Zanka Nijiku

> "I'm the one who knows my jinki very well. I've perfectly memorized its weight, smell and feel and even asked it about its mood today. I listen to it without fail everyday, never miss taking care of it every single day. How much force to use and how it feels when I swing it, where it'll hit, where it'll fly and in what direction I know it all!!"
>
> — Zanka Nijiku, Gachiakuta, Chapter 13
>
>

**Zanka Nijiku** (ザンカ・ニジク, *Zanka Nijiku*) is a character in the Gachiakuta series. He’s a former Hell Guard trainee and is currently a member of the Akuta faction of the Janitors.

## Appearance

Zanka is a relatively young man with a unique 'delinquent' style. His eyebrows are shaved at regular intervals leaving for this striped look. His hair is dyed at the top with a single bang forming in front. His ears are pierced and house long, dangling piercings. His janitors uniform is quite baggy, with open sleeves and baggy pants. The shoulders of the uniform are slightly raised, and he has a cloth on his waist which extends in front and down back. Similar to many janitors, he has a large bag on his waist connected to his chest by a sash. His janitors badge is kept on his chest and he wears white soled boots.

Compared to the other janitors, Zankas uniform is considerably nicer, even his janitor badge looking more extravagant than the rest. This is due to his status as a 'young master' or 'lord' in the abyss.

### Gallery

Close up of faceZanka Full Appearance + JinkiNijik casual clothing
## Personality

On the exterior, Zanka Nijiku keeps a calm composure, and even when upset keeps a seemingly still face. However on the interior Nijiku is quick to lose control of his emotions, whether its anger or disgust, in quite exaggerated outbursts, which often reveal to the outside world. Nijiku is quick to cover up said emotions. Nijiku has great admiration for others like Enjin, freaking out over Enjin recognising his skills.

## Synopsis

### History

Zanka is a descendant of the noble Nijiku family. His family had him join a training camp to become a Hell Guard like his brother and sister. Zanka quickly rises to the top of his class, aiming to earn the right to sit on the golden throne, an honor given to the most outstanding trainee of the year. However, one day the teacher announces that a girl named Hyo would be joining the class, and reassures the class that she, despite having grown up in the slums, was very talented.

    After she joined the Hell Guards, Hyo was able to outmatch every student in her class in a mock battle. This includes Zanka, who was previously at the top of the class. Zanka is extremely disappointed at this loss, as he screams in anger that he is "the best" and Hyo hadn't beaten him yet. Hyo overhears this and asks what the point of sitting on the golden throne is. She calls him out for pursuing the golden throne only because he wants people to tell him he's "an amazing person." This makes Zanka realize something - that he is not special, not different from all the other "fakes."

Later on, the class is given a choice to pick a weapon. Zanka chooses a stick in order to stand out, only to later find out that it was among the weapon choices by accident. By picking something "original," he had embarrassed himself, while Hyo, who Zanka had expected to choose a special, unique weapon, had picked an average Katana.

This is all recounted by Zanka, who had run away and climbed into a well. He had sat there for 3 days before encountering Enjin, who he explained the entire situation to. Zanka calls himself a "loser" and an "average Joe." In response, Enjin encourages him, saying Zanka could become an "average Joe that's better than a genius." Enjin points out how Zanka is still holding onto that "ordinary stick," and remarks that if Zanka could recognize his weaknesses, he could become stronger.

Later on Zanka joins the Janitors and becomes a part of team Akuta under Enjin’s leadership.

### Plot

#### **Abyss Wanderer Arc**

Zanka Nijiku is among the first to be told of Rudo, and awaits his arrival in a town. The two meet in an unfortunate exchange, where Rudo "steals" his stick. In an outrage, Nijiku prepares to teach Rudo a "lesson". After barely missing him, Nijiku introduces himself to Rudo. Upon Rudo apologizing to him, Nijiku puts on a caring face and extends his hand to Rudo. Rudo tries to go a step further and smile for Nijiku, who is repulsed by it and in another outburst asks if he's gone insane. The two agree they will not get along and once again prepare to battle, and Nijiku bears witness to Rudo's ability to produce more than one jinki.

Zanka Nijiku shows off his mastery by surprising Rudo and overwhelming him with attacks, giving Rudo no time to react. The one hit he gets in misses and Nijiku simply knocks him down. He then notices a mark on his cheek, which is discovered to be poop from a plunger. Repulsed, Zanka Nijiku runs away from Rudo who chases him with the dirty plunger. Eventually, Enjin discovers the two and finds the interaction comical. Nijiku hides his head in shame, but brightens up when Enjin reveals he will be Rudo's mentor due to his skill.

Arriving at the HQ, Nijiku leaves the car after a thorough wiping down. He alongside Riyo leave to go rest. Later, Nijiku awakens and wanders through the halls to the source of a noise; Rudo's abyss welcoming party. Nijiku noticies a rather gloomy Rudo and asks Riyo about what happened during the clean up and the new beast she encountered.

#### **Vandals Trap Arc**

Semiu receives a job for the cleaners and employs Zanka, Rudo, Griss, and a few other janitors. They are asked to defeat an Aberrant Beast and retrieve cargo - a living human that fell from Heaven. Zanka asks why Rudo is going, as well as remarking that Rudo is technically not a cleaner yet. He looks down on Rudo when Rudo insists on going, but upon Semiu passing on a message from Enjin that “it’ll be fine as long as Zanka’s there,” Zanka brightens up and takes a leading position in the group.

Upon arriving at the polluted zone, the janitors meet a strange woman, who is later revealed to be the jinki of an enemy Vandal. As the woman recounts her story and the job details, Zanka doubts her credibility and silently points out that it would not be likely for an Aberrant Beast to go out of its way to kidnap a human being. He also notices that many disagreeable changes have been happening since Rudo’s arrival.

The woman leads the group into a building, and Zanka warns everyone to be on guard. The floor caves in beneath them, and in the dark space beneath the building, two Vandals approach, targeting Rudo as the “giver skyperson.”

Zanka stays back to fight the two Vandals as the others secure an escape route. He acknowledges that they would be able to raise a fortune if they were to sell Rudo. However, one Vandal replies that they do not wish to sell Rudo - instead, they want to learn more about Heaven, and how Rudo crossed the "border" without dying. Zanka is confused at the word "border," but he continues to say that he doesn't "give an Aberrant Beast's tail" about Heaven. He then goes on to ask if there were any beasts in the first place, and the Vandals reply no - but there are clay dolls.

Zanka easily destroys a few of the dolls that rise out of the ground, remarking that the dolls are so soft that he can destroy them with one flick of his stick. However, as he destroys a clay doll, the other Vandal emerges from within it, slamming Zanka to the floor. They fight for a while, but Zanka is unable to land a hit. The floor turns into mud, trapping him in place.

Zanka, after observing, remarks in an annoyed manner that the lady uses a shovel jinki to control the mud, and the man uses snowshoes in order to stay above the mud as he attacks. He mocks them, saying that they are the "perfect couple." Zanka continues to say that although he is not used to fighting humans, he knows everything there is to know about his jinki. He slams his jinki against the ground, causing a shockwave which allows him to sense and locate the two Vandals. He defeats them shortly after. After the fight, Zanka says that the Vandals were being stubborn, so he would defeat them with a punch. Then, Jabber appears behind him and defeats him with his poison (not shown).

In Chapter 18, Zanka returns to help Rudo fight Jabber. He tells Rudo to step aside so he can teach Jabber a “lesson.” However, Zanka is too exhausted to fight, even though he insists he is as “fit as a fiddle,” and tells Rudo not to underestimate him. He then praises Rudo for learning how to use his jinki, 3RS, as seen from the weapon Rudo created from Griss's good-luck charm. He observes that it only reacts to hostility, meaning that it can't attack. Then, Zanka asks to hit Rudo as a test. He explains that if he attacks Rudo, there is a possibility that Griss's charm would react and move Zanka, who would in turn use his jinki to reach Jabber. Rudo remarks that if Zanka were wrong, he would have gotten hit for nothing. Zanka replies to this by telling Rudo to "shake it off."

As Jabber attacks, Zanka warns Rudo that Jabber's claws are poisonous and not to touch them. With a visibly annoyed expression, Zanka adds that Jabber's claws are seriously pissing him off. Rudo responds by telling Zanka to "shake it off," quoting Zanka from earlier. Because of this, Zanka decides to take a swing at him. Griss's good-luck charm launches Zanka away, allowing him to land a hit on Jabber. When Rudo gets angry at him for hitting him with hostility, Zanka waves it off as a "test," and deems it an efficient way to fight the unconscious Jabber. In this way, Zanka and Rudo defeat the unconscious Jabber.

Following the fight, Zanka lays down, relieved that everything is over. He admits that the fight was tough, and that he can't move another muscle. Then, Griss’s good-luck charm, which Rudo had weaponized with 3RS, starts disintegrating. Zanka wonders if there is a time limit on the objects that Rudo has weaponized. Rudo starts shaking, repeatedly blaming himself for the destruction of Griss’s charm, and Zanka comments that Rudo is “acting funny.” Then, Rudo collapses, and Zanka realizes that Jabber had wounded Rudo’s back with his claws. As Zanka lays sprawled on the floor, Jabber slowly gets up behind him.

Jabber exclaims that he had been having too much fun, to which Zanka asks how Jabber is able to be up and around so soon after Rudo and Zanka beat him up, mistakenly believing that Jabber has regenerative abilities. Jabber explains that his left claws can act as an anesthetic. He poisons Zanka again, then leaves with Rudo.

In Chapter 21, Zanka is briefly seen being rescued by Riyo.

## Abilities

As both a janitor and a giver, Zanka Nijiku is incredible skilled and powerful.

* **Love Stick:** Zanka Nijiku is known as a young master in the Janitor organisation, and is said to have the best handling of a jinki amongst the janitors.
* **Speed:** Zanka Nijiku is incredibly fast, throwing his jinki in the air without Rudo seeing it, grabbing it and and swinging at Rudo before he has time to react. Zanka got multiple hits in before Rudo could react.

## Relationships

### Enjin

Zanka treats Enjin with massive amounts of respect. Being visibly happy when praised by him. The two are friendly with each other.

### Rudo

While getting off on the wrong foot, Zanka is Rudo's mentor and has shown some care for him, acting as a role model to him.

### Riyo

Riyo and Zanka seem to be acquainted and can be seen having a casual conversation about work. She is the first person Zanka goes to at the party

## Trivia

* **Likes:** Foods with broth, people who work hard to achieve their goals
* **Dislikes:** Bitter foods, geniuses, people who think they’re geniuses
* He used to be the youngest giver among the janitors.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Manga Chapter 6
2. ↑ Manga Chapter 57
3. ↑ Manga Chapter 58
4. ↑ Manga Chapter 59
5. ↑ Manga Chapter 4
6. ↑ Manga Chapter 5
7. ↑ Manga Chapter 7
8. ↑ Manga Chapter 11
9. ↑ Manga Chapter 12
10. ↑ Manga Chapter 13
11. ↑ Manga Chapter 18
12. ↑ Manga Chapter 19
13. ↑ Manga Chapter 20