Takuma Kugayama - The Innocent Victim
Under the use of the same drugs that Gauron is such a fan of with the Whispered experimentees, Takuma can maximize his awesome power over the Lambda Driver through the drug-induced reformation - but at a great price, placing in the balance his health when engaging in such an act as he requires more medication to bring himself back to homeostasis. After creating a scene nearly strangling a booth operator with his tie because “it isn’t straight,” Takuma finds himself in Mithril’s hands. He is secured behind glass to wait for A21 to come and rescue him. Tessa watches him alongside Kalinin through the glass, sympathy lighting her eyes to see such a young man experiencing what she, herself, knows all too well when the terrorist group attacks the building using large AS units.
Takuma is then transported with Tessa to Sousuke’s safehouse where they chain the once-sedated boy to the bed for safekeeping until he gives their position away. Stealing Kaname’s cell phone when he trips her, the viewer sees his true cunning and ability to take care of himself - despite his yearning for a sister. He uncovers the hostage party’s attempt to go unnoticed at Jindai High School where A21 kidnaps Kaname and Tessa from the restroom.
During the hostage exchange, Takuma almost misses his escape - but a guided missile ends the uproar and he heads back to his sister with the roles reversed: Tessa and Kaname are the hostages.
During his time in captivity, Takuma is impressed and somewhat surprised at Tessa’s interest in him. Although it could be regarded as a love interest, Takuma’s need to own Tessa grows from his deep need for a sister whom unconditionally loves him. This unhealthy yearning causes Takuma to climb aboard the Behemoth after a severe slap from his “sister Siena.” He starts to realize that the only reason she seems to communicate with him as she does is so that he pilots the Behemoth. Even as he climbs aboard the Behemoth streaming tears, as he knows the only way this piloting can end is in death, he fully realizes that Seina needs him to complete this as much as he needs her approval. He puts his need aside and fulfills her, unrelenting in his pursuit of Sousuke, Tessa and the destruction of Tokyo.
Takuma’s ability to operate the massive machinery is amazing. He knows the system well, he commands it within its full capacity - given its weight - and puts up a huge fight all of Mithril feels helpless against.
Takuma dies in the arms of Tessa after the Behemoth goes down - no match for the Arbalest. Tessa consoles him, telling him he did everything, and giving him that much sought unconditional love in his last breath of life. The peaceful expression on his face matches that of his sister Siena’s, both of them sharing the same fate in the same episode of the Original Series.—MIZ
