Chapter 4

## Chapter Chronology

**"Saw"** (鋸, *Nokogiri*, can be alternatively represented in romaji as *"Noko"*) is the fourth chapter of Ire Yonemoto's manga series, *Wild Strawberry.* This also serves as the fourth and final chapter of the first volume of the manga series.

## Summary

A woman, likely belonging to the Flower Funeral Force due to her logo-adorned jacket, faced an uncomfortable situation as the Jinka attached to her sawtooth weapon exhibited inappropriate behavior. This incident unfolded in front of Makino and Kingo. She swiftly responded by striking down the misbehaving Jinka, humorously referring to it as a "pervy plant."

Amidst the commotion, Kingo inquired about the presence of a Jinka with her, considering her affiliation with the Flower Funeral Force. Simultaneously, the girl displayed signs of an allergic reaction to the Jinka's pollen, frequently sneezing. Reacting, she ordered the Jinka to retract into her sawtooth weapon, which responded with a perceived threat before complying.

Undeterred, she assumed a combat stance, uttering "full bloom sawtooth flower, 30% bloom," readying for an attack with two sizable sawtooth blades. Witnessing this, Makino suggested fleeing. Before action could be taken, the girl executed a powerful maneuver, slicing a significant portion of the building at an angle, causing the platform with Makino and Kingo to descend.

Intrigued by this display, Makino surmised that the girl might be linked to the Special Flower Funeral Force. However, she clarified that she was merely a cadet. As they descended, Kingo instinctively summoned Kayano's aid. A Jinka branch extended from his left hand, providing a landing hold for him and Makino, though they landed somewhat roughly. The girl observed this feat with amusement.

Upon landing nearby, the girl followed, inadvertently stepping on Kingo's branch. She advised him to stow it away when not in use. Leveraging his knowledge of the Special Flower Funeral Force, Makino educated Kingo about their purpose. He detailed that this group comprises adept combatants specialized in countering Jinka, and the girl's weapon, called flower-pruning shears, is designed to control a Jinka's power.

The girl's curiosity was piqued by Makino's revelation, prompting her to inquire further. Makino then disclosed his association with the Flower Funeral Force's Research Team, acknowledging his awareness of the implications of aiding Flower Humans like Kingo and facilitating his escape. This prompted Kingo to intervene, urging not to harm Makino. He emphasized his role in bringing Makino and highlighted the benevolence of the Jinka within him, likening it to a friend – a contrast to the Jinka accompanying the girl.

In response, the girl struck Kingo's face, albeit with a tinge of regret. She expressed her aversion to Jinkas and explained their use to harness power for self-neutralization due to limited alternatives. This revelation triggered a poignant childhood memory where she was surrounded by blood in a stairwell. This memory underscored her complex relationship with Jinkas. She conveyed that Kingo's suggestion of befriending a Jinka evoked an intense adverse reaction, leading her to vomit.

Despite Kingo's visible struggle, he expressed a pressing need to reach the Mother Jinka to restore Kayano's humanity. The girl reacted skeptically, deeming Kingo's plan impractical. She asserted that Jinka-transformed individuals couldn't revert, and only the Special Flower Funeral Forces could access the Mother Jinka's location, casting doubt on Kingo's chances. Makino, acknowledging his role in influencing Kingo's idea, assumed a somber tone, taking responsibility.

Despite this setback, Kingo's resolve shifted. He suggested joining the Special Flower Funeral Force to independently reach the Mother Jinka. Both the girl and Makino were surprised by this unexpected proposal. The girl chuckled, finding amusement in Kingo's unwavering commitment, humorously commenting on him being a host for one of the Jinkas.

Kingo remained steadfast in his determination to prove the harmlessness of the Jinka within him. He resolved to join the Special Flower Funeral Force to substantiate his point. The girl's laughter subsided as she adopted a serious demeanor and issued a challenge: Kingo must defeat her and demonstrate the innocuous nature of the Jinka. Assuming a combat stance, she initiated a technique she associated with her cheating former partner and struck Kingo with precision, astonishing Makino as he was halved by the blow.

Seizing Kingo's upper body, the girl extracted his heart, aiming to extract answers directly from the source. The heart was intertwined with stems and branches. Urging the Jinka within Kingo to reveal its true essence or face the host's demise, the surrounding roots enveloped Kingo, eliciting a response from the Jinka. The girl revealed that May 6th marked her birthday and a step towards her goal of joining the Special Flower Funeral Force. As Kingo's transformation progressed, he became enveloped in Kayano's Jinka roots, except for his left eye. He then unleashed a powerful strike against the girl, using a cluster of roots. Despite her accompanying Jinka's assistance, the girl absorbed the impact and stood a short distance away.

Watching the unfolding scene, the girl commented on Kingo's determination to demonstrate his non-threatening nature, despite his current appearance evoking an adversarial impression.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* **Introduction of a Flower Funeral Force Cadet:** A woman, likely belonging to the Flower Funeral Force, is introduced. She faces an uncomfortable situation as her Jinka-attached sawtooth weapon exhibits inappropriate behavior, which she swiftly responds to by striking it down.
	+ The woman shares a poignant childhood memory involving Jinkas and explains her aversion to them. She reveals that Jinkas are used by the Special Flower Funeral Force to harness power for self-neutralization due to limited alternatives.
* **Kingo's Proposal to Join the Special Flower Funeral Force:** Kingo surprises both the woman and Makino by proposing to join the Special Flower Funeral Force to independently reach the Mother Jinka. The woman finds amusement in Kingo's unwavering commitment.
	+ The woman issues a challenge to Kingo: he must defeat her in combat to demonstrate the harmlessness of the Jinka within him. She strikes Kingo with a precise technique, halving him, to the astonishment of Makino.
* **Kingo's Counterattack:** Kingo unleashes a powerful strike against the woman using a cluster of roots. Despite the woman's Jinka's assistance, she absorbs the impact and stands a short distance away. The woman comments on Kingo's determination to demonstrate the non-threatening nature of his Jinka.

* The female individual, which is a member of the Flower Funeral Force, wields a substantial sawtooth as her chosen weapon.

* A **sawtooth** is a type of cutting edge characterized by a series of jagged, tooth-like projections that extend along its length. These projections, resembling the teeth of a saw, are designed to efficiently cut through various materials with a back-and-forth or reciprocating motion. Sawtooth edges are commonly used in tools like saws and certain types of blades for their ability to grip and remove material effectively.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Ayari**First Appearance
**Kingo**
**Makino**
**Ayari's Jinka**
**Kayano**Mentioned
## References

 The **"noko"** reading is used for the concept of a saw, while **"nokogiri"** specifies a saw tool
*Wild Strawberry* Manga: **Chapter 4** (Page 6).