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Akira's and Keisuke's fight in episode 9.
* InASingleBound: Nano.

* IronicEcho: In episode 10, Akira saves Rin [[spoiler: after he is almost killed by Shiki and tells him that killing Shiki isn't worth it and he must continue living]]. Come episode 12, [[spoiler: Shiki kills Keisuke and Akira tries to kill him. Rin stops him and says that killing Shiki isn't worth it]].
* ItsAllMyFault: Akira blames himself for [[spoiler: Keisuke's death]]. So much that he [[spoiler: somewhat accepts the treatment Shiki gives him because he believes it's punishment.]]
* ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals: Happens whenever it rains in the PC game, however the only exception to this is [[spoiler: Keisuke's good ending in which he survives Akira's blood]]. Examples:
** [[spoiler: Emma and Gwen get killed after they reveal the truth as to why they really wanted Akira to come to Toshima]].
** [[spoiler: Though Keisuke survives the first round of 'there will be death rain' he doesn't survive it a second time in Nano's ending]].
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: In Keisuke's good ending, he [[spoiler: snaps out of his Line-induced insanity and when he remembers everything he did -- including raping Akira -- he says he will go away if Akira doesn't want to see him again.]] Thankfully, Akira doesn't want him to [[spoiler: leave]].
** Also on Shiki's good ending, as he and Akira are [[spoiler: leaving Toshima, he tells Akira to go where he wants since he knows what's going to happen to him]].
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Shiki at the end of the anime. Despite the fact that Akira comes to kill him, Shiki has already injected too much Line into his body making him extremely powerful so any hope of killing him is out the drain especially since he was able to critically injure Nano]].
* KatanasAreBetter:
** Although Igra participants aren't allowed the usage of firearms, their knives really can't do much against Shiki's katana.
** [[spoiler:Akira at the end of the anime now sports a katana as well]] .
* KillTheCutie: Poor [[spoiler: [[YanktheDogsChain Keisuke]]]].
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler: All the children subjected to experimentation during Project Nicole, including Akira and Keisuke]].
* LaughingMad: Gunji can really sound psychotic at times when he lets loose with laughter. Also, Line users, you'd be forgiven for mistaking them for different characters.
* LeParkour: Rin in episode 4.
* LickingTheBlade: A popular display of [[PsychoSerum Line]] users.
* LighterAndSofter: Arguably, some of the drama [=CDs=], which feature more comedic situations.
* LoveMartyr: Keisuke starts out looking like one in regards to Akira. [[spoiler:Eventually the dynamic gets flipflopped once he starts taking Line]].

* MayDecemberRomance: Motomi's route.
* MercyKill: Attempted [[spoiler: by Emma to Nano, on the assumption that he will be forced to undergo painful experiments if captured by the government. Instead, he kills her]].
* MurderersAreRapists: The Executioners play this straight. Shiki and [[spoiler: Keisuke]] subvert this since [[spoiler: Akira is the only person they rape]].
* [[spoiler: [[MyGirlIsASlut My Boy Is a Slut]]: In one of the Shiki's route finals, Akira seduces men when Shiki is out, and when he's back, Shiki kills them and doesn't blame Akira for his nymphomania]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Akira in episode 8 concerning [[spoiler:Keisuke's fate]].
* MysteriousWoman: Emma.
* NeckLift: Nano calmly grabs a Line-addled man by the neck to stop his attack, lifts him and proceeds to crush his neck.
* NeverTrustATrailer: The final anime is completely different from the trailer. And '''not in a good way'''.
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: Hoo, boy...
** Averted on [[spoiler: Keisuke's]] route. [[spoiler: Akira figures out his feelings because -- for the first time -- he is completely separated from Keisuke. Also, the scene later implies he is still traumatized by what happened before]].
* NotSoDifferentRemark: In the game, Keisuke and Akira acknowledge Nano, despite being emotionless and cruel to those around him, suffer from similar emotional burdens to their own due to [[spoiler: all of them being involved in Project Nicole]].
* OffModel:
** [[http://i56.tinypic.com/if4ku0.jpg Every. Single. Episode.]]
** [[http://i51.tinypic.com/21bocvn.jpg There's worse to come]].
** The final episode essentially screams "We'll fix this when it comes out on DVD". But maybe we should at least give them credit for [[Creator/StudioShaft airing the episodes on time]].
* OneDegreeOfSeparation: [[spoiler: Akira and Keisuke were both from the same orphanage because they were both part of the same experiment that produced Nano. Working on that experiment was Emma, who sent Akira to Toshima. Her fellow researchers included Motomi and Arbitro. Arbitro pretty much runs Vischio, which distributes the Nano-produced drug Line, but the official boss, Il-Re, is actually Shiki, who is Rin's brother.]]
* OnlyOneName: ''Everyone''. [[spoiler: And Nicole Premier doesn't count as an exception, because it's not even Nano's real name in the first place]].
* OutlawCouple: [[spoiler: In Nano's route, he and Akira become this as they're still pursued by the military even three years after Japan reformed]].
* OutWithABang: [[spoiler: Akira, in Keisuke]]'s worst ending.
* PetTheDog: Shiki's route contains a few of these. [[spoiler: After their last sex scene, Shiki surprises Akira by kissing him. Afterwards, he asks for Akira's name]].
* PowerOfTrust: Plays a big role in Rin's route, especially near the end.

* PsychopathicManchild: Gunji.

* RapeAsDrama
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Shiki.
* ReflectiveEyes: In the first episode of the anime, there are two separate shots where Shiki and Akira's eyes are reflected in the other's.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge:
** Akira towards Shiki for [[spoiler:Keisuke's death]] at the end of the anime.
** This is also [[spoiler: Rin's reason for coming to Toshima; to avenge his fallen team mates by killing Shiki]].
* SadisticChoice: If Akira [[spoiler: lets go of Takeru's hand and goes right, he'll run into Kiriwar, get raped, and killed. Going left will result in a run-in with Gunji who will do the same thing]]. Pick your poison.
* {{Scandalgate}}: Somehow, this series got caught up in "LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}gate", as it was temporarily pulled off of ANN's servers as a result of the leakage of episode 2 of Oreimo.
* SceneryGorn: Wouldn't be a Nitro product without it! Also DUTCH ANGLES DUTCH ANGLES EVERY GODDAMN WHERE.

* SexIsViolence: Shiki's preferred method of pummeling Akira into submission.
* SexSlave: Arbitro likes to produce these. Also, [[spoiler: Akira to Shiki in one of the latter's route]].
* ShoutOut: In the Background CG of [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EYMDXg3X0AAuevX?format=jpg&name=4096x4096 Motomi's bar]], you can spot [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EYMDai8XQAEeFhl?format=jpg&name=4096x4096 a film still]] of ''Film/DeathInVenice'' in the wall.
* ShutUpHannibal: At the end of his drama CD, [[spoiler: Shiki delivers one to Nano]].

* SingleTargetSexuality: Keisuke to Akira. Akira does verbally shut this down in the game, however.
* SissyVillain: Arbitro swishes about in a feather boa, has many sadistic fixations, collects statues of naked young boys....

* SnowMeansDeath: In episode 12, snow starts falling. [[spoiler: Later, it shows all the dead bodies in Toshima including Nano]].

** [[spoiler: Rin and Shiki are shown back to back. Which pretty much suggests that they have a connection with each other possibly in the past]].
** [[spoiler: Shows Keisuke's reflection on a line vial and the blade of a katana and also shows him falling down on the same scene. Which pretty much spells Keisuke's destiny]].
* StartOfDarkness: [[spoiler:[[KickTheDog Akira's]] WhatTheHellHero / TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Keisuke in episode 5 is what pushes Keisuke over the edge. Enter episode 6 with him massacring a whole bar of people within the ''first five minutes'']].
* StepfordSmiler:
** Keisuke has shades of this in episode 5 where he smiles at Akira despite it being clear he is disturbed by what Akira had done. Naturally, Akira [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech calls him out on it.]]
** [[spoiler: Rin could count as a Type A, though instead of depression he mainly wants to kill Shiki out of vengeance]].
* StockholmSyndrome: Shiki's route. [[spoiler: Somewhere during this route, Shiki abducts Akira, takes him to his abandoned apartment, pierces his belly button as a sign of his ownership, and you know what comes next. In fact, Akira tries to leave, but is unable to]].
* {{Stripperific}}: Kau's outfit.
* TheStoic:
** Akira has shades of this, though he mainly falls under NotSoStoic.
** Nano.
* SurvivorGuilt: Rin, after [[spoiler:Skiki]] killed his teammates.
* TasteTheRainbow: As with most BL games. Akira's the sane guy[=/=]audience surrogate, Keisuke's the nice guy, Rin's the young energetic guy, Motomi's the old sensible one, Shiki's the BastardBoyfriend, the Executioners who are brutal, Arbitro with his weird fetishes, and Nano's the quiet one with HiddenDepths.
* TeachHimAnger: It didn't go as planned. Akira just wanted to teach Keisuke just how much of a serious situation they were in.

* TheTease: Rin.
* TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: It's renamed as Toshima in this setting, though.

* TyphoidMary:
** [[spoiler: Akira, but only to Line users, though apparently, [[FridgeLogic Keisuke]] is an exception]].
** [[spoiler: Nano]] is another example as he carries the [[spoiler: pure source of Line; the Nicole virus]].
* UncannyFamilyResemblance: In Rin's TimeSkip ending, [[spoiler:he's essentially Shiki with a PaletteSwap]].
* UnusualEuphemism: On the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obvious]] side and probably not too [[{{Narm}} narmy]], but in any of the sex scenes expect to see a lot of 'protrusion', 'male', 'meat lump', 'nectar' etc. being thrown around.

** [[HoYay Rin]] especially seems to like Akira's eyes but he has also gotten comments from others.

* WhiteShirtOfDeath: [[spoiler: Poor Keisuke]].

* WithAFriendAndAStranger: Akira and Keisuke meet Rin, who is mysteriously kind and highly effeminate. They stick together for a long time and become friends.

* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler:Nano]], especially in Shiki's route and his own.

** [[spoiler:Right when Akira gets Keisuke back, Rin decides to go crazy on him]].
** [[spoiler: Right after Keisuke saves Akira from getting shot to death, Shiki shows up and wants Akira, Keisuke tries to save Akira, but gets killed by Shiki]].
*** Something similar to the above happens in the game. In [[spoiler: Nano's]] route, instead of [[spoiler: Shiki, it's a soldier who tries to shoot Akira while Keisuke -- who has gone back to normal -- takes the bullet for him instead]].
* YouCantFightFate: Subverted. Nano, having experienced much pain due to [[spoiler: him being Project Nicole's success]], has become apathetic and feels this way. Then, Akira comes to disprove him.
* YouGotSpunk: Shiki becomes interested in Akira when he doesn't run, scream, or beg for his life like other participants. [[spoiler: On his route, this doesn't end well for Akira]].

** [[spoiler: after Shiki leaves Arbitro's room, Arbitro comments that Shiki needs to find some release]].
** In the game, [[spoiler: Motomi also teases Akira about never having a serious relationship]].
* YourHeadAsplode: [[spoiler: Keisuke]] crushes [[spoiler: Takeru's]] skull with his ''bare hands'' after taking Line.
* {{Zipperiffic}}: Shiki. Who has zip-off ''leather pants''.

* NotSoDifferent: In the game, Keisuke and Akira acknowledge Nano, despite being emotionless and cruel to those around him, suffer from similar emotional burdens to their own due to [[spoiler: all of them being involved in Project Nicole]].

''Togainu no Chi'' (咎狗の血, "Blood of the Reprimanded Dog") is the first BoysLoveGame made by [[Creator/NitroPlus Nitro+CHiRAL]]; it is noteworthy for its violence and dark storyline. It was later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 under the name ''Togainu no Chi: True Blood'' with the adult content taken out and some scenes censored, but containing more endings and a few new characters. One of the several manga adaptations (one which has no BoysLove content) is available in English from Creator/{{Tokyopop}}.

An anime adaptation by Creator/A1Pictures has been aired during the Fall 2010 anime season, the trailer for which can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01OrEoLF1sY here]]. In Anime Expo 2018, JAST USA announced that this title was picked up for an official localization.

* RoadCone: Par for the course, as in most visual novels. And as with most visual novel-based adaptations, the anime did a little bit of cut-and-paste work. Then again, the way the anime adapted the plot of the game is pretty much shoddy, regardless of the fan's reactions to it.

* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Akira to [[spoiler: Keisuke during their last confrontation, admitting he took their friendship for granted and he wants both of them to leave Toshima together]]. It doesn't work, unfortunately.

* YourHeadAsplode: [[spoiler: Keisuke to Takeru, as well as many others]].

* ChekhovsGun: Before going into Toshima, Akira is given a phone so he can keep in contact with Emma. [[spoiler: Turns out there's a tracking device in it]].

* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Akira chose participation in Igra over a life stuck in jail for obvious reasons.

* ChildSoldiers: Akira was trained to be one.