Chained Soldier Episode 2: Unveiling the Bond between Yuuki and Shushu as the Series' Key Antagonist Emerges

In addition, Chained Soldier episode 2 showcases the bonding between Yuuki and Shushu Suruga while the other 7th Squad members attend a meeting. However, the episode ends with a tease of the introduction of the main villain for the first season of the series.

Chained Soldier episode 2 sees Yuuki bond with Shushu while an unknown enemy begins making moves

Brief episode recap

The second episode of Chained Soldier opens with a quick lesson on the geography of the Mato region (Image via Seven Arcs). Yuuki has just finished cleaning the 7th Squad dormitory when a Shuuki charges at him, only to be stopped by the barrier surrounding the dorm. Nei explains that the high number of Shuuki in the area is due to the 7th Squad dormitory being located in one of the most active regions of Mato.

Himari suddenly appeared and used her weapon powers to defeat the Shuuki, then scolded Yuuki for not taking his responsibilities seriously. She ordered him to prepare dinner and was offended by his lackadaisical attitude. After reprimanding him, she and Nei went inside while Yuuki felt like he was being watched. In episode 2 of Chained Soldier, the women of the 7th Squad praised Yuuki's cooking and cleaning. However, Yuuki realized he was losing sight of his goal to become a hero and lacked battle experience, which was pointed out by Kyouka. Although Yuuki initially argued, he stopped when Himari threatened him with her sword arm.

The relationship between Himari and Yuuki remains tenuous in Chained Soldier episode 2 (Image via Seven Arcs)

Kyouka then stressed that despite understanding Himari’s unease, Yuuki is a valuable caregiver and integral to her own plans and abilities. She also vowed to step in if he ever misbehaves. Shushu then caught Yuuki spying on Himari as she prepared to bathe, using her powers to shrink and observe him without his awareness.

In episode 2 of Chained Soldier, Shushu returned to full size and took a picture of Yuuki, explaining that she’s been watching him to try and understand him. She subtly threatened to show the picture to Kyouka unless he promised to become her slave as well.

As Yuuki cleaned Shushu’s room, he searched for a way to delete the photo without her noticing. She teased him when he tried to swipe her phone and accidentally grabbed her underwear, saying she sees him more as a pet than a man. She also justified it by saying that, as their housekeeper, he’d have to touch her underwear anyway.

Shushu's pictures were used to blackmail Yuuki into becoming her servant in Chained Soldier episode 2 (Image via Seven Arcs)

However, in a funny turn of events, in Chained Soldier episode 2, she ended up taking a photo of Yuuki holding her underwear while he was just organizing it. Shortly after, he caught Kyouka and Himari training in the entrance area of the dorm when a Shuuki materialized. Kyouka then took on the Shuuki by herself, defeating it effortlessly to demonstrate to Himari proper hand-to-hand combat techniques.

Nei informed Yuuki that she, Himari, and Kyouka would be leaving for a meeting, leaving him and Shushu alone in the dorm. Shushu then persuaded Yuuki to give her a shoulder massage, inquiring about his expertise. Yuuki revealed that he used to frequently give them to his sister, explaining his skill.

In Chained Soldier episode 2, Shushu disclosed that she is the youngest of three sisters in a fatherless family and attended an all-girls school. This is why she took an interest in Yuuki and desired to make him her slave. She expressed her desire for excitement, which led her to move to Mato and join the Defense Force.

Shushu's abilities are pivotal in the storyline of Chained Soldier episode 2 (Image via Seven Arcs)

Shushu proposed a challenge to play a combat game, in which the loser removes a piece of clothing after each loss. Interestingly, Yuuki was unable to win any game, resulting in him being completely nude while Shushu remained fully clothed. Yet, Yuuki attempted to dissuade her by explaining the risks of getting undressed.

In episode 2 of Chained Soldier, there was a humorous moment when Shushu unexpectedly grew to the size of the room, revealing that she was not the one in danger. Later, Yuuki ended up being completely naked, much to Shushu's amusement. Their banter was cut short when a gigantic Shuuki attacked the base.

Shushu then used her power, called Paradigm Shift, to increase her size to match that of the Shuuki and engage in battle. She gradually grew larger while fighting, ultimately defeating the Shuuki. However, another even larger Shuuki appeared, posing a new challenge.

In the second episode of Chained Soldier, Shushu attempted to utilize Paradigm Shift to increase her size, only to find that her ability failed for unknown reasons. Yuuki expressed his frustration at being unable to transform without Kyouka's presence, but then made the decision to try and activate his transformation by kissing something that belonged to Kyouka. Ultimately, he was able to partially transform after kissing her combat boots.

Shushu worried about shrinking due to misusing her power, as Yuuki defeated the massive Shuuki and returned to human form. The episode then jumped ahead to Kyouka and the others' return, where Kyouka had to give Yuuki a massage due to his injury from the partial transformation.

In episode 2 of Chained Soldier, Kyouka ordered Shushu to thank Yuuki for his help by assisting him with his caretaker duties. The episode then focused on another squad of Defense Force members, with one girl sacrificing herself to allow her comrades to escape. However, her two allies were captured by the Shuuki, and she was also attacked into submission.

In review

As the Shuuki was about to consume the girl, a woman who appeared to be human intervened, instructing it not to proceed. She then remarked that she would recognize "his" aura anywhere, confidently stating that she knows Yuuki and could sense his presence within Mato as the episode concluded.

Chained Soldier episode 2 sets itself apart with a unique approach, turning what could have been a typical early-series routine into something special. While fans may have felt let down by the final scenes, the sudden shift in perspective injects some much-needed intrigue into an otherwise uneventful 23-minute runtime.

This lack of excitement is not entirely the fault of the series itself, but rather a result of the constraints of the necessary routines of early-series television anime production. However, the introduction of this looming villain (who appears to be Yuuki's long-lost sister based on the buildup so far) helps to break away from the monotony that often causes viewers to doze off in the early episodes of other series.

In summation

Chained Soldier episode 2 sets the stage for what fans can anticipate in the upcoming episodes. While Yuuki’s bonding experiences with Nei and Kyouka may not be as thrilling as those with Shushu, viewers can still look forward to the development of the main storyline for the first season.

Be sure to keep up with all Chained Soldier anime and manga news, as well as general anime, manga, film, and live-action news as 2024 progresses.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the new direction that Chained Soldier episode 2 has taken. The unexpected bond between Yuuki and Shushu adds a new layer of complexity to the story, and I am eager to see how it develops. The introduction of the main villain for the first season also has me intrigued, and I can't wait to learn more about their motivations and plans.

Overall, I think Chained Soldier episode 2 was a great follow-up to the first episode, and I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season has in store. I appreciate the unique approach that the series is taking, and I think it has the potential to be a really great anime.