OVA
Description
Kaede Fujimiya, also known as Kaede Kunikida after her adoption, is the paternal twin sister of Momiji Fujimiya. Separated at birth for protection, Kaede grew up under Daitetsu Kunikida of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC). As the designated Princess Kushinada, she initially shouldered her responsibilities seriously, gaining the ability to detect and combat Aragami. Her Kushinada lineage bestowed unique capabilities: she acted as a Barrier Maiden whose blood created protective wards, and her death held the potential to unleash an energy wave sealing all Aragami in Japan for centuries.
Disillusionment grew as the TAC treated her primarily as a tool against Aragami, not a person. Exploitation, including experimental procedures, fueled psychological distress, shaping her into a Broken Bird marked by bitterness and depression. Her search for meaning in her duties led her to distance herself from the TAC and her family, culminating in her disappearance via a bright pillar of light at the series' outset.
Kaede later reappeared in Tokyo, aligning with the antagonist Murakumo. Together, they orchestrated a plan to resurrect the god Susanoo, intending to purge humanity's influence and restore nature's balance. This made her a Well-Intentioned Extremist, willing to sacrifice human lives and transform others into plant-like entities. Her motivations were forged through trauma over her instrumentalization by the TAC and a desire to rectify humanity's ecological damage.
Her relationship with Mamoru Kusanagi was significant; originally assigned as her protector, he developed deep loyalty. After her presumed death, Kusanagi initially sought to kill Momiji to fulfill the Kushinada's sacrificial role before shifting allegiance to protect Momiji. Kaede's return complicated his loyalties, forcing him to reconcile his past devotion to her with his new bond to her sister.
Kaede's arc concluded with a Redemption Equals Death trope. After her plans were thwarted, she achieved spiritual resolution by entering a dormant state alongside Susanoo, removing herself from the conflict while symbolically atoning. Throughout, she served as a polar opposite to Momiji, exhibiting a refined, mature, and graceful demeanor against her twin's energetic impulsiveness.
Disillusionment grew as the TAC treated her primarily as a tool against Aragami, not a person. Exploitation, including experimental procedures, fueled psychological distress, shaping her into a Broken Bird marked by bitterness and depression. Her search for meaning in her duties led her to distance herself from the TAC and her family, culminating in her disappearance via a bright pillar of light at the series' outset.
Kaede later reappeared in Tokyo, aligning with the antagonist Murakumo. Together, they orchestrated a plan to resurrect the god Susanoo, intending to purge humanity's influence and restore nature's balance. This made her a Well-Intentioned Extremist, willing to sacrifice human lives and transform others into plant-like entities. Her motivations were forged through trauma over her instrumentalization by the TAC and a desire to rectify humanity's ecological damage.
Her relationship with Mamoru Kusanagi was significant; originally assigned as her protector, he developed deep loyalty. After her presumed death, Kusanagi initially sought to kill Momiji to fulfill the Kushinada's sacrificial role before shifting allegiance to protect Momiji. Kaede's return complicated his loyalties, forcing him to reconcile his past devotion to her with his new bond to her sister.
Kaede's arc concluded with a Redemption Equals Death trope. After her plans were thwarted, she achieved spiritual resolution by entering a dormant state alongside Susanoo, removing herself from the conflict while symbolically atoning. Throughout, she served as a polar opposite to Momiji, exhibiting a refined, mature, and graceful demeanor against her twin's energetic impulsiveness.