Warning! Spoilers ahead for Choujin X chapter 19!
Mangaka Sui Ishida is finally fixing Hideyoshi Nagachika (aka Hide)’s biggest problem in Tokyo Ghoul with the character’s equivalent in his new manga Choujin X.
In Tokyo Ghoul, Hide essentially represented the greatest and most selfless friend anyone could ever have. When Ken Kaneki transformed into a ghoul/human hybrid, everything Hide did was in service of ensuring that Ken was safe. Hide first joined the Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG) so he would have more access to Ken in order to keep a better eye on him. Then much later on, Hide ostensibly appeared to direct his attention more to himself when he assumed the identity of Scarecrow, but Tokyo Ghoul eventually revealed that this was just another one of his attempts to keep more tabs on his beloved friend.
In Choujin X Ken and Hide’s relationship returns with their counterparts Tokio Kurohara who transformed into a Choujin and Azuma Higashi who ostensibly didn’t. But Sui delves much further by exploring what Hide and Ken’s friendship would look like if selflessness were replaced with jealousy. Before in Choujin X, Sui just hinted at Azuma’s struggles, but chapter 19 makes it official at various instances. Azuma articulates his desire to be the kind of person who would risk their life for a friend, too, and even gets into a fight with a Choujin even though he possesses no powers. There’s even a scene with Azuma huddling in a room full of his trophies.
Fans not just of Tokyo Ghoul but Choujin X have been waiting for this moment since the very first chapter of Choujin X because the power dynamic between Azuma and Tokio shifted more when Tokio transformed than when only Ken did in Tokyo Ghoul. Azuma was a “hero”. People were aware of his abilities, and he even rescued people from time to time. Meanwhile, others perceived Tokio as a vulture for always tagging behind Azuma. So, when the two boys stumbled across injections that could transform them into Choujin and only Tokio changed, Azuma was undoubtedly affected.
This dynamic was completely lost in Tokyo Ghoul as Hide never wanted to become a ghoul nor was he jealous of Ken’s power. His number-one priority was to ensure that Ken was okay. The fact that he even wore a mask when assuming the identity of Scarecrow further exemplifies his selflessness. This was the moment when everyone’s attention was directed at him, but instead of relishing in the spotlight, he actively chose to hide his true self, making his intentions to help his friend Ken Kaneki even purer. Meanwhile, Azuma was originally the hero in Choujin X but lost that status. He is now suffering from a gaping hole in his life that was once filled, which is worse than if it were always empty. Additionally, Azuma’s wish to become the type of person who would risk their life for a friend is telling because he’s essentially wishing for glory. He’s not saying that he wants to protect Tokio, for example. The fact that he finishes his admittance with “too” diminishes the possibility that he wants to be selfless for the sake of being selfless. He feels left out.
Although Hide was an incredibly touching character in Tokyo Ghoul, his selflessness made him less compelling as his only struggle was to protect his beloved friend. There was no conflict between the two. Conversely, Azuma’s struggles are much more selfish and has already caused friction between the two, like when he initially snapped at Tokio after his friend’s initial transformation. Even though the latest chapter hints that Azuma is a Choujin, there are undoubtedly more struggles to come in Choujin X.
