Chiikawa Strength Rankings | Compared Based on Battle Depictions in the Original Work

Conclusion: Character-by-Character Strength Compared Through Depicted Actions

When you compare the actions depicted in the original work character by character, you can see four kinds of strength: Rakko, a top-ranked Subjugator who guides the other two into training; Usagi, who swings a weapon and pursues the target; Hachiware, who watches the positions of companions while thinking of a plan; and Chiikawa, who doesn't look away even when overwhelmed and recovers afterward. Beyond just battle records, we used the same comparison categories: weapon handling, crisis judgment, support, and recovery.

The provisional ranking is 1st Rakko, 2nd Usagi, 3rd Hachiware, 4th Chiikawa. However, this is not an official ranking. The original work has no table of wins and losses across all characters, no stat values, and no win rates. This is an ordering that compares practical experience and range of actions within the confines of the Subjugation and training scenes that can be confirmed. If the opponent, companions, or equipment change, the results change too.

Rakko doesn't just step forward himself; he listens to how Chiikawa and Hachiware fared and decides on their next training. Usagi readies a tool in front of a large opponent and, right after swinging a long pole, shifts into pursuit. Hachiware thinks about how to help before closing in, and Chiikawa, though overwhelmed by sheer size, never looks away. The differences in roles that can't be captured by the flashiness of a single blow are what make comparing these four interesting.

Provisional Strength Ranking by Character

Rakko in 1st place is treated as a top-ranked Subjugator, showing the reach of a long weapon while taking charge of the two's training. Usagi in 2nd place stands out for the volume of action: approaching dangerous targets without hesitation, readying a tool, and continuing with follow-up attacks. The difference is between Rakko, with proven results and instruction, and Usagi, with immediate response and breakthrough power.

Hachiware in 3rd place reads the position and condition of targets and companions, putting into words how to help and what to do next. Chiikawa in 4th place shows fear yet stays present in enemy encounters, recovers after being affected, and even proceeds to fire-training. It's a strength of standing firm amid fear.

Usagi | Fast from Ready to Pursuit

In Volume 3's "Big Subjugation," Usagi, along with Chiikawa and Hachiware, attaches rotor blades, takes up a Subjugation-looking tool, and descends toward a large target. Even in the scene where they assess the situation near a grove of trees, he uses what he's carrying to push forward. He moves from recognizing danger to action very quickly, making him the one who creates the opening for attack among the three.

As the distance with Ano-ko closes, Usagi keeps his eyes on the opponent with his tool ready. He then swings a long pole-like tool wide, moves toward the retreating opponent, and afterward heads back into the sky with Chiikawa and Hachiware. Because readying, swinging, and pursuing are depicted as one continuous sequence of actions, we can see not just momentary strength but sustained breakthrough power.

Usagi's strength lies not in lengthy explanations of strategy but in immediately trying the tools needed and getting a stalled scene moving. His seemingly reckless momentum often leads to the group's movement and restarts. It's a bold kind of strength, where short bursts of action even change the tempo of battle.

Rakko and Hachiware | Turning Experience into the Next Training

In Volume 7's "Uprising and Training," Hachiware notices the reach of Rakko's weapon and considers whether he could handle it himself. Rakko, after hearing the outcome of the two's Uprising, decides on the next training, and Chiikawa and Hachiware move on to hands-on practice with fire. Beyond just swinging a weapon, Rakko's strength lies in teaching the distance from an opponent and changing the curriculum based on results.

In the scene of approaching a large target, Hachiware watches the state of his companions and thinks of a way to lend a hand without pushing them too far. Even during enemy contact, he pays attention not only to himself but to his companions' positions. Because he puts his judgments into words, he can serve the role of coordinating the group's movements even when the three are viewing the same danger separately.

After completing his first Subjugation and reward, Hachiware considers that he might be able to keep doing Subjugations once he gets used to them. It's a posture of looking back on experience and moving on to what's next. The flow of Rakko's experience becoming training and Hachiware's experience turning into a will to continue gives the sense that strength is something that can be learned.

Chiikawa | Keeping Eyes on the Opponent Amid Fear

In the Big Subjugation, Chiikawa shows anxiety in front of the gigantic Ano-ko. Even so, he doesn't look away from the opponent, checking on Hachiware's and Usagi's positions while staying in place. His grit lies in continuing to watch while still afraid.

Even in the scene where, affected by the enemy, he and Hachiware collapse onto the ground, the two gradually recover. Afterward, they proceed to fire-training with Rakko, and together with a hesitant Hachiware, Chiikawa compares the problems. Because contact, recovery, and learning connect without interruption, Chiikawa's strength shows not in a single victory or defeat but in the way he comes back to challenge again and again.

Compared with Rakko's experience, Usagi's breakthrough power, and Hachiware's judgment, Chiikawa isn't the type to raise his rank with a striking blow. Still, the sight of him staying by his companions while his fear shows on his face is an essential core when the three head into danger. It's a strength that makes you want to cheer for him precisely because he moves forward without erasing his weaknesses.

Fan Analysis: Opinions Split on Strongest Candidates and the Very Criteria for "Strength in Chiikawa"

One example of a fan-made tier list, among Japanese fans on X, places Hachiware in his other form alongside Ano-ko on the top tier, with Siren, Dekatsuyo, and the Beetle King on the next tier, and Shimajiro, Rakko, and Ode on the tier after that. Meanwhile, another post disagrees with the view putting Siren in 1st place and champions the Memorial Park-chan. Neither is accompanied by ranking reasons based on original scenes, and neither is an official ordering. What's interesting is that the answer changes depending not on who is strongest, but on what you call strength.

As for Chiikawa himself, there are posts—among Japanese fans on X—that see him readying a sasumata (a restraining pole weapon) when separated from his companions as strength of will to fight; posts that credit his danger anticipation, situational understanding, strategy, and immediate action; and posts that read the trio's strength as Hachiware and Usagi covering for his tendency to panic. Individual strength, judgment in a crisis, and complementarity with companions are not on the same scale. When you go back and compare the actions in original chapters, strengths emerge that a simple ranking would miss.

To Read in Publication Order, Start with Volume 3 and Go to Volume 7

To follow the flow of the top of the ranking, first read Volume 3's "Big Subjugation" in publication order: the descent on rotor blades, the approach to a large opponent, the recovery after collapsing, and the resumption of pursuit—this connects the changes in the three. Then proceed to Volume 7's "Uprising and Training" and "The Teacher and the Subjugation" to trace the story from training with Rakko to just after Hachiware's first Subjugation.

If you want to check the original posts one by one, start from the full post list; if you want to read by longer story units, use the Arc list; if you want to search by character, use the character list. Since it touches on the Subjugation and training developments of Volumes 3 and 7, if you haven't read them yet, we recommend opening the post cards from the top. The appeal is being able to read the accumulating sequence of preparation, hesitation, and forward movement.