Negai no Astro chapter 5 review: Kou shares his reason for hating Hibaru but fails to win the throwdown

Negai no Astro chapter 5, titled A Throwdown By The Book, was published in Japan on Monday, May 20, 2024. This chapter primarily focuses on the battle between Hibaru and Kou. As the world of the manga continues to develop, readers are introduced to the various powers that individuals now possess, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the protagonist.

In the previous chapter, Hibaru and Terasu traveled to Ikebukuro to persuade one of their siblings to join them. What they thought would be a simple mission took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that Kuran, one of the Yotsurugi siblings, was bound to serve another, Kou. Therefore, the duel between Hibaru and Kou in Negai no Astro chapter 5 is a fight to free Kuran.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers.

Negai no Astro chapter 5 shows why Kou made a mistake subjugating Kuran

Brief chapter highlights

Kou neutralizes Hibaru in Negai no Astro chapter 5 (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

Negai no Astro chapter 5 opens with a recap of the Yotsurugi Family Code's rules for settling disputes—siblings who disagree must resolve their differences through a one-on-one fistfight. Kou promises to hand Kuran over to Hibaru if he loses, but he will take Terasu under him if he wins.

As the fight begins, Kou, with his Astro arms, effortlessly restrains Hibaru, having foreseen that Hibaru's Astro would be an extraordinarily powerful arm. Using his remaining hands, he lands a blow to Hibaru's gut before tossing him around.

Next, in Negai no Astro chapter 5, Kou confesses that he has always despised Hibaru because he reminds him of his older brother Botan, who similarly had a preachy character that he found phony. Botan, who had died protecting a small child during a turf war in Ikebukuro, had asked Kuran to protect Kou. Kou was determined not to live like his brother, who believed in sugar-coated garbage, which led him to die in the end.

Hibaru charges at Kou in Negai no Astro chapter 5 (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

In the heat of the battle, Kou gets close to Hibaru while urging him to think rationally and stop risking his life for others. In response, Hibaru headbutts him. He declares that it is his right to risk his life for others before landing a punch on Kou with his charged fist.

Kou manages to block the punch with his four Astro arms. On the other hand, Hibaru expresses his disdain for Kou for betraying his people as soon as he gained power. He is especially furious that Kou failed to protect Kuran, who had always protected him. He accuses Kou of lacking loyalty and being unworthy of being a leader.

Meanwhile, Kou's Astro arms cease to function. In the end, out of respect for Kuran's duty to protect Kou, Hibaru refrains from delivering a final blow and instead asks Kou to admit defeat.

Negai no Astro chapter 5 review

Terasu as seen in Negai no Astro chapter (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

Negai no Astro chapter 5 continues with the journey undertaken by Hibaru and Terasu to reunite the Yotsurugi family. This chapter is particularly interesting as it reveals for the first time that Hibaru's abilities are not entirely invincible, despite this claim that his strong will gives him greater strength.

Hibaru is thus required to engage in hand-to-hand combat to be at an advantage, and a character like Kou could have easily worn him down if he had been more cautious. Adversaries who can wield long-range powers will definitely be a challenge.

On the other hand, in Ken Wakui's latest manga installment, Hibaru's determination to fight for a cause he believes in is admirable, and it instills in him a strong sense of self-confidence. But it also makes him brash, for instance, he did not hesitate to accept Kou's challenge which entailed him losing Terasu if he was defeated. And he did not take Terasu’s consent either.

Negai no Astro chapter 4 recap

Kuran as seen in Negai no Astro (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

In the previous chapter, Hibaru and Terasu visited Ikebukuro to get Kuran on their side. Upon arriving, they saw the Sanmenroppi, a security squad formed by Kuran, operating effectively in place of the police who had stopped working after the meteor shower. The members of Sanmenroppi stopped a thief who tried to snatch a girl's purse.

Hibaru and Terasu reached Club Asura, the Yotsurugi Family's Ikebukuro branch, but were denied entry. A fight broke out inside, providing them an opportunity to sneak in. Once inside, they saw Kuran display his fighting skills to take control of the situation.

However, they discovered that Kou, who was once deemed the weakest among the Yotsurugi siblings, had subjugated Kuran using his Astro and assumed the role of the new leader. Disturbed by Kou's disrespect for the Yotsurugi family, Hibaru challenged him to a duel for authority over Kuran and the Sanmenroppi. Eager to kill Hibaru, Kou accepted the challenge.